New Orleans to be first AF Reserve BRAC closure

Air Force Reserve Command's 926th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans will be the command's first wing affected by the most recent Base Realignment and Closure. Moved up a year, resources from the 926th will realign to four bases: Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.; Nellis

BRAC-affected people will need to move to find jobs

While many Air Force Reservists and civilians know their jobs will change under base realignment and closure, or BRAC, one of the most difficult things to grasp is how those shifts will happen. To date, none of the BRAC actions affecting Air Force Reserve Command units will move entire units from

QDR focuses on protecting Americans

Just as the fall of the Soviet Union led to changes in how the U.S. military is organized and operates, the post-Sept. 11 world requires continuation of that process, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here Feb. 1. At a Pentagon news conference, Mr. Rumsfeld and Navy Adm. Edmund Giambastiani,

Moseley discusses uniform changes

The top Air Force general is enthusiastic about the upcoming utility uniform and its head-to-toe changes, he said at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium here Feb. 2. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley said during a discussion at the symposium that officials have finalized

615th CRW plays role in joint exercise

Airmen with the 615th Contingency Response Wing here participated in a joint forcible entry exercise, or JFEX, at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Jan. 21 to 28. JFEX is designed to enhance cohesiveness between the Air Force and Army by executing large-scale heavy equipment and troop movements. The

New facility set to be environmentally friendly

A new aircraft corrosion control paint and depaint facility under construction here is designed to be environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. The goal in building the new facility was to make environmental improvements over old processes, said Richard Slife of the 402nd Maintenance Wing quality

Adjustments essential to maintaining Tricare benefits

Adjustments to the Tricare program are necessary to ensure military health benefits are maintained at a superior level for many years, said a Defense Department official here Feb. 1. The changes, which will be introduced next week with the release of the Quadrennial Defense Review and the

A hero’s philosophy on life may inspire others

Articles and other news clippings commemorating a hero’s life lay safely tucked away inside a plastic box. Photos and plaques recounting his numerous achievements adorn the walls. In one corner, a stack of accident analysis reports and an actual piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia’s wreckage lie,

AEF rotation perfect time to set goals

The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief makes no bones about it at the Right Start Briefing. “You’re here for a rotation, and our mission comes first; but, it’s also a great time to set some goals and achieve them,” said Chief Master Sgt. Dwayne Hopkins, 379th AEW command chief. Tech. Sgt.

Military health system headed to joint future

"Jointness" is the future for military operations, and the military health care system will be no different, two Defense Department officials said here Jan. 30. As the military health system transforms, the services will unite to provide more complete and efficient care to all servicemembers, their

F-35 simulator demonstrates fighter of tomorrow

While the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is still in development, Airmen are getting a “sneak peek” at the future of air superiority thanks to a unique simulator. The Lockheed Martin Corporation’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, or JSF, pilot interface simulator is demonstrating the fighter’s capabilities to

Transformed battlefield medical care saving more lives

The military health system has revolutionized battlefield medical care in the past four years, reducing fatalities and raising the quality of care to all-time high levels, two Defense Department officials said here Jan. 30. Injured servicemembers are now more quickly transported from the battlefield

New documentary showcases unique military careers

A new documentary launched today will help to educate the American public about military service and clear up misconceptions, said a Department of Defense official. David S.C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said the one-hour film, "Today's Military: Extraordinary People;

Rapid prototyping speeds up design assessment

The Air Force Research Laboratory has developed a new rapid way to test wind tunnel designs. Traditional wind tunnel models are meticulously machined from metal in a process that can take several months. While very precise, the manufacturing process is too slow to assess a new design's feasibility

Air Force eliminates commissioned officer distinctions

The Air Force will eliminate the distinction between active-duty regular and reserve officers by May 1. Previously, an officer who earned a reserve commission served in a sort of probationary period until promoted to major, when they could become a “regular” officer. The contract reserve officers

