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U.S. Air Force News

  • Sergeant filling prescriptions on Air Force birthday

    Tech. Sgt. Brenda Martinez-Lashley will be filling prescriptions instead of eating cake, ice cream and punch on the Air Force's 59th birthday. Like for the past 15 years, she and other Airmen around the world will report to work to fight or support the ongoing war on terrorism. This war -- like all

  • Flight nurse on medevac duty on Air Force birthday

    First Lt. John Rinaldo will be on aeromedical evacuation duty on the Air Force's 59th birthday and will not have much time to celebrate with the cake, ice cream and punch. Instead, like for the past 15 years, he and other Airmen around the world will report to work to fight or support the ongoing

  • Sergeant moving passengers on Air Force birthday

    The Air Force is 59 years old today. But Staff Sgt. Robert Thomas will not have much time to celebrate with the cake, ice cream and punch usually associated with birthdays. Instead, like for the past 15 years, he and other Airmen around the world will report to work to fight or support the ongoing

  • Maintainer spends Air Force birthday on flightline

    The Air Force is 59 years old today. But Tech. Sgt. Tim Scheaffer will not have time to celebrate with the cake, ice cream and punch usually associated with birthdays. Instead, like for the past 15 years, he and other Airmen around the world will report to work to fight or support the ongoing war on

  • Former POWs carry on American resolve

    Americans honored the nation's patriots Sept. 15 during National POW/MIA Recognition Day. They took part in ceremonies, parades and observances held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, veterans' facilities and the Pentagon. This day commemorated America's past patriots still

  • CMSAF McKinley gets firsthand look at Offutt missions

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley met with Airmen here and saw firsthand the diverse missions accomplished in support of the nation's defense. While at Offutt AFB Sept. 5 to 8, the chief took the opportunity to speak at an "all hands call" at U.S. Strategic Command and an enlisted

  • Reservists honored for rescue efforts

    More than 40 members of the 943rd Rescue Group here were honored Sept. 10 here for their service during rescue efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.Members of the 305th and 306th Rescue Squadrons, 943rd Maintenance and other support units were honored by military leaders and public

  • Space unit to move from Cheyenne Mountain

    The Space Control Center, operated by the 1st Space Control Squadron, is transferring its operations from Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., to the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.The move is part of an effort to enhance mission effectiveness and increase

  • Officials provide update on F-16 crash

    Officials at the 52nd Fighter Wing here have released additional information about the crash of the F-16 Fighting Falcon near the town of Oberkail, Germany, Sept. 14.The F-16 pilot, 1st Lt. Trevor Merrell, 28, from the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, ejected safely from the

  • AFIT Class of September 2006 graduates

    More than 40 scientists, engineers and management specialists are the latest recipients of graduate and doctoral degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology.AFIT's Graduate School of Engineering and Management held its September 2006 graduation ceremony Sept. 14 in the Institute's Kenney

  • Denver-area units hold POW/MIA Recognition Day vigil

    To commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day, military and civilian employees gathered here Sept. 14 for a 24-hour vigil to remember people listed as prisoners of war or missing in action. The annual ceremony opened with volunteers from the Air Reserve Personnel Center, Defense Finance and

  • Secretary Wynne tells cadets interdependence is future of U.S. military

    Air Force secretary Michael W. Wynne told West Point cadets Sept. 14 they will witness the U.S. military's evolution from maneuver to interdependent warfare. The secretary was at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., for his 40th class reunion. He addressed about 4,000 cadets at the cadet

  • U.S. military gives medical equipment to Nicaragua

    U.S. servicemembers from Joint Task Force-Bravo departed Leon, Nicaragua, Sept. 13, leaving more than $185,000 worth of medical equipment and supplies for the hospital where people were being treated after an alcohol-poisoning epidemic claimed the lives of more than 45 people and left hundreds more

