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  • Task force on future of military healthcare established

    Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England announced Dec. 22 the names of the 14-member future military healthcare task force; the task force will evaluate and recommend alternatives to ensure the stability of military medicine over the long term. As directed by Congress in the National Defense

  • Refuelers keep mission going Christmas Day over Afghanistan

    'Tis the season for giving and receiving. In the skies over Afghanistan, every day of the year could pass as Christmas Day. Refueling aircraft give up their fuel to the receiving aircraft which carry out the mission of air supremacy and ground support for Operation Enduring Freedom. Christmas Day

  • Serving through the season: Staff Sgt. Lara Koler

    If Staff Sgt. Lara Koler had her 'druthers, she'd be taking hay rides and singing carols with her parents and other relatives during traditional holiday activities in Wendell, Idaho. Instead, the Eugene, Ore., native will be watching radar tracks dance across her computer screen at the Western Air

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 26

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 26. In Afghanistan Dec. 25, 11 close-air support missions were flown in support of International Security Assistance Force and Afghan troops, reconstruction activities and route patrols. Additionally, eight Air

  • Serving through the season: Senior Airman Hector Rosado

    Defending freedom has no bounds and the ground support provided by Senior Airman Hector Rosado helps to keep the airlift mission in Afghanistan in the right perspective. Deployed from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, Airman Rosado is serving as an aviation resource manager for the 774th

  • Serving through the season: Senior Airman Douglas Hicks

    Senior Airman Douglas Hicks, deployed from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., misses his wife, Yolanda, and his teenagers, Troy, 16, and Olivia, 15. But he knows he enlisted in the Air Force Reserve and he accepts his volunteer status gracefully. After all, this is not his first deployment, but it is

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 25

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 25. In Afghanistan Dec. 24, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and a B-1 Lancer provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Now Zad.

  • Bowl game pays tribute to servicemembers

    The game may have been all about football, but the overall event was a tribute to 1.2 million very special people -- the men and women of the United States armed forces. The Universities of Utah and Tulsa took to the field Dec. 23 at Amon G. Carter Stadium for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

  • Deputy defense secretary named Great American Patriot

    Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England was presented with the first Great American Patriot Award Dec. 23 at a halftime ceremony during the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Secretary England, a Fort Worth resident, said he was very humbled by the award. "Also in a way

  • Serving through the season: Senior Airman Mark Kreul

    Senior Airman Mark Kreul is hoping his Christmas this year is a lot like his Thanksgiving was. "There are a lot of awesome people around here; people you don't even know. They just open their arms for you on the holiday," Airman Kreul said. He is a member of the South Dakota Air National Guard's

  • Volunteers complete annual Operation Christmas Drop

    More than 150 volunteers helped complete the world's longest running humanitarian airdrop Dec. 19, commemorating the 54th Annual Operation Christmas Drop that reached more than 50 remote Pacific islands. Gen. Douglas H. Owens, 36th Wing commander, kicked off the operation with a ceremony that

  • Serving through the season: Capt. Kris J. Person

    Many Airmen throughout the world will be spending time away from home during the holidays fighting for America's freedoms. One such Airman is an F-15C pilot stationed here. Capt. Kris Person, an 18th Operations Support Squadron electronic combat officer flying with the 44th Fighter Squadron, will be

  • Serving through the season: Senior Airman Matt Hodges

    Senior Airman Matt Hodges is an air traffic controller with the 52nd Operation Support Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Airman Hodges ensures all aircraft coming in and out of the base land and depart safely. The job requires strict attention to detail and many, many hours of staring into

  • Warren team, Colorado road crew join forces in rescue

    A missile facility manager and security forces team from Warren, along with a Colorado state roads and grounds crew came to the aid of a man Dec. 21 whose vehicle was engulfed by four-foot drifts of snow for 13 hours. The Logan County Sherriff's Department requested ground search and rescue

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 23

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 23.In Afghanistan Dec. 22, an Air Force Predator and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted strikes against Taliban extremists near Bagram. The Predator expended a Hellfire missile and the A-10s expended a general-purpose,

  • Serving through the season: Staff Sgt. Mario Williams

    While many Airmen are preparing to head home for the holidays, many others will be on duty working at home stations and deployed locations across the world. One particular MacDill Airman won't be heading home, but he will be together on Christmas with a member of his family -- sort of. Staff Sgt.

