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U.S. Air Force News

  • Team augments Afghan doctors, builds treatment capacity

    With the assistance of Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team medics, doctors in Panjshir province treated 473 Afghan patients this week in two districts, Rohka and Shutol. Crowds of people gathered at the clinics shortly after Capt. Glenn M. Little, medical team chief, and medical technicians

  • Sept. 14 airpower summary: F-15Es provide aerial surveillance

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped a guided bomb

  • Helicopter aircrews rescue hurricane victims

    Airmen from the 129th Rescue Wing took off from Kelly Field in San Antonio Sept. 13 and helped rescue stranded victims of Hurricane Ike near Galveston, Texas. California Air National Guard members of the 129th RQW here are deployed to San Antonio to conduct search and rescue support operations

  • Navy, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard join forces for Ike rescues

    Navy helicopter rescue crews positioned here participated in a joint search and rescue effort Sept. 13 flying missions in response to Hurricane Ike's Sept. 12 landfall on the Gulf Coast. The Navy teams flew multiple sweeps over hard-hit areas of Louisiana and Texas looking for signs of people in

  • Louisiana guardsmen watch over city

    National Guard members here are providing vital roles of security and assistance in the face of Hurricane Ike's Sept. 12 strike on the Gulf Coast. Members of the 3rd Battalion 156 Infantry with the Louisiana Army National Guard supported local law enforcement and other agencies dealing with the

  • Top military health official promotes prostate cancer awareness

    As a man afflicted with prostate cancer, the Defense Department's top military health official has a unique perspective on the importance of promoting awareness about the disease. Now in his eighth year living with an aggressive form of cancer, Ward Casscells, M.D., the assistant secretary of

  • Religious support teams provide hope after Ike

    For the first time, military chaplains and the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster are collaborating their efforts to provide cohesive spiritual response to those affected by the next hurricane. "During [Hurricane] Katrina, chaplains and religious advisors were reactive and working

  • Sept. 13 airpower summary: A-10s destroy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a Navy F/A-18C Hornet dropped a guided bomb unit-12 and

  • Rescue personnel fly first flights from Randolph

    Three HH-60 Pave Hawks and aircrews belonging to the 331st Air Expeditionary Group took off from here earlier the afternoon of Sept. 13 carrying search and rescue personnel to the Galveston, Texas, area in the wake of Hurricane Ike. The flight marks the first of many that may leave from Randolph Air

  • JTF-129 Airmen rescue civilians stranded in Galveston

    California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here deployed to Kelly Field in San Antonio for Hurricane Ike search and rescue support operations rescued eight people Sept. 12 in Galveston, Texas. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter on search and rescue patrol spotted unevacuated civilians

  • Moving the money behind the mission

    Moving the mission requires moving the money and a small unit here controls the purse strings to this key base in the area of responsibility. About 13 people in the 379th Comptroller Squadron manage the budget for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and handle financial matters for those assigned here.

  • Summer research program benefits Academy cadets

    When officials at the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., launched a new and powerful mentoring program in March, it energized the center's involvement in the Academy's Cadet Summer Research Program. Six months later, seven

  • Servicemembers participate in Honduras Children's Day

    Servicemembers from Joint Task Force-Bravo helped celebrate Children's Day Sept. 10 with more than 400 children in two nearby towns of Guajiquiro and Siguatepeque. The annual celebration recognizes the importance of children in Honduras. To support the holiday JTF-Bravo sent a Blackhawk helicopter

  • Little Rock AFB hub for hurricane aeromedical teams

    Three C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 50th Airlift Squadron, 53rd AS and 62nd AS here were deployed Sept. 10 to perform aeromedical missions in preparation for Hurricane Ike's landfall in southern Texas with seven additional C-130s from the base on "standby" status. The aircrews transported