  • Ceremony marks first step for command's relocation

    The Army's Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, or SDDC, took its first official step in relocating from Virginia to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., with the opening of the SDDC advanced team's facility Sept. 12. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, commander of the U.S. Transportation Command,

  • POW/MIA Recognition Day reaffirms commitment

    As Americans pause to observe POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 15, teams of military and civilian experts will be excavating sites in Europe, South Korea, Solomon Islands, Alaska and Hawaii, looking for remains to help identify servicemembers still missing from past wars. Teams from the Joint POW/MIA

  • DOD schools administrator named principal of year

    An administrator in a Defense Department school in Germany was named Sept. 11 as the 2007 National Principal of the Year for Middle Schools. Dr. Ellen Minette of Heidelberg Middle School received the award from the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Metropolitan Life

  • KC-135's 50 years of service recognized

    Celebration activities for the KC-135 Stratotanker's 50 years of service culminated in a banquet Sept. 9 at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. More than 400 military and civilian guests, mostly past and present crewmen, maintainers, community leaders and elected

  • 'Reaper' moniker given to MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle

    The Air Force chief of staff announced "Reaper" has been chosen as the name for the MQ-9 unmanned aerial vehicle. The Air Force is the Department of Defense's executive agent for designating and naming military aerospace vehicles. In the case of the Reaper, Gen. T. Michael Moseley made the final

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 14

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 14.In Afghanistan Sept. 13, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Oruzgan. The following close-air support requests supported NATO

  • USO to honor service heroes

    The United Service Organizations will present its "Service Member of the Year" Award to an enlisted member from each branch of the armed forces at the 2006 USO World Gala Sept. 28 in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes individuals for extraordinary heroism. This year's recipients are: Staff Sgt.

  • Andersen team prepares Wake Island for aircraft

    After Super Typhoon Ioke's 155 mph winds and driving storm surge devastated Wake Island Aug. 31, members of the 36th Contingency Response Group at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, made up the initial assessment team sent to the island. "Prior to the storm the experts were all saying there would be no

  • Recruiting, retention remain solid

    Five years after military recruiting hit the ceiling after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, recruiting remains solid, with every service meeting its active-duty recruiting goal for the 15th consecutive month. Recruiting and retention statistics for August, just released by the Defense Department,

  • Officials award $589 million Weapon System Integrator contract

    Officials with the Electronic Systems Center's 350th Electronic Systems Group awarded a $589 million contract Sept. 12 to Lockheed Martin Corp. to serve as the Air and Space Operations Center Weapon System Integrator.With this contract, Air Force specialists will be able to aid the government's

  • Miss America shares message during base visit

    Miss America Jennifer Berry spoke to Airmen here Sept. 12, promoting her campaign of building intolerance to drunk driving and underage drinking."It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to host Miss America," said Col. Joseph Schwarz, 61st Air Base Wing commander. "She is dedicated to America just as

  • Business changes dramatically for air operations center

    The way business is done has dramatically changed at the 1st Air Force Air Operations Center here.Five years after 9/11, the AOC, which is responsible for U.S. air defense, has made serious networking and communications upgrades to improve their processes. "Our mission is to watch all the aircraft

  • California ANG participating in exercises in Ukraine

    California Air National Guardsmen and members of California's Emergency Medical Services Authority are participating in a disaster response exercise with civilians and military members from Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova in Odessa, Ukraine, Sept. 13 through 21.Activities will focus on

  • Airmen provide medical assistance in Colombia

    Fourteen Airmen from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and Lackland AFB, Texas, arrived at Hospital Toribo Maya, Colombia, Sept. 13 and opened the doors to the hundreds of people who had already gathered outside seeking medical assistance. The team, made up of members from the 55th Medical Group at

  • USAFE Airmen support Med Flag 2006 in Ghana

    More than 50 Airmen from United States Air Forces in Europe arrived in Tamale, Ghana, Sept. 9 to participate in a humanitarian exercise called Med Flag 2006.The group, composed of medical, support and security Airmen from Spangdahlem, Ramstein and Sembach Air Bases in Germany, will spend four days

