NORTHCOM ready to respond

The progress U.S. Northern Command has made since its inception Oct. 1, 2002, to defend the homeland from natural or manmade disasters is "truly impressive," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said here May 31. Rumsfeld visited NORTHCOM the day before the official start of hurricane season for an

Housing privatization embraces Smart Operations 21

The Air Force housing privatization process is taking a leaner, more efficient approach to getting the job done by developing one central management center, Air Force officials said recently. “The secretary of the Air Force challenged us to find a better way to manage and broker deals and successful

Medics make house calls on Afghan nomads

Medics, interpreters and support troops from the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team set up a short-notice medical outreach recently for the nomadic Kuchi people during their spring migration through the Panjshir Valley. Known as a Medical Civic Action Program, or MEDCAP, the event provided

Academy graduates will help secure freedom, Rumsfeld says

The U.S. will triumph over murderous extremists because of the daring and ingenuity of its people and armed forces, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in his commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy May 31."Violent extremists are trying to terrorize and intimidate free people into

Australians learn from U.S. C-17 mission

Two C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, arrived here last week at the Australian Defense Force’s request. U.S. Airmen are moving Australian forces and equipment to Darwin, Australia, to allow the Australian military to quickly respond to unrest in neighboring East Timor. Each

Doctor named as examiner for national quality award program

An Air Force Reserve Command doctor has been selected to the 2006 Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award. The award, created by public law in 1987, is the highest level of national recognition for performance excellence that a U.S. organization can receive. Col. (Dr.) William B.

Rates change for Foreign Language Proficiency Pay

The Office of the Secretary of Defense recently approved new Foreign Language Proficiency Pay rates that will increase entitlements for eligible and qualified military members beginning June 1, while eliminating FLPP for others. The highest maximum pay rate for a single-language proficiency

Class of 2006 outstanding cadets recognized

The graduation ceremony for 879 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets took place today at the academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.   Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley were there to celebrate with the cadets and their

Combat mobility element moves cargo quickly, safely

The 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, sent a pair of its C-17 Globemaster IIIs here to support the Australian Defense Force. U.S. crews are shuttling cargo and Australian military forces to strategic locations within the country.This operation involves moving massive amounts of cargo, and

Pencils and scalpels: Artists help providers illustrate the cure

For many communicators, success is measured by how accurate they are in providing information to help get bombs on target or assist with enemy kills. Yet, there is one group of communication specialists who measure success by lives saved through their ability to illustrate medical procedures.For

Vehicle searches provide first line of defense

During the early morning hours in Southwest Asia, the vehicle search team of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron doesn’t get out of bed.They’re already at work. They’re up and about in the vehicle search area, or VSA, ensuring vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices and other

Reserve offers released lieutenants chance to serve

Air Force lieutenants involuntarily separated as a result of force reductions have until Aug. 1 to join the Air Force Reserve to continue their military careers without a break in service. On May 10, the Air Force released the names of 884 lieutenants who are to be involuntarily separated because of

From playing fields to battlefields

Sports and the military share a common bond journalistically. It’s not unusual to read about a classic battle, how a player had plenty of fight left, how a team showed a warrior mentality or how they were outnumbered.Sports have liberally borrowed clichés from the GI world for years. Now it’s the

U.S. military responds to Indonesia earthquake

The U.S. military is sending about 100 troops to Indonesia to contribute to international humanitarian relief efforts in the wake of a devastating 6.2 magnitude earthquake that struck May 27 near the ancient city of Yogyakarta. The deployment is part of a larger U.S. government response to a request

Airmen set sail aboard USNS Mercy for humanitarian mission

Three Airmen from the 374th Medical Group here are deployed to the U.S. Navy hospital ship, USNS Mercy, as it travels through Southeast Asia on a humanitarian mission.The mission is an opportunity for a U.S. team consisting of medical professionals from the Air Force, Army and Navy to work with

Airmen expand horizons through education

The commandant and the superintendent of the Community College of the Air Force recently visited here and shared their views on the importance of pursuing higher education.Col. Thomas Klincar, the commandant, spoke of the bond he felt with the base.“I am especially excited to be here for the (CCAF)

Postal Service reissues Purple Heart stamp

A new version of a postage stamp commemorating the Purple Heart and all those who have earned it was issued in a ceremony here May 26. At the ceremony, two veterans of the war in Iraq were awarded Purple Hearts by R. James Nicholson, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "(The Purple Heart) celebrates the

Unit keeps pesty visitors at bay

One unit here still strives to keep the sky over a portion of Iraq a no fly zone.They also eliminate rats, loose animals and vectors, insects that can transmit diseases to animals and humans. The unit, the 407th Civil Engineer Squadron’s entomology flight provides professional pest control to ensure

National Guard program helps at-risk teens

The Hawaii National Guard Youth Challenge Academy is a 22-week program designed to help troubled or at-risk teens. It gives the 16- to 18-year-olds a second chance to focus, get a high school diploma and acquire the skills they will need to lead a productive life. Although the academy uses a