  • 23rd Wing deploys rescue forces for Hurricane Ike response

    As Hurricane Ike approached the Texas coast, the 23rd Wing began moving units on Sept. 11 to pre-stage for rapid rescue relief operations. The 23rd Wing is the only active-duty combat search and rescue wing in the Air Force. Units from the wing's two rescue groups, the 347th Rescue Group here and

  • Sept. 12 airpower summary: Predators keep watch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped guided bomb unit-12s and

  • Special tactics unit arrives in Houston to aid Ike relief

    Members of the Oregon Air National Guard's 125th Special Tactics Squadron arrived at the Reliant Center in Houston Sept. 12 to assist with Hurricane Ike relief efforts. The team's primary focus is to provide command and control where needed and work with other federal agencies to establish

  • Airmen stand ready to provide hurricane relief at Randolph

    Airmen with the 331st Air Expeditionary Group are staged at Randolph Air Force Base ready to respond with aid Sept. 12 as Hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast. The group, made up of nearly 600 people, brings with it units and capabilities from across the Air Force. Among them are search and

  • Report detailing nuclear mission recommendations released

    Department of Defense officials here released a report Sept. 12 that details recommendations for the future of the Air Force nuclear mission. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates formed a task force led by former Secretary of Defense Dr. James Schlesinger that examined the Air Force's nuclear

  • Guard members in states of Ike's path ready, willing, able

    National Guard members in Texas and four other states are preparing for the worst as Hurricane Ike looms just off the Gulf Coast Sept. 12. Guard members in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri have anticipated the problems associated with heavy rain and winds and will be ready to respond, said

  • Airmen share information via new blog

    In an effort to open up online conversations with Airmen, families and the public, officials in the Secretary of the Air Force's Office of Public Affairs are launching a new blog called Air Force Live Sept. 14. "Air Force Live allows us to reach a vast online community who may not necessarily know

  • Patrick Airmen ready to help Hurricane Ike victims

    Airmen of the 920th Rescue Wing here flew two HH-60G Pave Hawks from Patrick Air Force Base to Gulfport, Miss., to preposition search and rescue aircraft to aid victims of Hurricane Ike Sept. 12. Airmen flew the two helicopters and two HC-130P/N Hercules long-range refueling aircraft will fly to

  • Coast Guard Incident Command Center prepares for Ike

    A Coast Guard Incident Command Center was stood up in preparation for Hurricane Ike Sept. 11 in Katy. Approximately 300 Coast Guardsmen from the Houston-Galveston sector are organizing to respond to post hurricane conditions with 25 foot response boats and helicopters prepositioned from Brownsville,

  • Hurlburt Airmen assist with freighter rescue

    Airmen of the 1st Special Operations Wing here launched two CV-22 Ospreys, an MC-130P Combat Shadow and an MH-53 Pave Low helicopter Sept. 12 to prepare for a possible rescue of 22 people aboard the Cyprus-flagged freighter Antalina adrift in the Gulf of Mexico south of Louisiana caught in Hurricane

  • Sept. 11 airpower summary: A-10s keep vigilant watch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-1 Predator used Hellfire missiles against

  • C-17 crew lands after-dark landing in Antarctica

    A C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., performed the first known after-dark landing in Antarctica using night vision goggles here Sept. 11. The McChord aircrew, consisting of active duty Airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing and Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing,

  • California Air National Guard assists Texas for Hurricane Ike

    California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here, already deployed to Ellington Field in Houston for Hurricane Ike search and rescue support operations, relocated Sept. 11 to Kelly Field in San Antonio because of Hurricane Ike's projected path. Assigned to Joint Task Force 129, the

  • MacDill AFB medical team supports hurricane relief efforts

    A mobile aeromedical staging facility team from the 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., arrived here Sept. 9 in support of Hurricane Ike evacuation efforts. Along with the MASF team, more than 200 state and federal assets and volunteers converged on Corpus Christi ahead of Ike in