  • Pep rally heightens excitement for Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl

    Team spirit was evident throughout the streets of the downtown area here known as Sundance Square. Whether it was the wearing of school colors of two teams ready to take each other on in a gridiron challenge or the uniform pride of armed force members, there was no doubt this was an all-American

  • Serving through the season: Senior Airman Ayoca Peters

    Senior Airman Ayoca Peters knows better than anyone that the Air Force mission does not take a break during the holidays. While others will be opening gifts or spending time with family and friends, she will be continuing to do her job to ensure Air Force aircrew members can continue to dominate the

  • Eglin performs largest 'cook-off' test ever

    No one does cook-offs bigger than the members of the 46th Test Wing here. Members of the 780th Test Squadron suspended a rocket motor Dec. 14. over a 2,622 square foot pan full of approximately 28,000 gallons of jet fuel and lit it on fire, which is called a fast cook-off test.This test, which took

  • Chief McKinley returns 'home' to Tinker

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley returned to his old stomping grounds here Dec. 13 and, in the process, took a stroll down memory lane. The chief, a former first sergeant at Tinker AFB from the mid '90s to July 2000, was on leave to visit family members in the area and to attend

  • Hickam leads way to lessen fossil fuel use

    The Air Force is the largest consumer of petroleum products in the Department of Defense and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne has made it a priority to find alternative fuels to replace fossil fuels. In a partnership with the State of Hawaii, Hickam is implementing Secretary Wynne's

  • Serving through the season: Airman Van Dexter Duez

    Keeping F-15 Eagles maintained and flying is what one Airman here will be doing over the holidays. Airman Van Dexter Duez is assigned to the 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Maintenance Management Production Flight where he schedules and coordinates the weekly flying and maintenance schedules for

  • Sesame Street's Elmo to educate Americans on deployments

    Elmo and the characters of Sesame Street are going to give Americans at large a chance to see what military families go through when their loved ones deploy to war zones. Sesame Street will air "When Parents Are Deployed" on most Public Broadcasting System stations Dec. 27, and Armed Forces Network

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 22

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 22. In Afghanistan Dec 21, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers and an Air Force B-1B Lancer provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in

  • Serving through the season: Capt. Ryan Rasmussen

    Although the Airmen assigned to Joint Task Force Civil Support have decorated their respective doors with holiday decorations, it doesn't measure up to being home. "Of course I'd rather be home with all of my friends and family, but I know that what we're doing here is important to the safety and

  • 10 Globemaster IIIs fly in formation over Washington state

    Like an iron alligator in the sky, a band of 10 C-17 Globemaster IIIs flew in formation Dec. 21 from Puget Sound to eastern Washington . Taking off in five-minute intervals from McChord AFB, C-17s with aircrews from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings rendezvoused in the sky to align into a single file

  • College of American Pathologists lauds Ellsworth lab

    Officials from the College of American Pathologists recently accredited the medical laboratory here after a thorough inspection, examining everything from needles and giant rubber bands to each of the more than 1,000 processes involved in maintaining a lab. "(The inspectors) actually go through each

  • Puerto Rico Airmen support two wars

    When Tech. Sgt. Jose Melendez volunteered to deploy with his unit on his first combat tour in Afghanistan, he didn't quite know what to expect. He'd never been to war. But when he got to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, it didn't take the guardsman long to learn what Airmen are doing in support of the

  • Airmen train to walk among the stars

    There are some Airmen who train to push a 4,000 pound hunk of steel and electronics out of their way with a flick of their pinky finger. Some Airmen train to fly at more than 17,000 mph, or roughly 5 miles per second. And some Airmen even train to "fly" without the use of any aircraft at all. But

  • Serving through the season: Airman Cameron Houghtaling Jr.

