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  • Global Hawk 'sets sail' from Edwards

    A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle known as N-1 took off from Edwards' main runway March 27 on a one-way mission to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The N-1, an RQ-4A Global Hawk -- one of two acquired by the U.S. Navy through the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program -- is the first of

  • USAFE reaching out to establish security ties

    Airmen and their counterparts from other countries meeting to discuss ways to fix runways may not impact the war on terror like an airstrike against al Qaeda forces. But these face-to-face meetings could one day lead to a security accord that could help combat terrorism, said Mike McMullan, chief of

  • Balance keeps trailblazer on course

    Betty Mullis is quick to speak about her inspirations. The retired Air Force major general served more than 33 years on active duty and in the Guard and Reserve, and accomplished many firsts along the way. Now she uses that wealth of experience and inspires other women to advance in their careers.

  • Chief chaplain discusses role of service

    There are 2,200 chaplains and enlisted support people from the active and Air Reserve components serving a unique mission in today's Air Force. Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles C. Baldwin, Air Force Chaplain Service chief, visited Edwards on March 16 as part of a tour of five base in five days. He took

  • Air chiefs discuss Middle East challenges

    Air chiefs from 13 nations gathered here March 25 to 27 for the fifth Middle East Air Symposium to discuss issues and challenges facing the region. The focus of the talks was the unconventional roles of air forces in the changing security environment. King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of

  • Secretary Wynne considers Airmen as diplomats

    Warfighting is about relationship building as the Air Force moves forward in the 21st century, especially in the Pacific where bilateral exercises are taking on increasing importance. That was one of the messages from the secretary of the Air Force as he addressed a crowd of about a thousand Airmen

  • Seminar brings hope, help to abused, neglected children

    More than 16,000 cases of suspected child maltreatment are reported annually in the military, according to the Armed Forces Center for Child Protection Web site. The AFCCP is helping to protect children throughout the DOD through education and awareness training such as that held here at Wilford

  • Retired general reflects on life of service

    During her three-day visit here last week in observance of National Women’s History Month, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Karen S. Rankin, who served as the executive assistant to the secretary of the Air Force, commanded two training wings and directed the Plans and Programs Division at Headquarters,

  • Manas Air Base volunteers restore children’s home, hope

    A children’s home near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, damaged by a fire, is being put back together, piece by piece, by volunteers from nearby Manas Air Base. Everywhere in the house there are sounds of progress … floorboards ripped up, window sills sanded down, nails hammered into the new floor. A more

  • Collaboration improves solar storm forecasting

    A new partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Weather Agency seeks to reduce the impact of space environmental effects on Department of Defense assets through better forecasting of violent solar storms. Space-based communications, navigation and surveillance systems

  • Kingpins use blend of old, new technology to counter threats

    In the sky over Iraq, technology developed in the 1940s helps fight a 21st century war. From their unique vantage point, the Kirkuk long-range radar surveillance site searches the sky. It’s almost as if the slow cyclonic pace hypnotizes everything in the airspace to spill their deep dark secrets --

  • Ramstein’s transformation edging toward fruition

    Parts of this hectic airlift hub are still under construction as the historic base transforms into the Air Force’s European super base. The work is part of the Department of Defense’s largest ongoing construction project -- a $500 million boon for the base near Kaiserslautern, said Col. Carlos

  • McConnell employee donates marrow

    An Air Force civilian employee traveled to Washington, D.C., on March 23 to give the gift of life to a 10-year-old boy with severe aplastic anemia, a condition where the bone marrow does not produce enough -- or any -- new cells to replenish the blood cells. James Speanburg donated 5.5 cups of

  • Academy satellite lost after launch

    An Air Force Academy satellite was lost March 24 shortly after launch. The cadet-built FalconSAT-2 small satellite was the primary payload on the maiden flight of the SpaceX Falcon I rocket, launched from the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Test Site on Kwajalien Atoll in the Marshall Islands. “We