  • AMC aircraft, Airmen supporting Hurricane Ike evacuations

    Mobility Airmen and their aircraft are again in full support of hurricane evacuation operations as Hurricane Ike approaches the Gulf Coast. This effort to support evacuation of patients and members of the general population comes on the heels of Air Mobility Command's support to Hurricane Gustav

  • Skills summit aims to streamline training for Airmen

    The evolving war on terrorism has made Col. Jenny Pickett's personal mission of "keeping Airmen alive" more challenging these days. The commandant of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Operations School, which trains Airmen for deployment, says inconsistencies in where and how troops gain war-fighting

  • Marathon pace team helps runners achieve time goals

    Runners targeting a certain time goal or just seeking additional encouragement and motivation in running the Air Force Marathon's full or half marathon course here Sept. 20 can get a boost from the marathon's pace team. The pace team is a group of 17 experienced marathon runners who coach and

  • Ceremony inspires members to never forget Sept. 11

    Airmen of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing gathered with coalition forces and sister servicemembers at sunrise Sept. 11 on the grounds of a newly constructed memorial for a Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony here. Col. Cameron Torrens, the 386th AEW commander, presided over the ceremony on the seventh

  • Team conducts emergency medical movement in Antarctica

    Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica provided a two-person medical team and C-17 Globemaster III to conduct an emergency medical evacuation Sept. 10 for a 56-year-old male assigned to the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. The patient needed a cardiovascular evaluation and was deemed

  • Sept. 10 airpower summary: C-130s provide airlift support

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped guided bomb unit-12s

  • Texas National Guard evacuates citizens for Hurricane Ike

    Nine Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft from three states configured for medical air evacuation began transporting special-needs patients from the Corpus Christi, Texas, area the morning of Sept. 10 in preparation for Hurricane Ike's expected landfall Sept. 13. The mission falls under Texas

  • Enlisted Village cited as one of 'Florida's Best' charities

    The Air Force Enlisted Village, one of the four official charities of the Air Force, was lauded in the August issue of "Florida Trend" magazine as one of the state's best charities. According to author Barbara Miracle, "Just as increasing productivity is a key to success for businesses, the best

  • Secretary Gates cancels air-refueling solicitation

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has cancelled the competition for the $35 billion Air Force tanker contract. Secretary Gates told the House Armed Services Committee Sept. 10 that he decided the contract cannot be awarded by January, and that rather than award a contract that will be contested, the

  • Operational "Integrity" - lessons from the AFSO 21 Frontlines

    The U.S. Air Force faces intense operational demands and resource challenges that sit at the heart of the role that Air Force Smart Operations, or AFSO, plays in improving mission performance. We all understand the need to strengthen fighting capability, recapitalize, increase financial efficiency

  • Sept. 9 airpower summary: Predator fires missiles, disarm enemy

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped general purpose

  • B-52s roar over Guam during bomber surge

    Members of the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron flew surge missions and launched six of its B-52 Stratofortresses on a large scale training flights Sept. 4 and 5 from here. The training mission allowed crewmembers to practice more than the standard two-ship deconfliction plan while maintaining

  • Transportation, distribution expertise aids Georgian refugees

    Members of the U.S. defense transportation system worked to help get more than 22,000 humanitarian daily rations to a relief organization in the area to help feed a growing number of Georgian refugees. Officials from U.S. Transportation Command and its component Army's Military Surface Deployment

  • AFOTEC launches student intern program

    The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is partnering with the University of New Mexico here for a student intern program. The program is aimed at recruiting and training candidates for potential employment opportunities either within AFOTEC, the Air Force or other government

  • Sept. 8 airpower summary: A-10s bomb anti-Afghan forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped general purpose

  • Virtual reality project could improve UAS operations

    An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-managed team here is building a virtual reality environment for the battlespace initiative to maximize the potential of unmanned aircraft systems. The team is applying advanced physical and eye-tracking systems and voice interfaces, said Dr. James Oliver,