    There is a good chance Airman Cameron Houghtaling Jr. will not be home this holiday season, spending time with his family and friends.Airman Houghtaling is deployed to Bagram AB where he is the Services fitness coordinator and lodging assistant for Air Force members. "This holiday season I will be

  • TRANSCOM commander visits Air Mobility Warfare Center

    Saying he was impressed by the remarkable people and their wide-ranging missions, the commander of the U.S. Transportation Command wrapped up a two-day tour Dec. 14 of units at McGuire Air Force Base, nearby Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst, the Air Mobility Warfare Center here, as well as

  • Chief on quest to improve communication with Airmen

    Telling Airmen the Air Force's top priorities was the focus of the Pacific Air Forces command chief master sergeant's visit here in mid December. "I'm amazed at how poorly we have communicated the Air Force's priorities to the Airmen in the field," said Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Bishop. "We need

  • Airmen return to Shaw from overseas deployments

    Approximately 46 Airmen returned to Shaw AFB in mid December after being deployed to Southwest Asia fighting the war on terrorism. The Airmen returned in two groups, one returning from supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, while the second group was mainly supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 21

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 21. In Afghanistan Dec. 20, an Air Force B-1B Lancer provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Orgun-e. The B-1B expended guided

  • Serving through the season: Airman Marilyn Torres

    It's already on the schedule -- Amn. Marilyn Torres will celebrate the holidays inside the 726th Air Mobility Squadron's supply warehouse, ensuring heavy aircraft assigned here are mission-ready. Like many Airmen new to the Air Force, she'll also spend some time doing details, such as cleaning the

  • Serving through the season: Airman 1st Class Amber Roaten

    Making sure security forces are properly armed and have sufficient ammunition to support their tour is what Airman 1st Class Amber Roaten will be tasked to do as one of the armorers on duty for the 341st Security Support Squadron Christmas day. "I know I have an important job to do making sure law

  • Air Force official names environmental winners

    The Air Force civil engineer announced the winners of the Gen. Thomas D. White Environmental Awards for 2006. Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg named nine installations and one individual as winners of this year's awards. The 2006 winners are: -- Environmental Quality Award (industrial): Tinker Air Force Base,

  • Contract modification adds 4 aircraft for Air Force, Marines

    Officials from the 657th Aeronautical Systems Squadron here issued an undefinitized contract action in December that will add four aircraft to be used by the Air Force and Marine Corps. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. of Marietta, Ga., was awarded the $256 million firm-fixed-price contract

  • New MRI system installed at Keesler Medical Center

    Crews are currently completing installation of Keesler Medical Center's new magnetic resonance imaging equipment and look to have it complete in January at Keesler AFB.It replaces the MRI destroyed by Hurricane Katrina's devastating storm surge Aug. 29, 2005. A 13-ton magnet, the heart of the

  • Trainees given chance to shop, ship presents

    For more than 3,100 basic trainees, Dec. 9 brought an opportunity to get into the holiday spirit. Under the Shop-A-Trainee program, trainees in the first, second and fifth week of training, plus trainees on medical hold, were able to go to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Main Exchange to

  • Serving through the season: Senior Airman Alan Leckie

    The holiday season is in full swing with office parties and festive family traditions in the works. Meanwhile, for the Hickam Air Force Base Fire Department, it's business as usual. Senior Airman Alan Leckie of New Castle, Del., said firehouse traditions keep the holiday spirit alive. The chefs will

  • Agreement enhances hydraulic repairs at Hill

    Ogden Air Logistics Center officials completed a partnering agreement with Parker Aerospace Dec. 18 paving the way for enhanced warfighter support. According to Hill AFB officials, the public-private sector team integrates the best of both worlds to meet 21st century warfighter needs on weapon

  • Air Force Small Business Program gets boost

    In exceeding goals in all five categories of its Small Business Program performance, Air Force Materiel Command is at the top of the Air Force list for dollars awarded to small businesses in fiscal 2006. Specifically, AFMC's Small Business Office awarded more than $4.6 billion - or 52.8 percent - of

  • Hydrogen fuel cell outperforms diesel counterpart

    Air Force Materiel Command officials here are tied to a project that could provide warfighters at remote bases with a cleaner, quieter way to power runway lights and other electrically powered devices. Air Force Advanced Power Technology Office, or APTO, officials here held a December demonstration

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 20

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 20. In Afghanistan Dec. 19, Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in

  • Serving through the season: Staff Sgts. Chace and Maria Morris

    Chace and Maria Morris met and married more than four years ago. This holiday season they are serving their country at a Southwest Asia forward operating base in support of the war on terrorism. The staff sergeants are thankful the Air Force gave them the opportunity to deploy together, instead of

  • New legislation facilitates Total Force

    When President George W. Bush signed the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act into law Oct. 17, important clarifications were made regarding Title 10 and 32, the laws governing the legal distinctions between the armed forces of the United States and the armed forces of the National Guard and

