Dec. 3 airpower summary: A-10 bombs anti-Afghan forces

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped a guided bomb unit-38

NASA trains pilots to fly high

To achieve their dreams of space flight, NASA astronauts must overcome many challenges -- challenges they can only receive at one place. Whether they are a pilot, navigator or mission specialist, Ellington Field, Texas, is the proving ground where astronauts earn their "wings" through the expert

E-8C's new engine program takes off

America's eye in the sky, the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System,  or Joint STARS, will soon be faster, quieter, more efficient and more operationally effective with a major engine upgrade effort now under way here. Getting new engines on E-8C test aircraft is a major milestone for

Teamwork helps Manas handle holiday season mail surge

The Manas Air Base Post Office staff knows to expect a huge influx of Christmas and holiday care packages, and to deliver the mountain of mail to base residents it takes teamwork from base volunteers. Between Thanksgiving and the first week of January, the Manas AB Post Office will receive roughly

Kandahar team provides ammunition to win the fight

With a munitions stockpile of 560 line items worth more than $11 million, the job of providing weapons to warfighters at Kandahar Airfield falls to a three-man flight. "We maintain and provide munitions to U.S. and coalition forces," said Master Sgt. James Bradley, the munitions accountable systems

Re-invigorating nuclear enterprise a top priority

Maintaining accountability and improving stewardship of the Air Force's nuclear program is the top priority, said the service's 19th chief of staff recently. Gen. Norton Schwartz said the Air Force has gone through some "rough" air in the realm of nuclear deterrence, but the service is already on

Deployed Warbirds participate in Australian Aces North exercise

Airmen deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, recently participated in the Australian Aces North exercise with personnel from the Australian Fighter Combat Instructor Course, which ended Dec. 4. The Aces North exercise is the capstone of the FCIC, which is the Australian equivalent of the U.S.

Airmen provide FAST coverage

Upon landing one morning at a remote location in Iraq, two specially trained Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron took charge of security for a $30.1 million C-130 Hercules and its crew. Senior Airmen Rosie Munoz and Michelle Kendall assume this responsibility on a regular

Presidency council ratifies U.S.-Iraq security pact

The new U.S.-Iraq security pact that was approved by Iraqi lawmakers Nov. 27 was ratified by Iraq's presidency council Dec. 4, senior U.S. officials said.The two-part security pact consists of a strategic framework agreement that establishes the foundation of a long-term bilateral relationship

Programs aim to strengthen military marriages, curb divorce

Servicemembers and their spouses are flocking to a broad array of programs to help them strengthen their family relationships as the services step up efforts to curb divorce rates.Military divorce rates rose by .1 percent -- to 3.4 percent -- during fiscal 2008, with 492 more divorces than the

Leaders encourage Airmen to apply for Academy

Young, hard-charging Airmen are sought for entry into the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force Academy Preparatory School with the end goal of earning a commission, but must apply by Jan. 31, 2009. The Academy sets aside up to 85 slots for active-duty Airmen and up to 85 more slots for Guard and

New TSP contribution limits set for 2009

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board recently announced an increase in the 2009 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions. The limit is now $16,500, up from $15,500 for 2008. In addition, contributions for the TSP catch-up plan will increase to $5,500, up from

Airmen procure mission success

Members of the 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron here connect mission needs with the facilities, equipment and services that link military customers and the contractors who can meet those needs. "Our mission is to make sure we provide each customer with what they need and get it to them as

Air Force officials release new amendment to CSAR-X RFP

Air Force officials released Amendment 7 to the Request for Proposals for the Combat Search and Rescue helicopter Dec. 5. The amendment contains minor changes that are intended to further clarify how Air Force officials will make their source selection decision. Beyond the clarifications, Amendment

Airpower summary Dec. 5: Predator fires on anti-Afghan forces

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 5, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an MQ-1 Predator used a hellfire missile against

Deterrence is not a fading concept, CSAF says

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz reminded community members and North Dakota's senior elected representatives at a luncheon here Dec. 1 that "deterrence is not a fading concept." As part of his visit to the base, the general discussed the concept for the new Global Strike Command. He