  • Readiness centers: 1-stop, career shops for spouses

    When Trish Kuettel and her husband, Tech. Sgt. Michael Kuettel, arrived at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., last summer, her "to do" list was long and daunting. One thing the mother of two didn't have to worry about was where to look for career and employment assistance. "Since I was unfamiliar

  • Air Staff Agency uses 'New Media' to talk

    Since the beginning of warfare, the toughest battles for commanders have always been communicating with their own troops, ensuring everyone is hearing the same message. Lt. Gen. Michael W. Peterson, the Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Office director, took a different approach when he

  • Insertion program enhances security, saves money

    Members of the 642nd Electronic Systems Squadron's Transformational Technology Insertion program here are reaping monetary savings while further enhancing security at four Air Force sites as part of an ongoing Defense Department initiative. Transformational Technology Insertion, or TTI, involves the

  • TRANSCOM officials improve military supply chain security

    Officials of the U.S. Transportation Command here recently deployed a container security system that detects tampering and helps protect military container shipments moving from Afghanistan to Pakistan. TRANSCOM officials introduced the CommerceGuard container security system, provided by GE

  • 'Today's Air Force' features airborne warning and control

    During this edition of "Today's Air Force" you will "travel" on a NATO airborne warning and control system, or AWACS, aircraft, and also learn how Air Force officials are working to better align the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance agency in the Pacific. Another segment features the

  • Football: Falcons defense stifles Wyoming, 23-3

    A 74-yard end-around by U.S. Air Force Academy wide receiver Kyle Halderman broke a defensive slugfest and gave the Falcons the game-deciding play against Wyoming Sept. 6 in Laramie. The teams relied solely on the run and traded field goals while the defenses ruled the first two and a half quarters

  • Charleston Airmen welcome home warriors

    More than 125 Airmen from the 14th Airlift Squadron returned to Charleston Air Force Base Sept. 3 after completing more than a 120-day deployment to Southwest Asia in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The 14th AS Airmen deployed as the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron to

  • Sept. 7 airpower summary: F-15Es provide armed overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped a guided bomb unit-31 onto a

  • CSAF: Precision, reliability key to Airmen keeping the promise

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz capped off a one-day visit here Sep. 3 with a special Airman's Call for a sample group of Airmen from various squadrons, career fields and ranks. Brig. Gen. Darryl Roberson, 325th Fighter Wing commander, introduced General Schwartz to

  • General McNabb assumes command of USTRANSCOM

    Gen. Duncan J. McNabb assumed command of U.S. Transportation Command here in a ceremony Sept. 5. Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert M. Gates presided at the ceremony in which General McNabb became the ninth USTRANSCOM commander. Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was the first

  • Firefighters hone skills in midst of high ops tempo

    As smoke bellows from a nearby structure, emergency responders rush to the scene and systematically begin to assess the situation. Within minutes, the firefighters are inside the facility and the threat is neutralized. "Endex," says a voice over the radio. The 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer

  • Every Monday now blues day for Airmen

    Beginning Sept. 8, Airmen now will be required to wear a combination of the blues uniform on Mondays. At a recent four-star conference, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz discussed the issue with other senior leaders. "We all agreed that part of our image, culture and professionalism

  • Tricare supports storm-affected beneficiaries

    August and September are proving to be active months for the Atlantic hurricane season, but Tricare beneficiaries can rest assured their healthcare needs are being met. In the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gustav, Tricare officials are assisting more than 500,000 beneficiaries in

  • 90-day records review starts for IMAs

    Airmen who are Individual Mobilization Augmentees or are in the Participating Individual Ready Reserve category have 90 days to review their electronic personnel records, Air Reserve Personnel Center officials announced Sept. 4. Paper versions of the field records, technically called the Unit

  • Logistics readiness returns to basics

    Air Force logistics readiness officials are teaming to end a string of missteps in compliance and accountability by stressing a return to high standards of excellence through an enterprise-wide campaign that draws upon a back-to-basics approach to tasks. "In the past few years, we've witnessed

