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  • Puzzled airman shares craft

    What can be very addictive but can also inspire people’s creativity? At the same time, what can be really frustrating? What contains “colorful” clues, but are just black and white?Give up? They are crossword puzzles -- and thanks to an airman here, they will now be available through the Air Force

  • Troops deliver child in Tallil tent city

    The cluster of tents in the corner of tent city here that make up the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group was bustling with unusual activity recently. In facilities designed to support the needs of a deployed combat unit, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Support troops gathered together to deliver a

  • Climate survey hits halfway point

    Since its launch Oct. 1, more than 25 percent of Air Force people have taken advantage of the opportunity to speak to their leaders through the 2003 Air Force Climate Survey. The survey’s importance hinges on maximum participation, and the more people who participate, the better the results,

  • New DOD mortuary opens at Dover

    Military officials opened a new $30 million mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Oct. 27. The Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, which replaced a 48-year-old facility, is the Defense Department's only stateside mortuary.Since 1955, the remains of more than 50,000 servicemembers

  • Waist size reflects whole health

    The waist-measurement portion of the Air Force's new fitness standard serves as a gauge for total health, said the Air Force chief of health promotion operations.“The waist measurement is used to determine visceral or intra-abdominal fat,” said Maj. Lisa Schmidt. Air Force officials chose this

  • Quality of life improving at Kirkuk

    Airmen supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom here will leave their dusty tents for the last time when new modular dormitories open.The dorms, scheduled to open Dec. 1, will house up to 1,664 airmen in 13 buildings with six to eight people to a room.The construction project is moving rapidly, said Lt.

  • Web site helps with school, deployment issues

    A Web site created to help servicemembers, spouses and children navigate the challenges associated with military moves and deployments is now available.Sponsored by the Defense Department, the site offers advice and resource assistance for school transition issues, military deployments and more,

  • Airmen help Iraqi return home

    U.S. airmen helped bring an Iraqi man back to his homeland now free of Saddam Hussein’s rule.As part of a U.S.-sponsored media trip Oct. 19 to 23, British-Arab journalists traveled to Basra and Baghdad, Iraq. Khalid Kishtainy, an Iraqi columnist and novelist who has lived in London for many years,

  • Falconer major player in Red Flag

    The airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s Falconer Air Operations Center are here integrating their craft with pilots and controllers who fly the missions over the “enemy” during Red Flag.The center is comprised of 100 airmen, mostly from the 32nd Air Operations Group at Ramstein Air Base,

  • Airmen keep theater mail flowing

    Eighteen airmen, most wearing two or three stripes, spend several hours a day in a sun-baked warehouse just off the tarmac here. They are touching the lives of each deployed servicemember and civilian in Iraq.“We’re responsible for all mail, in and out,” said Tech. Sgt. Darrin Robertson, mail

  • Now showing: Oct. 27 edition of AFTV News

    The work of airmen preparing Tallil Air Base, Iraq, to become a major supply link with the United States highlights the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Staff Sgt. John Somheil reports on major construction at the base by the new Air Force landlord.President George W. Bush uses a trip

  • Military works on all-digital targeting system

    The U.S. military is developing an advanced communications capability for tactical fighters that will tightly connect the sensors and cockpits of many aircraft.The 2-year-old Tactical Targeting Network Technologies program links tactical jet fighters' sophisticated sensors and avionics with

  • Tinker couple fosters future service dogs

    McIntosh came from the streets; Greer from a local breeder. Then there was Atoka. Love came from Purina. And Dottie is a temporary placement from another foster home that did not work out.For all their differences, the five Labrador retrievers have one thing in common -- they spent their

  • EOD eliminates ‘explosive’ problems

    Some might call a bomb squad living in a bunker ironic; the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal flight airmen here call it practical.The EOD airmen are on alert 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and respond to an average of 25 to 30 calls each week.“By living

