Airmen help rebuild a nation

After a six-day killing frenzy of local Afghans, the Taliban seized control of this city in 1998. In November 2001, with U.S. assistance, the Afghan Northern Alliance recaptured the city of 180,000 residents. Today, Airmen continue to assist Afghanistan in its war against extremists by mentoring the

Air Force Reserve Band spreads goodwill

The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve performed a concert May 18 for the Community Partnership for Homeless, a non-profit agency of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust. The Homeless Assistance Center, located on property once belonging to Homestead Air Force Base, now assists the neediest of the

IT modernization: Leveraging the power of information

Since January, the Air Force has been busy modernizing itself through the Secretary of the Air Force initiatives embodied in Air Force Smart Operations 21. The Air Force's communications and information community is part of that modernization effort. Their focus is on restructuring information

Runway repair reduces FOD at Balad

The Air Force, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and civilian contractors, is repairing a section of runway here that is showing signs of decay. The runway was not designed to accommodate heavy aircraft such as the C-5 Galaxy and the C-17 Globemaster III. The aircraft have taken a toll on

Technology improvements keep information flowing to warfighter

During the recent Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., the Air Force demonstrated new technology that provides warfighters with greater connectivity and more timely information. During the exercise, the Air Force tested the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node.

Air Force announces OTS selection board results

One hundred seventy-seven men and women have been selected for the opportunity to become Air Force officers, officials here announced May 19.Of those, 37 enlisted members earned the chance to attend Officer Training School and trade their stripes for gold bars as second lieutenants.   The Air Force

Realism of movies, TV shows can stir emotions

Sometimes the realism of today’s movies and television programs can stir up emotions some people have a hard time dealing with. Such might be the case with the new HBO documentary, “Baghdad ER,” which airs Sunday, May 21 at 8 p.m. The film documents the lives of the doctors, nurses and medics at the

Civil engineers deploy to help Washoe Nation

"We will help each other to protect and preserve the land, water and air for our generations to come” is a Washoe American-Indian tribal creed. Through the Civil-Military Innovative Readiness Training program several Air Force Reserve Command civil engineer units are keeping this Washoe creed alive

Nearly 50 Air Force, Army teams compete in adventure race

While the morning sun swiftly ascended the West Texas sky, 360 Airmen, Soldiers, civilians and spouses psyched themselves up for a grueling, intense endeavor as the start of the second annual Laughlin Air Force Base Adventure Race drew near May 13. The race would take 49 teams from two branches of

Report on major's death released

The Air Force today released a report of investigation into the Feb. 15 death of Maj. Bryan Adrian, citing the cause of death as a pre-existing heart condition known as Long QT Syndrome. Major Adrian was temporarily assigned to the 342nd Training Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, during

New Air Staff badge recognizes Pentagon assignment

Members assigned to Headquarters Air Force staff here will soon have the option to wear a new badge. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley approved the design and development of the badge in September. The basis for the Headquarters Air Force badge is Air Force heritage and the design

Airmen learn to deal with enemy misinformation

“Loose lips sink ships.” The phrase spearheaded a campaign to keep military members from revealing sensitive information during World War II. In fact, it was so effective the phrase still means something to many Americans 65 years later. Keeping operational secrets from the enemy is still vital

Chief McKinley looking forward to new job

Command Chief Master Sgt. Rod McKinley admits he is a bit nervous about becoming the 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force. But it is not because the job will be too tough or that becoming the Air Force’s top enlisted leader intimidates him, he said. It is the fact he will be the next chief in

AFIT team wins national case study competition

A select panel of distinguished senior U.S. Department of State diplomats and executives yesterday chose four students from the Air Force Institute of Technology as the winners of its national case study competition. The team, consisting of Majs. Timothy Kirk, Ita Udoaka and Carolyn Wood