  • C-17s evacuate from Charleston

    Eleven C-17 Globemaster III aircraft here evacuated Sept. 4 due to the possibility of severe weather caused by Tropical Storm Hanna. The evacuation of the C-17s began midmorning and continued until about 2:15 p.m. Six of the aircraft relocated to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, while the

  • National Guard in four states prepare for Hanna

    Officials in four states along the East Coast are employing their National Guard units as Tropical Storm Hanna nears. Officials in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have almost 40,000 Army and Air National Guard members available to their governors, if needed. This includes almost

  • Citizen Airmen return to Keesler, chase Hanna, Ike

    Aircraft and people assigned to the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing began returning here Sept. 3 from forward operating locations where aircrews continued their missions of airlift and hurricane reconnaissance. While deployed, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Hurricane Hunters,

  • Air Force halts wing reorganization

    Air Force leaders halted plans to perform a global wing restructure which was designed to realign fighter, bomber and rescue airlift maintenance units into flying squadrons. Maintenance and flying squadrons will remain separate and will continue doing business "as they have for the past four or five

  • Rescue squadrons provide support for Hurricane Gustav

    Airmen from rescue helicopter squadrons from across the Air Force came together here to provide personnel recovery support in the event it was needed for Hurricane Gustav that stormed through Louisiana Sept. 1. Active and Guard rescue squadrons from Alaska, Arizona, California and New York combined

  • E-9 accident report released

    Pilot error caused the May 1 crash of an E-9 Widget at the Tallahassee Regional Airport in Tallahassee, Fla., according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report released today. The aircraft's landing gear was not lowered for a touch-and-go maneuver during the routine training

  • Air Force Reserve to test force support squadron concept

    Starting in October, the Air Force Reserve Command will test a new force support structure by merging mission support squadrons and services squadrons at seven locations throughout the United States. In the test, which will run for one year, the affected units will merge manpower and personnel

  • Commander praises Gustav preparations, response

    In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, residents of Louisiana are slowly heading to their homes and beginning to pick up the pieces left by the storm. Nearly half the state is without power, many people are running out of money and more than 70,000 Louisianans are still living in shelters. Yet, though

  • Airmen, Soldiers train for provincial reconstruction team

    Servicemembers from the Army and Air Force have come here to train and become the next Zabul Province Reconstruction Team in Afghanistan. Nearly 100 servicemembers representing the Air Force, Army, Army Reserves and Army National Guard, will combine with USAID, Department of State and the Department

  • Edwards F-22 Raptor refuels using synthetic fuel

    The F-22 Combined Test Force reached another milestone as an Edwards F-22 Raptor performed aerial refueling using a synthetic fuel.  It is the first time an Air Force aircraft refueled mid-air using an alternative jet engine fuel. The test was the culmination of Edwards test points in certifying the

  • Multinational exercise sustains international readiness

    The 2008 Northern Viking exercise, which began with a ceremony here Sept. 1, aims to reinforce the resolve of the U.S. and its NATO partners in assisting in the defense of Iceland. Approximately 150 Airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe have joined forces with more than 300 U.S. Navy Seamen, as well

  • General Schwartz sends out first 'Vector'

    In his first CSAF Vector, the Air Force chief of staff directs his attention to the mission of the Air Force for all Airmen, and outlines a plan for tomorrow's Air Force."The enduring responsibility of the United States Air Force is to provide strategic deterrence for the nation, and fly, fight and

  • Operation Deep Freeze 2008-2009 season begins

    Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. military's support of the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation, is scheduled to kick off the 2008-2009 season Sept. 4 as the first C-17 Globemaster III delivers passengers and cargo to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The C-17, based out of McChord

  • Air Force Chief of Staff defines standard of excellence

    Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, came to Air Force Space Command for a series of briefings and then visited with Peterson AFB personnel at an open forum at the base theater. His comments included what he called "vital things," the foremost of which is the need for the Air Force to go

