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U.S. Air Force News

  • FEGLI 2004 open season elections take effect

    Federal employees who elected or changed their Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance during last year’s open season will have their elections take effect the first day of the first pay period that begins on or after Sept. 1.For most Air Force-serviced civilian employees, the effective date will be

  • AF clarifies hurricane evacuation entitlements

    Air Force officials want to ensure Airmen, their families and Department of Defense civilian employees evacuated during Hurricane Katrina are aware they may be eligible for certain entitlements.Eligible people may be entitled to limited evacuation allowances and expenses for lodging, transportation,

  • Regni nominated as academy superintendent

    Lt. Gen. John F. Regni has been nominated by the president to be the next U.S. Air Force Academy superintendent, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Aug. 29.If confirmed by the senate, General Regni would be the academy’s 17th superintendent.Currently, he is Air University commander at

  • Military providing full-scale response to hurricane relief effort

    Joint Task Force Katrina is setting up Aug. 31 at Camp Shelby, Miss., as the Defense Department's focal point to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency's relief efforts along the Gulf Coast, said Maj. Eric Butterbaugh, a U.S. Northern Command spokesman.Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, 1st U.S.

  • Commission wraps up BRAC decisions

    The Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission wrapped up four days of deliberations in final actions Aug. 26 and 27 by voting to turn Pope Air Force Base, N.C., into an Army airfield and recommending sweeping recommendations to revamp the Air National Guard and consolidate its operations.The

  • Guard, NORTHCOM respond to hurricane aftermath

    Twenty-four hours after Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast, about 7,500 National Guardsmen from Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi were on duty supporting civil authorities, distributing generators, providing medical care, and setting up shelters for displaced residents.In addition,

  • Stop Movement lifted for Tyndall; Keesler remains in effect

    Base officials have reinstated all permanent change of station and temporary duty travel to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. Stop Movement is still in effect for the following areas: Keesler AFB, Miss.; 361st Training Squadron, Detachment 2, Pensacola, Fla.; and 366th Det. 6, Gulfport Naval Air

  • K-9 teams keep Kirkuk safe

    Being on the frontlines in a combat zone is never an easy task, which is why the military relies heavily on teamwork. The Airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog flight work long days, face continual training and execute a crucial mission that never ends.

  • Base chaplain epitomizes Air Force diversity

    Sept. 11, 2001, inspired her to join the military, and her father was the reason she joined the Air Force. Now, the Air Force’s first female rabbi, Chaplain (Capt.) Sarah Schechter, is here serving Airmen of all religious faiths.“Clearly, supporting our troops was the best way to help our country,”

  • Keesler, Columbus survive Hurricane Katrina

    Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., survived a direct hit by Hurricane Katrina, but initial estimates show it suffered extensive damage to industrial and housing areas.At Columbus AFB, Miss., about 290 miles north of Keesler, base officials said the pilot training base suffered only moderate damage to

  • Bases hunker down to ride out Katrina

    As Hurricane Katrina devastates the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast, Air Force units in the area have hunkered down to ride out the storm.The powerful hurricane made landfall near Buras, La. -- close to the border between the two states -- at about 10 a.m. Aug. 29. Top winds reached about 145

  • Kirtland Pave Hawk accident investigation complete

    The Air Force has completed its investigation of the HH-60G Pave Hawk accident May 11 near Angel Fire, N.M., which resulted in the death of an Air Force flight engineer.The accident investigation determined the primary cause of the mishap to be pilot error. Other factors included unfavorable

  • Air Force leaders announce religious guidelines

    Air Force officials announced the release of interim guidance on free exercise of religion Aug. 29.Air Force Directorate of Personnel officials issued the interim guidelines after careful consideration of the U.S. Constitution, laws and military necessity. The guidelines were developed after a

  • Logistics Airmen supply customers with team effort

    From the outside, it looks like nothing more than a giant storage unit, but inside, it is a one-stop shop.“If you don’t see what you’re looking for, you’ve come to the right place,” said Tech. Sgt. Tonya Hamilton, noncommissioned officer in charge of the base service supply store here. “I can get

