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U.S. Air Force News

  • December special issue of Airman available

    Airmen are the ultimate source of combat capability -- joining with other servicemembers to fight terrorism and protect America's freedoms. The December special issue of Airman magazine focuses on 24 people who represent the many military and civilian Airmen who make up the total force. Learn what

  • Decisions loom for Joint Strike Fighter Program

    Decisions about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor aircraft programs are expected early in President Barack Obama's administration. The F-35 program manager said Jan. 15 he sees strong support for the F-35 from the services, allied partners and, so far, on Capitol Hill. Based on initial

  • 'Decisive' air power thwarts ISIL's capabilities, official says

    Air power has stymied Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists, with the Air Force accomplishing 74 percent of the more than 240 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria since Aug. 8, a senior Air Force official told reporters at the Pentagon Sept. 29.

  • Deck of cards helps troops identify regime's most wanted

    Coalition forces in Iraq are using a specially created deck of 55 playing cards to identify the "most wanted" members of Saddam Hussein's regime.News reports today indicated that Amir Hamudi Hasan Al- Sadi, Saddam's presidential scientific adviser, shown on "7" of diamonds card No. 55, has turned

  • Declassified document shows 'real' flying saucer

    The grainy film showed a round ship floating out of a hangar. Its silver, aluminum exterior glinted in the sun as it hovered a few feet off the ground. As it glided over a pool of water, it kicked debris into the air and the glass canopies of the two cockpits were showered with grass and gravel as

  • Decorated Vietnam vet back at war

    It may be surprising to hear that the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing has a Vietnam era Purple Heart recipient working at the wing. It is even more surprising to hear that the combat veteran is actually a C-130 Hercules deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. On the flight deck of aircraft 63-7865 is

  • Dedicated airmen fix, manage base vehicles

    When a vehicle breaks down here, airmen do not have the luxury of calling a commercial roadside assistance team for help. Instead, a team of 48 people work behind the scenes 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep the base’s fleet of vehicles on the road.With almost 470 vehicles to watch over and

  • Dedication culminates efforts of embedded American advisors

    More than 250 U.S. servicemembers and Afghan security forces celebrated seven years of military cooperation during a monument dedication ceremony at Camp Blackhorse here May 14. The ceremony also culminated the efforts of nearly 20 Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors who have embedded with the 5th Kandak

  • Dedication recognizes Airmen who deliver under fire

    Senior Enlisted Leader Summit participants and officials recognized the perseverance of Airmen on convoy duty at the Air Force Convoy Gun Truck Dedication at the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Hall July 23 at Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex, Ala. More than 350 people in attendance dedicated a

  • Deep Freeze Airman given Christchurch civic award

    Fresh off the successful night-time landing of a C-17 Globemaster III on the cold Antarctica ice, a 12-year veteran of Operation Deep Freeze missions has become the first American to receive the Christchurch Civic Award. Lt. Col. Jim McGann, 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron commander, received

  • Deep Freeze Airmen warm New Zealand community's heart

    Five-year-old Benjamin Laury talked about elephants, storm troopers and how cool pilots are -- all in a single, convoluted sentence -- as he looked around a C-17 Globemaster III April 17 here. As part of a home-schooling group invited to check out the enormous airplane that just flew into their

  • Deep Freeze members commemorate base's 50th anniversary

    Members of Operation Deep Freeze participated in events to commemorate the base's 50th anniversary Jan. 20 at Scott Base on Ross Island in Antarctica. Antarctica New Zealand sponsored the event, which invited U.S. and New Zealand diplomats and political leaders. The National Science Foundation, as

  • Deepwater Horizon airspace activity now coordinated at 601st AOC

    As the Deepwater Horizon response operation enters week 13 since an oil rig exploded April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico, senior Department of Defense and Homeland Security officials centralized airspace management operations in the 601st Air & Space Operations Center here. Officials said they made the

  • DEERS locks down access to some information updates

    Base identification card issuing offices will no longer be able to manually correct or update certain types of personnel information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, Air Force Personnel Center officials said May 9.DEERS is the system used to enroll Airmen and their eligible

  • DEERS streamlined for better efficiency

    A modification in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System is expected to streamline personal records for better efficiency, the director of the Defense Manpower Data Center said here yesterday.In an interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel, Mary Dixon said

  • DEET first line of defense against insects

    Whether hiking in the woods at home or serving in the sands of the Middle East, Airmen need a repellent to shield themselves from biting insects.The active ingredient in most skin-applied repellents is commonly referred to as DEET. It is a must on almost every deployment checklist and for good

  • Def Leppard, Raven Drum Foundation offer free concert tickets

    The rock group Def Leppard and Raven Drum Foundation have started giving away 100 free concert tickets to military members and veterans with military ID for each show in the 2009 Def Leppard summer concert tour to honor the military and provide a little fun and excitement over the summer months.