  • Airmen complete Bagram runway

    With help from the Army and coalition nations, airmen poured the final load of concrete for the new $2.3 million runway here Oct. 24 after nearly six months of construction. During this period, civil engineer airmen and soldiers worked on one 90-foot-wide strip, while aircraft landed and took off on

  • Air Force announces fiscal 2004 ACP program

    The Air Force is retaining the most popular Aviator Continuation Pay options under a fiscal 2004 program, with bonus options offered to eligible pilots, navigators and air battle managers.For eligible pilots, a five-year and a “to 20” years of aviation service option will be offered at $25,000 a

  • Langley names first Raptor squadron

    The 27th Fighter Squadron will be the first of three squadrons here to transition to the F/A-22 Raptor. The Air Force’s newest fighter begins arriving in late 2004, said Col. Frank Gorenc, 1st Fighter Wing commander.“A major factor in this decision is heritage,” Gorenc said. “The (27th FS) is the

  • Airmen donate school to Afghans

    In a valley, children sat in groups of 20 outdoors to learn. They are minuscule compared to the majestic mountains that surround them. One teacher, wearing a mix of traditional Afghani clothes and a Salvation Army dress coat, used his bicycle to prop up a chalkboard to teach writing. Another

  • Air Force increases school slots for officers

    New ideas about force development are already fixing a longtime frustration of many officers who carried the official “school candidate” label -- that they could not get a slot for in-residence professional military education even with a three-year window to attend.This year the Air Force has told

  • Inaugural Eagle Flag concludes

    In 10 days, Air Force expeditionary combat-support people opened and established a new air base here during the Air Force's newest flag-level exercise, Eagle Flag. The inaugural exercise ended Oct. 22. Eagle Flag challenged airmen to open and establish a bare base for any mission or aircraft type,

  • Airmen give supplies to Iraqi school

    The children laughed and smiled as Master Sgt. Robert Frank distributed educational supplies at Al Ilaf school here.Frank smiled, too. But his trip to Iraq had a very serious intent -- help give the Iraqis a solid foundation on which to build their free and independent future.“One of these kids,

  • Moseley discusses reconstitution

    Department of Defense leaders met with the House Armed Services Committee subcommittee on readiness Oct. 21 to discuss force reconstitution. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley told committee members that reconstitution is one of the Air Force's top concerns."Our No. 1 task is to

  • Airmen move from tents to huts

    Airmen here are now in the process of transitioning from living in temper tents to wooden structures called B-huts.“These semi-permanent timber structures are replacing our tents which have exceeded their life expectancy in this harsh environment,” said Capt. Trey Sledge, 455th Expeditionary Support

  • Cadre makes Eagle Flag come alive

    Eagle Flag brings together expeditionary combat-support people, role players, observers and exercise controllers to create one of the most dynamic exercises in the Air Force, officials said. Eagle Flag, which ran for the first time Oct. 13 to 22, is the Air Force’s newest flag-level exercise. It is

  • Ergo engineering reduces injuries

    Intervention, funding and innovative technology means workers on the F-15 Eagle fuel tank buildup crew no longer have to use their heads, according to Mary Ann Gahhos. No, they do not have to stop thinking, but they can stop using their heads and other body parts to stuff F-15 fuel tanks with foam

  • AFNS introduces new news product

    The electronic news branch of Air Force News Service introduced a new product Oct. 20 aimed at expanding its news and information to the Air Force community.Called “AFNS Report,” the one-minute, daily television report will air regularly on The Pentagon Channel and will be furnished the Defense

  • Cleanup process gets DOD support

    The Air Force gained Department of Defense support in October for an environmental-cleanup approach that may accelerate progress at as many as 24 Air Force sites.The new method involves merging land-use control actions into records of decision, said Maureen Koetz, deputy assistant secretary of the

  • Airmen deploy for fuel-spill-response exercise

    Airmen from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron deployed recently to a remote radar site 250 miles northwest of here for an annual three-day fuel-spill-response exercise.The airmen tested their skills at the Tatalina Long Range Radar Site, one of the 18 remote radar sites that make up the Alaska Radar