  • Air Force issues stop movement to Keesler, Tyndall

    The Air Force has issued a "Stop Movement" order for people permanently moving to or transiting on temporary duty to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., based on the probability that Hurricane Katrina will affect the area.Officials also ordered a Stop Movement for people permanently moving to or

  • Sexual assault prevention film must-see for Airmen

    A new training video recently distributed to the Air Force through vice wing commanders is required viewing for all Airmen.All Airmen must view the new video, entitled "Targeting Sexual Assault," by Nov. 1. It is part of a larger Air Force campaign to educate Airmen about the realities of sexual

  • AF chief of staff change ceremony set for Sept. 2

    The swearing in of Gen. T. Michael Moseley as the Air Force’s 18th chief of staff will be broadcast live Sept. 2 from Andrews Air Force Base, Md. The live broadcast is scheduled for 10 a.m. EDT and will be available on the Pentagon Channel and on Air Force Link at http://www.af.mil/csaf/player.html

  • Family members, survivors receive identification cards

    A permanent U.S. uniformed services identification card will be available in September for all eligible family members and survivors age 75 and over of deceased servicemembers.Currently, uniformed services retirees are the only persons who receive a permanent ID card.Beneficiaries currently in

  • Commander sees AEF working from deployed perspective

    The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center commander recently visited his largest customer in theater -- U.S. Central Command Air Forces.Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Hoog said there was no better place to see that the AEF is working as advertised than in the Southwest Asia and Central Asia.“I appreciate

  • Medics relieve pain at home, in war

    As servicemembers continue to fight the war on terrorism, a small group of Airmen at Balad Air Base, Iraq, is ensuring that each warfighter is fit to fight. At the same time they are gaining valuable experience to bring home.The physical and occupational therapy clinic at the Air Force Theater

  • Tricare unveils new extended health-care option

    Tricare’s Extended Care Health Option will be available for beneficiaries of active-duty family members with defined qualifying conditions Sept. 1. Beneficiaries currently receiving care through the Program for Persons with Disabilities and not qualified for ECHO will continue care through Tricare

  • Beale’s Global Hawk mission extends worldwide

    Airman with the 12th Reconnaissance Squadron here are part of the Air Force’s only operational Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle unit.The $35-million Global Hawk is used to provide Air Force and joint battlefield commanders near real-time, high-resolution intelligence, surveillance and

  • Exchange program connects U.S., Dutch Airmen

    Training young pilots to push the F-16 Fighting Falcon to its operational limits is a job Lt. Col. David Stine loves as much as flying.Even better is doing both those things with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, he said. That is just what he has done for three years as an exchange pilot at this

  • Television star visits troops in Southwest Asia

    It is a common refrain in the cut-throat world of stand-up comedy that the hungriest and most fearless performers will go anywhere and work any room to get their levity-rich message to the masses.Drew Carey, among the most recognizable comedians in the world, stretched the “have laughs, will travel”

  • AGE Airmen pick up skills useful in civilian sector

    When Staff Sgt. Michele Calton spotted a stranded elderly woman whose car had broken down with smoke streaming from under the hood, her first instinct was not to call someone else for help. She calmly got out of her car in her 4-inch heels and skirt she wore for a girls’ night out, lifted up the

  • AFRC exceeds recruiting goal

    For the fifth consecutive year, Air Force Reserve Command has exceeded its recruiting goal.This year is the earliest the command has achieved its annual requirement. The recruiting year ends Sept. 30.AFRC Recruiting Service met its 2005 recruiting year goal Aug. 11 when it gained its 8,800th

  • Willow Grove operates joint hazmat pharmacy

    More joint operations seem to be the way of the future for America's military, with the four branches of service sharing land, runways, missions and services. At Willow Grove, they are sharing chemicals, too.Located on the southeast side of the base, the hazmat pharmacy here provides the chemical

  • BRAC panel begins final deliberations

    The Base Realignment and Closure Commission generally supported the Defense Department's recommendations Aug. 24 as the panel began its final four days of deliberations. The panel met in Arlington, Va., to begin voting on DOD's proposal to reshape the military infrastructure and eliminate excess by