  • 'Defend America' helps Americans support troops

    One often-repeated question from forward-deployed Airmen is some form of: "Does America support what we're doing over here?"Judging by the number of Web sites devoted to that support, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!"But as times have changed, so have the ways to support the troops. Just because

  • Defender Challenge competition under way

    Ten security forces teams from U.S. Air Force major commands worldwide, the Department of Energy and the Royal Air Force Regiment gathered here to participate in the 20th annual Defender Challenge competition Oct. 21 to 24."This is a competition of our all-stars," said Brig. Gen. James Shamess,

  • Defender reunites with MWD

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series. These stories focus on individual Airmen, highlighting their Air Force story.) After nearly a year apart, it was an emotional moment when Staff Sgt. Amanda Cubbage, a 355th Security Forces Squadron member and prior military working dog

  • Defender training readies ‘brass’ for deployment

    A new Air Force Materiel Command program helps train security forces leaders for deployment to combat zones. “Brave Defender,” developed by the command’s Security Forces Regional Training Center, prepares security forces commanders and senior enlisted leaders for success in the field. "This course

  • Defenders and good will ambassadors

    The sun rises on an empty field outside an entry control point as a few defenders prepare their gear and equipment for the day. By mid-morning the field becomes filled with nearly 400 Afghan locals all waiting to process through that ECP at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. For the bravo sector entry

  • Defenders beta test new weapons qualification course

    Developed by the Air Force Security Forces Center, a primary subordinate unit of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, the proposed course will seamlessly instruct, test and evaluate weapons training for the more than 38,000 active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and

  • Defenders deescalate situation downrange, prevent potential catastrophe

    Airmen 1st Class Drew and Giovanni, who are flightline security element members with the 451st Expeditionary Support Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, recently had to deescalate a potentially volatile situation where they had mere seconds to make a possibly life-altering decision.

  • 'Defender's Edge': A new approach to combat stress

    A new customized mental health program is helping security forces Airmen here manage combat stress.The "Defenders Edge" is tailored to those security forces Airmen who conduct missions on or outside the wire. This program is intended to improve Airmen's mental resiliency to combat-related stressors.

  • Defenders graduate new instructor course

    The key goal of the course is to take methodologies and tactics from different missions and utilize them across every aspect of the career field. Defenders from every major command were present at the training.

  • Defenders honored during National Police Week

    The 386th and 387th Expeditionary Security Forces squadrons here commemorated National Police Week with a variety of events at an air base in Southwest Asia beginning May 10. The week began with a march to the various memorials of fallen security forces Airmen located around base followed by a

  • Defending homeland a 'must-win' game

    The mission of homeland security is like playing an "away game and a home game," said the U.S. military's homeland defense commander. In war, just as in sports, it is the away game that you "want to win," but it is the home game that you "must win."Gen. Ralph Eberhart, head of U.S. Northern Command

  • Defending the base: Watch Towers

    Simple in focus and repetitive in duties, several missions at Bagram Airfield are woven into the day-to-day operation of the base in such a way that most people may see or hear of them once and then not interact with them the rest of their deployment. These are the missions where Airmen perform the

  • Defending the nation's ICBM force

    Before the sun has had a chance to peek up above the horizon, a two-person team opens the front door and steps out of a missile alert facility (MAF) into the chilly blackness. Their flashlights click on and they set off on a perimeter check. With one on the outside of the fence surrounding the MAF

  • Defense acquisition system due for change

    America produces the world's best military aerospace hardware but other nations are pulling ahead, the Air Force senior executive told lawmakers Feb. 27.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche told members of the House Armed Services Committee that apparent contradiction is the result of a

  • Defense Acquisition University registration to open in May

    Defense Acquisition University registration will open around May 17, 2012, and students should apply as soon as possible since classes fill quickly. Members' applications will be processed by priority, supervisor approval date and class start date, with Priority 1 students taking

  • Defense act affects Guard, Reserve medical benefits

    The 2005 National Defense Authorization Act contains new medical benefits for activated reservists and guardsmen, and extends some other benefits that had been enacted temporarily.Medical benefits for guardsmen and reservists who are called to active duty change significantly under provisions in

  • Defense Act increases pay, provides benefits

    P resident Bush signed the $420.6 billion National Defense Authorization Act on Oct. 28.This makes up 19.9 percent of the total fiscal 2005 federal budget and 3.6 percent of the gross domestic product. Last year, the percentages were 20.2 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively.The authorization act