  • McGuire Airmen reunited with families on 9/11

    On the fifth anniversary of the events of 9/11, approximately 40 Airmen from McGuire Air Force Base's 305th Aerial Port Squadron arrived home after a tour of duty in Southwest Asia.The Airmen were greeted by friends and family at the base passenger terminal after completing their tour as a part of

  • World War II vets receive Bronze Stars after 62 years

    Reunited in a hotel ballroom just outside Washington, D.C., a small group of former Army Air Corps members were presented with long-overdue medals in a ceremony Sept. 9. Gen. Ronald E. Keys, Air Combat Command commander, presented Francis Goldberg, John Bucko, John McCurdy and Eugene Peterson

  • Airmen pay tribute to fallen guardsman

    Thousands of people in uniform came together Sept. 11 in nearby Saratoga County to pay tribute to Master Sgt. Joseph Longobardo, a member of the 109th Security Forces Squadron here. Sergeant Longobardo was laid to rest after tragically dying while on duty with the New York State Police. As part of

  • Major receives Asthma Educator Certification

    A 59th Medical Wing major here is now one of only 1,600 certified asthma educators nationwide. Maj. James Hurst, the Allergy and Immunizations Flight nurse manager at Wilford Hall Medical Center, recently passed the National Asthma Educator Certification Board exam, a voluntary testing program used

  • Lakenheath Airmen gear up for deployments

    More than 800 Airmen assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing here are departing this month to support military operations in Southwest Asia, South America, Africa and Eastern Europe as part of the latest air and space expeditionary force."This is an average-sized deployment," said Capt. Gretchen Yule,

  • Airmen deploy from Mountain Home AFB

    More than 160 Airmen from the 726th Air Control Squadron here deployed Sept. 10 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.Their mission is to monitor the airspace over a battlefield and provide military leaders with a clear and accurate picture of that area, allowing commanders to make informed,

  • Air Force dentist aids Colombian people

    On Sept. 11, 2001, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Gary Geracci was in the middle of packing for a TDY when he received a call from his mother saying the World Trade Center had been attacked. "I don't think you'll be going anywhere," she said. Like so many others who witnessed the tragic events of 9/11, Colonel

  • Missouri Air National Guard gets sneak preview of B-2

    Missouri Air National Guard Airmen got a peek at a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber when it visited the 131st Fighter Wing here Sept. 9. Col. Greg Biscone, 509th Bomb Wing commander, piloted the B-2 from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to St. Louis. It gave the Missouri Guardsmen an opportunity to see the

  • Air Force prepares to test synthetic fuel on B-52

    A B-52 Stratofortress powered by a mix of synthetic and JP-8 fuel is slated to take its first flight Sept. 19 from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., bringing the Air Force one step closer to reducing its dependence on foreign fuel. "This is an extremely important moment for the Department of Defense,"

  • Band builds international relations through music

    Japanese and U.S. military bands performed here Sept. 9, building good community relations between U.S. Forces Japan and this town in the northwestern corner of mainland Japan that is home to a new military radar site."The way they joined together is a perfect example of the great relationship

  • Fifth CMSAF puts Air Force evolution into perspective

    Evolution and progression have been Air Force standards since the service's creation almost 60 years ago. But a voice from the past reminded Airmen here that the fundamentals of Air Force success are the same now as then. Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth chief

  • Five years later Airmen remember 9/11, continue the fight

    Sept. 11, 2001, is a day no American will ever forget, and Airmen serving around the world took time this Patriots Day to reflect on events just five years ago.Flags flew at half-staff and Airmen observed moments of silence around the world to commemorate the solemn anniversary. Coalition forces and

  • Tyndall ceremony honors 9/11 heroes, victims

    More than 400 people attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the base chapel here Sept. 11 to honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command sponsored the ceremony. The command's deputy commander, Brig. Gen. Marcel Duval, spoke