Geospatial-Intelligence Agency provides more than just maps

It might not be a household name like, say, the CIA, but the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency is an integral part of the U.S. intelligence community. Geospatial intelligence is the collecting and analysis of satellite imagery of the earth's surface. The mission of the agency, headquartered

National Capital Region first responders train for Pentagon disaster

First responders from around the nation's capital gathered at the Pentagon May 17 to practice their disaster response capabilities during the Gallant Fox 06 exercise. This year, as part of Gallant Fox, volunteers from the American Red Cross donned battle dress uniforms and played the part of victims

Forensic experts identify keys to crimes

For forensic science consultants at the Air Force Office of Special Investigations' 33rd Field Investigations Squadron, criminal investigations in the Air Force begin at the crime scene.The work of Air Force forensic science consultants is similar to that of criminal investigators in the television

Airmen call in 'air strikes' on Louisiana communities

Fighter jets and bombers fly overhead making multiple passes to intercept and destroy enemy targets called in by Air Force joint terminal air controllers. One pass is to destroy a building with enemy snipers. Another pass is to track a man riding a motorcycle suspected of carrying a bomb in his

Whatever you do this summer, stay safe

Each year, the Air Force stresses the importance of zero mishaps during the 101 Critical Days of Summer through PowerPoint slides, commander’s calls and safety briefings. For the most part, Airmen do their part to put safety at the forefront. But what about those safety issues that tend to fall

Airmen can now update their duty history online

Airmen will be responsible for reviewing their duty history and requesting changes, additions or deletions online through the virtual Military Personnel Flight beginning May 30. Airmen can enter the vMPF by logging onto the Air Force Personnel Center's secure Web site where they can access their

Active-duty retirement applications centralized online

The active-duty retirement program is going virtual and applications will be processed at the Air Force Contact Center effective May 22 as part of the first phase of the Personnel Services Delivery Transformation. Airmen eligible to retire will initiate the process online via the virtual Military

Rehabilitation specialists team up to support warfighters

Brooke Army Medical Center hosted a military amputee advance skills training workshop here for Veterans Affairs’ prosthetists and therapists. Nearly 100 VA rehabilitation team members from 15 medical centers attended the workshop May 10 through 12 to learn the patient care methods used at Department

New service dress prototypes pique interest

Based on feedback received during visits with Airmen across the Air Force, the Air Force Uniform Board is reviewing several concepts that Airmen have suggested regarding the appearance of the service dress uniform. Some of the informal feedback about the current service dress includes Airmen wanting

Balad remains one busy airfield

Aircraft pack the flightline here and operations are non-stop and intense. C-130 Hercules, MQ-1 Predators, F-16 Fighting Falcons and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters all call this busy base home. The men and women who support the aircraft say Balad has the busiest single-runway airfield in the Department

AF official praises Keesler recovery, emphasizes challenges ahead

Having visited just days after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the base, the Air Force’s point man for installations returned here May 11 to assess Keesler’s overall progress toward full restoration. Lt. Gen. Donald Wetekam, Air Force deputy chief of staff for logistics, installations and mission support,

PJs train to keep U.S. waters safe

The Air Force Reserve Command's 304th Rescue Squadron here hosted a Homeland Defense-sponsored underwater hazardous devices search course at the Portland Air National Guard base May 8 to 12 to help pararescuemen and local public safety divers keep Oregon and Washington’s ports safe from

Program educates military spouses, builds confidence

Signing up to join the military can be an intimidating ordeal for military members, but they're not the only ones who experience anxiety when the dotted line is signed. Before 2002, military spouses here were on their own to learn about Air Force services, customs and courtesies.  Now, coordinators

U.S. opens Berlin Air Show with ‘Spirit’

A C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., named the “Spirit of Berlin” helped kick off the Berlin Air Show when it flew today before opening day spectators. The C-17 crew, assigned to the 315th Airlift Wing, is part of a U.S. contingent joining more than 1,000 exhibitors from 42