  • Defense adds blog to military science dialogue

    Science has seized the popular imagination. There are magazines, popular books, Web sites, webcasts, blogs, documentary films and even television channels devoted to science and technology. The practical applications of science and technology also can be found in almost every aspect of military

  • Defense agency delivers logistics support to warfighters

    Whether it's an infantryman in Iraq needing a new firing pin for his rifle or a fighter pilot on a carrier in the Persian Gulf who needs to replace a cracked landing strut, the Defense Logistics Agency stands ready to support warfighters worldwide, the organization's director said in a recent

  • Defense authorization bill impacts potential degree programs

    With the finalization of the 2008 defense authorization bill, Air University will have the authority to grant a new master's degree in flight test engineering to graduates of the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. That program, which already resembled an academic degree

  • Defense bill affects pay, separation bonuses, more

    President Barack Obama signed the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 31, 2011, which increases active-duty and reserve pay by 1.6 percent and governs Defense Department activities, from procurement to military personnel policy.Several provisions in this year's act will potentially

  • Defense budget cuts must be balanced, Mullen says

    As the pressure increases on the federal budget, the Defense Department must make cuts in a balanced way, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today."There are three dials: the people dial, the operations dial and the acquisition or equipment dial," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said to about

  • Defense Commissary Agency named 'Role Model' in promoting fruits, vegetables

    Promoting the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables to its customers has placed the Defense Commissary Agency in select company. DeCA was one of seven retailers to earn top recognition as a "Role Model" by the Produce for Better Health Foundation.DeCA joined Ahold USA Inc., Food Lion Stores

  • Defense communities cope with uncertain times

    Representatives from around the country have gathered here Feb. 14 through 16 for a three-day Winter Forum sponsored by the Association of Defense Communities to discuss the challenges faced by U.S. military installations, both those which are active and those which were closed over the years during

  • Defense contractors will share burdens of furloughs, Hagel says

    The Defense Department is reviewing all of its contracts, and DOD contractors will share the burden of spending cuts, including the furloughs facing the department's civilian workforce, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told senators June 11.Hagel testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee's

  • Defense contributions help NASA's 50-year legacy

    As the men and women of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration celebrate its 50th anniversary this week, Defense Department personnel also can take a bow for the key role they have played in lending technology and expertise to NASA's space exploration and research mission.NASA began

  • Defense Cyber Crime Center officials host challenge

    Airmen and civilians are now able to submit solutions for the 2010 Defense Cyber Crime Center Digital Forensics Challenge to compete against more than 975 teams for a chance to win 11 different prizes.The DC3 Digital Forensics Challenge is a public, online, and international Challenge held annually

  • Defense Department axing Internet voting plans

    Defense Department officials are axing an Internet voting program because of concerns about security, a Pentagon spokeswoman said Feb. 6.The Federal Voting Assistance Program, which aids Americans serving overseas in the voting process, will not use the SERVE system in November. The acronym stands

  • Defense Department Celebrates 'Month of the Military Child'

    The Defense Department has long understood the value of caring for and celebrating children of servicemembers. April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. The Month of the Military Child is a time to

  • Defense Department expands flu vaccine program

    Department of Defense officials are expanding the flu vaccination program to include people as young as age 50 and those in close contact with those at high risk of getting the flu, the Pentagon's top doctor said Dec. 22. The military medical system has enough flu vaccine on hand to expand the

  • Defense Department launches retirement system comparison calculator

    The Defense Department officially launched the Blended Retirement System comparison calculator, providing BRS opt-in eligible service members their first opportunity for an individualized comparison of retirement systems. The comprehensive tool, in combination with the mandatory BRS Opt-In Course,

  • Defense Department leads nationwide food drive

    The Defense Department is taking a leading role in a nationwide campaign challenging federal employees to donate to their local food pantries.The "Feds Feed Families" campaign, announced by the Office of Personnel Management on May 26, will run through the end of August, said Pat Tamburrino Jr., the

  • Defense Department must end business as usual, Gates says

    Defense spending and program priorities cannot be divorced from the very real threats of today and the growing ones of tomorrow, the defense secretary told hundreds of members of the Economics Club of Chicago here July 16. "We stand at a crossroads," Robert M. Gates said. "It is time to draw the

  • Defense Department officials aim to improve families' lives

    Military families make tremendous sacrifices in support of the nation and deserve recognition as well as the best programs and policies the Defense Department can deliver, a defense official said here Nov. 3. Tommy T. Thomas, the deputy undersecretary of defense for military community and family