  • Rain doesn't stop San Antonio's Freedom Walk

    Off and on rain, symbolic tears, fell upon the more than 1,200 walkers who took part in San Antonio's first Freedom Walk Sept. 11 in remembrance of the tragic attacks that scarred America five years ago. "Remembering the Pentagon, the World Trade Center in New York, and Shanksville, Pa., the America

  • Andersen members return from USNS Mercy mission

    Members from the 36th Medical Group, 36th Wing and the U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 returned home Sept. 10 following a 72-day humanitarian and civic assistance deployment on the USNS Mercy.While embarked on USNS Mercy, servicemembers and civilians participated in theater security

  • Internship promotes international relationship

    A medical summer internship program between Japan and Misawa Air Base builds bridges between nations, develops professional relationships and improves international health care. "Instead of flying to the states (to experience American medicine), they come to Misawa," said Paul Sayles, 35th Medical

  • Thousands trek in 'America Supports You' Freedom Walk

    They represented a cross-section of America -- thousands of men, women and children of all ages, races and backgrounds from every corner of the country. They came together Sept. 10 during the second annual "America Supports You" Freedom Walk here to pay tribute to those killed on Sept. 11, 2001. For

  • Officials announce T-3A Firefly final disposition

    Nearly a decade after the Air Force stood down the T-3A Firefly fleet following three fatal accidents, Air Force officials made a final disposition decision to salvage the aircraft in place. Base officials here announced the selection of TOTALL Metal Recycling Inc., of Granite City, Ill., to handle

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 10-11

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 10.Sept. 10In Afghanistan Sept. 9, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, a B-1 Lancer, MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles, Navy FA-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for

  • Medics help poisoning victims in Nicaragua

    Approximately 20 U.S. military members left here Sept. 10 for Leon, Nicaragua, to provide medical assistance to people suffering from alcohol poisoning.Joint Task Force Bravo servicemembers responded to a request for help from the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua after more than 30 people died from a toxic

  • Civic leaders, media help celebrate KC-135's 50th anniversary

    A group of 40 Spokane business people helped commemorate the 50th birthday of the Air Force's primary refueling aircraft here Sept. 6.The Boeing Company debuted the KC-135 Stratotanker in August 1956, and it was delivered to the Air Force a year later. The aircraft has supported armed conflict and

  • B-2 bomber excites crowd at Patriots game

    A sellout crowd of more than 68,000 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., erupted when a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., did a surprise flyover before the game. "It is a great deal for me as a pilot, especially since I am from here, and I think it is a great

  • Pentagon crash-site memorial inspires gratitude, emotions

    They were young and old, college students and retirees, rural visitors and city natives, government employees and private-sector workers, uniformed military personnel and civilians, black and white, Asian and Hispanic; but they all shared a common sense of purpose. They all wanted to see the

  • Senior Air Force leaders hold space summit

    Senior Air Force leaders met Sept. 7 at the Pentagon to discuss space missions and operations at a space summit.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley served as host for the summit, where the primary purpose was to discuss current and future Air Force space issues, to include current

  • Missing major found

    Police in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, found Maj. Jill Metzger alive Sept. 8, four days after she disappeared during a shopping trip there. Bishkek police notified the U.S. embassy in the capital city at 3:15 p.m. EDT that they had found the officer. In Southwest Asia, U.S. Central Command Air Forces

  • 'Treasure Hunters' meet Air Force leaders

    A team made up of Air Force Academy grads that recently competed on a reality-television show visited the Pentagon Sept. 7 and met with senior Air Force leaders. They also toured the Air Force Memorial site here. Husband and wife, Matt and Brooke Rillos, and their best friend, Matt Zitzlsperger,

  • Japanese air defense forces begin U.N. missions

    For the first time in their 52-year history, the Japan Air Self Defense Force began its first United Nations mission over Iraq Sept. 6.The first flight of their new mission landed safely at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, before returning to its forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia later