New contract begins for Tricare dental program

Tricare Management Activity will begin its new Tricare Dental Program, or TDP, contract with United Concordia Companies Inc. Feb. 1. United Concordia will continue to furnish worldwide, comprehensive dental coverage to include preventive, diagnostic, restorative and maintenance services to all

Gunsmith shop gets new name, command

The U.S. Air Force Gunsmith Shop is getting a new name and command. After 48 years of operations here under Air Training and then Air Education and Training Command, the shop is realigning under Air Force Materiel Command. Now known as the U.S. Air Force Gunsmith Integrated Product Team, the

Tuskegee Airmen leave strong legacy

On July 19, 1941, the Army Air Force began a program in Alabama to train black Americans as pilots for the first time. Civil rights organizations and the black press exerted pressure that resulted in the formation of an all black pursuit squadron based in Tuskegee, Ala., in 1941. They became known

Memorial services held for fallen Airmen

More than 500 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and multinational partners attended a memorial service Jan. 27 to pay their final respects to two Airmen who were killed in Iraq by an improvised explosive device Jan. 22. Tech. Sgt. Jason Norton, 32, and Staff Sgt. Brian McElroy, 28, were assigned to

Quadrennial review a 'snapshot,' not a revelation

The Quadrennial Defense Review being released Feb. 6 is not a new revelation. It is a snapshot of where the Defense Department is as it transforms to meet new threats, officials said recently. The review, released in conjunction with the president's fiscal 2007 defense budget request, combines

Field medics move in out of the dust

The thought of a field hospital conjures up images of medics rolling battle-wounded troops on gurneys into a dimly lit operating room. The 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron at Sather Air Base located at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, no longer battles the desert dust or works in cramped

HVAC team keeps Airmen ‘cool’ under pressure

Every humming metal box, tangle of wires and yawning duct on a military base has some function. But, it usually doesn’t get much attention until it stops functioning. In this way, heating, venting and air conditioning, or HVAC, technicians in the 376th Civil Engineer Squadron here, are attuned to

New location, same C-130 airlift mission

Airmen and aircraft have relocated and the name of the squadron has changed. But, the mission of Airmen deployed here from the 463rd Airlift Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., has not. These Airmen deliver cargo in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility and are now flying their

Chilean air force receives F-16 Peace Puma

The delivery of two new F-16 Peace Puma aircraft from the United States to Chile Jan. 24 kicks off a promising era of interoperability between the two nations. Over the next 10 months, the Chilean air force will receive eight additional F-16 C and D model aircraft from the contractor Lockheed Martin

Vance couple selected to pilot B-2s

The Air Force's only B-2 Spirit bomber wing has announced a historical first -- the selection of a married pilot couple. Capts. Rob and Beth Makros, T-38 instructor pilots with the 25th Flying Training Squadron here, have been selected for assignment to the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force

Air Force-led convoy hands reins back to Soldiers

As the Air Force has taken on roles traditionally held by the Army, one of the most visible of those tasks has been convoy duty. One of those Air Force-led convoys is ending its run and handing the reins back over to Soldiers. Their last convoy will be a certification run for the Soldiers who are

‘Just another day at work’ for the 106th Rescue Wing

Tred Barta claims to be one of the “best big game fishermen in the world,” with a reputation for doing things the hard way. His blunt talk and nonconformist style has made him a popular, if controversial, star of the television show, “The Best and Worst of Tred Barta,” and he’s teamed up with an

Air Force cardiologist helps Iraqi children

As a volunteer pediatric cardiologist for several nonprofit organizations, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kirk Milhoan has screened children with congenital heart disease in Mongolia, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Tibet and Sudan. When he deployed to the Air Force theater hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq, in 2005, he

Small office comes up big for armament, munitions Airmen

When it comes to handling munitions no one does a better job than the munitions materiel handling equipment focal point here. The focal point is an organization assigned to the agile combat support systems squadron. Its sole purpose is to support the entire Air Force armament and munitions community