  • Force shaping Phase II evolves for officers in fiscal 2006

    The Air Force’s officer corps is overmanned by about 4,000 Airmen.In fiscal 2005, the Air Force’s voluntary force shaping initiatives successfully reduced the size of the active duty population to its congressionally authorized level of 359,000.However, the fiscal 2006 budget trims the Air Force

  • Academy ranks top in professor availability

    Academy professors here are the most accessible to their students in the nation, according to “The Best 361 Colleges” released Aug. 22 by The Princeton Review.The New York-based education services company features the academy in “The Best 361 Colleges,” the new 2006 edition of its annual "best

  • International academy program gives worldly perspective

    Today’s officers must be prepared to function in an international environment. While the academy’s international program provides cadets with a variety of opportunities to hone their leadership skills overseas, foreign cadets travel here to study similar skills.There are 48 four-year international

  • Iraqi, U.S. C-130 crewmembers fly boy to receive heart surgery

    Although 8-year-old Baher looks happy and healthy, Iraqi and U.S. Air Force C-130 crewmembers knew his true condition when they gave him the ride of his life Aug. 22.Baher and his mother, Afaf, were headed to New Orleans to repair a hole in his heart via a new program called Operation Mend a Heart.

  • DOD officials announce one-year open enrollment for SBP

    Department of Defense officials announced Aug. 19 that military retirees, who opted out of some or all their Survivor Benefit Plan coverage, will have another opportunity to elect coverage during a one-year open enrollment period beginning Oct. 1 and running through Sept. 30, 2006.Upon a retiree's

  • Agencies ease deployment pains

    With “my upcoming deployment” as the catch-phrase for most of Airmen, several organizations take extraordinary measures to ensure that not only the Airman is ready for deployment, but the families are as well.Family support centers, chapel staffs and many other agencies manage day-to-day efforts of

  • Vietnam War missing in action Airman identified

    Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials announced Aug. 19 that the remains of a U.S. Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.Col. Gregg Hartness, of Dallas, will be buried in

  • U.S. aircraft, troops popular at Moscow air show

    Staff Sgt. Christy Jeffreys is not new to traveling. In her nine year Air Force career, her job as a boom operator on the KC-10 Extender has taken her to more than 10 countries.But, this was the first time her job has also made her feel like a celebrity.Sergeant Jeffreys, a reservist assigned to

  • Jumper: BRAC decisions needed to continue transformation

    The Air Force chief of staff told the Base Realignment and Closure Commission on Aug. 20 that while many of the decisions related to base closure are “gut wrenching,” the changes are needed to allow the Air Force to continue to transform to meet the war-fighting demands of the 21st century.“The

  • Airmen contain fire on joint installation

    Firefighters with the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron contained a fire on the Army side of the base Aug. 15, only hours after they assumed fire protection coverage here and for Base Camp Adder. Six hours and 45 minutes after they officially took over, flames were shooting from a trailer

  • USO show brings laughter south of 'No Smile Line'

    Soldiers and Airmen laughed and roared on the wrong side of the "No Smile Line" as they watched United Service Organization shows here Aug. 22.The shows -- one here and one at nearby Osan Air Base -- were part of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers' assessment of troop morale

  • Carlson assumes command of AFMC

    Gen. Bruce Carlson assumed command of Air Force Materiel Command from Gen. Gregory S. Martin on Aug. 19 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.General Carlson, who previously commanded the 8th Air Force at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., pinned on his fourth star in a private

  • Couple gets surprise home delivery

    While most pregnancies end with a trip to the hospital and delivery with the assistance of medical professionals, one Airman here and his wife got to experience their child’s birth from the “comfort” of their own home.Staff Sgt. David Hayes, of the 347th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, quickly turned

  • Academy engineering ranks among nation’s finest

    Several of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s undergraduate engineering programs rank among the top in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report.The national news magazine released its America’s Best Colleges 2006 edition Aug. 18.The rankings are separated by universities that offer graduate

  • Airmen see Russia up close

    As far as security forces Airmen are concerned, protecting aircraft in one location is like protecting aircraft in another. The scenery may change, but the procedures do not -- unless, of course, the aircraft are in the former Soviet Union.For the 17 Airmen of the 48th Security Forces Squadron from