'Today's Air Force' features Combat Skills Training

This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights security and how Airmen are getting extra training while preparing for deployment downrange, especially if they're going to Iraq or Afghanistan. Airmen from many career fields are going to Combat Skills Training to develop a warfighter mentality. Also

Airmen, Marines join forces during exercise at Kadena

Japan-based Airmen and Marines came together for Exercise Beverly High 09-01 the first week of December at Kadena Air Base.Airmen of the 18th Wing integrated with Marines from Marine Corps Station Iawkuni as they executed their missions under simulated combat conditions.About 35 aircraft and 700

Dec. 6 airpower summary: B-1B deters enemy attacks

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-38s onto

Feeding the Thunderbolt II

Air Force selected for Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons have been selected to play in the 2008 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, Dec. 31, at 11 a.m. Central Standard Time. The Falcons will take on the University of Houston from Conference-USA. This marks the second straight year that Air Force has

Gaming technology used for interactive military training

Air Force Research Laboratory's researchers at Mesa, Ariz., unveiled the technological potential of its gaming research and development project publicly Dec. 1 during the 2008 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando, Fla. Members of the 711th Human Performance

Obama taps Shinseki as next Veterans Affairs chief

President-elect Barack Obama has selected retired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Eric K. Shinseki as his nominee to be secretary of veterans affairs. "As we seek a new national security strategy that uses all elements of American power, we must also remember those who run the greatest risks and make the

General Schwartz releases 2009 CSAF Reading List

The chief of staff of the Air Force announced the 2009 CSAF Reading List Dec. 8. "Today's Air Force is the product of the pioneers who preceded us, and our Airmen are proudly carrying the torch," said Gen. Norton Schwartz, the service's 19th chief of staff. "In our professional development, we must

Iraqi medics complete aeromedical evacuation course

Instructors from the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio graduated 14 Iraqi air force medics from an aeromedical evacuation basics course here Dec. 4. The graduation ceremony was the culmination of 12 days of training that ended with a patient movement exercise

U.S., Australian forces honor fallen coalition member

U.S. Central Command's busiest aerial port of debarkation, or APOD, located at an air base in Southwest Asia, serves as the place of duty for Airmen of the 387th Air Expeditionary Group and the 5th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, as well as sister service and coalition force members. But it

Sather Airmen work late to feed the force

Sather Air Base is the busiest aerial port in Iraq, moving hundreds of American military members, civilian contractors, distinguished visitors and coalition forces every day as they travel in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For many of these travelers, the layover at this small military base on

Operation Christmas Drop box-build complete

After 55 years running, Operation Christmas Drop is the Air Force's longest running humanitarian airlift mission. This year marks the 56th annual Operation Christmas Drop. With only days left until boxes are delivered to the small islands of Micronesia, last-minute donations are still pouring in,

Army unit augments Air Force to boost troop support

As U.S. forces prepare to ramp up the operations tempo in Operation Enduring Freedom, a new unit here is helping prepare cargo to airdrop to the troops on the ground. The Army's 824th Riggers unit, a reserve unit based out of Ft. Bragg, N.C., began operations to support Air Force airdrops Dec. 3.

AMC unveils new mission statement and focus areas

This past June, I issued a call for all AMC personnel to "return to basics," and I thank you for the renewed attention you've given to our core values and our mobility mission while restoring the Air Force's good name with your daily, outstanding mission accomplishment. Today, we build on that

Wanna make an Air Force commercial?