  • California base wins water recycling award

    Ever think the sign of the times would state, “To conserve water, this building uses reclaimed water to flush toilets and urinals?"The significance of the reclaimed water signs posted in restrooms in new base facilities was apparent March 12, at the WateReuse Association’s awards luncheon in San

  • DOD working to prevent sexual assaults

    Sexual assault is one of the most underreported crimes in the military and in society as a whole, a top defense personnel and readiness official said. "Some studies indicate that only 5 percent of sexual assaults are reported," said Air Force Brig. Gen. K.C. McClain, who heads the Department of

  • Japanese Airmen intern with Kadena NCOs

    Could something as simple as tying engine wires by hand instead of by tool bring two allies closer together? For Staff Sgt. Aiko Koba and Senior Airman Airica Velazquez, it means gaining a greater appreciation for what they do for their respective air force. Sergeant Koba is one of seven Japan Air

  • Top enlisted leader visits Lakenheath

    As threats against the United States evolve, Airmen can expect the Air Force to evolve as well. During his visit to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray talked about the Air Force evolution and the initiatives leadership is taking to modernize the

  • Manas AB and local Kyrgyz communities forge bonds of friendship

    With warm and milder weather, spring has brought opportunities for the base and local community to strengthen friendly relations. Emergency responders on base pulled out all the stops to host officials and staff from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency for an annual tour and barbeque March 18. The two

  • Three Air Force trailblazers among Hall of Fame inductees

    Three Air Force trailblazers were among the five women inducted into the Women in Aviation, International, Pioneer Hall of Fame here March 25. An audience of more than 2,000 witnessed the induction of retired officers -- Maj. Gen. Jeanne Holm, Maj. Gen. Betty Mullis and Lt. Col. Betty Jane Williams.

  • Squadron keeps deployed Airmen in touch with their families

    During World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, deployed troops looked forward to mail call. This was their primary mode of communication with family and friends. However, letters could take weeks or even months to arrive. Today’s warriors still receive mail, but now they have instantaneous

  • Loyal four-legged friends protect Aviano, deter crime

    With their powerful jaws, strong sense of smell and unwavering loyalty, they are not only man’s best friend, but also an incredible asset to the 31st Security Forces Squadron. Aviano’s seven explosive and two narcotic working dogs are always training and patrolling the base as part of their mission

  • Deployed Airmen teach English to Kyrgyzstan teenagers

    With the help of volunteers from the American military base just a few miles away, teenagers in Kyrgyzstan are learning the English language. During hectic deployment hours and long work weeks, Airmen from U.S. Central Command Air Force’s Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan still find time to help out the

  • AFIT graduates Class of 2006

    More than 270 scientists, engineers and management specialists received graduate and doctorate degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology. AFIT’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management held its 2006 graduation ceremony March 21 on the school’s campus. The graduating class was awarded

  • Maintainers multi-task to keep C-17s safe

    In a dusty tent in the middle of maintenance town, computers are humming and a lone radio squawks the status of an incoming C-17 Globemaster III. The only sign that anybody works here is a row of desert camouflage blouses hung neatly near the door. A few of them belong to crew chiefs. The rest were

  • Lee Greenwood to entertain deployed, overseas troops

    The man best-known for writing and performing “God Bless the U.S.A.” will entertain U.S. troops in Europe, Southwest Asia and the Pacific from April 5 to 18. "I am thrilled that Restless Heart, Dick Hardwick, the New England Patriot Cheerleaders and members of the Air Force band have all agreed to

  • SECAF makes first official tour of Pacific Region bases

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne is currently touring the Pacific Region to introduce his top priorities for the Air Force -- winning the war on terrorism, fostering mutual integrity and respect, and revitalizing for the service’s aging infrastructure and fleet. The 21st secretary of the

  • Alaska Air Guard rescues state trooper whose plane crashed

    Members of the Alaska Air National Guard saved a state trooper March 22 after his personal Piper Cub aircraft crashed 90 miles north of Dillingham. The pilot, Justin Rodgers, is a trooper with the Dillingham post of the Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement. Officer Rodgers and his father, Charles,