  • Advance planning key to successful deployment financial management

    Get ready early. This is the common theme among base agencies that assist Airmen preparing for deployment.The preparation can be stressful, time consuming and exciting, but above all, requires planning and thinking ahead to the future.Oftentimes, the focus of deployment is on taking care of the

  • 'Tribute to the Troops' scheduled for 9/11

    The second annual "Tribute to the Troops" motorcycle ride is scheduled to roll through the American heartland over the Sept. 11 weekend.The tribute ride, which will include several hundred bikers, is a means to honor servicemembers who gave their lives for freedom and to raise money for local

  • Trainees test backpack water pouches

    About 50 trainees in each of the base’s seven basic military training squadrons are being issued backpack water pouches in a yearlong study to compare their health with fellow trainees hydrating from canteens.“I think everybody intuitively thinks CamelBaks, or a similar backpack hydration system, is

  • Civil Engineers help bring light in the night

    In this small village located 287 miles west of Anchorage, air travel is the sole means to enter and leave the town.The 4,750-foot gravel airstrip lined with orange cones is essentially the town’s lifeline to the rest of the state. This lifeline has been significantly strengthened through the

  • America’s B-1B Lancer takes to Russian sky

    Because of its ability to rapidly deliver massive quantities of weapons against any adversary in the world, the capabilities of America’s B-1B Lancer may have once been feared by the former Soviet Union during the Cold War.Now it is demonstrating its capabilities during the Moscow International

  • AFPC notifies Airmen of criminal activity

    The Air Force is notifying more than 33,000 Airmen that a security breach has occurred in the online Assignment Management System.The notification comes after Air Force Personnel Center officials here alerted Air Force and federal investigators to unusually high activity on a single user's AMS

  • Rescue mission saves another Alaskan child

    For the second time in less than six months, a child in Alaska was rescued from near death by a team of Air Force medics at Wilford Hall Medical Center here who stay on alert for their unique lifesaving mission.The latest mission was completed Aug. 14, covering more than 8,000 miles and 28 hours,

  • Airman gets FDNY promotion while deployed to Iraq

    An Airman here recently gained the distinction of being addressed as both a staff sergeant and a lieutenant. Staff Sgt. Gregg Magi, a 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Fire Department City of New York via telephone during an Aug.

  • Training keeping Spangdahlem ‘Warthogs’ ready to deploy

    A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots at this hilltop base are busy flying and training for their next deployment, which could be to Afghanistan -- again.That is not a certainty, but deploying to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, is almost routine for the 81st Fighter Squadron. As the only A-10 unit stationed in

  • Logistics program broadens careers

    As the premier logistics training program in the Air Force, the logistics career broadening program provides logistics officers the chance to attain specialized knowledge in their career field.The two-year program not only provides unique instruction in logistics but also lends opportunities for

  • Negative effects of smoking not deterring servicemembers

    The death of broadcasting icon Peter Jennings from lung cancer has again brought smoking and its dangers to the forefront of public consciousness.Before his death, Mr. Jennings admitted he was a longtime smoker.While an estimated 25 percent of Americans smoke, the military's numbers hover at 34

  • 36th Rescue Flight makes another save

    Crewmembers of the 36th Rescue Flight successfully completed their 602nd save Aug. 13.Just before 9 p.m., the crew, using night-vision goggles, began their hour-long flight to the Wenatchee, Wash., area.Once reaching the response area, the crew was given their mission's details: Rescue a man

  • Only sky proves limit for ‘mountain men’

    For some people, reaching the top is enough. For two 352nd Special Operations Group pilots here, reaching the top of the world was not enough.Capt. Rob Marshall of the 67th Special Operations Squadron, and 1st Lt. Mark Uberuaga of the 21st Special Operations Squadron, recently returned from

  • Air Force conducts test of new officer assignment system

    The Air Force will conduct a test of a continuous officer assignment system for a select group of career fields beginning in September.The test system, designed as the result of a Lean process review, seeks to eliminate the vulnerable-to-move list and facilitate deliberate career moves through force

  • U.S., Russia strengthening ties through Moscow air show

    When it comes to forging bonds and strengthening relationships, it seems that the U.S. and Russia have gotten the hang of it. About 100 U.S. servicemembers and eight U.S. aircraft are playing an active part in the Moscow International Aviation and Space Salon from Aug. 16 to 21 at Ramenskoye