Senior leaders are asking Airmen to get behind the camera and submit a video for the next Air Force advertising campaign.  The contest has begun and runs until Jan. 9.  Airmen are encouraged to create a video depicting what their unit or they do to support the Air Force mission, as well as highlight

Egyptians learn airpower

CJCS salutes servicemembers' success at awards dinner

U.S. troops engaged in the global war on terrorism are doing "an exceptionally hard job exceptionally well," the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs' annual awards dinner held here Dec. 8. "I believe our future is tied, as it always must

SAMMC construction project breaks ground

Military leaders, construction officials and wounded warriors joined up Dec. 8 to break ground on the start of construction on the San Antonio Military Medical Center, a $724 million construction and renovation project at Wilford Hall Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center. The construction,

Air Force officials announce OTS selection results

A total of 223 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced Dec. 9. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 474 applications as part of Officer Training School

Air Force radio show features Faith Hill

The 2008 "Red, White and Air Force Blue Christmas" radio special featuring country music's multi-award winning artist Faith Hill is arriving this week at more than 3,300 country music radio stations across the nation. In its 14th year, the radio special includes a selection of holiday classics from

Procurement initiative secures DOD computers, saves money

Department of Defense officials are among those of dozens of departments and organizations who have improved security for their laptop computers and saved taxpayers more than $92 million by using a new procurement initiative, a senior Defense Department official said here. DOD and the General

Fuel quality

General addresses Reserve issues on Web cast

The 4th Air Force commander took part in a worldwide Web cast panel discussion Dec. 4 here to provide an update on the Guard and Reserve. Major Gen. Robert E. Duignan was part of a three-person expert panel brought together for an appearance on "Front and Center," a monthly public affairs forum on

Airmen show Iraqi army leaders base operations

A handful of American Airmen are helping the Iraqi army turn a run down military base into an operational military hub.Taji Military Base is home to the country's only national-level maintenance and supply depots, and American Soldiers and Airmen advisers are assisting the Iraqis with everything

Virtual training for real-world missions

A $1.5 million virtual training environment housed in a hangar at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center here offers security forces personnel and other Airmen realistic fire team convoy training. Much like an IMAX, a 280-degree screen brings to life real-world scenarios designed to put a

Home for the holidays

Dec. 8 airpower summary: F-16s alert and ready

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a Navy F/A-18C Hornet and a coalition aircraft dropped guided

Wynonna Judd joins Reserve Band for TV broadcast

Members of the Band of the Air Force Reserve and Air Force Strings teamed up with Wynonna and Naomi Judd and the Palmetto State Quartet for this year's Holiday Notes from Home concert recorded Dec. 9 at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Viewers around the world will have a chance to see

Dec. 9 airpower summary: A-10s escort convoy

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-1B Predator used a Hellfire missile against

PACAF officials look to blogging to tell Air Force story

Pacific Air Command officials here created a blog called PACAF Pixels in September to allow Airmen across the command to share, in a personal and authentic way, their service experiences.PACAF officials said this is a significant departure from traditional communication in the command, citing the

Operation Toy Drop

Eielson Airmen start winter road show in Hawaii

More than 125 Eielson Air Force Base Airmen and 10 jets left Dec. 6 through 8 to provide adversary training and support to members of the 199th Fighter Squadron and the Hawaii Air National Guard at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. This is their first stop for the 28 operations personnel and about 100

Air Guard to host three KC-135 associate wings

Three Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker wings will become active associate units beginning this summer, Air Force officials here announced Dec. 10. Active-duty Airmen will be assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Wing in Birmingham, Ala., the 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base,

New year brings new tools to quit tobacco

Department of Defense and Tricare officials are offering new innovative online tools to help servicemembers keep their New Year's resolutions to quit tobacco. The DOD-sponsored educational campaign, Quit Tobacco--Make Everyone Proud, is expanding its interactive Web site. Users can now create a blog

Southern Command, AF South leaders visit deployed troops

Senior leaders from Southern Command and Air Forces Southern kicked off a week-long tour Dec. 8 to visit forward-deployed personnel and assist nearby communities in seven Latin American countries during the holiday season. A C-21 from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., carried the group to Forward

Airmen lead effort to rescue injured crewman at sea

American Airmen and aircraft were part of an international effort over the Atlantic Ocean that saved the life of a crewmember who suffered a life-threatening head injury onboard a cargo ship Dec. 10 more than 320 miles west of Cork, Ireland. The Burmese crewmember was injured at sea on a