Hennings elected to College Football Hall of Fame

Former Air Force great Chad Hennings received one of the highest honors a college football player can earn May 16.  He was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame. Hennings is one of 13 players and two coaches to be selected to the hall of fame from a ballot of 77 candidates and a pool of

Military working dog trains hard

Academy cadets spin Wheel of Fortune

Two Academy cadets squared off against college students from across the nation May 13 to compete in Wheel of Fortune’s annual College Week. Cadet 1st Class Doug Presley, Cadet Squadron 36, and Cadet 2nd Class Casey Probst, Cadet Squadron 2, competed on shows that will air May 15 and 18,

Sergeant’s job is for the dogs

Staff Sgt. Robert Van Hulle is a dog’s best friend at this busy airlift base. And military working dog Diego, a Belgian Malinois, appreciates that. The security forces sergeant met Diego and his partner, Staff Sgt. Markus Hunt, when they transited Ramstein on their way home after a tour in Southwest

Behind-the-scenes work continues as air show set to begin

One of the world’s premier air shows gets underway May 16, but military organizers have been working behind the scenes for several months to ensure a successful display of U.S. military aviation at the 2006 Berlin Air Show. Initial groundwork began two years ago when the previous Berlin Air Show

Global Hawk operations reach new high

Battlefield awareness has reached new levels with Global Hawk production-model aircraft flying in the U.S. Central Command Air Forces theater. Reaching a breakthrough point in April, the Global Hawk team has maximized the aircraft’s sorties, collecting more than 96 percent of the target area --

Alternate fuel-powered B-52 to fly in September

This year, the Air Force will test fly a B-52 Stratofortress that is powered in part by fuel derived from natural gas. The Air Force Research Laboratory's propulsion directorate, a part of Air Force Materiel Command, is providing technical assistance to the test flight scheduled for September

Medics make air evacuation easier on wounded troops

Wounded U.S. troops leave this base each day on military transports after their release from the contingency air staging facility at the airport waiting area. The staging area is a busy place and has all the staff and equipment needed to treat any patient awaiting air evacuation. Airmen from the

DOD, Congress making progress on Tricare changes

The Defense Department, working hard with Congress for the past several months, has reached some conclusions about how the fee system for military health care should be changed, a top DOD official said here May 11. "It's universally agreed that there is a serious issue, a serious problem, with the

Strategic maintenance gives Airmen diverse experience

Maintainers spend thousands of hours keeping transport aircraft flying during the course of a rotation to this desert base. So when Airmen from the 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron maintenance flight show up for work, they know they will be busy. The flight’s mission is to provide strategic

Civil Air Patrol teen earns Spaatz Award

A 16-year-old Civil Air Patrol cadet received the highest CAP cadet honor from the Air Force chief of staff during a Pentagon ceremony here May 11. Recognizing Cadet Col. Katrina Litchford with the General Carl. A. Spaatz Award, Gen. T. Michael Moseley said, “I am pleased to be able to present this

JCS chairman sends message to servicemembers

The following message on National Military Appreciation Month is from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace:"This month we honor the extraordinary contributions of the men and women who serve our country in the armed forces. I am proud to serve alongside 2.4 million Americans

Chief Murray reflects on 29-year career

Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray led his last Worldwide Command Chief’s Conference here April 21-26, meeting with command chiefs from around the Air Force to exchange information and discuss challenges facing today’s Airmen.During the 12th annual conference, the chief took

Program gives technology access to disabled GIs

A Defense Department program helps wounded servicemembers and other people with disabilities have equal access to the information environment and opportunities throughout the federal government, a senior DOD official said May 8. Dinah F.B. Cohen, director of the Computer and Electronic Accommodation

Five selected to comm hall of fame

Five Air Force communications pioneers are the newest members of the Communications and Information Hall of Fame located in the Air Force Communications Agency’s Ludwig Heritage Hall here. Lt. Gen. Michael Peterson, the Air Force chief of warfighting integration and chief information officer,

