NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Airmen keep Hercules strong

    When a transient C-130 Hercules delivers cargo and personnel here, there is a chance the aircraft may require maintenance before flying again. This is where Airmen of the 746th Aircraft Maintenance Unit step up to troubleshoot and fix the plane to make the C-130 ready for its return flight home. "We

  • Senator Glenn receives White national defense award

    Marine, test pilot, astronaut and four-term U.S. Senator John H. Glenn, Jr. was honored April 22 as the recipient of the 2008 Thomas D. White National Defense Award. Named in honor of Gen. Thomas Dresser White, former Air Force chief of staff, it is presented annually to a U.S. citizen who has

  • New York Guardsmen stay on alert to save lives

    While all Airmen assigned to rescue squadrons throughout the Air Force know and follow the motto "So that others may live," there is one rescue squadron deployed to Afghanistan that takes this personal. "There is something that sets our unit apart from all the others," said Senior Master Sgt.

  • Blue Flag enhances ability to protect U.S. from attacks

    More than 500 Air Force personnel along with Army, Navy and Marine representatives completed a two-week training exercise April 24 here to improve how to monitor and intercept hostile military aircraft and to respond to potential terrorist attacks. Part of a series of military defense training

  • Charleston aerial port supports OEF build-up

    Members of the 437th Aerial Port Squadron here are moving shipments of airfield matting overseas to help create landing strips in a number of remote locations supporting the build-up for Operation Enduring Freedom. Airfield matting is used to accelerate airfield construction by eliminating the time

  • Air Guard chief selected as NORTHCOM advisor

    An Air National Guard command chief master sergeant has been selected as a command senior enlisted advisor for a combatant command.  It is the first time an Air Guardsman has been selected for that position.  Chief Master Sgt. W. Allen Usry, the current Continental U.S. NORAD Region-1st Air Force

  • Military officials monitor swine flu

    Defense Department officials are monitoring the swine flu situation closely, with their primary focus on protecting the military population, a senior Pentagon official said April 27. As officials with the Department of Health and Human Services lead the U.S. effort, the military is posturing itself

  • School honors Colorado's last Vietnam MIA Airman

    Officials from the Air Force Intelligence School here named its auditorium in honor of Colorado's last missing in action Air National Guard member from the Vietnam War April 10 here. Colorado native Maj. Perry H. Jefferson was honored as members of the Colorado Air National Guard and

  • Engaging the Afghan media

    Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, the Combined Forces Air Component commander for forces in Southwest Asia, met with Afghan media recently to discuss airpower missions and contributions to the safety and security of the Afghan people. Reporters from more than 20 television, radio and news print organizations

  • April 25 airpower summary: C-17s helping to sustain fight

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an A-10 Thunderbolt II strafed an enemy truck carrying

  • April 24 airpower summary: Pave Hawks key to rescues

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and F-15E Strike

  • Practice keeps investigative skills sharp

    Practicing skills and maintaining job proficiency are key factors in accomplishing the mission on a day-to-day basis. Recently a member of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here was able to practice and demonstrate fingerprinting skills in a mock crime scene scenario. According to

  • Air Force chief offers perspective to acquisition community

    Some 700 Air Force senior leaders, acquisition professionals and defense industry partners met at the campus of Sinclair Community College April 20 to 22 to address challenges faced by the military acquisition, technology and logistics community.The two-and-a-half day event, organized by the

  • AETC ensures nuclear precision, compliance, accountability

    Command officials have aligned the Air Education and Training Command staff with headquarters Air Force, creating a new directorate that began operations in February to strengthen the focus on training for the Air Force's nuclear enterprise. The new office, AETC Nuclear Operations, Plans and

  • Barrel nut team gets C-130s back in the air

    A team of 30 Airmen across five units helped keep the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's mission effectiveness rates above 98 percent during a nine-day period when the wing had only three flyable C-130 Hercules aircraft. After an immediate action time compliance technical order, or TCTO, was issued by

  • Student 'flies' last T-37 simulator mission

    No one wants to be last in anything he or she does, especially when it comes to the highly-competitive Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, the world's only multi-nationally run undergraduate pilot training organization. But 2nd Lt. Evan Negron, a 25-year-old Salem, N.J., native, said April