  • Statistics show command's fitness program needs to improve

    Since the new fitness program began in 2004, Air Force Reserve Command’s performance has stumbled. In 2003, 76 percent of unit reservists took the fitness test. Most of them -- 98.9 percent -- passed their assessments. Now, two years later, 68 percent of the reservists tested. But, this time 7

  • Air Force pilot becomes one of newest astronauts

    A former F-22A Raptor test pilot has now joined the ranks of an even more elite group of pilots. Lt. Col. James Dutton became an astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration following his graduation in February. “I wanted to be an astronaut when I joined the Air Force so I always

  • Cheney gives Oath of Enlistment to servicemembers at Scott

    Nine servicemembers and one enlistee had the privileged opportunity to raise their right hand and receive the Oath of Office from the vice president of the United States. During a recent visit to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Vice President Richard Cheney assisted 375th Airlift Wing commander Col.

  • New Orleans A-10s arrive at Whiteman

    This base continues to absorb people and planes from hurricane-ravaged Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, La., accepting the second to last A-10 Thunderbolt II March 16. Falling in line with Base Realignment and Closure committee recommendations, the original plan had the naval base delivering

  • Civil Air Patrol volunteers affected by hurricanes

    During Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, hundreds of aircraft flew missions to evacuate the stranded residents of New Orleans. But, it wasn't just military aircraft running rescue missions in the congested skies above the hurricane-stricken region. Members of America's Civil Air Patrol also provided

  • Class of 2009: You are recognized!

    “No corrections need to be made.” This was the appraisal given by squadron element leaders March 18 to the class of 2009 after a whirlwind two-day training event. First class cadets formally recognized the fourth classmen by awarding them their prop and wings insignia, which symbolizes the end of

  • NCO gets jail for promotion test cheating

    An 18-year master sergeant was sentenced to a bad conduct discharge, demotion to airman basic and two months confinement by a military judge during a special court-martial here March 20 after pleading guilty to cheating on a promotion test in 2004.Master Sgt. Ulysses S. Dotson of the 733rd Air

  • 'Federal 100' winners named for 2006

    Federal Computer Week magazine has named its 2006 Federal 100 list. The awards recognize government, industry and academia executives who have played pivotal roles in the federal information technology community. Five of the 100 have an Air Force connection. Those award winners are: -- Capt. Jeffrey

  • C-17s would help USAFE’s air mobility business

    As the need grows for more Air Force transports to move cargo and troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Air Forces in Europe is feeling the pinch. Today, most Air Force airlift missions support military operations in the two countries, said Col. Phil Bossert, commander of 16th Air Force’s air

  • CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

    Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 20 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt terrorist activities. In addition, 14 Air Force, Navy, Royal Air

  • Joint Strike Fighter program crucial to future air dominance

    Keeping the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program on track is important because the Air Force needs to replace aging aircraft and it is an important complement to the F-22A Raptor aircraft. That Capitol Hill testimony came March 16 from Lt. Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, deputy chief of staff for Air

  • AMC changes public Web as AF seeks standardization

    Headquarters Air Mobility Command launched its new public Web site today, following an Air Force plan to consolidate all Web content and standardize the appearance of its public sites worldwide. The command joins Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Force Reserve Command, and Air Force Materiel

  • Fuels Airmen train members of Iraqi Air Force

    Fuels Airmen take pride in knowing they provide fuel to the fight by supplying aircraft with the juice that keeps them flying. One more thing they can be proud of is their role in getting the Iraqi Air Force off the ground. Members of the 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels flight

  • Osprey simulator up, running

    The CV-22 Osprey simulator was officially welcomed at the 19th Special Operations Squadron with a ceremony earlier this month. The $21 million simulator is intended to provide refresher and proficiency training to pilots, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Jay, CV-22 simulator program manager. “We are not