  • New security base established in Laghman Province

    On a scenic plateau above the Alishang River in northern Laghman Province laid the earthly remains of some 20 Afghan mujahedeen fighters who occupied this land and fought to the last man against the Soviet Army. This hallowed ground is once again the focal point in the battle against tyranny and

  • Vandenberg successfully launches Delta II

    Vandenberg AFB officials successfully launched a Delta II rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-2 at 1 p.m. Dec. 14 here. The Delta II, a 125.75-foot expendable launch, medium-lift vehicle, launches civil and commercial payloads into low-earth, polar,

  • Moody welcomes SFS Airmen home for holidays

    "I'll be home for Christmas ... " has a new meaning to several deployed security forces Airmen who returned just in time to spend the holidays at home Dec. 14 at Moody AFB after almost six months in Iraq. The team, made up of more than 160 Moody AFB Airmen from the 820th Security Forces Group, 23rd

  • Tyndall NCO Academy renamed after first CMSAF

    Tyndall AFB's NCO Academy was renamed to honor the first chief master sergeant of the Air Force Dec. 13 here. The Paul W. Airey NCO Academy Dedication Ceremony will be remembered as the second greatest thing to happen in the retired chief's professional life, said Chief Airey, only because becoming

  • Air Guard leaders explore ways to reset force

    The challenges for resetting the Air National Guard became more apparent to its senior leaders here Dec. 11 to 13 when Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, director of the Air National Guard, hosted the senior leadership conference, Minuteman Heritage -- Preparing for New Horizons. More than 1,000 leaders

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 19

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 19.In Afghanistan Dec. 18, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and an Air Force B-1B Lancer conducted strikes against Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The F-15Es expended guided bomb unit-12s and the B-1 expended

  • Serving through the season: Airman Basic Alex Diaz

    For many people, cooking for a holiday gathering may mean about 10 people, but for the staff at the Hale' Aina Dining Facility here, this holiday crowd can mean more than 300 Airmen and retirees. Airman Basic Alex Diaz is assigned to the 15th Services Squadron. He and other services Airmen at the

  • McGuire Airman fatally wounded

    An Airman from McGuire AFB was fatally wounded in an incident as he and his wife attempted to leave a club early Dec. 17 in Philadelphia. Airman 1st Class Lam Mai Ho was an air transportation apprentice in the 819th Global Support Squadron based at McGuire AFB.The incident is under investigation by

  • After the Pearl Harbor Attack

    Dec. 7, 1941: 2nd Lt. Wells Lawrence and his July bride slept soundly in their Wheeler Field, Hawaii, quarters. They'd been at Hickam Field for a big Saturday night party and returned home after midnight.At 7:55 a.m., sleepy calm turned to wide-awake terror. "A big bang startled me awake, and the

  • Military aircrews support Mount Hood rescue effort

    After finding the body of one missing climber on Mount Hood, Ore., members of the Oregon Army National Guard, Nevada Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units continue to search for two other lost climbers Dec. 18. Rescue crews, joined by civilian volunteers, planned to take advantage of

  • Reservists add major adjustment to T-1 training

    Four or five months after graduating from Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance AFB, students from the T-1A Jayhawk tanker and airlift track may very well find themselves flying over the not-so-friendly sky in support of the war on terrorism. Two members of the 5th Flying Training

  • 6th SOPS delivers critical weather data to warfighters

    The motto, "Get data or die" holds special significance for the 6th Space Operations Squadron, an Air Force Reserve Command unit here whose Airmen must deliver data to their customers within 10 minutes of downloading it from their satellites.The squadron's data transforms weather from a force of

  • Air Force announces top recruiters for 2006

    Twelve Air Force recruiters garnered top honors in their field for fiscal year 2006 as winners of Operation Blue Suit XXVIII, Air Force Recruiting Service officials announced Dec. 18. The winners include:-- Master Sgt. Richard Cuddeford, 343rd Recruiting Squadron at Offutt AFB, Neb.-- Tech. Sgt.