Dec. 10 airpower summary: F-15Es provide aerial protection

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped a guided bomb unit-38 onto

Letters, packages to Airmen increases during holiday season

Postal workers of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing here doubled their workload for this holiday season and expect to double it yet again in the coming weeks. The holiday season for postal workers begins in the middle of November and generally goes through the middle of December. "We're currently

Medics, maintainers test skills at alternative careers

How many steps does it take to prepare an F-16 Fighting Falcon to launch for a combat sortie? How stomach-turning is it to sit in on a surgery?  Staff Sgt. Ubong Okokon and Master Sgt. Mark Crew are dedicated to answering these questions and more for Airmen serving in the Air Force Theater Hospital

Services meet or exceed November recruiting goals

All active-duty and reserve-component U.S. military services met or exceeded their November recruiting goals, according to a Defense Department report. -- Air Force recruiting officials signed up 2,916 new active-duty Airmen, meeting their target number of enlistees for the month. -- Army recruiting

Airman's Roll Call: Managing stress during the holidays

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Airmen identifying and finding ways to deal with stress during the holidays. During the holiday season, Airmen may find themselves wrestling with a combination of stressors during this time. Some Airmen make holiday travel plans to visit loved ones or

Reservists may qualify for early retired pay

Department of Defense officials here have issued new guidelines for early receipt of retired pay for members of the Reserve components. Instead of having to wait until age 60 to receive Reserve retired pay, eligible members may receive retired pay prior to age 60 but not before age 50. Under interim

RED HORSE Airmen close chapter with Iraqis

Airmen with the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron witnessed the ribbon-cutting ceremony for a community center Dec. 5 in Hawr Rajab. Through a program called Village of Hope, RED HORSE Airmen taught Iraqi citizens the basics of construction over a 10-month period that yielded four remodeled

AF plan could enable Iraq air sovereignty, independence

Work being done here by officials of the Electronic Systems Center and its federally funded research and development center partner, MITRE Corp., is helping pave the way for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. ESC and MITRE International Operations specialists, in concert with a number of ESC

Air Force bands 'in the fight'

Air Force bands like Air Force Materiel Command's Band of Flight located here perform thousands of concerts each year, with several performances in far away countries as part of a "hearts and minds" campaign being led by military bands. Since 2004, Air Force bands have been deploying to U.S. Central

Airman helps shape future Afghan firefighters

Afghan firefighters at the Kabul International Airport stand ready to answer a call to save lives and resources here thanks to the dedicated efforts of their American counterpart. Master Sgt. Mike Marascia, Afghan fire protection mentor, has spent the last 11 months establishing the Afghan Joint

Air Force recruiter stabbed in New York

An Air Force recruiter was stabbed outside her Harlem recruiting office Dec. 11 at about 12:45 p.m. in New York City. Staff Sgt. Sarah Charles, a recruiter with the 313th Recruiting Squadron, is currently in critical but stable condition. Sergeant Charles was talking with a potential applicant at

National Guard celebrates 372nd birthday

National Guard officials are celebrating their 372nd birthday recognizing Dec. 13, 1636, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony divided its citizen-soldiers, or militia, into the North, South and East Regiments. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was seven years old in 1636 when about 5,000 men, women and

Officials request NCO feedback for future assessments

Staff sergeants through chief master sergeants throughout the Air Force are encouraged to share feedback with officials from the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron here right now. This feedback will help NCOs have a voice their own career advancements. Input from the Military Knowledge and

Airman scheduled for court-martial at Academy

Air Force officials here determined a case should proceed to a general court-martial against an Airman assigned to the 10th Medical Support Squadron here to begin Dec. 15 at the U.S. Air Force Academy.An Article 32 hearing determined the case against Airman 1st Class Derick R. Thompson, who is not a

Swap out

Dec. 11 airpower summary: KC-10s sustain fighters

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped a guided bomb unit-38

Air Force leaders chair first nuclear oversight board

Air Force leaders gathered to discuss efforts related to reinvigorating the service's nuclear enterprise Dec. 10 at the Pentagon. This was the first meeting of the newly-created Air Force Nuclear Oversight Board, which was created as part of the Air Force Nuclear Roadmap released Oct. 24. The board