  • Air sampling study benefits Airmen's health

    The average human takes about 12 to 20 breaths each minute. Exactly what those breaths contain is now being monitored in a study. Airmen are participating in the U.S. Central Command Enhanced Particulate Matter Surveillance Initiative to determine the levels of total solid particulates in the

  • KC-135 aircrews ‘fuel the fight’ for B-52s

    In six short weeks, deployed KC-135 Stratotankers have delivered more than 11 million pounds of fuel to B-52 Stratofortresses that have flown forward into Afghan airspace to provide close air support for U.S. and coalition forces on the ground. Without this fuel, the B-52s would not be able to carry

  • Responsive, affordable satellite enhances support to warfighter

    In the battle environment, every second counts, and accelerated (within 10 minutes) information downloaded to the joint warfighter, to be demonstrated in the upcoming TacSat-3 mission, could result in victory, but more importantly, in lives saved. Planned to launch in summer 2007, the TacSat-3

  • AAFES, MWR officials testify to congressional committee

    Air Force officials overseeing morale, welfare and recreation, or MWR, for Airmen testified before the House Armed Services Committee military personnel subcommittee March 15. Maj. Gen. Paul Essex, commander of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, or AAFES, and Arthur Myers, director of Air

  • Combat-ready for 50 years: B-52s fly past another milestone

    The B-52 Stratofortress reached a milestone March 12 with the 50th anniversary of the first B-52 wing being declared combat-ready. The 93rd Bombardment Wing was declared combat-ready March 12, 1956, after being activated June 29, 1955. Although it had been declared combat-ready for 10 years, the

  • Missouri Guard unit first ever selected for B-2 mission

    Air Force officials announced March 16 that the 131st Fighter Wing at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis will join the elite B-2 mission at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The announcement means the 131st Fighter Wing's Airmen will team up with the world's only B-2 long-range stealth bomber

  • Former Falcon on ballot for College Football Hall of Fame

    Former Air Force great Chad Hennings is on the ballot for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Hennings is one of 77 players and seven coaches listed on the 2006 ballot by the National Football Foundation. Hennings joins Randall Cunningham (University of Nevada at Las Vegas), Ahmad

  • Commander shares vision for future force

    Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander, shared his insight and vision for the future at the Combined Air Operations Center March 10. During his first visit as CENTAF commander, General North discussed the CENTAF mission and challenges facing Airmen and

  • DOD releases annual sexual assault report

    The Department of Defense released the results of the second annual report on the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program. The report addresses data on alleged sexual assaults that were reported during 2005 in which members of the armed forces are victims or offenders. The Air Force received

  • Family Matters introduces updated AF Crossroads Web site

    The Air Force A1 office of family matters will soon unveil its updated Air Force Crossroads Web site for Airmen and families to gather facts about installations, military moves, education and more. Though the current site contains a lot of information, its many layers made the site difficult to

  • First Air Force dive course graduates 17 Airmen

    This was the final test. An underwater compass and a buddy harnessed three feet from their bodies provide direction. A 25-pound breathing device strapped to their chests provides vital oxygen while underwater without making surface bubbles. A 50-pound rucksack and weapon weighted on their backs are

  • Iraqi security forces, coalition launch 'Operation Swarmer'

    Iraqi and coalition forces today launched the largest air assault operation since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in southern Salah Ad Din province to clear a suspected insurgent operating area northeast of Samarra, military officials reported. "Operation Swarmer" began this morning with

  • Two Airmen killed, one injured in off-base accident

    Two Airmen were killed and one injured in a car accident outside the city of La Ceiba on March 15 at about 1 p.m. The Airmen were deployed in support of New Horizons 2006-Honduras, a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and the Honduran government. They were assigned to Joint Task Force

  • Civil engineers keep Sather Air Base utilities operational

    When the power is on and the toilets are flowing, no one bothers the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Flight Airmen here. But they don’t mind anonymity; when no one complains, they know their customers are happy. Airmen in the flight can be compared to a city public works

  • CMSAF speaks about future changes

    As threats against the United States evolve, Airmen can expect the Air Force to evolve as well said the Air Force’s senior enlisted member during his visit here, Friday, March 10. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray talked about the Air Force’s evolution and the initiatives