  • Senior officials define leadership during Air Force Week

    Leadership was the key topic addressed during an Air Force Week panel discussion April 23 on the campus of the College of William & Mary. Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley led the panel with comments on the theme of "Leadership for the Future," and panel members shared their insights

  • Training system helps joint operators put bombs on target

    When Air Force acquisition program managers meet to discuss the impact of their programs, they frequently talk figuratively about the ability to "put bombs on target." But when managers of the joint terminal control training and rehearsal system mention "bombs on target," they are being literal. The

  • Air Force secretary discusses service's goals, priorities

    The secretary of the Air Force spoke about the service's nuclear enterprise mission, Airmen at war and taking care of Airmen and their families April 23 while visiting the campus of the College of William & Mary during Hampton Roads Air Force Week. Secretary Michael B. Donley began by explaining the

  • ANG chief discusses air sovereignty missions with Congress

    New commitments need to be made to the nation's Airmen and others who defend North America from threats to its air sovereignty, the Air National Guard's senior officer told members of Congress here April 22. Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard, testified before the House

  • Armament unit improves operations with AFSO 21

    Six Airmen from the 20th Maintenance Group recently conducted a Rapid Improvement Event here as part of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiatives happening across the Air Force. Senior Airman Ronnie Eveland, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, explained that while the RIE focused

  • Medics provide care to people in Dominican Republic

    Medics treated 760 patients at a primary school here April 20 on the inaugural day of the largest Maxwell Air Force Base-planned Air Force medical readiness exercise, or MEDRETE,  to date. A group of 45 medics, translators, security and support personnel from the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marines

  • April 23 airpower summary: A-10s thwart attack on convoy

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs operating near Nangalam

  • Quadrennial defense, nuclear posture review begin

    Pentagon officials kicked off the Defense Department's 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and Nuclear Posture Review processes April 23 to determine what types of capabilities will be required to maintain U.S. national security now and in the coming years, senior officials said. "The QDR takes a

  • AF officials primed for officer qualifying test revamp

    Force Management officials will further refine the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test by conducting surveys that ensure the test content measures the most critical abilities and aptitudes tomorrow's officers need. Officials in the Air Staff Force Management Policy Division said the results of two Air

  • Altus slated to receive Reserve squadron

    Top military and government officials announced recently a Reserve squadron will join units here. The addition will boost aircrew training for the KC-135 Stratotanker, C-17 Globemaster III and the eventual KC-X.  The change will take place in fiscal 2010. "We have the opportunity to take some of the

  • Air Force legal team earns Deming Award

    Excellence, innovation and high-impact practices are among the goals of many government agencies, but an Air Force team at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., distinguished itself and earned recognition for that at an April 20 ceremony. At the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here,

  • Balad squadron serves as Iraq's 'guardian angels'

    Coalition military members in Iraq have plenty of equipment, tactics and techniques at their disposal in the event of a worst-case scenario in the field. However, if those safeguards fail, a team of operators from the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is standing by, ready to help. "Our primary

  • Wilford Hall's emergency department much more than that

    At first glance, Wilford Hall Medical Center's emergency department appears to be just another level-1 trauma center, treating patients from not only Lackland Air Force Base but from San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Yet, much more is going on there than people realize. "The emergency

  • Lightning strikes a need for renter's insurance

    Live in base housing and don't have renter's insurance?  For one base couple, renter's insurance may be their only hope to recover what they've lost. The home of 1st Lt. Richard and Rachel Kerr caught fire April 20 after lightning struck their base housing unit during a severe thunderstorm.

  • Squadron Airmen improve following improvement event

    Airman from the 9th Munitions Squadron hosted a Rapid Improvement Event March 30 thru April 3 as part of the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century here. The event was held to identify key issues with the mobility recovery bin process and to find plausible solutions to help resolve them. By

  • The services align, sign new working group charter

    The first big step towards achieving commonality and interoperability of expeditionary basing equipment in the joint force was taken April 13 as the service logistics chiefs came together here to sign the Joint Expeditionary Basing Working Group charter. The lead JEBWG organizations are the Air

  • AFSO 21 helps unit reduce steps, increase proficiency

    The 726th Air Mobility Squadron recently conducted an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century value stream analysis looking for ways to streamline C-17 Globemaster III refueling and increase proficiency levels. The unit pooled Airmen from a variety of backgrounds to participate in the AFSO