N.Y. lacrosse team dedicates season to Pope Airmen

When Brianna Maglio scored the first goal of the season for her fourth grade lacrosse team in Garden City, N.Y., she wasn’t just doing it for her team. The Gray Sweeties, Brianna's team, have dedicated this season to her brother, Airman Emilio Lavia, and his unit, the 43rd Logistics Readiness

Mechanics keep fleet rolling through dust, mud

Working on vehicles in the desert presents challenges. Mechanics sometimes have to scrape off layers of dirt and mud just to get to the broken part. Then there’s the parts themselves -- it is not like they can simply call an automotive supply store in Baghdad to deliver a part. “Back home, you could

Airmen enable Iraqi police training

In a small outpost in the Iraqi city of Mosul, about 50 Airmen provide a safe, secure and professional environment at the Mosul Public Service Academy to enable the training of an effective and professional Iraqi police force. The Airmen at the MPSA have the chance to interact with the students who

Air Force women repeat as soccer champions

The Air Force repeated as the armed forces women's soccer champions at the 2006 championship tournament hosted by Naval Station Mayport, Fla., May 2 to 8.The first game of the tournament pitted the Air Force against the Army.  Army came out aggressively against the defending champs. In the first

Agency works to bring all Americans home alive

Every day, officials at the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency track the status of efforts to find 20 Americans believed to still be alive but "isolated" outside the United States. In recovery terminology, isolated personnel are U.S. servicemembers, Defense Department civilians or contractors separated

Raptors to bring air superiority to Northern Edge 2006

The Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-22A Raptor, will make its Pacific-region debut in exercise Northern Edge 2006 in June. Twelve F-22As from the 1st Fighter Wing at Langley Air Force Base, Va., along with U.S. military units stationed in the continental United States and the Pacific theater, will

Security forces at Bagram practice urban warfare

Deployed Airmen, distributing humanitarian supplies, are taken hostage by enemy forces while visiting an Afghan village. It’s now up to the accompanying squad of security forces to rescue the Airmen and eliminate the bad guys. This is the scenario members of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces

DOD announces increase in foreign language pay

The Department of Defense announced May 10 an increase effective June 1 in Foreign Language Proficiency Pay, or FLPP, for servicemembers who qualify. The fiscal 2005 National Defense Authorization Act authorizes the secretary of defense to increase FLPP pay from a maximum of $300 per month to a

Air Force notifies force shaping lieutenants

Today, 2,084 lieutenants in the 2002 and 2003 accession year groups will learn if they were selected for retention by the Force Shaping Board. Each officer is being notified personally of their status by their senior rater. Officers deployed will be notified by either the deployed commander or their

Defense secretary endorses Hayden nomination to CIA

The defense secretary and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said May 9 they endorse President George W. Bush's nomination of Gen. Michael V. Hayden as CIA director. President Bush nominated General Hayden to the post May 8 to replace Peter Goss. "In my view, Mike Hayden is a true

Free summer camp sign-up deadline nears

Even though the registration deadline is only a week away, there's still room for military children to attend an "Operation Purple" summer camp free of charge, according to National Military Family Association officials. Applications are available only online, and officials emphasized they will be

Missing World War II Airmen identified

The Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, or DPMO, announced today that two members of a four-man Army Air Forces crew missing in action from World War II have been identified. They are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. The crew is pilot Capt. Douglas Wight of

Ardent Sentry 2006 tests AFNORTH, NORAD capabilities

Air Forces Northern and the Continental United States NORAD Region will hone civil support and homeland defense skills May 8 to 18 in Exercise Ardent Sentry 2006. Ardent Sentry is a bi-national, multi-level exercise involving military and civilian agencies in Canada and the U.S. to test both

