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  • First test of 'Net Decoy' system shows promise

    The airmen of the 100th Communications Squadron here hosted the first-ever demonstration of the pioneering "Net Decoy" system, combining two defensive information systems that detect, track and potentially identify cyberspace intruders.During the latter part of August the Air Force Information

  • Air Force officials to cancel 100,000 travel cards

    More than 100,000 of the Air Force's government travel cards will be canceled in early October for lack of use, according to the service's travel card program manager.The move, said Michael Weber, is part of a servicewide effort to "clean up the books" and will affect those people who have not used

  • Research lab applies robotic technology to mission

    On June 25, 1996, the military community was devastated when several American military members were killed and many more injured, including some local civilians, when the Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, were bombed.Following this tragic event, Air Force officials identified a need to safely

  • Dentist keeps airmen in fight against terrorism

    Capt. Zindell Richardson is "all smiles" because he has the corner on the dental market at this forward-deployed location.As the only military dentist in this country, the Campbellsville, Ky., native is responsible for providing dental care to thousands of U.S. and coalition warfighters."The concept

  • Hill experts renovate F-16s for Thailand's air force

    The first five F-16 Fighting Falcons of 16 being renovated by aircraft experts here left for Thailand recently. The remainder of the modified fighters are scheduled to join the Royal Thai air force by January.The F-16s, which will be used as air defense fighters, were brought here from

  • Haute cuisine desert style

    (Left to right) Senior Airman Garth K. Courtney, Tech. Sgt. Ken A. Pronti, Staff Sgt. James L. Hallmark and Tech. Sgt. John A. Barone, assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron, look for "customers" on the deck they constructed at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation

  • Launch marks new era of space vehicles

    A new era of space launch vehicles began when the first Lockheed-Martin Atlas V lifted off the pad at Cape Canaveral Aug. 21.This launch begins the operational start of the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program, the latest in technology for launching critical payloads into space.EELV

  • Mr. Sandman

    Staff Sgt. Jon Slingerland, from the 379th Expeditionary Comptroller Squadron at a forward deployed location, sands wood on a hole his unit is building for the base's new miniature golf course. Once complete, the course will be added to a growing list of activities offered by the 379th

  • New facility for airborne laser ground testing

    With the airborne laser flight test program under way, members of the ABL Integrated Test Force here are putting the finishing touches on a new facility that will be key to upcoming ground tests.The $18.5 million test support structure, known as the Ground Pressure Recovery Assembly, will allow the

  • Aircraft storage center receives first B-1

    The first of two dozen B-1 Lancers to be stored as part of the Air Force's B-1 fleet reduction plan arrived at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center here Aug. 20.The arrival starts a reduction process that will take the Air Force's B-1 fleet to 60 from its current 92 count. Twenty four

  • Let there be light!

    Senior Airman Jeremy Tripp, an electrical power production journeyman from the 438th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Flight, works on an air compressor Aug. 17 that boosts a telescopic floodlight unit into position to illuminate a new laundry facility at a forward-deployed location. (Photo by Staff

  • New radar keeps skies safe

    A new radar is improving safety for aircraft landing at a forward-operating location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.The AN/MPN-25 Rapid Deployment Radar System was deployed in January."We brought it here to prove the system and provide a higher level of safety for the aircraft around the

  • Spouse's program takes off

    McConnell graduated its first spouses recently from a new program designed to increase spouses' and caregivers' awareness of the Air Force mission, customs, traditions, protocol, support resources and other services available to them."I thought (Heartlink) was very informative, especially for a

  • Peterson airman stars in AF commercial

    The moment Airman 1st Class Jessica Sanchez stepped onto the Hollywood sound stage recently, she was "crossing into the blue" at the same time.The missile warning intelligence analyst with the 21st Operations Support Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., won the role of a young Hispanic woman

  • Thrift Savings Plan offering improvements

    The Thrift Savings Plan's new computerized record-keeping system, now set to kick off in November, will provide more control of accounts for investors and faster processing of transactions, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here.During the transition period Aug. 19 to Sept. 16, access

  • Wing practicing sound resource management

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing has established new resource management forums that comptroller officials at this forward-deployed location say will be a benchmark for large contingency bases.The wing recently held its first Financial Working Group and Financial Management Board to ensure

  • U.S. Northern Command setup becomes clearer

    When U.S. Northern Command stands up Oct. 1, the new organization in charge of homeland defense will have "combatant command" of a small number of specialized units.Combatant command, or COCOM, gives combatant commanders the authority to organize, train and operate units. It is different from

  • AMC sends pet shipping reminders

    It is the middle of the moving season, and it is important that people follow a few simple guidelines to have their cat or dog travel smoothly with them. Air Mobility Command has arranged a very liberal pet policy with the air carriers that fly the Patriot Express missions, said Master Sgt. Nikki

  • Remembering close air support's humble beginnings

    Even the most complex of systems often begin with a simple idea.Case in point: close air support.While today's soldier can expect aerial support from fighter aircraft, specially designed gunships and helicopters -- even heavy bombers dropping laser guided munitions from several miles away -- the

  • Cable guy

    Staff Sgt. Lonnie Gonzales, from the 363rd Expeditionary Communications Squadron, works with limited space while laying fiber and copper cable for the new base theater here. Gonzales is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. (Photo by Senior Airman Shannon Kluge)

  • Detachment activated to support V-22 testing

    A new detachment was activated here recently to support V-22 Osprey testing.Detachment 2 was created to operationally test the MV-22 from the special operations perspective to assess its value as a baseline for the special operations variant, the CV-22."I'm proud to be part of the outstanding team