  • C-130 maintainers sustain mission readiness

    A combined team of active-duty and Guard C-130 Hercules maintainers with the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron are keeping mission-capable rates for the base’s fleet in the high 90s.The squadron, comprising active-duty Airmen and guardsmen working together as part of the air mobility team,

  • AFPC analysts support force development vision

    In-depth scrutiny of personnel issues keeps analysts busy at the Air Force Personnel Center here as they provide data to further the force development vision.These analysts serve the needs of more than 45 career field management teams that oversee the development of more than 200,000 Air Force

  • Museum of Aviation earns national accreditation

    The Museum of Aviation here has been awarded national accreditation by the American Association of Museums.The recognition places the museum in a group of only nine aviation museums in the nation that have met the AAM standards of achievement. Accreditation signifies excellence within the museum

  • What's in a name?

    When researching what to call their children, parents often turn to a book of popular names. Or, they may select one they have heard simply because they like it.The process is not so simple when naming a military aerospace vehicle. For the Air Force and its sister services, the process begins

  • Hundreds of NCOs face retraining into new specialties

    More than 3,000 staff, technical and master sergeants have been identified to receive retraining vulnerability notices under the initial phase of the Air Force's fiscal 2006 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program.The retraining program is designed to help balance the enlisted force by moving

  • U.S. Air Force lands at Moscow air show

    U.S. Air Force maintainers chocked and secured six aircraft at Ramenskoye Airfield here Aug. 14, as they prepared to participate in the Moscow International Aviation and Space Salon.About 100 U.S. serviceembers are playing an active part in the Moscow air show Aug. 16 to 21, where visitors can get a

  • Rabbi uses Iraq trip to help shape AF vision, values

    Iraq was one of the first places the new adviser on Air Force values and vision went to see how Airmen apply their guiding principles in a wartime environment.Rabbi Arnold E. Resnicoff, special assistant for values and visions to the secretary of the Air Force and the chief of staff, traveled to

  • FTF set to leave lasting impression in Pacific theater

    The Air Force broke ground last August for the first Pacific Air Forces C-17 Globemaster III squadron based outside the continental United States. One year later, using the Future Total Force initiative with an eye toward the future, Hickam Air Force Base is building a strong foundation for a new

  • New technologies, teaching boost language training

    New technologies and teaching approaches are improving the quality of instruction here as the Defense Language Institute supports the Defense Department's effort to boost foreign-language capability within the ranks.The school experienced "explosive growth" this year and expects the trend to

  • Kadena medics gain knowledge while deployed

    Aeromedical nurses and technicians here are helping save hundreds of servicemembers’ who are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Aside from tending to the sick and wounded, these Airmen are gaining invaluable experience working in a multiservice operation, and treating injuries

  • Chaplain serves Airmen, Soldiers at remote posts

    When Army Spc. Jacob Boomsaad fell in love with a fellow Soldier while serving in Iraq, he feared he would have to delay the wedding until almost six months after returning from their deployment to marry in a Catholic church. That is until the specialist with the 2nd Battalion, 142nd Infantry

  • There's always a better way

    The Airman had $600 left until payday, which was fine -- until her car broke down, and with it, a $1,000 repair bill.Two "friends" offered to help her out. The first offered an interest-free loan of $500. The second offered a $500 loan for a $75 fee, and said if the Airman could not pay the money

  • Bush: As Iraqis stand up, U.S. will stand down

    "As Iraqis stand up, we will stand down," President Bush said Aug. 11.The president made the remark while at him home in Crawford, Texas, where he met with Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard B.