A world away, Airmen enjoy hometown tradition

About 50 Airmen deployed here participated in Bloomsday Away on May 7, bringing an annual tradition from Spokane, Wash., to military members half a world away. The city’s annual Bloomsday 12K is a popular race with more than 50,000 participants annually. Airmen deployed here from Fairchild Air Force

Training programs welcome international interest

Air Force officer and NCO training programs were showcased earlier this week when the commander of South Korea’s Education and Training Command visited schools here May 1 to 2. Lt. Gen. Youngha Lee of the Republic of South Korea Headquarters for Air Force Education and Training Command in Jinju met

McChord, Madigan medics aid wounded at Balad

To say the staff at Balad’s Air Force Theater Hospital has seen everything may be an understatement. The doctors, nurses and medics here, some from McChord Air Force Base and Madigan Army Medical Center in the state of Washington, save the lives of servicemembers who are wounded while supporting

Former POWs relive freedom flights

More than 120 former prisoners of war continued a 33-year layover of freedom by reliving the flights that carried them home from North Vietnam. The Hanoi Taxi -- the last C-141 Starlifter still serving in the Air Force -- made two of its final three flights May 5. Former POWs gathered in Fairborn,

Predator maintenance team is a ‘total force’

Total force is more than just a concept for one squadron here. It is a way of life that brings the skills and talents of various groups into one unit to accomplish the mission.The 46th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit is responsible for maintaining the RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles

Enlisted military leaders plan for hurricane season

Nearly 30 senior enlisted leaders from the uniformed services joined forces here to plan and prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. Air Forces Northern, the air component of U.S. Northern Command, hosted a Senior Enlisted Leadership Conference here May 3 to focus on disaster response and

Technology helps BRAC 2005 environmental efforts

The Internet, new technology and other tools not available in previous Base Realignment and Closure rounds are helping the Defense Department meet its environmental responsibilities in the current round of closures, a top DOD official said. Alex Beehler, assistant deputy under secretary of defense

Streamlined operations merit award for Warner Robins

The Warner Robins Air Logistics Center received an award for its efforts to streamline its C-5 Galaxy aircraft repair and overhaul processes. The Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences announced May 1 that the center won the 2006 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in

Palace HART helps injured Airmen

A common trait exists among the injured Airmen recuperating at hospitals in the capital region, said the Air Force chief of staff. “Every Airman I’ve met wants to return to active duty and (his or her) unit,” said Gen. T. Michael Moseley in recent testimony on Capitol Hill. “I am proud of them and

Korean nurses visit Hickam to exchange ideas

Seven South Korean Air Force nurses spent a week on the island of Oahu learning how American civilian and military agencies respond to natural disaster contingencies. The nurses, from the Korean Armed Forces Nursing Academy in Seoul, met with Hawaiian civilian and military civil defense and medical

TV writer embeds with medical teams in Iraq

In a first for Hollywood, the Air Force was able to embed a screenwriter with a medical unit in Iraq for research on a proposed television series. Jeff Eckerle visited the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq, from April 7 to 16 in order to help develop the series, based in part on the

AFMC wellness, safety campaign debuts May 8

"Wellness is an attitude!" If Air Force Materiel Command leaders have their way, those words will become more than just a slogan for the command's new wellness and safety campaign. They will become a way of life. AFMC Commander Gen. Bruce Carlson identified wellness and safety of the command's

Air Force names 2005 Mission Support Award winners

The winners of the 2005 Mission Support Awards were announced May 2.The results are: PersonnelGen. Robert J. Dixon Personnel Award: Senior Master Sgt. Jimmy Jones, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Gen. Horace M. Wade Innovation Award: Tech. Sgt. Wendy Davis, Tyndall AFB, Fla. Gerrit D. Foster Jr.