  • Charleston C-17 squadron completes deployment

    The first full-squadron deployment of C-17 Globemaster III aircrews and leaders at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., came to a close Sept. 1.Lt. Col. Ricky Rupp assumed command of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from Lt. Col. Lenny Richoux, both from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston

  • Freedom Walks to commemorate 9/11, honor veterans

    Tens of thousands of Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are preparing to put on their walking shoes during the next few days as they participate in Freedom Walks to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to honor veterans, past and

  • Air Force trains to fill Army deployments

    Located about an hour north of Biloxi, Camp Shelby has a reputation for weather that could make the devil sweat. The harsh weather ratchets up the realism of the training that some Air Force people receive before deploying to locations like Iraq and Afghanistan. The camp is one of the

  • Fall '06 Air and Space Power Journal available

    The College for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education at Air University has published and distributed the Fall 2006 English edition of the Air Force's professional journal, Air and Space Power Journal. The journal serves as an open forum for the presentation and stimulation of innovative

  • Combined forces at leadership school benefit students

    Japanese and U.S. military forces have many training opportunities to interact and learn from each other, and that bilateral relationship is carrying over to the military education classroom. Walk into an Airman Leadership School class here and it resembles a coalition headquarters environment, with

  • Air University offers online language training

    Air University officials here are offering an opportunity to active-duty company grade officers to study a foreign language online at no cost. In an effort to fulfill the Air Force chief of staff's guidance to develop culturally and linguistically competent Airmen, Air University will present the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 8

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 8. In Afghanistan Sept. 7, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and

  • Research team reveals increased UAV ability

    A Brigham Young University team of scientists and engineers, funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research here, has recently demonstrated increased consensus capabilities among unmanned air vehicles. "This research on cooperative control involves developing methods to enable multiple UAVs

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary, space support requests for Sept. 7

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have announced the airpower summary and space support requests for Sept. 7.In Afghanistan Sept. 6, Air Force B-1 Lancers provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Asadabad. One aircraft expended a Guided Bomb

  • Dragon phase team provides key link in 'kill chain'

    Every successful hit of a target by the Air Force comes at the end of a long line of events commonly referred to as the "kill chain." The team members of 380th Air Expeditionary Wing play various roles as part of nearly all kill chains in this area of responsibility. One critical link in the kill

  • Teams seek fresh, creative ideas to resolve problems

    With violence at deployed military checkpoints a reality, U.S. and coalition forces often have to make tough decisions when drivers ignore warnings to stop. Insurgents often attack these guarded locations, sometimes with car bombs.Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, the Air Force Research Laboratory commander,

  • Armed Forces Voters Week focuses on electronic options

    The Defense Department is focusing efforts to ensure servicemembers stationed overseas and in the United States know their options for voting in the 2006 congressional and local elections. Sept. 3-9 is Armed Forces Voters Week. Officials caution that this is the last safe week to submit a Federal

  • Officer promotion board changes take effect Jan. 1

    The secretary of the Air Force has approved changes to the format of the selection brief presented to officer promotion boards to begin Jan. 1. Air Force officials will implement three changes to officer selection briefs, or OSBs; two changes deal with presentation of data related to developmental

  • Air Force Reserve tops recruiting goal again

    For the sixth year in a row, Air Force Reserve Command officials have exceeded the command's recruiting goal.AFRC Recruiting Service surpassed its goal for the 2006 recruiting year Aug. 31 when officials accessed its 8,001st recruit as the number of people signing up continues to climb. Col. Francis

  • Bush: Terrorists view Iraq as linchpin in global battle

    An early U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq would play into terrorists' plans of establishing a new world order of radical Islam, President George W. Bush told members of a military officers' group here Sept. 5. "These evil men know that a fundamental threat to their aspirations is a democratic Iraq

  • CENTAF releases airpower summaries for Sept. 3-5

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summaries for Sept. 3 to 5.Sept. 3In Afghanistan Sept. 2, Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters provided close-air support for search and recovery missions responding to the crash of a