PMEL Airmen ensure equipment is serviceable

The precision measurement equipment laboratory’s claim to fame is being the only 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron workgroup that serves the entire area of responsibility. The team falls under the responsibility of the test measurement and diagnostic equipment, or TMDE, flight. The laboratory

Response team rescues two Airmen during Arctic storm

With sub-zero temperatures, snow and winds exceeding 100 miles per hour, an unexpected Arctic storm struck here Jan. 24, trapping two Airmen without a heat source on the frigid tundra. Airmen 1st Class John Wood and Marc Chavis were rescued from their stranded patrol truck after U.S. and Danish

Position-vacancy promotions change for Reservists

Air Force Reserve Command is changing the way it determines the number of early officer promotions, known as position-vacancy promotions. “Starting with the February Air Force Reserve major promotion selection board, we will link position-vacancy promotion quotas to mandatory promotion board

DOD plans to boost access to military child care

The availability of child-care services for military families will receive a boost from a multifaceted approach by the Defense Department, a senior official here said Jan. 26. "We project the (child-care) needs as greater than what we're offering at this point," said Jan Witte, director of DOD's

Italian pilot deploys with U.S. forces

For four months an Italian air force pilot, as part of an exchange program, has been deployed to Southwest Asia with the U.S. Air Force. Capt. Daniele Poli, 738th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron pilot, has flown C-130 Hercules on more than 240 sorties, for more than 60 missions since September 2005.

Piece by piece, information can yield secrets when put together

These days modems come built into computers and Internet access many times is cheaper than regular telephone service. It seems everyone has a license to cruise the information super highway. There are a variety of ways for people to interact across the globe, such as e-mail, chat rooms and instant

Transportation secretary praises Lackland Airmen

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta praised Airmen here Jan. 25 for their vital role in transportation and care of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita evacuees. “You witnessed firsthand one of the most devastating disasters this country has ever had to endure,” Secretary Mineta said. “And you

Most Reserve, Guard members earn more, not less, in uniform

Despite general perceptions that Guardsmen and Reservists lose income when called to active duty, most actually earn more in uniform than as civilians, a new Rand Corp. study reveals. The nonprofit research organization's study, commissioned by the Defense Department and released Jan. 25, shows that

Contingency skills course brings expeditionary basics to Airmen

With Airmen doing more on the frontlines of the war on terrorism, the need exists for Air Force specialties across the board to receive training in a variety of expeditionary combat skills. In the Air Mobility Warfare Center’s 421st Combat Training Squadron here, they built an answer to that need --

Andersen kids lead FitFactor in participation points

A brother and sister team from Andersen hold the most participation points in FitFactor, the Air Force-wide youth fitness program. Fenton and Cierra Fitzgerald, the son and daughter of Master Sgts. Fenton and Kimberly Fitzgerald, accomplished the feat by working their way through three of the five

Defense review addresses uncertain, unpredictable world

The Quadrennial Defense Review, to be delivered to Congress Feb. 6, will be dominated by two words: uncertainty and unpredictability, senior defense officials said Jan. 25. Congress mandates that the Department of Defense conduct the QDR every four years to ensure the armed forces have the right mix

Air Force ranks No. 1 for renewable energy use

The Air Force purchased more renewable energy than any other member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s green power partnership last year, according to a report released Jan. 24 by the EPA. The partnership, which is sponsored by the EPA, consists of U.S. companies and organizations that

Security forces work side by side with Soldiers in Iraq

Imagine searching door to door with Soldiers, looking for insurgents, high-value targets and weapons caches in Iraq. Envision the nerve it takes to do the job after having another Airman in the area critically injured by an improvised explosive device, or IED, only two weeks after being assigned to

Air Guardsman soars into Super Bowl XL

Bryce Fisher the “Guardsman” can earn a medal or a ribbon or receive a commander’s coin for a job well done. Now, Bryce Fisher the “football player” has a shot at a Super Bowl ring and a title his hometown has been waiting 30 years for. The Seahawks, the newly crowned National Football Conference