  • Fire burns 100 acres, singes Altus AFB

    Altus Air Force Base and local firefighters worked together to battle a grass fire that consumed about 100 acres here, March 12. Local officials say dry conditions and high winds resulted in several grass fires in the area, including one at the southeast corner of the base. The base suffered minimal

  • Gen. Renuart: U.S. strategy built for new threats

    The U.S. military has sculpted its strategy to account for the different threats, cultures and circumstances posed by the global war on terror, said the Joint Staff's chief of strategic plans and policy. While the Defense Department does focus a great deal of effort on Iraq and Afghanistan, the war

  • Commissaries take steps to stop counterfeit coupons

    Be careful how you get your Internet coupons, say Defense Commissary Agency officials.They are alerting customers about a recent rise in the use of fraudulent Internet or home-printed coupons and steps the agency has taken to address the issue. “Counterfeit coupons are circulating on the Internet

  • Eglin team spearheads Honduras medical mission

    A team of 23 medics from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is leading the way on a two-week, four-site medical readiness training exercise here. The MEDRETE is part of New Horizons 2006-Honduras, a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and Honduran government that ultimately strives to improve

  • Air Force captures five Nunn-Perry awards

    Five Air Force company teams captured Nunn-Perry awards at the annual Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé conference in Atlanta on March 8. The awards recognize efforts by DOD prime contractors (mentors) and their protégé small businesses to advance the protégé company as a competitive partner in

  • Former hostage shares lessons with terrorism conference attendees

    “They came to the door dressed as plumbers, claiming they needed to fix a leak,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. James Dozier. But, that was only the beginning of the general’s six-week ordeal as a hostage. He described his ordeal to group of conference attendees here March 10. “I didn’t know at the

  • Chief reviews son’s graduation

    Of the 731 Airmen who graduated from basic military training here today, nothing unusual happened for 730 of them. But the day was special for one Airman, two chiefs and a mother. “There was no decision about him joining the Air Force, it was his decision alone,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Bowes,

  • 'Recognition' ceremony returns to Air Force Academy

    "Recognition" is being reinstated here after a three-year hiatus. Recognition 2006 events start after classes March 16 and conclude with a celebratory dinner March 18. Recognition marks the transition of the fourth classmen to upper class status. It is the ceremonial acknowledgement that the fourth

  • Airman saves co-worker

    A security forces noncommissioned officer lost consciousness and was saved by a fellow Airman at a Las Vegas restaurant March 5. Members of the security team for Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment '06 were at dinner when Master Sgt. Jeff Jones noticed that Staff Sgt. Dionne Bennett, an Air

  • Engineers support the fight

    Air Force engineers from the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron are supporting Bastogne Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry near Hawijah, Iraq, by increasing the quality of living on forward operating base McHenry. “It’s a mission worth supporting,” said 2nd Lt. Tim Brodman, the officer

  • What’s in a name?

    The Space Warfare Center here became the Space Innovation and Development Center in a formal ceremony March 8. The name has changed, but the organization’s mission remains the same, the commander said. “One of the things I want people to understand is that there’s no change in our mission,” Col.

  • Dental residency program fills experience gap

    A dental residency program here teaches dentists career field specialties and how to serve in a deployed location. The advanced education in general dentistry resident program is the only dentistry program in the Air Force that accepts dentists who have already served in the military for a few

  • The nose knows -- military working dogs complete security forces mission

    “Get 'em!” With one swift movement, military working dog Breston is off like a flash, covering the distance between his handler and his target in just a few fluid strides. The reward for his speed and agility is a nice juicy bite. Of course the juicy bite was just the “bite suit” but Breston, a

  • Analysis of tanker fleet alternatives released

    The RAND Corp. released an executive summary March 7 detailing its findings from an analysis of alternatives study to replace the Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. The report states, "A fleet of medium to large (300,000 to 1,000,000 pounds maximum gross takeoff weight) commercial derivatives is