  • AF plans to fill first sergeant slots

    Before the end of the year, Air Force officials will have taken the first step toward eliminating a 10-percent manning shortfall in first sergeant billets. In November, as part of the new First Sergeant Selection Process, Air Force officials expect to release a list of master sergeants selected as

  • Red Tail Express makes final delivery

    Trucks. Lots of trucks. Trucks with aircraft parts, refrigerators, wall lockers, office desks, computer equipment, construction vehicles -- some even hauling other trucks, along with hundreds of other odds and ends. All these items are loaded and strapped onto 18-wheelers and flatbed trailers,

  • AF releases fitness standards

    Air Force leaders released the fitness-scoring charts that will be used beginning Jan. 1.“The amount of energy we devote to our fitness programs is not consistent with the growing demands of our warrior culture. It's time to change that,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper in a Sight

  • Airmen keep Baghdad online

    Their jobs may not be highly visible, such as flying or launching aircraft, or get them media attention by standing guard under the blazing Iraqi sun.They do, however, have an important job within the 447th Air Expeditionary Group.“They” are members of the 447th Expeditionary Communication

  • DOE dominates Defender Challenger

    Air Force and British security forces teams already have their targets picked out for next year’s Defender Challenge competition: The men in black from the Department of Energy. The DOE federal agents may be a tough target to hit, based on the dominance of their 10-man team at Defender Challenge

  • Ellsworth K-9 team finishes fourth in nation

    The top military working dog team in the nation has been marking its territory atop the national rankings since the Ellsworth team formed more than two years ago. The team finished in fourth place at the U.S. Police Canine National Field Trials in Atlantic City, N.J., on Oct. 5 to10 For the second

  • Eagle Flag's importance stressed

    The Air Force’s top two leaders got a first-hand look Oct. 15 at the service’s newest flag-level exercise, Eagle Flag. They also talked about what they want every airman to know about the exercise.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper

  • Workshops help parents with school transfers

    "If you'd been here two weeks earlier, we could have gotten this taken care of, and your child would be graduating with the rest of the class."That is one of the last things military parents want to hear a counselor say when their children transfer from one school to another around the globe,

  • Dyess B-1s surge to 114 flights in 68 hours

    During a "surge" in flying here that ended Oct. 9, 7th Bomb Wing crews pushed their B-1 Lancers to a record-breaking 114 flights in 68 hours resulting in 321 simulated bombing runs on targets. The crews began Operation Iron Thunder on Oct. 7, flying sorties around the clock until late in the night

  • Aircraft pull raises CFC nearly $5,000

    Twenty-four teams pulled their way to nearly $5,000 in Combined Federal Campaign donations here recently during the U.S. Air Force Museum's fifth annual aircraft pull.People joined 15- to 20-member teams, each contributing $200 team entry fees to CFC, to see who could drag a 60,000-pound F-111F

  • IDEA will save Air Force $5.7 million

    A Tinker man’s idea to have depot-level maintenance on air traffic control radars performed on-site will save the Air Force more than $5 million and earned him $10,000 through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Instead of having the vital airport surveillance radar systems

  • HVAC/R -- Al Udeid’s thermostat

    How fast can your day go from good to bad, from comfortable to hot?Give up? Fifty-nine minutes. That is how long it would take.Without air conditioning inside a tent, the temperature can increase by more than 35 degrees in less than an hour. Without the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and

  • The birdmen of Baghdad

    Some airmen who routinely go into harm’s way to assist others, have taken another injured creature of the air under their wings.The New York Air National Guard’s 101st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron has adopted a pigeon that was injured during the Operation Iraqi Freedom conflict.According to Staff

  • First Eagle Flag exercise begins

    More than 150 expeditionary combat-support leaders from around the Air Force arrived here Oct. 13 for the inaugural Eagle Flag, the Air Force’s newest flag-level exercise. The goal of the exercise is to test the ability of the participants to open and establish an air base to an initial operating