  • Maintainers make it happen during Red Flag-Alaska

    During Red Flag-Alaska, thousands of feet above the rugged Alaskan terrain, pilots push their aircraft to the limits, performing dog fights and defensive maneuvers against aggressors, honing their skills for combat missions. However, pilots aren't the only ones who are contributing to mission

  • April 22 airpower summary: B-1B destroys compound

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer destroyed a large compound used

  • A-10 pilots take to Bulgarian skies during joint exercise

    U.S. and Bulgarian air force pilots are honing their close air support and combat search and rescue skills during a joint training exercise April 7 to 28 here.While the exercise was a reunion for Bulgarian and American partnership efforts, this is the first time the 81st Fighter Squadron from

  • JAG Airman provides unique service while deployed

    Many Air Force attorneys spend their days providing legal counsel and preparing legal documents, but for one Air Force captain being deployed means serving in a one of a kind legal position. Capt. Sophia Crawford, detention, judicial and legal policy attorney in the Office of the Staff Judge

  • Joint airpower show proves military might at Air Force Week

    Hundreds of Virginia residents saw a joint airpower demonstration firsthand during Hampton Roads Air Force Week April 22 along the coastline of Virginia Beach. The event included a simulated rescue where a special forces team called in airstrikes then ran into the Atlantic Ocean to be rescued by

  • Airmen, Marines work together to test-load helicopters

    Playing a game of inches, a team of Airmen and Marines worked together April 20 to test-load two Marine helicopters into a C-5C Galaxy.With inches to spare, Airmen from the 60th Aerial Port Squadron here and Marines from the Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron-303 and HMLA-367 at Camp

  • JCS chairman says Holocaust Remembrance Day important

    The top U.S. military officer called on servicemembers to use Holocaust Remembrance Day observances this week as an opportunity to reflect on the responsibilities of life, reminding them that the decisions they make matter. "The story of the Holocaust, however ghastly, offers us an opportunity to

  • Secretary Gates presses to boost network security

    Defense Department officials are working to reduce vulnerability to cyber-attack attempts that occur regularly and are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said."We are under attack virtually all the time, every day here," Secretary Gates told CBS Evening

  • Telelconference held to improve Pacific medical care

    Thirteenth Air Force officials hosted an inaugural aeromedical evacuation quality system-wide teleconference here recently for more than 30 military members and civilians to improve aeromedical evacuations for patients throughout the Pacific. It was the first teleconference of its kind to be hosted

  • F-22s, B-2s fly together over Pacific Ocean

    Twelve F-22 Raptors departed here recently following a deployment marking the first time F-22 Raptors and B-2 Spirits, the key national strategic stealth assets in the Air Force inventory, deployed together outside the continental United States. The Raptors arrived in January and were joined by the

  • Squadron hosts 'Buddy-Wing' Program

    Members of the 25th Fighter Squadron here hosted Airmen from South Korea's 15th Composite Wing April 13 to 15 for a "Buddy Wing" exercise and exchange program. The purpose of the program is to introduce and review tactics, exchange ideas and improve interoperability between the U.S. Air Force and

  • Security team provides safety net for Airmen

    Airmen riding the bus outside the wire for the first time may not realize it, but they're not alone out there. The 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's security escort team, armed and ready, are out there making sure each of those Airmen get to where they need to be safely. Selected by

  • April 21 airpower summary: F-16 takes out armed boat

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 21, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles destroyed an enemy truck

  • Airman's Roll Call: Mentoring critical to development

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Air Force mentoring, a program designed to prepare Airmen for increased responsibilities. Air Force mentoring covers a wide range of areas, such as career guidance, technical and professional development, and leadership. The program's benefits include

  • Air Force lights up 'Operation Change Out'

    All 64 major Air Force bases in the United States are participating in the Energy Star Operation Change Out: The Military Challenge campaign to change out incandescent bulbs with new energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFLs. The campaign is a joint effort between the Department of Defense

  • Sustaining the mission through green innovation

    On April 22, the Air Force will join the nation in observing Earth Day. On this occasion, we take the opportunity to reflect on our daily commitment to excellence and leadership in protecting and preserving the environment and our natural resources. As we fly, fight, and win today and in the future,