  • Defense Department officials establish Ebola medical support team

    When Capt. Stacey Morgan’s squadron commander sent her a text message saying that she needed to immediately call him, her first thought was, “Uh-oh. What did I do?” But after a minute or two of talking to her commander, her apprehension was quickly replaced by anxious excitement, as he asked her to

  • Defense Department officials honor top communicators

    The military's best writers, photographers and videographers were recognized for excellence in a ceremony May 13 at the Defense Information School here.Douglas B. Wilson, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, recognized the award recipients for their achievements."Many of those being

  • Defense Department officials launch annual CFC drive

    The Defense Department's 2010 Combined Federal Campaign kicked off here Sept. 20, offering federal civilians and military members the opportunity to contribute to any of more than 4,000 pre-screened charities.Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III launched the department's annual CFC drive in

  • Defense Department officials launch cyber strategy website

    Defense Department officials announced July 25 the launch of a new website to highlight the department's first unified strategy for cyberspace.Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III announced the department's Strategy for Operating in Cyberspace on July 14 at National Defense University at

  • Defense Department officials launch 'Lessons Learned' blog

    For anyone who has served in the military, whether in uniform or as a family member, the concept of sharing lessons learned is a familiar one. A new Defense Department blog that launches Aug. 2 seeks to bring those lessons to an accessible online platform.Titled "In Their Own Words: Lessons Learned

  • Defense Department officials take aim at drug abuse

    "Drug Free is the Key" for the Defense Department's Red Ribbon Week this year as it works to raise public awareness and mobilize communities to combat tobacco, alcohol and drug use among military personnel, civilians and families. The observation of Red Ribbon Week begins Oct. 23 and continues

  • Defense Department officials to announce balanced social media policy

    Defense Department officials plan to forward a social media policy to the department leadership within the next two weeks that will balance the pros and cons of social networking sites, the department's top public affairs official said on National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation" Sept. 22. "I

  • Defense Department officials to prune senior ranks, freeze staffing

    Defense Department officials will reduce senior ranks and freeze civilian staffing levels, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Jan. 6."The monetary savings from ... reductions in senior personnel will be relatively modest, and mostly consist of the extra staff and amenities that, by tradition,

  • Defense Department pauses spouse employment program

    Defense Department officials here have temporarily halted a popular employment assistance program for military spouses while it conducts a "top-to-bottom" review of its services, officials said Feb. 18. The My Spouse Career Advancement Account program, also known as MyCAA, offers military spouses

  • Defense Department set to kick off 'Why We Serve' tour

    In an effort to help the American people understand why U.S. servicemembers choose to serve their country and what the experience entails, the Defense Department has launched a program it calls "Why We Serve." "Essentially, Why We Serve is an armed forces-style grassroots movement to reconnect with

  • Defense Department sets record with charitable giving

    The Defense Department raised a record-high $15.1 million in the 2005 Combined Federal Campaign, exceeding the department's goal by $2.3 million. DOD recognized its organizations for their fundraising efforts at the Combined Federal Campaign awards ceremony Jan. 25 at the Pentagon. "By all of these

  • Defense Department to announce balanced social media policy

    Defense Department officials here plan to forward a social media policy to the department leadership within the next two weeks that will balance the pros and cons of social networking sites, the department's top public affairs official said on National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation" Sept. 23.

  • Defense Department to deliver more, improved child care

    The recent ribbon-cutting at the largest military child care center underscores the commitment of Defense Department officials to provide more and better child-care for military families, a senior defense official said. A July 15 ribbon-cutting at Fort Myer, Va., marked the official opening of a new

  • Defense Department to resume anthrax vaccinations

    The Department of Defense will resume its Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program, officials said May 3.A memorandum signed April 29 allows military commanders to resume the vaccination program using the emergency use authorization conditions issued by the Food and Drug Administration on Jan. 27,

  • Defense Department to review military awards program

    In an effort to provide clarity in awards standards across the military services, the Defense Department has begun a comprehensive review of military awards and decorations, a DOD official said here yesterday. This routine review will result in revision of DOD Instruction 1348.33-M, the Manual of

  • Defense Department to start H1N1 flu vaccinations

    All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, and the vaccine will be available to all military family members who want it, a Defense Department health affairs official said Sept. 2 here. The H1N1 vaccination program will begin in early October, said Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Wayne

  • Defense Department tops nation in child care efforts

    Child care is a critical issue for many families around the country, and the Defense Department stands alone as a model for quality child care in the nation, an independent study released March 1 finds. In the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies' ranking of state child

  • Defense Department turns to ESC to lead way on NextGen

    Dr. Tim Rudolph, the Electronic Systems Center's chief technology officer, has been named the Defense Department's lead architect for a federal initiative known as the Next Generation Air Transportation System. The center's 653rd Electronic Systems Wing here, which has a lot of experience with