  • Airmen keep warfighters connected

    In a country that seems to be stuck in the first century, the world’s most powerful and advanced air force operates every day among the blowing dust and dried mud huts of Afghanistan. The average family here lacks a computer, phone, electricity and even running water. But inside the wire here, a

  • ‘Bird balls’ preventing aircraft strikes

    The base here is the first Air Force installation to use "bird balls" as part of a new program to prevent airfield bird strikes.The new tool, part of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing bird-aircraft strike hazard program, uses small, environmentally safe, black balls to cover the surface of the water on

  • Pace: U.S. troop strength in Korea can be cut

    United States troop strength in South Korea can be reduced because of technological advances in military art and lessons learned from combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, the nation's No. 2 military officer said here Oct. 10."I personally believe that the numbers of U.S. troops in Korea can, in fact, be

  • Now showing: Oct. 13 edition of AFTV News

    The Air Force program to use alternative fuels and means of transportation is examined in-depth in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Tech. Sgt. Pachari Lutke leads off with a story at the program’s headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., by reporting about efforts to reduce the

  • Archaeologists dig for answers at Mildenhall

    To the untrained eye, it is a dug-up piece of ground. To the trained archaeologist, it is a treasure trove of information and a small mountain of history, and it was discovered because people here want to play softball. In August, while preparing to clear a site for new softball fields, Defence

  • Karl Malone guarantees POW/MIA recognition

    It is said that passionate people wear their hearts on their sleeves. For Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Karl Malone, he chooses to wear his on his shoe.There are more than 88,000 Americans still unaccounted for in all conflicts. The Lakers could sell out every home game and be well into the sixth

  • AF unveils force development plan

    Air Force leaders are launching a spread-the-word tour in November to explain force development, a new system that transforms how the service will train, educate and assign people to meet mission challenges.Teams led by major command general officers will visit every base to explain the details of

  • Show features academy skydivers

    The U.S. Air Force Academy’s skydiving program will be featured on the History Channel’s new series, “Guts and Bolts.” The new series, which premiered Sept. 13, gives viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the history and inner-workings of today’s most fascinating technologies.Members of the 98th

  • New supercomputer doubles capacity

    A new, $15.1 million supercomputer formally began operations here Oct. 6, giving the Aeronautical Systems Center's Major Shared Resource Center here more than double the computing capability and available compute-hours.The new system is the largest such computer in the world. It has a computing

  • Reserve working on force development

    At the 2002 Corona Top conference in Colorado Springs, Colo., the Air Force adopted a new vision for how best to develop its airmen and continue its evolution as an air and space force.The Air Force designed this new force development construct to ensure the right technical and leadership skills are

  • Airmen restore piece of history

    As civilian and military aviation enthusiasts throughout the world celebrate the “Centennial of Flight,” airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s 85th Group here completed a meticulous project to preserve and showcase a piece of Air Force history in Iceland.Recently, more than 60 airmen, sailors and

  • Man, horse are dancing partners

    Sixties television star Mr. Ed may have had all the right words, but Regalo has all the right moves.Regalo, a half Spanish-Andalusian, half American quarter horse, can spin, shake hands and count by stomping his left front hoof. He can say hello by raising his front right hoof, throw kisses and

  • New changes in academy policies

    When the Class of 2007 cadets reported for in-processing at the U.S. Air Force Academy in late June, they found many new changes that are putting academy policies more directly in line with those of the active Air Force.Throughout the academy, privileges are now granted based not merely on

  • Bagram airmen boost village morale

    It is austere here. The rules are strict, the environment is harsh, and the enemy is near. Everyday is a workday. Alcoholic beverages and civilian clothes are prohibited. People cannot go anywhere unarmed. They eat and sleep with their weapons.Maintaining high morale in an environment like this