  • Silicon Valley rescue C-130s go digital

    Nestled in the center of the world's technology epicenter is the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing.  Search and rescue is the wing's primary mission, which often involves low-tech but courageous life-saving actions. The mission is about to get a high-tech boost from an innovative

  • Hanscom heritage event highlights heroes

    During this quarter's Heritage of Freedom event here April 15, a group of speakers enlightened the audience about resolve, heroism and meeting warfighter's needs.  And, the emotional impact of a reunion was a powerful moment for those in attendance when a once-downed pilot reunited with the man who

  • Widow receives husband's World War II medal

    In a ceremony that took almost 66 years to happen, Mrs. Doris Norred, widow of Army Air Corps veteran, Capt. William Norred, received her husband's Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor April 13 for his actions during World War II.   Captain Norred was honored in a ceremony at the Butler County

  • EPLOs redefine part of Air Force mission

    When most Americans think of the Air Force, they envision slick, fast fighter jets soaring through the skies at Mach speed. A picture that doesn't normally come to mind is a military organization that helps local communities during hurricanes, wildfires, floods or other natural disasters. Nor does

  • Senior enlisted leader summit set for May

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader is set to convene the 2009 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit May 3 to 8 at Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex, Ala. Command chief master sergeants, career field managers, professional military education commandants and other key senior enlisted leaders from Air

  • April 20 airpower summary: Tankers fuel the fleet

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber destroyed an

  • Predator crashes in eastern Afghanistan

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft crashed in eastern Afghanistan April 21 in the early morning hours. The crash was not due to hostile fire. The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft. The MQ-1's primary mission is conducting armed reconnaissance. A board

  • Airmen honor America's veterans during Air Force Week

    Air Force officials honored America's veterans during a Hampton Roads Air Force Week ceremony April 20 at the Boo Williams Sportsplex arena here. Officials from Langley Air Force Base, Va., recognized all veterans from all of America's wars and displayed some of the professionalism and precision of

  • Panjshir PRT unites Airmen, Soldiers for common cause

    A team of nearly 80 individuals, including 25 Airmen and 12 Soldiers, come together to perform a critical mission in Afghanistan's Panjshir Province. All of the servicemembers come from different walks of life, but now come together to help the impoverished province. One year ago, Staff Sgt. David

  • Thousands honor Doolittle Raiders at the 67th Reunion

    Thousands of people, young and old, gathered to honor five of the nine surviving Doolittle Raiders at the 67th Reunion in Columbia, S.C., April 16 to 18. On April 18, 1942, the Doolittle Raiders, led by then-Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, became the first to bombard Japan following the attack on Pearl

  • Experts review B-52 fuel hose process

    Consultants from the Air Force Inspection Agency and the University of Tennessee recently facilitated a four-day rapid improvement event at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here in an effort to resolve issues involving spare parts for the B-52. The rapid improvement event is part of the Air

  • Med team trains with Chilean air force medics

    A team of 11 Air Force medics from the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Medical Center here participated in a medical readiness training exercise, or MEDRETE, with 31 Chilean air force medics in March. "This was clearly different from a routine 'humanitarian mission' as surgical subspecialty care

  • 'Today's Air Force' features arrival of C-130J in Europe

    Three key stories in this edition of "Today's Air Force" include how Iraqis are expanding their role in security, Ramstein Air Base officials accepting delivery of their first C-130-J Super Hercules and Air Force Week 2009 kicking off in Hampton Roads, Va. In the Iraqi story, see how Airmen are

  • April 19 airpower summary: C-130s and C-17s sustain fight

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet flew a show of force over

  • April 18 airpower summary: A-10s protect coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and an A-10 Thunderbolt

  • April 17 airpower summary: F-15Es show force

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles operating near Lashkar

  • K-9, handler work together to keep servicemembers safe

    It is often said a dog is a man's best friend. For a Joint Expeditionary Tasking, or JET, Airman here, his dog is not just a friend, but a tool that could mean life or death for servicemembers patrolling the Iraqi streets. Senior Airman William Bailey, a military working dog handler and JET Airman

  • Vice president visits Whiteman

    "We owe you and your families, and we are putting our money where our mouth is," said Vice President Joe Biden. That was the overall message he shared with more than a thousand Whiteman members during a troop rally April 16. "We are tremendously proud of our global mission and our ability to execute