  • Roll Call to help supervisors keep Airmen in the know

    A new weekly publication titled "Roll Call" is designed to help shop- and office-level supervisors explain complex, yet important Air Force issues to their Airmen during daily or weekly meetings. Roll Call is a one-page print product, posted online every Friday. It covers one or two topics, in full

  • Enlisted aircrew training winds down at Keesler

    Although packers are busy disconnecting and crating equipment, training continues for the last 10 students in the 1A3 airborne mission system specialist course in the 332nd Training Squadron here. The last Keesler class graduates Tuesday as part of the transition to the Career Enlisted Aviator

  • New antenna begins testing

    The 23rd Space Operations Squadron here began operations confidence testing of its newest Air Force Satellite Control Network antenna Dec. 14. Operational testing will verify the antenna is fully prepared to conduct satellite supports as part of the squadron's 24-hour mission, said station manager

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 17

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 17. In Afghanistan Dec. 16, Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Now Zad. The GR-7s expended

  • Oregon, Nevada Reservists join search for missing trio

    Reservists from the 304th Rescue Squadron here will team up again Dec. 17 with Air National Guardsmen from Nevada in hopes of finding three missing hikers lost on Mt. Hood more than a week ago. "This was our first opportunity to see the top of the mountain because of the poor weather and extreme

  • Airmen wrap up airdrop campaign

    The Air Force C-130 Hercules team Dec. 14 wrapped up its six-day campaign of airdropping more than 211,000 pounds of supplies into the flood-ravaged Dadaab region of eastern Kenya. But to children on the ground, it was the last 60 pounds that maybe made the most difference. As a way to say goodbye

  • Buccaneers return from Afghanistan tour

    Waiting for the C-130 Hercules to return, Master Sgt. Diego Vazquez's only thought was this fellow Airmen would soon be safely home with their families. The 156th Airlift Wing NCO in charge of finance was one of more than 150 people who welcomed the 198th Airlift Squadron transport and 26 Airmen

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 16

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 16. In Afghanistan Dec. 15, an Air Force B-1 Lancer and A-10 Thunderbolt II along with Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in

  • Airforce.com: Online link to 'Cross into the Blue'

    For seven years, the official Air Force recruiting Web site has provided the public information on officer and enlisted careers as well as benefits the Air Force offers. Monday through Friday six decorated, retired recruiters man airforce.com chat lines, each managing up to seven chats at a time and

  • Fisher DeBerry announces retirement as head coach at Air Force

    Air Force head football coach Fisher DeBerry announced his retirement Friday, ending over a quarter-century at the Air Force Academy. DeBerry just completed his 23rd season as the head football coach and 27th overall at Air Force. DeBerry has guided the Falcons to 17 winning seasons since taking

  • Engineers contribute to F-35 initial flight success

    The Dec. 15 initial flight of the new F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, or JSF, came after more than six years of development and testing at Arnold Engineering Development Center here. The flight of the conventional takeoff and landing F-35 variant began at 12:44 p.m. CST at Lockheed Martin in

  • Chief McKinley: Southern Command 'all over the mission'

    Not much has surprised Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley during his whirlwind tour of four key U.S. Southern Command bases. Before departing for Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico, the last stop on his four-day tour, he said from what he has seen, command operations are

  • CMSAF visits Southern Command Airmen

    After three days of travel to U.S. Southern Command bases, the Airmen he has met have impressed Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. The chief said Airmen serving at forward-operating locations in the region "are doing wonderful things for our Air Force." The chief said they do an

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 15

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 15.In Afghanistan Dec. 14, French M-2000D Mirages provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Asadabad. Royal Air Force GR-7

  • Westover named sole maintenance center for Reserve C-5s

    Air Force officials announced Dec. 13 that Westover ARB will become the new center for in-depth maintenance on all Air Force Reserve C-5 Galaxy aircraft. The Air Force will consolidate the eight existing C-5 isochronal inspection facilities into three in order to increase aircraft availability while

  • Basketball: Falcons crack Associated Press Poll at No. 24

    It may be finals week at the Academy, but the Air Force men's basketball team has been acing tests all season.The Falcons slammed Norfolk State 70-47, Dec. 13 following a Dec. 7 record-breaking 82-31 thrashing of neighboring Division III Colorado College, both at Clune Arena, a graveyard for

  • Secretary Rumsfeld bids servicemembers farewell

    For these past six years, I have had the opportunity, and, I should add, the privilege, to serve with the greatest military the world has ever known. To all of the men and women in uniform, all across the globe, I wish it were possible for me to meet with each of you personally today so I could look