Three questions can make a difference: warning signs of stroke

Nearly 20 years ago when Ida Glover asked her 40-year-old son a question and he couldn't respond, she thought he had suffered some type of nerve damage. Days later she discovered his prognosis was much worse. Doctors at the Medical Center of Central Georgia told Ms. Glover her son had experienced

Little Rock Airmen provide “beans and bullets” downrange, again

A trip to the desert is nothing new for the 463rd Airlift Group here. On Jan. 20, 24 Airmen and two C-130 Hercules stepped up to deliver "beans and bullets" to the warfighter for more than 120 days. The experienced crew understands that airlift is important for reducing convoy operations in

Reserve command helps BRAC-affected personnel

Air Force Reserve Command has created a new program to help Reservists and civilians navigate Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, changes. The programs include a BRAC guide, member-tracking codes, two clearing houses, e-mail boxes and an archive. All are designed to assist those affected by the

AFRL breakthrough furthers space optics

Positioning three delicate, circular mirrors to one one-thousandth of the width of a human hair challenged scientists at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s space vehicles directorate here. But, not anymore. For five years they studied the deployable optical telescope, or DOT. The telescope

'Smart' cable helps protect aircraft

In December 2003 and January 2004, several Air Force aircraft took fire near Baghdad, Iraq, but the missile warning systems failed to indicate the attacks. Air Force officials looked to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to fix this problem. An airlift defensive systems “tiger team” was formed

Raptor completes operational refueling flight first

Airmen from the 18th Air Refueling Squadron here took part in the first operational aerial refueling mission for the F-22A Raptor Jan. 21 in support of Operation Noble Eagle. The F-22A Raptor was declared operational by the Air Force Dec. 15. It is the newest fighter aircraft for the Air Force,

Portion size critical to losing weight

The health and wellness center, or HAWC, here has now initiated a new program that emphasizes healthier eating habits and weight control called Portion Off the Pounds. The 10-week program offers weekly weigh-ins, nutrition education and an ongoing support group. "The concept of the class is to show

Rocket journeys to edge of solar system

The 45th Space Wing helped successfully launch the NASA Pluto New Horizons spacecraft on an Atlas V rocket here Jan. 19. The wing provided launch base support to Lockheed Martin and International Launch Services, who serve as the commercial spacecraft and booster vehicle provider to the National

CMSAF Murray visits Southern Command units

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray toured units throughout U.S. Southern Command Jan. 16 to 19 to express Air Force leaders’ appreciation for what Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and civilians within the command do every day. Chief Murray visited Airmen in Honduras, Ecuador,

Mountain Home maintainers keep Eagles, Falcons flying

Behind every good jet is a good maintainer –- actually, make that several maintainers. More than 850 Airmen with the 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here serve as the first line of defense for maintenance on 73 jets, ensuring they’re safe, reliable and ready to fly when pilots need them. The

Security forces squadron leads combat path

In a vast wasteland of Third World countries paved with improvised explosive devices and teenagers armed with rocket-propelled grenades, you’ll find Airmen defending freedom. Airmen with the 366th Fighter Wing here are no strangers to combat operations, but one group shares this load more often. The

Barksdale lends helping hand in filming movie

Barksdale Airmen helped movie crews film “The Guardian” here Jan. 12 and 13. Although originally slated to shoot in New Orleans, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina quickly changed the movie’s plans. “We were planning on making the movie in New Orleans. Obviously, Katrina hit, and we had to move

Leasing option increases Air Force land value

Underutilized Air Force land does not need to sit idle any longer. The Air Force Real Property Agency converts underutilized land and infrastructure into real value for the Air Force, installations and communities through the enhanced use leasing option, officials said. "Enhanced use leasing is a