Scholarships help retiree finish education

Spouses with an eye on professional certification or a post-secondary education may not have to foot the entire bill, thanks to a National Military Family Association scholarship program. The group is accepting applications for its annual Joanne Holbrook Patton Military Spouse Scholarship. The

Space station crew exchanges seasons greetings with Earth

Soaring high above the Earth, the crew of the International Space Station beamed down season's greetings that will air on NASA Television starting Dec. 12. The public can return the extraterrestrial good will and send greetings to the crew by visiting: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/postcard The

Gates praises war effort by troops in remote air hub

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates in a town-hall session with a hundreds of Airmen and Soldiers personally thanked the troops for their efforts Dec. 11 at this dusty, remote station. This austere outpost is a main air hub into Afghanistan, providing aerial refueling, combat airdrops, medical

Arizona officials aim to end scams, predatory lending

Financial scams and predatory lending against servicemembers and veterans is so common that the Arizona attorney general has created an advisory board to stop it. "We got so many complaints that were related to either veterans or active-duty military on our consumer line that I felt it was necessary

Fuel for fighters

Civil engineer crews improve Bagram infrastructure

Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron work around the clock to improve Bagram Airfield's infrastructure to support Operation Enduring Freedom. There are 25 active construction projects valued at more than $73 million, with more than $221 million in construction is scheduled for

Multinational recovery exercise kicks off at Davis-Monthan

More than 850 ground recovery forces and 51 aircraft from the Department of Defense and numerous other countries kicked off a personnel recovery and combat search and rescue exercise Dec. 8 here. The two week-long Angel Thunder 2008 exercise allows U.S. and international military forces and numerous

Public may comment on draft rules for spouse employment

The public is invited to comment until Jan. 5, 2009, on proposed rules to speed up the hiring process for some military spouses seeking federal jobs. The Office of Personnel Management staff published the rules Dec. 5 in the Federal Register and drafted the regulations to implement an executive

B-1B aircrews bring unique capabilities to the fight

B-1B Lancer aircrews of the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron guard warfighters from high above Iraq and Afghanistan while carrying the largest payload of any aircraft in the theater. Squadron members are responsible for close-air support, nontraditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

Alaska Guard continues Operation Santa Claus tradition

Children from rural Alaskan communities were treated to an early Christmas this year as members of the Alaska National Guard completed Operation Santa Claus for young people in communities across the state. The 50-year community relations and support program provides toys, books and school supplies

Attacked Air Force recruiter in stable condition

The Air Force recruiter who was stabbed outside her Harlem, N.Y., recruiting office Dec. 11 remains in stable condition. Staff Sgt. Sarah Charles, a recruiter with the 313th Recruiting Squadron, was speaking with a potential applicant when she was attacked by a female assailant. The recruiter

Dec. 12 airpower summary: Reapers watch or strike

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and an Air Force

President Bush visits troops in Bagram

President George W. Bush visited Combined Joint Task Force-101 servicemembers Dec. 15 at Bagram Airfield. "I am proud to be with brave souls serving the United States of America," President Bush said.The president expressed his well wishes to the troops during the holidays and thanked them for their

'Today's Air Force' features Airmen training Iraqis

This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how Air Force officers are sharing valuable leadership skills in an effort to train the Iraqi military on the proper tools to maintain security throughout their country. And while the use of technology facilitates our daily missions from

Congress authorizes paternity leave

Eligible Airmen are now authorized 10 days of nonchargeable paternity leave following the birth of their newborns, courtesy of the 2009 Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress. The law applies to married, active-duty Airmen. The Airman's wife must have given birth to the

Dec. 13 airpower summary: A-10s remain vigilant

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped a guided bomb unit-12

Air Force officials honor top recruiters for 2008

Fourteen Air Force recruiters were named tops in their field for fiscal 2008 by Air Force Recruiting Service officials here in December. Operation Blue Suit program recognizes the best recruiters worldwide for their efforts in recruiting a diverse, high-quality volunteer force to fill career fields

