HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Help on the way for parents of military-connected children

    Help is on the way for parents who want to be advocates for their military-connected schoolchildren but do not know where to go when they move from place to place around the world.The Military Child Education Coalition heard parents' pleas and created a Parent Workshop program to help them. The

  • Guardsman avoids traffic by rowing to work

    Living and working in the nation's capital for most people means having to battle some of the worst road congestion anywhere in the United States.However, one ingenious Air National Guard member, who lives on Bolling Air Force Base in southeast Washington, D.C., and works in Arlington, Va., uses the

  • Intern program develops future AF scientists, engineers

    While their friends were flipping burgers at fast food joints or hanging out at the mall this summer, a group of young scientists were experimenting with their futures in the Air Force Research Laboratory here.Working as research assistants, 27 "Wright Scholars" joined a team of scientist and

  • Pay information available at your fingertips

    Anything you ever wanted to know about your military pay but didn't know who to ask is now available with a couple of mouse clicks. The Office of the Secretary of Defense has a military compensation Web site.The site explains the differences between pay and allowances and describes the intended

  • Student pilots learn basics of aerospace physiology

    While most people think of parasailing as a vacation sport, it is just another part of training for specialized undergraduate pilot training students here.Experts from the 14th Medical Operations Squadron spend eight and a half days with students during their first phase of training. The

  • 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

  • Raptor redefines maneuverability

    "Turning on a dime" brings to mind images of a split-second change of direction. Imagine doing that in a jet hurtling through the sky. That is the F-22 Raptor.The F-22 design, with its stealth, supercruise and integrated avionics, provides a high degree of assurance that a "dogfight" will not be

  • 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

  • Supply flight keeps parts moving at OEF base

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is one of the largest units in the Persian Gulf region to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Its primary aircraft are KC-10 Extenders and KC-135 Stratotankers. The wing has delivered almost 300 million pounds of fuel to U.S. and coalition aircraft in the war on

  • 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

  • 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

  • Disciplinary authority for friendly fire incident changed

    Disciplinary authority over the April 17 friendly fire incident near Kandahar, Afghanistan, that resulted in the deaths of four Canadian paratroopers was passed Aug.16 to the U.S. Air Force's 8th Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson.Gen. Hal M. Hornburg, Air Combat Command commander,

  • 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

  • Reserve aircrew honored for heroic mission

    When the call for help came the evening of Dec. 7, the MC-130E Combat Talon crew from the 919th Special Operations Wing here, did not hesitate to fly through enemy territory to assist their fellow special operators.The 711th Special Operations Squadron crew's actions earned them one of the Air Force

  • ROTC encampment includes Reserve TIs

    A sea of blue uniforms fills a drill pad while Air Force Reserve military training instructors hover nearby looking for training moments. The young, sweating faces of Air Force ROTC cadets in parade formation are intensely watching their interval and distance, hoping not to draw attention to

  • 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,

  • Deployed medics train U.S. embassy employees in Qatar

    A group of medics deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, provided emergency medical training recently to employees of the U.S. embassy in the country.More than 70 U.S. citizens and foreign-service nationals who work at the U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar, attended the self aid buddy care training given by

  • 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

  • Agents recover stolen laptops; suspect in custody

    Agents of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations recovered two missing laptops containing highly sensitive U.S. military information Aug. 9.A week earlier, the laptops had been reported missing from a secure location at U.S. Central Command headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.,

  • Licensing, certification info for military jobs available online

    People separating from the military can now get online help earning professional certification or licenses related to their military jobs for the civilian world before they leave the service."There are a lot of people who get out of the military only to find out that they are not prepared, even

  • 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

  • Four selected for Financial Management Leadership Program

    Four Air Force officers were chosen recently to participate in the service's Financial Management Leadership Program, designed to develop aerospace leaders with financial management and command experience.Capts. Jeffrey Dibiasi, 52nd Munitions Support Squadron, Kleine Brogel, Belgium; John Gondol,

  • 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

  • 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

  • Setting her sights

    Airman Vanessa Dobos of the 58th Training Squadron here will become the first woman aerial gunner in the Air Force when she graduates from technical training in a few weeks. As a gunner and member of a search and rescue crew on an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter, she will be performing a combat duty

  • Medical team provides care to Honduran children

    More than 130 Honduran children received free medical care in San Pedro Sula recently when an 11-person medical team from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, came to the city on a medical readiness training exercise, or MEDRETE.This particular exercise focused on problems

  • Sergeant creates dragons in Japan

    Staff Sgt. Eric Suan often wears a white uniform, but he is not a medic and he does not work in a snowy climate. If you think he sells ice cream, think again -- or you might get kicked in the teeth.Six nights a week, this 34-year-old aviation resource manager with the 17th Special Operations

  • 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

  • Board determines F-15E fire causes

    An accident investigation board recently determined an F-15E Strike Eagle engine stall and fire Feb. 12 was caused by several factors.Factors include operating the engine in secondary mode, a reduced stall margin and a high fuel-flow rate into the engine.The F-15E, assigned to the 492nd Fighter

  • High-volume encouragement

    Cadet 1st Class Scott Johnson offers some high-volume encouragement to a basic cadet trainee during a tug-of-war competition at the U.S. Air Force Academy here. (Photo by John Van Winkle)

  • 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