  • U.S. military set to take part in Moscow air show

    Eight U.S. Air Force aircraft and 100 people will participate in the Moscow International Air Show 2005 at Ramenskoye Airfield, Russia, from Aug. 16 to 21.Aircraft will include two F-15E Strike Eagles, two F-16 Fighting Falcons, a KC-10 Extender, a KC-135 Stratotanker and two B-1B Lancers.The B-1B

  • Rhein-Main still ticking as closure looms nears

    Though this base’s mission ends Oct. 1, its people are still doing what made it the Air Force’s premier airlift hub in Europe -- airlift support.The base, which shares runways with Frankfurt International Airport, has been drawing down since 1999 for its December closure. Its landmass has already

  • Airmen partner with Soldiers to explode excess ordnance

    Anyone traversing the passenger terminal area at this forward-deployed location, regardless of length of stay, has a passing acquaintance with the amnesty box. Its sole objective is to serve as a “get into country free” card. Airmen are briefed on exactly what items are forbidden: alcohol,

  • BRAC focus on right-sizing total force

    The co-chairman of the Air Force's base closure executive group recently discussed the views the Air Force took when considering the Base Realignment and Closure recommendations."We have to base our future Air Force on a smaller but more capable force, and organize that force in the most effective

  • 'Freedom Walk' honors servicemembers

    The "America Supports You Freedom Walk" scheduled Sept. 11 has an important message for all Americans, a senior official said Aug. 10."We cannot forget that this country came under a serious attack on (Sept. 11), and we lost a lot of lives, and it was tragic," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant

  • Five Airmen -- brothers in fight for freedom

    The remains of five Airmen, brothers in arms to bring freedom to the nation of Iraq, were buried here Aug. 11 with full military honors.They were Maj. William Downs of the 6th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Capt. Jeremy Fresques of the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt

  • Personal sacrifices by enlisted force not overlooked

    At one point or another in every servicemember’s career, he or she will make a personal sacrifice for the accomplishment of the mission.Chief Master Sgt. John Foran, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces command chief, wants the enlisted force to know their sacrifices, particularly from

  • AMC 'total force’ rushes to aid of trapped Russian sailors

    It was a total force effort by Air Mobility Command active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard units in a long-distance rescue effort Aug. 5 to free seven Russian sailors trapped in a submarine 625 feet beneath the sea. The Russian sub became tangled in a fishing net Aug. 4 during a military

  • Graduate program offers advanced tools for terror war

    A one-of-a-kind curriculum offered here at the Naval Postgraduate School is helping shape future leaders for the challenges they will confront in the war on terrorism.Unlike some academic programs with seemingly little real-life application, the Defense Analysis program focuses on issues commanders

  • Most BRAC '05 environmental restoration remedies in place

    The Defense Department has identified and provided remedies for environmental restoration issues associated with most of the installations on the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list, a senior DOD official told the BRAC commission Aug. 11."From a base-reuse perspective the department will enter

  • Aeromedical evacuation improvements saving lives

    Better training, more advanced equipment and aeromedical evacuation procedures that are constantly being improved are helping save the lives of thousands of wounded servicemembers in Iraq and Afghanistan, Air Force medical officers said.Lt. Col. (Dr.) Warren Dorlac, chief of critical care and trauma

  • Command chief outlines direction for Airmen

    After recent trips to Air Combat Command bases throughout the United States and a trip to Southwest Asia, Chief Master Sgt. Dave Popp, Air Combat Command's command chief master sergeant, said he is impressed with the quality of America's Airmen and that his meetings with them filled him with pride

  • Video raises suicide awareness

    Creators of a video filmed here are hoping it will educate, prevent and lower the risk of suicides across Air Combat Command as well as the rest of the Air Force.“Air Combat Command Off-Duty Survivor Stories: Suicide Choices; Terminal Consequences,” is the second in a series of videos by the 436th

  • DOD launches deployment health, family readiness library

    Servicemembers, their families and their health-care providers have a new online Defense Department resource for deployment health issues.The DOD’s Deployment Health Risk Communication Working Group and the Joint Task Force for Family Readiness Education on Deployments have joined together to create

  • Staging flight sees lull in hectic routine

    The 435th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Flight’s large, 86-bed, open-bay ward was empty, so Staff Sgt. Desiree Wilson busied herself doing chores.The brightly lit ward was eerily peaceful, thanks to an unexpected lull here Aug. 8 in the busy business of aeromedical evacuation. So, all alone in the