Kyrgyzstan mayors visit Manas

Mayors and deputy mayors of the six largest villages that surround Manas Air Base met the Airmen and learned the mission of the base during a Dec. 10 tour here. Base and village leaders meet one another, discussed issues that affect both and developed stronger ties through which to resolve issues of

Thermal curtains offer protection to B-52 aircrews

Engineers here are designing a product to protect B-52 Stratofortress aircrews from a nuclear attack's blinding light. Designed by members of the 540th Aircraft Sustainment Squadron's B-52 Communications Navigation and Weapons Flight, prototypes for the thermal curtains will be ready sometime in

Air Force recruiting Web site redesign launched

Incorporating the latest Internet technologies while reflecting the way ahead for the service, Air Force Recruiting Service officials launched their redesigned Web site Dec. 15 at airforce.com. The Web site serves as the Air Force's official recruiting site and offers potential recruits and the

Falcon quarterback honored by Sporting News

Air Force Academy freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson was named the Mountain West Conference's freshman of the year by Sporting News, according to a release Dec. 15 by the sports magazine. Jefferson also earned MWC freshman-of-the-year honors in a vote of head coaches and media within the league

General Schwartz sees full spectrum of fly, fight, win

Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife Suzie visited Creech and Nellis Air Force Bases, Dec. 13, to meet with Airmen and get a first-hand look at operations. This was General Schwartz's first visit to both bases since becoming the 19th chief of staff. He said it was important for him to visit Creech and

Air Force leaders send holiday message

The following is a holiday message from Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley:"The holidays give each of us an opportunity to reflect our accomplishments of the past year and cherish

McChord Airmen fuel Operation Deep Freeze

Airmen assigned to the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in support of Operation Deep Freeze completed the first operational C-17 Globemaster III airdrop Nov. 26 to the Antarctic Gamburtsev Mountain Province. Thirty bundles of fuel and other supplies were delivered by the members of the from the

Officials set military housing allowance rates for 2009

Housing allowances for military members will go up an average of 6.9 percent in 2009, Defense Department officials announced Dec. 15. The increase comes to an average of about $95 per month across the board for the 950,000 servicemembers expected to draw basic allowance for housing, or BAH, in 2009,

Airmen visit school in Ecuador, donate supplies

Southern Command and Air Forces Southern officials donated $6,000 of school supplies to an elementary school Dec. 9 in San Juan, Ecuador. The donation was part of a weeklong holiday tour as senior Air Force officials met forward deployed servicemembers and assisted seven communities near American

Edwards NCO uses training to help save accident victims

An Edwards Air Force Base NCO rushed to help save the lives of two strangers after hearing the sound of a crash and seeing a cloud of smoke and debris on Highway 14 Dec. 7 in Lancaster, Calif. When Tech. Sgt. Rondale Alexander, the NCO in charge of the Air Force Flight Test Center command section,

EUCOM program aims to reduce caregiver fatigue

Recognizing the risk of burnout among caregivers providing warrior and family support, U.S. European Command plans to kick off a program this spring that incorporates principles introduced by bestselling author and lecturer Dr. Stephen Covey. EUCOM is putting together a compassion-fatigue program

Officials identify servicemen MIA from Vietnam War

Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials here announced Dec. 15 that the group remains of six U.S. servicemen, missing from the Vietnam War, are soon to be buried with full military honors. The Air Force servicemembers are Maj. Bernard L. Bucher, of Eureka, Ill.; Maj. John L.

Dec. 15 airpower summary: F-16s watch over ground forces

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped a guided bomb unit-38 onto

Officials announce Reserve colonel promotions

Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here announced the fiscal 2009 Air Force Reserve Line and Nonline Colonel Promotion Selection Board results Dec. 16. A selection board convened at ARPC Oct. 6 through 10 to determine those officers qualified to assume the next higher grade and selected 96 of