Air Force takes delivery of first production Global Hawks

The first of two production Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles began flying missions in support of the global war on terrorism within hours of arriving in theater earlier this month. The aircraft -- managed by the Aeronautical Systems Center's Global Hawk Systems Group here -- are part of the 12th

Where there's smoke, there's training

Being caught in a burning building would be terrifying. It’s not an experience most people would welcome. And yet for some, it is. For two brave souls with the 506th Expeditionary Medical Services Squadron, the opportunity to don a full protective suit and go into the smoke simulation burn trainer

JSTARS adds blue force tracking capability

The ability to distinguish between friend and foe, a concept known as blue force tracking, is critical to conducting effective network-focused military operations. The Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems Group made its first steps toward that goal by installing a system called Force XXI

Wilford Hall becomes Air Force's cytology center

New technology has made it possible for the Air Force’s seven cytology centers to be consolidated into one. Since Wilford Hall Medical Center’s cytology department is already the busiest center, performing 32 percent of all Air Force pap smears, it was recommended that the consolidation be handled

Airmen train on latest technology

A shadowy silhouette is seen through dust clouds, brush and trees. There’s neither enough sun nor moonlight to distinguish the surroundings. The atmosphere is unfamiliar, uncomfortable, dangerous and unpredictable. You know your enemy is watching your every move. Relief is found in a locked and

Start date for new personnel system pushed back three months

Defense officials have scaled back the initial group of civilian employees to fall under the new National Security Personnel System to 11,000 from a previously scheduled 60,000, officials announced Jan. 17. The implementation date was also changed from Feb. 1 to April 30. Personnel officials have

ROBE upgrade sets KC-135 on forefront of battle communications

A KC-135 Stratotanker here was fitted with upgraded communications equipment recently which will revolutionize battle space and the way the United States and its allies fight wars. After 18 months on the drawing board, the Roll-On Beyond Line-of-Sight Enhancement Spiral 2 program, ROBE, has been

Airmen teach islanders construction skills

Members of the all-Air Force civic action team working here are not content with just building construction projects -- they want to teach Palauan how to do it. Eleven islanders are employed under the team’s apprenticeship-training program. Each works with a team member for training in the Airman’s

Reservists attend first safeguard training exercise

While many Airmen were glued to the tube watching the NFL playoffs, the 939th Air Refueling Wing went to training camp to learn how to better survive and operate in a war, contingency or emergency. The 43 Reservists went to the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center at Camp Douglas, Wis., to

Last WC-130H departs Keesler

The last of a generation of aircraft lifted gently off the runway here Jan. 12. “This is the end of an era. For years the H model performed magnificently meeting the needs of the weather mission; however, it is time to move on,” said Brig. Gen. Rich Moss, commander of the 403rd Wing. “The increased

F-15 painters using new environmentally safer fluids

Aircraft painters can breathe a little easier thanks to the development of a new material used for stripping and painting F-15 Eagles. The Air Force is continuing its path toward environmentally friendly mission execution. A partnership with the University of Missouri-Rolla; Air Force Research Lab,

Air Force to replace combat search and rescue helicopters

Air Force combat search and rescue teams will use a new helicopter -- the now under development CSAR-X -- to help recover downed pilots around 2012. The new helicopter will replace 101 HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters Air Force combat search and rescue teams now use. The Air Force expects to begin

Flight showcases future Weapon Data Link Network

Two-way communications with a weapon after it's released from an aircraft is at the forefront of all new weapons technology, and standards for it has become a priority. Such standards were successfully implemented and demonstrated during a recent series of flight demonstrations here for the Weapon

Trainees learn attention to detail through 'warrior' mindset

You won't find today's basic trainees hunched over brown T-shirts, tugging at them with tweezers to make perfect 6-inch squares. Instead, you will soon find Airmen who have mastered the M-16 rifle, can identify its components, field-strip and clean it, and reassemble it without the slightest