  • Airman's Roll Call: Air Force uniform issues

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz's decision last week to defer a decision on the heritage service coat until summer 2009. Air Force leaders said they owe it to Airmen to do the research, development and quality assurance necessary to

  • Milestone reached in aircraft named for 9/11

    Airmen in a unit here recently reached 40,000 flight hours in support of the war on terrorism fittingly in an aircraft named for the attacks which began the war. The 7th Expeditionary Air Command and Control Squadron Airmen reached the milestone Sept. 2 in E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar

  • Air logistics center prepares for new engine workload

    Officials with the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group here are clearing shop space for a new workload. Tinker AFB will introduce the F117 workload in March 2010. The F117 engine, manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, powers the C-17 Globemaster III, a strategic and tactical airlifter. Though still two

  • Wright-Patterson prepares for aircraft threatened by Hanna

    Officials from the 88th Air Base Wing here are preparing to receive aircraft and their associated aircrews, maintenance and security personnel from several East Coast military installations threatened by approaching Tropical Storm Hanna. The first aircraft are slated to arrive Sept. 3 from

  • Tinker unit earns Shingo Prize

    The B-1B Programmed Depot Maintenance team here is the recipient of the Shingo Bronze Medallion in the public sector category. The Shingo Prize is often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of manufacturing."It was established in 1988, and promotes Lean manufacturing concept awareness and recognizes

  • Air Force Reserve eclipses recruiting goal again

    For the eighth consecutive year, the Air Force Reserve met and eclipsed its annual recruiting goal. Reserve recruiters across the country and around the world tallied the 8,000 mark at 12:38 p.m. EDT, Aug. 28. The recruiting cycle coincides with the Department of Defense fiscal year, which runs from

  • Falcons record two safeties in 41-7 rout

    Two defensive scores by one of the youngest teams in school history led the Air Force Falcons to a 41-7 rout over Southern Utah University in the season opener here Aug. 30.Returning only eight starters from last year, the Falcons looked to an experienced defensive line to control the game. Leading

  • Hurricane Hunters patrol Gustav

    Airmen from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" are flying daily weather reconnaissance missions into Hurricane Gustav from Homestead Air Reserve Base to aid the National Weather Service in providing the storm's projected path to the American public. The squadron, a

  • AMC poised to support post-hurricane operations

    Air Mobility Command planners and operators held a collective breath as Hurricane Gustav made landfall Sept. 1. Although most AMC aircraft and personnel were pulled back from the U.S. Gulf Coast area Aug. 31 -- hours before the hurricane's projected landfall -- the command was still fully engage in

  • Canadian forces assist in hurricane evacuation

    Canadian Forces officials deployed three aircraft in support of Air Forces Northern humanitarian efforts during Hurricane Gustav.A CC-177 Globemaster from Trenton, Ontario, deployed to New Orleans to assist in the evacuation of people from hospitals and rest homes in the path of the major storm.Two

  • Maxwell officials prepare for Hurricane Gustav

    As Hurricane Gustav bears down on the Gulf Coast, Maxwell Air Force Base officials are bedding down federal and state emergency management units and evacuees from military bases in the storm's path.Maxwell is a designated National Logistical Support Area for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

  • AFPC commander discusses support for deployed Airmen

    The commander of the Air Force Personnel Center discussed how her agency continues to improve its support of deployed Airmen during a visit here Aug. 27. AFPC is streamlining how it tracks deployments and re-examining how it balances deployments with assignments and training, said Maj. Gen. K. C.