Test pilot school selection board date set

Air Force officials plan to hold the next test pilot school selection board here Oct. 30 through Nov. 3. The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School trains pilots, navigators and engineers to test and evaluate the newest aircraft and weapons systems. Applicants from all aircraft types and backgrounds must

BRAC conference focuses on both downsizing, growth

With the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process shutting down 25 major installations and radically realigning 24 others over the next six years, a BRAC conference under way here is focusing on growth as well as downsizing, a defense official said. "Traditionally when we've done these events,

Fewer Airmen delinquent on government travel card payments

More Airmen are paying their government travel card bills on time, allowing the Air Force to reach what many believed was an unattainable goal set by the Department of Defense, an Air Force official said. “We met our goal by lowering our delinquency rate below 2 percent for two consecutive months,”

Joint exercise tests Reservists' skills

Two climbers were missing for more than two days on Mount Hood -- that was the scenario when Reservists from the 304th Rescue Squadron in Portland, Ore., partnered with five civilian rescue organizations in a search and rescue exercise. Approximately 50 search and rescue professionals from the

Joint Forces Command focuses on seamless operations

Ensuring military services are able to work seamlessly with each other, coalition partners, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations is no small feat. But U.S. Joint Forces Command's top officer said work on the challenge is progressing well.Gen. Lance L. Smith said the top focus for

Airmen help Iraqi pilots fly again

Pilots from the Iraqi Air Force are waiting patiently for a team of Airmen to arrive from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It’s this team that can get them up in the air and flying again. The mission of the Iraqi 3rd Squadron hinges on the work of the Air Force Flight Test Center. The center sent a

Medical officer testifies before defense subcommittee

The Air Force’s medical Airmen are performing “magnificently,” said the Air Force surgeon general during testimony before the Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee on defense here May 3. “We take care of the nation’s heroes, past and present,” said Lt. Gen. (Dr.) George Peach Taylor Jr.,

International affairs career field opens for civilians

The success of Air Force expeditionary air and space forces conducting global operations and fighting the war on terrorism relies heavily on international relationships. Building these critical relationships requires skilled, knowledgeable and experienced international affairs professionals. Air

Managing ‘million’ means mission might

Some people just can’t seem to manage their back yards. But the small team of experts at the 56th Range Management Office here can’t afford not to, despite the fact that their back yard is 1.05 million acres of land known as the Barry M. Goldwater Range. This range supports more than 45,000 flying

Air Force mandates virtual outprocessing

All Airmen undergoing permanent change-of-station moves, retirements or separations are now required to use the Virtual Outprocessing application available through the Virtual Military Personnel Flight. Airmen can enter the vMPF by logging onto the Air Force Personnel Center's secure Web site where

Andrews radio operators assist crewmembers worldwide

As an Air Force aircraft approaches Yokota Air Base, Japan, the pilot sets his radio to a specified frequency and says, “Main Sail, Main Sail” -- the call sign for any global radio station. Within seconds, the pilot hears, “This is the Yokota operator.” That operator is actually with the 789th

Aggressors enhance Red Flag-Alaska 06-2

The presence of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, based out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., enhances Red Flag-Alaska 06-2, the annual Pacific Air Forces exercise formerly known as Cope Thunder.Renaming and restructuring the exercise, which began April 24, is part of the Air Force chief of staff’s vision.

Trackers watch for dangerous 'space junk'

Roughly 15,000 miles above the Earth’s surface a communications satellite provides vital information to all branches of the U.S. military. It joins more than 9,000 other items in space that are tracked by the Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System, known as GEODSS. There are

Retreat reconnects couples before, after deployments

On the banks of the Guadalupe River, a veterans group hosts a retreat that helps couples reconnect so they can better cope with life after deployments. Six couples attended the retreat hosted by the Military, Veteran and Family Assistance Foundation at the Heart of the Hills Camp here from April 20

Air Force flight bring smiles to Iraqi children

As they stepped into the large, gray military cargo plane, their eyes widened and their expressions were equal parts wonder and bewilderment. This was the first time many of the Iraqi children and their parents had ever flown in an airplane, and none had ever been in an aircraft as large as the Air