  • Warfare center creates mobility warriors

    Every day more than 550 Airmen pick up a proverbial sword and shield and step onto the battlefield. Their sword is knowledge honed to a razor’s edge by experience and technology; their shield, the Air Mobility Warfare Center; their battlefield, deployed locations around the world. “We are

  • Medics, volunteers meet Iraqis' medical needs

    Several times a week, medics from the 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron take a break from their normal “hustle and bustle” work schedule at the clinic to help local Iraqis who feel under the weather. The medics head out close to the wire to see these patients at the Radhwaniya Medical Clinic

  • Heritage to horizons: Advice from former chiefs spans generations

    There is one distinct common observation most former chief master sergeants of the Air Force have about today’s Airmen, and that’s the level of education and sophistication coming out of today’s society. “[When] you talk about our Airmen of today, you also have to talk about the young citizens of

  • Air Force introduces next generation cruise missile

    Since the late 1970s the Department of Defense has tried and failed numerous times to give the warfighter an affordable standoff cruise missile capable of taking out the enemy's air defenses early on in a conflict. Fast forward to 2006 and that warfighter need has finally been met by the Air Force's

  • Philippine Airmen attend professional military education at Hickam

    The Hickam Professional Military Education center is hosting Philippine Air Force students at its Airman Leadership School to help them develop a program of their own. After an assessment by Air Force senior noncommissioned officers from Pacific Air Forces, the Philippine Air Force expressed the

  • Senate support essential to achieve goals in Korea

    Continued Senate support is essential to maintaining readiness and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region, said the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in South Korea March 7. "United States forces based in South Korea, along with military forces from the Republic of Korea and other

  • Instructors arm Airmen warriors with knowledge

    The contingency skills training instructors at one of the Air Force’s most realistic wartime training programs play many roles -- observer, controller, good guy, bad guy, politician -- however, their most important role is that of mentor. The Air Mobility Warfare Center instructors will do what it

  • Learning early: First-term Airmen learn security forces skills

    Airmen fresh out of basic training and technical school are now receiving a security forces introduction here in line with new Air Force security forces training initiatives. The 347th Security Forces Squadron recently introduced a five-day augmentee course for recent graduates of the Moody’s First

  • Integration builds on fighter wings' strengths

    The ongoing association between the 419th and 388th Fighter Wings here will make both organizations stronger by capitalizing on the strengths of each, said Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of Air Force Reserve Command. General Bradley welcomed reservists from the 419th FW home in late January

  • Reserve doctor makes house call to developing nations

    An Air Force doctor is helping thousands of people in developing countries as a results of a chance encounter with Texas reservists at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, eight years ago. Lt. Col. (Dr.) Josef Schmid was in the regular Air Force working in the Rhein-Main clinic when a team of reservists

  • Officials announce Air Force safety awards

    Air Force safety officials announced the winners of the 2005 safety awards. They are: -- Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award: Category 1, U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Category II, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. --

  • Eagle Flag launches humanitarian relief missions for exercise

    More than 350 Airmen are testing their humanitarian mission support skills during the Air Mobility Warfare Center’s Eagle Flag exercise. This is the first time the flag-level exercise has specifically provided a humanitarian relief mission scenario. “Basically, we are trying to create the most

  • Joint reconstruction teams activated in Afghanistan

    More than 1,000 Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors joined ranks to activate Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Teams in a ceremony here March 3. The purpose of the teams is to help rebuild Afghanistan, ensuring a secure and self-sufficient nation. The teams have a three-part mission: stabilize the

  • Command's High Flight program opens door to civilians

    Air Mobility Command added a new twist to the High Flight program here when Air Force civilians were added to the professional development and orientation course. Forty-seven captains from across the Air Force and six civilians from the command recently participated in the twice-a-year program.