  • Busy BEEs keep base buzzing

    The "BEEs" here aren't as concerned with honey as they are the chemicals which could potentially be found on base. While the 379th Medical Group bioenvironmental engineering, or BEE, flight is responsible for many things, their primary concern here is the base water supply. "In the deployed

  • DOD's eye in the sky supporting troops on the ground

    For the troops on the ground in hot zones all around the world, there are many items they rely on that are vital in their day-to-day operations: their weapons, their wingmen, their body armor. But what about their space assets? The Defense Department's space assets don't always come to mind as key

  • TacSat-3 to demonstrate rapid delivery of imagery

    Providing up-to-the-minute data to the in-theater commander can act as the tipping point to achieve success on the battlefield, and demonstrating that capability has been planned for the Tactical Satellite-3's upcoming, year-long mission. Serving as the spacecraft's primary payload, the Advanced

  • First Air Force Indy car gets ready to race

    The first Air Force-themed Indy race car debuts April 19 at Long Beach, Calif., courtesy of Luczo Dragon Racing, owners of race car no. 2. Luczo Dragon Racing, corporately-sponsored by Seagate Corporation, will display the Air Force symbol during the 2009 race season, including the Indy 500. "The

  • Foreign aircrews train at Altus for multi-national mission

    Instructors at the Air Force C-17 Aircrew Training Center here are preparing foreign aircrews for a first-of-its-kind mission in Hungary. A multi-national consortium consisting of 10 North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries and two Partnership for Peace nations created the Strategic Airlift

  • Air Force officials modernize mentoring program

    As Air Force officials continue to modernize the processes to meet 21st century mission requirements, manpower and personnel force development officials have taken a hard look at the service's mentoring program to increase its effectiveness. "Our mentoring program has existed on paper for many

  • Proposed B-1 program aims to speed maintenance

    A team of high ranking Air Force officials visited here recently in an effort to determine whether to change the way maintenance is performed on the B-1B Lancer strategic bomber. Called the "Red Team," the group from Air Force Materiel Command, Air Combat Command and the Air Staff are considering

  • SERE instructors ensure water survival skills

    A sudden jump into the ocean after an airplane malfunction could leave a person confused and helpless. However, the chances of survival increase if that person has attended water survival training at Survival Evasion Resistance Escape, or SERE,  School at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. or Naval Air

  • April 16 airpower summary: F-15Es protect coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle in the vicinity of

  • F-22 exchange pilot helps strengthen U.S., Australian ties

    A Royal Australian Air Force pilot assigned to the 90th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron has had the opportunity to fly the Air Force's premier fighter, the F-22 Raptor, as part of a foreign pilot exchange program. Squadron Leader Matthew Harper is an F-22 instructor pilot and the 90th EFS flight

  • Top officer cites Coast Guard-Air Force ties

    The top Coast Guard officer said the Air Force and the Coast Guard have more in common than one might think. During a speech about homeland security, Adm. Thad Allen, Coast Guard commandant, told this to Air War College students here April 9 . The bedrock of the relationship between the two services

  • CBRNE: Training that matters

    Training. From the first day of arriving at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to the time Airmen separate from the Air Force, they train. Airmen enhance their skills from life saving techniques to ensuring aircraft are able to carry out global operation contingencies. One training experience valuable

  • Hanscom Airmen to help Iraqis control, defend their airspace

    Members of the 350th Electronic Systems Group here are working to bolster Iraq's air force with the capabilities needed to better defend the country's airspace.A formal request for proposal is due out next month to provide long-range radars to Ali Base, Iraq, to help Iraqis detect incoming air

  • Teamwork brings blend of skills, mutual commitment

    From a distance, the U.S. Southern Command-sponsored Continuing Promise humanitarian assistance effort underway here looks every bit like a military mission. It's based around the massive hospital ship USNS Comfort, a supertanker-turned-Military Sealift Command hospital ship initially outfitted in

  • Kunsan fighters participate in Red Flag-Alaska

    Approximately 150 Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing are at Eielsen Air Force Base, Alaska to participate in Red Flag-Alaska. Red Flag-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise for U.S. Forces. It provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close-air support and large force employment