Think of safety first

Keeping Airmen here safe is not a task taken lightly by the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s ground safety office. "Our job is to prevent the loss of life or damage to government equipment," said Tech. Sgt. Clyde Lathon, 332nd AEW ground safety manager. "We are the Air Force equivalent to the

Andersen AFB: growing to meet its mission

The eyes of U.S. military leaders are once again focused here to provide peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. “The strategic importance of Andersen is rejuvenating,” said Col. Michael Boera, the 36th Expeditionary Air Wing commander. “No longer is Andersen the sleepy hollow it’s been

Civil engineers plan for the future

Expansion plans here have civil engineers drawing up blueprints for construction projects for next year, the next five years, even the next decade. “We’re planning for the future so that 50 years from now people will be glad we designed everything right the first time,” said Lt. Col. Marvin Smith,

New C-17 Globemaster III honors President Reagan

Former first lady Nancy Reagan today helped dedicate the Air Force’s newest C-17 Globemaster III to honor her late husband, former President Ronald Reagan. The Spirit of Ronald Reagan is assigned to Air Force Reserve Command’s 452nd Air Mobility Wing here. It is the first Reserve unit to fly its own

Rex the Dog finds new home

A 21st Security Forces Squadron Airman is the first military working dog handler allowed to adopt her K-9 partner from active duty. Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana, a military working dog handler, has been waiting since August for the official word after she requested to adopt her K-9, Rex. The two were

SERE instructor takes training to a new level

As nightfall approaches, the temperature drops to single digits. The layers of clothing that seemed more than adequate earlier, now offer little protection from the bone-chilling breeze and icy ground. But, that is the least of the survivors’ concerns. “They’re not just surviving,” Tech Sgt. Micheal

F-16 pylons receive upgrade

Wiring for pylons on F-16 Fighting Falcons are being upgraded by the 309th Commodities Maintenance Squadron at Ogden Air Logistics Center here, enabling the jets to handle 21st century smart munitions. The cables that deliver the pilot's commands to the munitions must be more complex as weapon

B-1B Lancers rotate into Andersen

B-1B Lancers from the 34th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D, have deployed here. The rotation was seamless for the 34th BS because they traded the rotation with another Ellsworth squadron, which left its bombers behind for them to use. “The support we’ve received from Andersen has been

CENTAF commander visits deployed Airmen, Sailors on last trip to Afghanistan

As part of his final trip to Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces visited deployed Airmen and Sailors here Jan. 10 to 11. During a troop call, Lt. Gen. Walter E. Buchanan III addressed Airmen and Sailors who are deployed to Bagram as part of Air and Space Expeditionary Force

Post-Katrina relief operations bolster community recovery

Keesler is at the forefront of the battle to restore the Mississippi Gulf Coast of Hurricane Katrina’s wake. After the storm devastated the base and surrounding communities Aug. 29, Keesler’s training mission temporarily stopped as it recovered and began humanitarian relief operations, or HUMRO. The

Give and take, teach and learn -- building an Iraqi Air Force

Reality is often at odds with expectations when Airmen deploy. This difference can be extreme when the mission is to provide military training to a recent enemy. But several Airmen near the end of six-month deployments as advisory support team instructors say they would rather stay here than go home

Improved earpieces reaching Falcon pilots

F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots here will soon start using an earpiece that will afford better hearing protection and an improved mission focus. The 4th Fighter Squadron's "Fighting Fuujins" will receive the new attenuating custom communication earpiece system this month. The earpiece was developed at

Billing date changes for government travel card

Air Force government travel card billing cycles for individually billed accounts will begin closing out on the 22nd of each month beginning in March. The current cycle ends the third day of every month, so cardholders will experience a long cycle running Feb. 3 through March 22. Bank of America will

Privatized housing now available at Scott

The Air Force closed a housing privatization deal recently at an Illinois base, bringing the total of privatized homes across the service to more than 16,000, said housing officials here. Scott Air Force Base, Ill., will benefit from $250 million in total development of 1,593 homes within the first