Mission of security forces constantly evolving

Through the eyes of Staff Sgt. David Brown, the mission of the security forces has changed since the beginning of the war in Iraq. After all, this is his eighth deployment since Operation Iraqi Freedom started. As a sign of things to come, Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron

Nation honors fallen during National Moment of Remembrance

On May 29, Americans will pause to remember servicemembers from wars past and present who have given the ultimate sacrifice while defending the nation. The National Moment of Remembrance takes place for one minute each year on Memorial Day, starting at 3 p.m. local time. "The time 3 p.m. was chosen

Services career field named Air Force Team of the Year

Each year, Air Force officials evaluate career fields for unity and exceptional performance that warrants recognition by the entire force. In conjunction with the Air Force Association, one career field is recognized with an Air Force-level award. Services, Air Force Specialty Code 3M0X1, was

Raptors find new nest in Alaska

After flying more than 3,200 miles over land, ocean, mountains and glaciers, six F-22 Raptors arrived here May 23 from Langley Air Force Base, Va. Though it isn’t the first time the Raptors have flown over snow-capped mountains, it is the first time they have flown outside of the continental United

2007 budget completes dorm recapitalization funding

The Air Force's fiscal 2007 budget request will complete the funding needed to replace inadequate dormitories for Airmen. During recent testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on military construction and veterans affairs, William C. "Bill" Anderson, assistant secretary

Kenney Headquarters maximizes support to joint warfighters

The Gen. George C. Kenney Headquarters reaches its one-year anniversary June 1. Known as KHQ, the headquarters staff commands air, space and information operations for joint forces throughout the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Korea. Consisting of three elements -- the Pacific Air Operations Center,

Airmen help honor vets at country music awards show

Backstage, the anticipation of the curtains rising was surreal as 40 Airmen and eight veterans waited to make their national television debut during the 41st Academy of Country Music awards program May 23. With a quick nod and a smile from the band to calm their nerves, the director yelled, “We’re

Chaplain team here to serve

Being deployed doesn’t mean an Airman’s spiritual involvement or fellowship with other members of his or her faith has to be neglected. The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing’s base chapel is a source of continued spiritual support of worship opportunities and counseling services for deployed

Commission maintains U.S. military cemeteries overseas

Recognizing the need for a federal agency to take the lead in honoring U.S. servicemembers who died on foreign soil, Congress enacted legislation in 1923 to create the American Battle Monuments Commission. "The American Battle Monuments Commission maintains and oversees American cemeteries and

DOD works to further reduce military suicides

Suicide rates within the military are about half those in the civilian military-aged population, but the Defense Department is reaching out to its members to help further reduce the incidence of suicide within the ranks, a top military doctor said. The suicide rate for military members during 2005

General urges Asian-Pacific Americans to pursue opportunities

Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Robert “Lance” Chu would like to see more Asian-Pacific Americans take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Air Force and Air Force Reserve. “But not just Asian-Pacific people,” said Dr. Chu, the mobilization assistant to the assistant surgeon general for healthcare

Air Force Services announces LeMay, Eubank winners

Each year, the Air Force recognizes the best Services units by presenting the Gen. Curtis E. LeMay and the Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Eubank awards. The LeMay trophy recognizes the best unit in the large base category, bases with 6,000 or more military and civilians assigned. The Eubank trophy recognizes

Class of 2007 cadets learn their future Air Force jobs

Some 1,000 junior class cadets learned May 19 what their future Air Force jobs will be, a full year ahead of their graduation date.Until recent changes to the personnel system, cadets waited until the fall semester of their senior year to learn their career assignments. Undergraduate pilot training

Air Force launches civilian self-service system June 1

The Air Force will launch two self-service modules that will allow civilians to access their personnel information beginning June 1. My Biz will provide civilian employees access and the ability to update information about themselves. My Workplace will provide military and civilian managers access

Center saves millions, improves warfighting abilities

Airmen deploying in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom can travel a little lighter now, thanks to the new Expeditionary Theater Distribution Center. The center here is one of three consolidated mobility bag distribution hubs that went fully operational this rotation, saving

VA urges caution after theft of personal information

Veterans Affairs officials announced May 22 the theft of personal information on up to 26.5 million veterans. However, VA Secretary R. James Nicholson stressed there's no indication the information is being used for purposes of fraud. "We at the VA have recently learned that an employee here, a data

General McKinley named Air National Guard director

A lieutenant general with 32 years of service has been named as the 12th director of the Air National Guard. Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley was confirmed as director by the U.S. Senate effective May 20 and promoted to three-star rank. “I am thrilled about this opportunity to lead the more than 106,000

Redeployment survey shows most Airmen return healthy

The Air Force has reassessed about 12,500 Airmen since December after they returned from deployment and found most of those Airmen to be healthy. At the close of 2005, the Air Force began asking Airmen who returned from deployment to places like Afghanistan and Iraq to complete a post-deployment

'Spirit of Berlin' a hit with Berlin Air Show spectators

The “Spirit of Berlin” proved a big hit at the 2006 Berlin Air Show. When spectators entered the C-17 Globemaster III through the crew entry door, the typical reaction was to stop, stare in awe and exclaim in wonder at the cavernous interior. “You got that all day, every day,” said Tech. Sgt. Don

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