  • Mail-order pharmacy service saves customer, DOD dollars

    More military health system beneficiaries are opting to have prescriptions mailed to their homes, rather than picking up medications at installation or commercial-sector pharmacies, a military health care official said here Aug. 31. Defense Department officials welcomed this development as part of

  • Lawmakers, DOD take aim at payday loan sharks

    Interest is building on Capitol Hill in putting a nationwide cap on the interest rates lenders can charge servicemembers for loans, a measure the Defense Department is pushing to protect its force. A General Accountability Office study released last month offers insight into how payday-lending

  • Bagram C-130s drop high-tech cargo delivery system

    The same global positioning technology that helps fighter and bomber pilots deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy now allows cargo bundles dropped from cargo planes to steer themselves to drop zones. A C-130 Hercules from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here dropped supplies to a U.S.

  • Military helps wounded troops return to work

    Officials from the Defense Department and military services got together here Aug. 30 for the first "From Deployment to Employment" conference to discuss ways to better serve America's severely injured servicemembers. The day-long conference was a forum to exchange ideas about how to improve the

  • U.S. forces support Japanese earthquake drill

    U.S. military forces based in Japan cooperated with Japanese officials in a major earthquake disaster response exercise here Sept. 1. The annual drill was based on a large-scale earthquake in the Tokyo area and helped Japanese government officials examine national, regional and local levels of

  • Military members transition into life after deployment

    Fourteen military couples from across the U.S. left their homes Aug. 24 for a different kind of mission at Lantana Lodge, a lakeside resort at Jordan State Park in northern Denton County, Texas. The couples, who had been separated for months due to deployments in combat areas around the

  • After Katrina: ACC's intel team applies lessons learned

    The men and women of Air Combat Command's intelligence directorate haven't been stocking up on distilled water and plywood, but they are prepared for the busy part of the 2006 hurricane season or any natural disaster that might affect the United States. "We're light-years ahead of where we were this

  • Wilford Hall holds dedication ceremony for C-9 Nightingale

    Active duty and retired military medical personnel gathered here Aug. 31 to dedicate the C-9 Nightingale static display. Nicknamed the "Cadillac of Medevac" and the "Workhorse" for aeromedical evacuation, it provided service not only to the military, but also to the Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Electronic travel system streamlines business process

    The Air Force has completed deployment of a new computerized travel system at all its major installations. The Defense Travel System was installed Aug. 10 at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., marking the end of a nearly three-year deployment of the system to bases in both the United States and

  • NASA invites students to help astronaut count the stars

    NASA and the Canadian Space Agency are collaborating on a new education activity that helps students become astronomers. The Star Count Project will investigate the visual quality of the night sky and help assess the extent of atmospheric light pollution.There are many factors that affect how many

  • CAP proves worth during Katrina relief

    When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast a year ago, the nation went into immediate humanitarian mission mode. Along with the efforts of countless organizations came help from a 57,000-strong force often overlooked. While the debris settled and devastation became evident under clear skies, the

  • Enlisted assignment preference added to virtual MPF

    Enlisted Airmen will soon be able to change their assignment preferences online through the virtual Military Personnel Flight, as the Air Force continues Personnel Services Delivery Transformation. Beginning Sept. 5, enlisted Airmen will become responsible for updating their own assignment

  • Aircraft evacuated from Charleston AFB

    Airmen here are in the process of evacuating all operational C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on station due to impending severe weather. Aircraft will be flown to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, Aug. 30. The aircraft are being evacuated to ensure the airlift mission

  • Airmen experience tip of expeditionary spear

    Most Airmen have experienced the expeditionary air and space force, but for about 170 Airmen serving in the military personnel exchange program, the term "expeditionary" takes on a whole new meaning. Officers and senior NCOs serving in the MPEP are assigned to nearly three dozen foreign air forces

  • Vice president thanks servicemembers for vigilance

    Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a message of thanks and support to the 7,000 Airmen, Sailor, Marines and Soldiers here during a visit Aug. 29. "I'm here today because the president and I want you to know how much we appreciate everything you do on behalf of the United States," the vice