  • Air Force Judge Advocate Corps streamlines operations

    The Air Force's Judge Advocate General’s Corps has a plan to optimize their operations for the 21st century, and move out on Air Force Smart Operations 21. In a recent interview, Maj. Gen. Jack L. Rives, the Air Force's new judge advocate general, said the service's JAG Corps will begin transforming

  • Spanish detachment helps with troop movement from Manas

    The Spanish detachment here safely moved about a dozen U.S. Air Force officers to Kabul, Afghanistan, March 3. Manas is known as the “Gateway to Operation Enduring Freedom” because all troops moving in and out of Afghanistan stop here first to transfer to civilian or military aircraft. The Spanish

  • U.S. Airmen provide Iraq’s new air force a place to call home

    Iraq’s new air force flying operations have received much publicity recently. But a military must have a base to call home. A team of U.S. Airmen spent more than a year helping the Iraqi air force establish its “only” base with a support unit. About a year ago, the New Al Muthana Air Base was just a

  • Watts up: Shop hardwired to deployed base

    Flip a switch and a light goes on. Plug in an electric shaver and it recharges. Push start on a microwave and the food becomes piping hot. These are all easy everyday activities most people go through. But for one shop within the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, it’s an everyday job to

  • Contingency response wing takes baby steps around the world

    Helping the relief victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and Pakistan’s earthquake disaster were its baby steps. The infant is the 621st Contingency Response Wing, which celebrated its first birthday on Monday, March 6, 2006 at a ceremony in its contingency response warehouse. “Each person here is

  • International Affairs Specialist Program begins second round

    The International Affairs Specialist, or IAS, Program is entering its second year of competitive selection. The program will be targeting 117 mid-career line officers for the designation. The program seeks to enhance expeditionary capability by developing regional and international expertise,

  • Weather squadron keep eyes on sky

    Today’s Air Force is the most advanced fighting force the world has ever seen. Its aircraft can fly nationwide to deliver bombs that land within a few feet of the target. The capabilities to wage war during day or night are unparalleled. However, this lethal force is still at the mercy of an even

  • Daring and dedication: that others may live

    Man figured out how to fly. Then he left it up to Air Force pararescue jumpers to figure out how to rescue him from the jungle, the ocean, the mountains and hostile territory when a plane crashes. The need for a highly trained rescue force was highlighted in 1943. In a rescue famous in pararescue

  • Internet chat leads to confinement, discharge

    An Airman here was sentenced to three years confinement, reduction to airman basic and a dishonorable discharge in court-martial proceedings here Feb. 23. Staff Sgt. Brian Malone, a 3rd Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster, pleaded guilty to 21 specifications of violating two articles of

  • Class selected for cyber security boot camp

    Forty men and women from across the country will focus on a futuristic "cybercraft" as they participate in the 2006 Class of the Advanced Course in Engineering Cyber Security Boot Camp. A joint selection committee of Syracuse University and Air Force Research Laboratory officials reviewed the

  • General Lord retires from Air Force Space Command helm

    After a 37-year career, Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, retired in a ceremony here today. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley presided over the event. There were more than 700 current and former defense leaders, active and retired military members and civic

  • Continued vigilance is everyone’s responsibility

    The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, taught us that the enemies of the United States are capable of striking high-value targets on American soil, and they’re willing to stop at nothing to do so. While the United States has been safe from terror attacks since that ill-fated day, continued

  • Air Force leaders testify on processes used to combat costs

    The Air Force has seen a rise in the cost of doing business, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told members of the House Armed Services Committee during testimony March 1."We are experiencing unyielding second order effects that continue to drain our top line -- we are exhausting all our

  • Virginia Guard unit begins integrating with fighter wing

    He wears a battle dress uniform and looks just like any other maintainer working on a F-22 Raptor, but this Airman is very different from most others in the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here. He is paid by the hour, reports to a different supervisor and has a 70-mile commute to and from Richmond

  • Air Force seeks new tanker

    The Air Force wants a new refueler aircraft, something commercially available now, which can be modified to replace the existing KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. That testimony came from Air Force leaders associated with the tanker replacement program, Feb. 28 in front of the House Armed Services