  • April 15 airpower summary: C-130s deliver for warfighters

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II dropped guided bomb

  • Air Force, industry herald T-38 turning 50

    The test pilot who flew the T-38 Talon on its maiden flight 50 years ago said April 10 that during the historic sortie he felt he was on the safest mission of his career. Then something dawned on him. "I hadn't landed it yet!," said Lew Nelson, one of the speakers at a celebration held on the

  • New policy refines ancillary, expeditionary skills training

    As Air Force officials focus on giving Airmen more time to do their primary duty and reduce additional duties, senior leaders issued new policy guidance in March to streamline ancillary training and expeditionary skills training programs. "Air Staff, the A1 (personnel) community and major command

  • Victim advocates support, assist survivors

    A group of Airman from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at an air base in Southwest Asia stood up and volunteered to be victim advocates as their part to prevent sexual assaults in the Air Force. Last year, Airmen throughout the Air Force reported more than 620 cases of sexual assault. There are two

  • Air Force officials test ability to recall retirees

    Todd Worley and Robert Shelly hadn't seen each other in about ten years. Both are retired Air Force master sergeants. They recently met up again at the 2009 Air Force Push-Pull exercise here. The Air Force used the exercise to test their ability to recall retirees to active duty should they ever

  • Charleston Airmen fly honorable mission

    Charleston Air Force Base C-17 Globemaster III aircrews flew the most precious of cargo April 7 -- the remains of a fallen hero. Army Spc. Israel Candelaria Mejias of the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment in Task Force 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 172nd Brigade Combat Team from

  • AFSO 21 improves cargo process more efficiently

    Experts from Vandenberg's Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program here are in middle of a month-long process alongside 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron officials to plan ways to make the cargo area of Building 5500 a more efficient work environment for its Airmen and management. The

  • Airmen provide clean water for stricken Arkansas town

    Five Arkansas Air National Guard Airmen restored clean water to the Dierks community April 21 following an April 9 tornado that destroyed the town's water treatment plant April 9.The Airmen from the 188th Fighter Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron helped the small Southwest Arkansas town by using two

  • April 14 airpower summary: A-10 suppresses hostile fire

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flew shows of force in

  • Uniforms for the fallen are always perfect

    An Airman irons the long sleeved shirt, giving it sharp military creases. A Soldier and a Marine spend hours building ribbon racks, making sure every ribbon is correct and that the devices are equally polished and bright. A Sailor looks over the jacket, pants and shirt, ensuring all excess strings

  • Space station module name honors Apollo 11 anniversary

    The International Space Station module formerly known as Node 3 has a new name. After more than a million online responses, the node will be called "Tranquility." The name Tranquility was chosen from thousands of suggestions submitted by participants on NASA's Web site, www.nasa.gov. The "Help Name

  • Airmen synchronize airpower with Soldiers

    Airmen in Southwest Asia must work with other American servicemembers to have synchronized forces support a ground commander's mission objectives. In today's joint combat operations, these Airmen work with Army ground liaison officers who are trained in offensive air support activities and translate

  • Airman coordinates air ops for Iraqi detainees

    There are thousands of Iraqi detainees located in different detention facilities throughout Iraq who require air travel for everything from detainee transfers to attending court cases, and thanks to one Air Force captain, the Iraqi detainees get where they need to go. Capt. M. Kathryn Kotora, Joint

  • Iraqi surgeons attend annual conference in Germany

    Iraqi air force flight surgeons attended the annual U.S. Air Forces in Europe Flight Surgeon Conference held March 11 through 21 at Ramstein Air Base. Major (Dr.) Abdulrazzaq and Lt. (Dr.) Hazem Prior participated in seven sessions of partnering as part of a Multinational Security Transition Command

  • April 13 airpower summary: B-1B provides show of force

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber and an F-15E Strike

  • Medal of Honor recipients visit Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Two Medal of Honor recipients visited with Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing April 10 here. Retired Army Col. Robert Howard and retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell, visited as part of a Medal of Honor Society tour of the area of responsibility. The Vietnam veterans who earned the

  • April 12 airpower summary: F-15s destroy enemy facility

    Coalition airpower integrated with Coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles destroyed an anti-Afghan

  • Moving beyond the F-22

    This op-ed piece appeared in the Washington Post on April 13, written by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.The debate over whether to continue production of the F-22 Raptor has been one of the most politically charged and controversial budget