  • Boot Hill finds new home at Al Udeid

    The Boot Hill “cemetery” at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, has gotten the boot.For the second time in 11 years, the military’s tongue-in-cheek version of Tombstone, Arizona’s famous cemetery, has been exhumed, this time from the closed PSAB to its new resting place here.Cemetery builders

  • New citizen pursues dreams in AF uniform

    Ivelina Konstantinova started working in a San Antonio cafeteria three days after arriving from Bulgaria, and it terrified her. “I was afraid to speak or answer phones,” she said. “Customers would get frustrated because I couldn’t speak English well. I would have preferred they just correct my

  • USO comedians bring laughter to Kirkuk

    A group of comedians from the United States visited here Oct. 2 to entertain the troops and film segments for an upcoming DVD.The comedians were part of the Laugh Factory team, which belongs to the United Services Organization tour traveling through Southwest Asia.Ralphie May, the headliner for the

  • Airmen can review records online

    The Air Force has started a new program allowing airmen to complete record reviews online through the virtual military personnel flight.Airmen will soon begin receiving e-mail notifications around their birthday each year advising them to review their electronic personnel records maintained in the

  • Airmen use funds to help rebuild Iraq

    As Iraq struggles to establish a solid foundation for self-government, airmen here are lending a hand to local Iraqis.Since July, the 506th Air Expeditionary Group has reinvested more than $300,000 of captured Iraqi money back into the local community through the commander’s emergency response

  • AF leaders testify on academy

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche led a small contingent of officials to Capitol Hill on Sept. 30 for congressional testimony on allegations of sexual assault at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper and General Counsel Mary L. Walker joined the

  • Bone-marrow donation saves life

    A 388th Maintenance Group airman here got a special phone call recently -- from a woman whose life he helped save with a bone marrow donation.“When I was in school four years ago, they were having a bone marrow drive,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Dorman. “I just thought, ‘what the heck,’ and gave them

  • Changes limit quarterly IDTs for reservists

    Changes went into effect Oct. 1 limiting the number of inactive-duty-for-training periods a reservist may perform during a three-month quarter.The changes provide a training schedule policy for all Air Force Reserve Command airmen. They provide senior managers better management of training

  • System integrates military pay, personnel

    A new Web-based system will integrate all of the services' military personnel and pay systems, Department of Defense officials announced Sept. 29.The Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System will provide "one-stop shopping" for servicemembers when it is fully implemented, officials

  • NCO gives wife priceless gift

    Flowers, chocolates and jewelry are gifts any woman would love from her husband. There is even the famous saying: "Diamonds are a girl’s best friend." Sometimes though, the most precious gifts are ones that cannot be bought -- like the one Staff Sgt. Anthony Lucas gave to his high-school

  • Elmendorf rescue team delivers baby at home

    Cheryl Trinklein was at home taking a bath, trying to relax. She also was 39 weeks, 6 days along in her pregnancy. Suddenly, things were not so relaxed. Apparently, the baby decided it was time to make his grand entrance into the world.“The contractions just kept getting stronger and stronger and

  • First Raptor arrives at Tyndall

    The first operational F/A-22 Raptor was delivered to the Air Force’s F/A-22 schoolhouse here Sept. 26. Tyndall, once known as “The Home of Air Superiority” became “The Home of Air Dominance,” with the arrival of its first F/A-22. The Raptor will eventually replace the F-15 Eagle and sets the

  • Emeril salutes troops at McGuire

    Things got hot and spicy here Sept. 25 as celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse filmed his Thanksgiving special of “Emeril Live” as part of his campaign called “Emeril Kicks Up the Holidays” on the Food Network. An audience of 2,000 military and family members, representing all branches of service,

  • Fighters benefit from Link 16

    A recent Electronic Systems Center effort has improved targeting accuracy and allowed air operations centers to change F-15 Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle mission variables “on the fly.”Members of the Tactical Data Link System Program Office equipped all 22 operational F-15 active-duty and Air