  • Defense Department updates equipment reimbursement policy

    Defense Department officials announced Feb. 14 the revision of a memorandum on the policy and procedures for the reimbursement of privately purchased protective equipment for operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The new memo, which was signed Feb. 10 by David S.C. Chu,

  • Defense Department Web site eases information delivery

    The new Defense Department Web site is designed to make military news and information more accessible, and also invites greater participation from the public, the department's top public affairs official said Aug. 25. "[Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates] wanted to hear back from people more. He felt

  • Defense Department working to prevent sexual assault

    Defense Department leaders are committed to preventing sexual assault, said the commander of the Department of Defense's Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response. "To achieve this goal, in 2005, we have vigorously implemented a comprehensive sexual assault prevention and response

  • Defense Department works to eliminate gaps in medical care

    The trauma care that U.S. servicemembers receive is the best in the world, but Defense Department officials must continue to eliminate gaps in the medical process as patients move from DOD facilities to the Department of Veterans Affairs and to private hospitals, a senior Pentagon medical official

  • Defense Department, services monitor Arctic melting

    With the number of geopolitical hotspots in the world today, the Arctic is not an area that comes quickly to mind for possible defense operations. But it is a place of great national security and strategic importance that the Defense Department and services are monitoring closely.In a report sent to

  • Defense directive sets detainee interrogation policy

    The Defense Department has a new policy on detainee interrogations.Officials began writing the directive in December 2004. Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England signed the directive Nov. 3. It is the first formal defense directive on this policy. DOD Directive 3115. 09 -- DOD Intelligence

  • Defense Education Forum panelists discuss modernization, emerging missions

    Defense Education Forum panelists recently gathered at the Reserve Officers Association headquarters here to discuss the Air Force Reserve's role in modernization and emerging missions. Maj. Gen. Howard N. Thompson, the Air Force Reserve deputy, cited the importance of volunteerism as Reserve Airmen

  • Defense Finance and Accounting Service revamps website

    Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials are rolling out a redesigned website tonight to give the Defense Department's workforce easier, quicker access to the information they need. "We know our online visitors don't want to spend more of their time on our website than they have to," said

  • Defense forum highlights need for scientists, engineers

    Air Force and U.S. officials forecast a serious shortage of scientists and engineers. That assessment was made by Joe Sciabica, executive director of the Air Force Research Laboratory, during a Regional Defense Forum here May 6. About 370 business and government leaders attended the event to foster

  • Defense Health Agency makes progress

    As the Defense Health Agency approaches its one-year anniversary Oct. 1, it has already saved money and standardized health care in the Defense Department, said Dr. Jonathan Woodson, the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs.

  • Defense Health Board receives Port Mortuary review findings

    The Defense Health Board has received findings and recommendations from an independent review of practices at the Dover Port Mortuary in Delaware.The review was directed in December by Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today."One of the department's most

  • Defense institute gets new home

    The new home of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute officially opened here Jan. 14.Dr. Davis S. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, cut the ribbon to open the two-story, 92,000-square-foot facility.A new-campus task force was established in the early 1990s,

  • Defense Latinas praised for distinguished service

    Latina role models, including recently confirmed Chief Justice Sonia Sotomayor, are important to Hispanics and women in general, said a Connecticut Air National Guard member, who was lauded for her own accomplishments here Sept. 10, 2009. "She is an inspiration to all of us, especially Hispanic

  • Defense leader thanks lawmakers for support of special ops

    Ultimate victory in the "long war" requires the U.S. military to adopt more unconventional and indirect approaches in the way it fights, and the Defense Department is doing just that, the Pentagon's top special operations official told a Senate panel here April 5. In testimony prepared for delivery

  • Defense leaders build on strong relations in Hawaii

    Defense officials are working to make Hawaii a better place for military members and their families to live. Navy Adm. Timothy Keating, the commander of U.S. Pacific Command, met here with Dr. David Chu, under secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, this week to discuss key issues. Solid

  • Defense leaders laud air-sea battle concept initiative

    The air-sea battle concept being developed by Air Force and Navy officials exemplifies the closer, more integrated relationships the military needs in order to confront future challenges, top Pentagon leaders said.The new concept is "a prime example of how we need to keep breaking down stovepipes

  • Defense leaders praise Keesler resolve, spirit

    The military’s highest-ranking officials leading post-Hurricane Katrina relief efforts toured here Sept. 4 and personally delivered reassuring words to the storm-battered base’s troops and family members.The visiting delegation, led by Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld, included Gen. Richard