Air Force automates training records process

Airmen in logistics career fields soon will have access to an online tool that takes an Airman's training records out of a desk drawer and makes them available through a desktop computer. The automated training records and management application, called "Training Business Area," or TBA, on the Air

Children of deployed parents need consistency

Consistency is key for children as their military parents deploy, a university psychologist said. Dr. Frederic Medway, psychology professor at the University of South Carolina, has been publishing research on family separation issues since 1987. He said his work has shown that while children of

DOD working to improve total workforce

The Defense Department is seeking ways to foster sweeping changes in its civilian, Reserve and active forces, DOD's top personnel official said here April 25. Any changes would be aimed at making the department more agile and effective, said David S. C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel

Army clinic's lone Airman manages pharmacy

Staff Sgt. Guanina Palermo works in what is, to her, another world -- one colored in Army green. The sergeant from Liverpool, N.Y., is a certified pharmacy technician working at the health clinic at this U.S. Army camp just outside Kaiserslautern, Germany. The camp isn’t exactly another world.  It’s

New personnel system now in effect

Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England signed a directive to implement the new National Security Personnel System during a roll-out ceremony here April 28. "Today is a milestone event," Secretary England said during the Pentagon ceremony. "After two and a half years of very hard work, the

Researchers focused on satellite energy storage

An eight-person team at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate here believes their experiment will demonstrate the innovative technology of combined attitude control and energy storage on a satellite by the summer of 2007.The experiment consists of  three flywheels spinning

Air Force engineers take a jump

Joint operations are not a new concept here. It’s a way of life for many units on base. But for a new breed of Air Force joint operators, this week’s Joint Forced Entry Exercise was a chance to get off the ground -- literally. The Airmen are part of Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair

Battlelab brings force protection to the fight

Running through a dust-filled Baghdad street with bullets flying, a field medic reaches two injured soldiers. One with a chest wound is barely breathing. The other is losing blood fast from a gunshot wound to his leg. There isn’t time to save both. So who dies and who gets to go home? This medic’s

Security, significance make difference in suicide prevention

When it comes to the all-important step of actually stopping someone from taking his or her own life, it is people caring about each other who make the biggest difference. “People need two things, security and significance,” said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Lyle Von Seggern, 433rd Airlift Wing chaplain.

CMSAF Murray enjoys day at work with his children

Not many children can say they have shaken hands with a former astronaut or wandered the halls of the prestigious E-ring at the Pentagon as their parent conducts business with some of the Air Force's top leaders. But not every child has the highest-ranking enlisted Airman for a father, either. That

Family support center eases résumé worries

The average employer will view a résumé for 15 to 20 seconds before moving on to another, according to family support center officials here. For this reason, they said it is vital for job seekers to have a résumé that represents their skills and abilities in the best manner. "The résumé is your

CROWS gets Airmen out of the turret

A new weapon system in the Air Force arsenal takes Airmen out of the gun turret and into the safety of a fully up-armored Humvee. The 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron operates the only Common Remote Operated Weapon Station, or CROWS, in the Air Force inventory. As one of three security

Air Force test team launches 'overhauled' Iraqi aircraft

Airmen from several Air Force bases spent two months preparing, disassembling, rebuilding and testing an Iraqi Air Force Comp Air 7SLX, which had its first test flight here April 25.The aircraft is considered experimental, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It is designed to be an

Los Angeles AFB dedicates new Schriever Space Complex

The Space and Missile Systems Center here officially dedicated its Schriever Space Complex April 24.“Welcome to our new home,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, SMC commander. “Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of military space.” Originally called SAMS -- Systems Acquisition

Senior mentors advise JEFX leaders

As Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 tests warfighting capabilities designed to fill capability gaps, three retired officers help senior leaders keep the experiment on track. Retired Lt. Gens. Joe Hurd, Mike Short and Chuck Heflebower are part of the Air Force chief of staff’s Operational

Oklahoma Military Ball