  • Memorial dedication honors American, Russian aviators

    American, Russian, French and Canadian dignitaries, to include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, gathered here Aug. 27 to honor Russian and American aviators and troops responsible for ferrying more than 8,000 American-built warplanes from the Midwest through Canada to Fairbanks during World War

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 30

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 30.In Afghanistan Aug. 29, an Air Force B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Qalat. The aircraft expended a Guided Bomb Unit-31 and GBU-38s on the

  • Annual Combined Federal Campaign kicks off

    The 2006 to 2007 Combined Federal Campaign runs for six weeks Sept. 1 through Dec. 15 for both continental United States and overseas bases. The local federal coordinating committee will establish exact dates and campaign goals in each geographic area; this information will be available through

  • Katrina shapes rescue mission

    On Aug. 29, 2005, the third-strongest hurricane ever to hit U.S soil made landfall on the Louisiana and Mississippi border. Soon after, rescue crews from here were called on to perform search and rescue on a scale previously unseen. "The Katrina relief effort was a benchmark for Air Force rescue,"

  • Operation Deep Freeze under way with C-17 support

    A C-17 Globemaster III from the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., has flown four missions from Christchurch, New Zealand, kicking off the 2006 to 2007 season for Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, known as Operation Deep Freeze.Servicemembers and equipment will stage to

  • Committee examines issue of women separating

    Female military doctors, lawyers and chaplains are more likely than their male counterparts to leave the military after serving five to eight years, and the Defense Department Advisory Committee on Women in the Services wants to know why.By examining these three career fields, the committee hopes to

  • Keesler Medical Center rebounds from Katrina

    Keesler Medical Center, the second largest Air Force medical center, has made great strides in rebounding from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina one year ago. The facility is rapidly returning to its pre-Katrina status, both from the standpoint of the physical plant and services. Full

  • Airmen assist with volcano disaster relief

    An eight-person Air Force medical readiness team is providing assistance to Ecuadorians affected by the Tungurahua volcano eruption here Aug. 16. Airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; Travis AFB, Calif., Minot AFB, N.D., and Goodfellow and Lackland AFB, Texas, specialize in dermatology;

  • Air Force legend passes away at 86

    Retired Brig. Gen. Robert F. McDermott, U.S. Air Force Academy dean of the faculty from 1956 to 1968, died Aug. 28 in San Antonio. He suffered a stroke Aug. 17 and died at Brooke Army Medical Center. He was 86. The namesake of the academy's McDermott Library, he began his military career as a combat

  • AF Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame inducts 6

    Six trailblazers were inducted here Aug. 24 into the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame for their significant accomplishments in the advancement of space and missile programs in the Air Force. The inductees, whose work formed the basis upon which Air Force Space Command now operates,

  • Bases work with FEMA to provide aid

    In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Air Force provided support in many ways -- some of that from a distance. Numerous bases worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by providing locations for use as staging points to accelerate the delivery of supplies to hurricane victims.

  • Running for more than fitness

    In a country at war against Taliban extremists who banned women's education, more than 900 runners and walkers participated in a Women's Equality Day 5K fun run and walk here. Congress designated "Women's Equality Day" in the United States Aug. 28, 1971. The date commemorates the 1920 passage of the

  • JTF Lebanon establishes air-land and sea task forces

    The commander of Joint Task Force Lebanon has assigned two task force commanders to lead critical elements of the newly formed organization as part of assuming authority for U.S. military operations here Aug. 23, officials announced.Air Force Col. Brad Webb will command Task Force "Alpha,"

  • Rumsfeld salutes servicemembers' global efforts

    America's 2 million men and women in uniform are meeting demands around the globe and "are doing a terrific job," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Aug. 25. But with 138,000 troops in Iraq and an ongoing need to modernize the force, defense officials "have to continue to find ways to see