Mission is out of this world

Its material is found nowhere else on Earth but here, while its mission is out of this world. Detachment 5, 22nd Space Operations Squadron has an antenna that uses a durable Kevlar mix as its cover, the first of its kind in the world. They use it because the material must withstand 195-mph typhoon

Cannon visitor explores BRAC options

As directed by the final 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations, the Air Force is exploring new mission options here. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics William C. Anderson visited here Jan. 4-5 to gather information in an attempt

Leaner processes working at Kirtland

The Air Force is becoming leaner without the help of fad diets or abs-crunching exercise regiments. Logistics and maintenance programs imported from the private business sector, like Lean, are turning once-bloated processes into models of streamlined efficiency. The payoff is less cost, improved

Air Force improving production with Smart Operations 21

The Air Force used the best parts of several civilian efficiency programs to develop an Air Force-unique process-improvement program called "Smart Operations 21," Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne said. The program will take the Air Force forward in a journey of self-improvement, the

Guard, Reserve benefit from 2006 defense authorization

The 2006 National Defense Authorization Act signed into law Jan. 6 provides new or enhanced benefits for National Guard and Reserve members, a senior defense official said. President George W. Bush signed the legislation Jan. 6, providing a variety of benefits designed to bring reserve-component

2006 defense budget increases military pay and benefits

President George W. Bush ushered in an across-the-board 3.1 percent military pay raise, effective Jan. 1. It includes a variety of new or enhanced benefits for servicemembers and their families when he signed the 2006 National Defense Authorization Bill into law Jan. 6. In addition to a pay raise

New Mexico Tech to build on Kirtland

The Air Force conveyed more than eight acres of base land to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology during a ceremony here Jan. 6. The agreement is designed to stimulate business efficiencies and technological advancement through the construction of new facilities. The land conveyance, a

Long convoy duty is no easy task

By dawn, Airmen of the 424th Medium Truck Detachment had finished preparing for their mission -- move Army 4th Infantry Division supplies and material from Kuwait into Iraq. These Airmen do not fly their cargo, and it’s quite possible they may go their entire deployment without even seeing a

New civilian personnel training postponed until review complete

National Security Personnel System training for Department of Defense managers and rank-and-file employees is being postponed while a component of the new system is reviewed, an NSPS official said here today. "We've asked the services to put a hold on their training for January because we're

Civilian pay raises to take effect

The upcoming pay period for Defense Department civilian General Schedule employees will reflect a 2.1 percent across-the-board pay raise. It also includes a range of locality pays that bring the overall pay hikes between 2.83 and 5.62 percent, an Office of Personnel Management spokesman said. The

National Guard helps battle wildfires

National Guard crews continue to assist Oklahoma and Texas firefighters in dousing wildfires that have now burned more than 600,000 acres in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Texas Air National Guard crews helped firefighters battle a 22,000-acre blaze that threatened more than 200 homes near Carbon,

Airmen participate in Rose Bowl events

A B-1B Lancer kicked off the national college football title game Jan. 4 with a flyover of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Gen. Ronald Keys, commander of Air Combat Command and Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center here, represented the Air Force at several

Last Herc heads to new home

California Guard to get the Predator

As part of ongoing Total Force initiatives, the Air Force, the National Guard Bureau and the Adjutant General of California announced today that the California Air National Guard’s 163rd Air Refueling Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., will become the home for a new MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial

Good eats means happy troops

An army marches on it stomach. Napoleon Bonaparte said, and believed, that in 1812. Truth is he might have been thinking more about the importance of a good supply line. But a visit to a military camp -- then or now -- would reveal that good eats and tasty treats are just as important to the troops.

Airmen ‘drop the ball’ on New Year’s Eve

With inspiration from New York -- the city that never sleeps -- Airmen at this desert base that never sleeps got to drop the ball this New Year’s Eve. In less than 72 hours, some 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron members constructed a New Year’s Eve Ball like the one dropped at New