  • Battlelab turns ideas into innovation

    Anyone who has ever done business with the Air Force Information Warfare Battlelab here knows the people of that organization recognize a good idea when they see one.Just ask retired Master Sgt. Chuck Doig.Nearly four years ago the senior noncommissioned officer submitted an idea to the battlelab to

  • EOD Airmen rely on high-tech, steady nerves

    Soldiers of the 56th Brigade Combat Team encounter explosive situations daily as they travel along Iraq’s highways during convoy escort missions. But things hit closer to home when the Texas Army National Guardsmen found a suspicious package in a trailer near their headquarters recently. Security

  • Class bell rings for cadets

    Sports has its opening day, Broadway its opening night, and the academy its first day of class.The anticipation of the new school year that begins Aug. 10 brings a book bag full of optimism for cadets and faculty as diverse as themselves.“There’s so much excitement in that first meeting. It’s the

  • USO brings Rascal Flatts to Baghdad

    As the morning temperature passed 100 degrees Aug. 5 and even the shade under camouflage netting brought no relief from the heat, country music group Rascal Flatts offered Airmen and Soldiers at Baghdad International Airport a respite of music and calm.Traveling throughout the U.S. Central Command

  • Future Total Force in step with PACAF mission

    As the Future Total Force initiative integrates with Air Force operations in the Pacific, the transition is looking good, said the Pacific Air Forces commander.“The transformational pieces of our capabilities are clearly in the form of long-range bombers, the C-17 (Globemaster III), F/A-22 (Raptor)

  • Life support technicians inspect, maintain survival equipment

    The 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron's life support section is full of aircrew life support technicians who work hard every day since their work can mean "life or death" for C-130 Hercules aircrews and passengers.Life support equipment always has to be in tip-top condition to be ready whenever a

  • Airmen, Soldiers work with Hondurans to provide care

    Outside the double doors, the waiting area looked like any typical hospital. On Aug. 3, a couple waited tensely for news about their son’s procedure, while a young girl in a teddy bear hospital gown giggled with her family while waiting her turn to see the doctors. But the work taking place inside

  • Deployed Airmen reflect bravery, selfless determination

    Security forces Airmen here have demonstrated their bravery in the face of the enemy as they work side by side with Soldiers in detainee operations.Col. Jim Brown, 18th Military Police Brigade commander, praised the Airmen with the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron for their noble

  • Tricare seeks nominations to honor vaccination advocates

    In honor of National Immunization Awareness month, Tricare Management Activity officials are seeking to recognize an individual or team that has encouraged people in the community to catch up on vaccinations.This award will be the latest installment of the "Salute to the Heroes of Tricare" program.

  • ‘Dragon Lady’ celebrates 50th anniversary

    As people stood by eagerly awaiting its arrival, the U-2 "Dragon Lady," queen of the aerial surveillance and reconnaissance kingdom, glided onto the runway here Aug. 2 proclaiming the beginning of a celebration. Based at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., the U-2 was here as a static display in

  • AMC answers call to help rescue Russian sailors

    Air Mobility Command was called upon Aug. 5 to assist in the rescue effort to save seven Russian sailors stranded aboard a submarine off Russia's Pacific coast.The minisubmarine, an AS-28, became tangled in a fishing net Aug. 4 during a military exercise near the Kamchatka peninsula in Siberia.AMC

  • ‘Magic’ comes to North Carolina

    Magic filled the air and was on the basketball court here July 29 as Earvin “Magic” Johnson paid a visit to Fayetteville, N.C.Mr. Johnson, who led the Los Angeles Lakers to five National Basketball Association championships, spent his weekend with local Airmen and Soldiers.He also spoke with 200

  • Better than aviation education is a really cool patch

    About 43,000 Boy Scouts departed this Army installation Aug. 3 after 10 days of scouting, camping and learning. As part of the 2005 National Scout Jamboree, Boy Scouts nationwide gathered to make new friends, practice their scouting skills and earn "merit badges." Thanks to retired Lt. Col. Tom

  • Air Force announces staff sergeant promotion rate

    The Air Force has selected 14,614 of 36,405 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant, a 40.14-percent selection rate. The rate dropped slightly from last year.The Air Force will release the promotion list at 9 a.m. CDT on Aug. 10. The complete list of selectees will be posted online