  • Intelligence wing supports Gustav efforts

    Even though Hurricane Gustav made landfall hundreds of miles away, Airmen from the 480th Intelligence Wing here are playing a critical support role. The same intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets that are used to support contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, also play a

  • Air Force IT Conference highlights education

    The professional education of thousands of Airmen and Air Force civilians is on the fast track to change, according to officials at the Air Force Information Technology Conference Aug. 26. "Air Education and Training Command's vision is to deliver unrivaled air, space and cyberspace education and

  • Chertoff: Air Force, Guard vital to hurricane relief efforts

    As Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Gulf Coast, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security praised the men and women of the Air Force and the National Guard for their efforts during preparations for the storm. Secretary Michael Chertoff said the services were especially useful to help

  • Tornado wreaks havoc in Eglin AFB housing

    As Hurricane Gustav made its trek across the Gulf of Mexico, residents on base here had a rude awakening Sep. 1. Air traffic controllers saw the first of three funnel clouds emerge from the storm's feeder bands that raked Northwest Florida at approximately 9:45 a.m.  Rain and winds gusting to more

  • Hurricane Hunters track Gustav

    While Hurricane Gustav buffets their home, the Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., continue to fly missions from their forward operating location at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. As Gustav moves inland, Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather

  • Keesler officials assessing Gustav damages

    Officials here are preparing preliminary damage assessments from the effects of Hurricane Gustav. Peak sustained winds received from Gustav topped out at 42 miles per hour, with gusts reaching 61 miles per hour.  Keesler leaders remain cautious about the residual threat of tornadoes as the storm

  • EPLOs move into place to support Gustav

    As Hurricane Gustav approached the Gulf Coast, Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers from all over the nation were brought in to help. EPLOs from as far away as Alaska moved into place in Louisiana, Texas and Alabama to coordinate military assets to support civil authorities. Lt. Col. Kelly

  • Reserve teams answer calls for help

    More than 300 Gulf Coast patients were able to breathe a sigh of relief Sep. 1 thanks to Air Force Reserve aeromedical crews as Hurricane Gustav slammed into Terrebonne Bay, La., just west of New Orleans, at about 10:30 EST. Because more than 50 air evacuation flights had carried them to safety, the

  • EPLOs ready for emergency response role

    Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers nationwide stand ready to respond to national emergencies and events when requested. Air Force Reserve EPLOs are stationed in every state to coordinate military assets to support civil authorities in the event of a natural or man-made disaster or a national

  • AFNORTH Airmen assisting with Gustav medevac

    Air Forces Northern Airmen here coordinated with numerous civilian and government agencies in Texas and Louisiana to assist with the evacuation of critical-care patients prior to Hurricane Gustav's landfall. AFNORTH Airmen provide U.S. Northern Command with visibility on all Air Force assets

  • AFNORTH activates recovery center for Gustav

    Officials with the 601st Air and Space Operations Center have activated the Joint Personnel Recovery Center in preparation for landfall of Hurricane Gustav. Located here, JPRC personnel focus specifically on large-scale search and rescue, or SAR, operations in the event of a hurricane or natural

  • Military ready to support Hurricane Gustav relief effort

    American military forces are prepositioned and ready to provide any relief necessary if called upon Sept. 1 at England Air Park in Alexandria as Hurricane Gustav batters the Gulf Coast. A joint force team of approximately 100 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Defense Department civilians has set up camp

  • Hurricane Hunters support weather study from Guam

    Two Air Force Reserve WC-130J Hercules and a Naval Research Lab P-3 Orion deployed here recently to conduct meteorological research on tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific from August through September. During the project, labeled Tropical Cyclone Structure-2008, aircrews from the 53rd Weather

  • Hurricane Gustav -- Airmen ready and helping

    During the Labor Day weekend, Americans have been keeping their eyes on Hurricane Gustav. Active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen have been doing their part supporting hurricane evacuation and relief missions along with their civilian and federal agency counterparts. On this third anniversary of

  • Hurricane Hunters tracking Gustav on Katrina anniversary

    Hurricane Hunters from the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing here spent the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina flying into yet another tempest, Hurricane Gustav, which made landfall just west of Grand island, La., Sept 1. Three years ago, the Hurricane Hunters evacuated aircraft and personnel from