  • Computer attacks, threats continue

    Government computers and official information are subject to a wide range of threats and vulnerabilities that are a constant, invisible threat to penetrate military networks and degrade warfighting abilities.Along with those nameless, faceless hostile enemies there is also a threat from simple

  • New ribbon recognizes deployed airmen

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche has approved award of the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon to recognize servicemembers’ support of air expeditionary force deployments.The ribbon will be awarded to Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Guard members who completed a contingency

  • Reservists support Operation Deep Freeze

    Reservists from the 445th Airlift Wing here headed to Antarctica on Sept. 26 in a C-141 Starlifter supporting Operation Deep Freeze.Aircrew members will move passengers and cargo for the National Science Foundation's research facilities in Antarctica. This mission is the second of three phases to

  • New R&R leave program set

    Servicemembers and Defense Department civilians on 12-month orders in Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom now have a rest and recuperation leave program. The program allows them to take up to 15 days, excluding travel time, to visit family or friends in the United States or Europe.David S.C.

  • White Room relocation a ‘success’

    The historic Complex 19 White Room here was successfully relocated to its new home in the outdoor Rocket Garden at the nearby Air Force Space and Missile Museum.The White Room is a 56-foot-tall, 46-ton structure that was used by Gemini astronauts during missions in the mid-1960s. The room, also

  • Elmendorf opens multiplatform center

    On Sept. 24, the 3rd Wing officially opened the Air Force’s first multiplatform mission training center that uses advanced technology to maximize operational effectiveness and combat capability. The center will house multiple weapon systems simulators -- built and operated by multiple contractors

  • JAG duty goes beyond portrayals

    People who base their perception of military lawyers on the television show "JAG" most likely think those in the judge advocate general profession are pilots, traveling from courtroom to courtroom in high performance military aircraft. They may also believe military legal professionals have the

  • Recruiting service names Blue Suit winners

    The Air Force Recruiting Service recently recognized the fiscal 2003 winners of Operation Blue Suite XXV. The program recognizes the Air Force's top recruiters worldwide."This is the first time I've received a Blue Suit award," said Tech. Sgt. Scott J. Wealton, from the 368th Recruiting Squadron in

  • October issue of Citizen Airman available

    Although thousands of Air Force reservists are still actively involved in supporting operations worldwide, Air Force Reserve Command officials are busy gathering lessons learned from current and recent operations.Read about the command’s effort to examine its performance in the October issue of

  • New Air Force guidance issued for frocking

    The Air Force has issued new guidance on frocking, the practice of pinning on a higher rank after selection for that grade but before the actual promotion date.One of the changes is delegation of the approval/disapproval authority to the Air Force Personnel Center commander for frocking to major and

  • Panel releases academy report

    The blue-ribbon panel investigating sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy reported Sept. 22 that failures in leadership led to 142 reported cases of sexual abuse in the past 10 years.“We found a deep chasm in leadership during the most critical time in the academy’s history -- one that extended

  • Secretary lauds resourceful approach

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche used the Air Force Association’s technology symposium Sept. 17 as a forum to praise Air Force ingenuity.Roche compared today’s leaders with those of the Army Air Corps, saying that integrating people and systems in new and innovative ways guarantees a

  • Department seeks former POWs

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials want former prisoners of war who are not using VA benefits to contact the department to find out if they may be eligible for disability compensation and other services.More than 23,000 former prisoners of war already receive compensation from the VA. This

  • AF announces team-excellence awards

    Air Force officials announced the five teams selected for the 2003 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award on Sept. 16 during the Air Force Association convention in Washington, D.C.A total of 15 teams were nominated for this year’s award, which recognizes outstanding team performance and promotes

  • Lab earns DOD modeling, simulation award

    Showcasing better and more effective ways to train, warfighter training research division experts here captured top honors in the Defense Department's 2003 Modeling and Simulation Award training category.The training systems technology team earned the award that recognizes units, organizational