  • Resume requirements clarified for Air Force civilian employment

    Palace Compass officials here recently clarified whether or not applicants need a resume when applying for civilian employment."Applicants for job vacancies filled by the Air Force Personnel Center may not need a resume," said Lee McGehee, technical director. "But all applicants must self-nominate

  • CCAF offers FAA certification for engine maintainers

    After four years in development, a new certification program offered by the Community College of the Air Force could replace the title"aircraft mechanic" with "Federal Aviation Administration-certified aviation maintenance technician" in for airmen working on military aircraft.The Joint Service

  • Air Force announces OTS selections

    The Air Force is giving 92 enlisted members the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars after being chosen to attend Officer Training School.Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service conducted OTS Selection Board 0207, which met here June 25 to 28. The board considered 654 total applications,

  • B-1 consolidation begins

    A year after the B-1 Lancer consolidation plan was first announced, people here are seeing the first steps take shape.The plan, announced last year, calls for the B-1 fleet to be consolidated here and at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. The other three bases where B-1s were assigned have already

  • 'Be safe' is course guideline

    Master Sgt. William Miller, 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, maneuvers an all-terrain vehicle through the base's new safety course. The course is required before operating an ATV on Al Udeid and is taught by a certified Special Vehicles Institute of America

  • Timm-berr!

    A relic of the Cold War came down here July 30 with the help of five giant earthmovers. The old air traffic control tower was completed in June 1962 at a cost of $177,000. Today, a new 10-story, $4.1 million tower takes its place.

  • Reservists demobilize to prepare for new 'steady state'

    In response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Air Force mobilized more than 30,000 Air National Guardsmen and Air Force Reservists.Nearly a year later, a large portion of them are being released as the Air Force embraces a new steady state, according to Michael L. Dominguez, assistant secretary

  • Servicemembers help children in Philippines

    In a desolate portion of the Philippines, at a place not easily found, U.S. servicemembers are working together to make a difference.A group of Florida National Guardsmen, Army reservists, active-duty servicemen, and Philippine soldiers have begun to work together recently to provide civic outreach

  • F-16 simulator goes high energy

    F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots here are honing their laser firing skills against airborne targets while flying their aircraft -- without ever leaving the ground.Pilots are using the high energy laser fighter simulator, an F-16 simulator modified to integrate a high energy laser weapon model into an

  • OEF missions 'challenging, fulfilling' for KC-135 crew

    A steady stream of warm sweat drips from Capt. Matt Bowers' face as he preflights the KC-135 Stratotanker for a mid-day mission that will take him to the skies over Afghanistan.Temperatures in the sauna-like cockpit reach 130 degrees during the 90-minute process and won't cool off until the tanker

  • Spangdahlem tests virtual out-processing initiative

    In an effort to improve quality of life by streamlining base processes, Spangdahlem Air Base is one of four bases worldwide to test the Air Force's new virtual out-processing initiative.Throughout August, select families moving back to the United States will test a customized database system online.

  • Lyles delivers newest C-17 to Air Force

    A critical piece of the Air Force puzzle was put in place Aug. 1 as Air Force Materiel Command's top officer delivered the newest C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.Gen. Lester Lyles, AFMC commander, delivered the aircraft, the 42nd C-17 to be delivered to

  • Air Force releases all specialties from Stop-Loss

    The last officer and enlisted specialties on Stop-Loss will be released beginning Sept. 1.In making the announcement, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche said the release will be phased in during a one-month period to allow both the Air Force and affected personnel time for transition."We

  • PERSCO team is mini personnel office

    First impressions can leave lasting effects and at a deployed location, the Personnel Support for Contingency Operations team, or PERSCO team, makes it their business to provide a positive experience and help deployed newcomers.At this location in the Arabian Gulf region, for example, the PERSCO

  • Base uses worms to destroy waste

    The environmental management office is started a new program here that has upped the base population by 250,000. But these new base inhabitants are unlike any other. They have no eyes or ears, and can eat about 250 pounds of food a day.People from the environmental office have acquired a worm farm

  • Lowest bidder wins this auction

    It is similar to any other auction, but with a twist. In the Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence's version, the lowest bidder wins, not the highest.The environmental center is trying out a "reverse auction" procedure that allows contractors to bid on some center work via the Internet.It

  • Idea earns employee $10,000, saves millions

    A telephone call that rudely interrupted Joseph Heinig's hour-and-a-half rest recently ended up with him getting a $10,000 check for a good idea.The telephone call came from Lt. Gen. Dick Reynolds, Aeronautical Systems Center commander here, asking Heinig to be at a recent F-22 systems program

  • Air Force chaplains ensure religious freedom

    One of the main reasons for the settlement of the 13 colonies that eventually grew into the United States of America was religious freedom. The challenge of religious diversity is the ultimate test of whether people believe in that right, according to the Air Force's top chaplain."This is why I'm a

  • Family tradition inspires deployed NCO

    The word "family" speaks to the hearts of everyone.When some think of family, they think of an old home, a childhood memory or a relative. When Staff Sgt. Ernesto E. Diaz thinks of family, he thinks of the U.S. military.A food service specialist with the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron at Al

  • F-15 Eagles still flying high at 30

    The F-15 Eagle turned 30 years old July 27, but those who fly it or maintain it say this bird is as spry as ever.Considering the numbers that really count, the aircraft is mission perfect. It currently boasts a combat record of 104 kills without a loss, a score that includes Israeli and Saudi

  • Transition assistance programs good for troops

    Transition assistance programs do a lot more than help servicemembers make a successful departure from the military. A top Department of Defense personnel expert called such programs good for recruiting and retention and for U.S. economic well-being.Charles Abell, assistant secretary of defense for