  • Bases provide hurricane refuge

    Nearly 180 aircraft worth billions of dollars have safely taken refuge at four Air Force Materiel Command installations, moving away from Hurricane Isabel's wrath.The aircraft moved as part of previously-agreed-to contingency plans between the impacted base and the evacuation point, according to

  • CAP helps Air Force face Isabel

    As Hurricane Isabel makes landfall on the Eastern seaboard, Civil Air Patrol officials are helping the Air Force manage storm-related operations.The CAP is the all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, located at Langley Air Force Base, Va., has moved its

  • Deployed medics provide care to locals

    Airmen deployed from the 86th Medical Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, are treating villagers in nearby Sartichala and Ponichala who have eye problems.The treatments were part of a humanitarian civic assistance program that the 86th MDG staff conducted at clinics in each village during a

  • Jumper addresses global chiefs

    The Air Force’s top uniformed leader addressed more than 90 air chiefs from around the globe Sept. 16 as part of the Air Force Association's Airpower Symposium. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper's comments covered a broad range of topics, including the making of today's heroes, the

  • B-2 drops 80 test JDAMs

    A B-2 Spirit bomber here released 80 inert joint direct attack munitions Sept. 10 for the first time, clearing the way for warfighters to attack that many individual targets on a single bomb run.After an 11-sortie buildup toward qualifying the B-2 for the maximum munitions load, B-2 global power

  • Fuels branch airmen repair tanks, increase storage

    With a little bit of ingenuity and hard work, airmen in the 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels branch here were able to salvage enemy assets and use them to their advantage.The airmen recently repaired eight underground fuel tanks to increase the branch's capability to store JP-8

  • KC-135 brakes changing to carbon

    Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker brake systems will go from metal to lighter, longer-lasting carbon now that service officials approved an initiative proposed here, that will save millions in tax payer dollars.Dubbed the “largest improved item replacement program in Air Force history,” the new

  • OTS selection board results released

    Air Force officials are giving 13 enlisted airmen the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars by choosing them to attend Officer Training School, officials announced Sept. 16.Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 307 applications as part of OTS Selection Board 0308, which met here

  • Outstanding airmen honored

    The Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2003 received a ceremonial tribute Sept. 15 at the Air Force Association convention here.Each year, the AFA honors the 12 airmen at its annual convention in Washington, D.C. The program was initiated at the organization’s 10th annual national

  • AWACS airmen get noise-reduction headsets

    Interior aircraft noise has been a longtime problem when it comes to aircrews communicating with each other and protecting themselves from hearing loss. This is certainly true for aircrews who work aboard the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. The persistent noise the aircrews

  • Dawn patrol flies in for rendezvous

    A trio of Fokker Dr. I triplanes approached the field from the north, emerging over a tree line as they began a measured descent. Their engines punctuated the air with a reverberating roar as the warbirds passed over the field and climbed to a higher altitude once again.For thousands of observers

  • Roche receives Order of the Sword

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche was inducted into the Order of the Sword during a ceremony here Sept. 13.Roche became the eighth Air Force-level inductee into the order, and the second secretary, since the "Royal Order of the Sword" ceremony was revised, updated and adopted by Air

  • No plans to extend Guard, Reserve

    Air Force officials do not plan to extend the involuntary deployment of Reserve and Air National Guard airmen to Iraq.About 4,700 ANG and Reserve airmen are deployed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to a senior Air Force official, about 12,000 deployed Air Reserve Component airmen have

  • Myers sends AF birthday message

    The following is a message from Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:“The 18th of September this year marks the 56th birthday of the U.S. Air Force -- an important milestone on both the paths of aviation history and the defense of our Nation. This year is also the centennial

  • AF offers multilingual thank you

    Airmen whose parents speak languages other than English can now order Air Force Parent Pins with accompanying cards translated into one of 100 languages.The new Your Guardians of Freedom initiative is an extension of the Parent-Pin program called “E Pluribus Unum.” The Latin term comes from the