  • Combat Hammer tests air-to-ground bombing capabilities

    Eglin Air Force Base's western range, Bravo 70, was the site for the largest-ever Combat Hammer weapons system evaluation program Dec. 4 to 8, sponsored by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. More than 40 precision-guided weapons were dropped, including laser-guided bombs, joint direct attack

  • Secretary Wynne visits Ramstein

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne visited here Dec. 12. The focus of his visit was the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program.The secretary's stay included visits to the 435th Vehicle Readiness Squadron and the 86th Maintenance Group and its Propulsion Flight. He also

  • Australian official recognizes international affairs officer

    The Australian department of defense recognized an Air Force international affairs officer for his work in helping bring the C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft to the Australian fleet with an award Dec. 11 at the Pentagon.Australian Army Lt. Gen. David Hurley presented Maj. Stephen Webb with the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 14

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 14.In Afghanistan Dec. 13, an Air Force B-1B Lancer conducted a strike against Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The B-1B expended guided bomb unit-38s. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1B provided close-air

  • Airmen challenged to make better choices

    "Work hard and play smart" may soon be a new mantra for Airmen after duty hours. In February, the Air Force kicked off a new program titled "Culture of Responsible Choices." The program, called CoRC for short, is more of a change in mindset than an actual new formal program. It is a mindset where

  • Hawaii Air Guard celebrates 60th

    The Hawaii Air National Guard's history goes back before the U.S. Air Force was a separate service, and 12 years before the state the guardsmen serve was actually admitted to the Union. Guardsmen past and present recently came together here to celebrate the organization's 60th anniversary and to

  • National Guard Museum opens new exhibit

    A new interactive exhibit that showcases the National Guard's participation in operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom is on display as the National Guard observes its 370th birthday Dec. 13. The National Guard Museum's OEF/OIF exhibit displays Guard members' equipment, uniforms and

  • Chief McKinley says roll call good for Air Force

    Some Airmen are not getting information they need to make them better and more productive, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley said. That is why he believes the start of a roll call program, which he said could start "within days," will help bridge the communications gap between

  • Honor guard lays to rest Airmen killed in Iraq

    The tradition of laying to rest one's own carries with it the heavy burden of knowing a fellow Airman and hero has just departed. While this is the everyday job of ceremonial guardsmen, sometimes a death hits home a little harder and makes a lasting impact on those who take a part in the funeral.

  • Senator urges military budget increases

    During a farewell speech in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee Dec. 7, Sen. Jim Talent (R-MO) said legislators must substantially increase military budgets over the coming decade if the U.S. military is to keep its edge. "There can be no doubt that without a substantial increase in

  • Web site commemorates National Guard birthday

    The National Guard turns 370 years old Dec. 13, and the National Guard Bureau is celebrating with a Web site dedicated to the organization and its history. The site, www.ngb.army.mil/features/birthday/index.html, chronicles the Guard's history, starting in 1636 when the General Court of the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 13

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 13.In Afghanistan Dec. 12, Air Force MQ-1 Predators conducted strikes against Taliban extremists near Kandahar. The Predators expended Hellfire missiles on enemy targets. Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided

  • DOD, U.K. sign next stage Joint Strike Fighter agreement

    United States and United Kingdom officials signed a memorandum of understanding Dec. 12 to begin future cooperation in the production, sustainment and follow-on development, called PSFD, phase of the Joint Strike Fighter program. Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England and United Kingdom

  • AFMC leaders plot 'One Materiel Command' course

    "Pushing widgets out your door but having those widgets stack up in front of another Air Force Materiel Command unit's door really hasn't helped the enterprise." With that statement, Gen. Bruce Carlson, AFMC commander, explained his concept of 'One Materiel Command' to 103 AFMC senior leaders

  • New RAF housing site could be history's hiding ground

    RAF Mildenhall is beginning a new housing construction project to add more units to the officer housing area. But, before they break ground, the building site must go through a preliminary dig to ensure any possible objects of archeological significance that may be found are properly uncovered and

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 12

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 12.In Afghanistan Dec. 11, Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Lashkar Gah. An Air Force B-1

  • Chief McKinley visits Airmen at Soto Cano

    Delivering 12,000 cookies to Airmen at forward operating bases is just one of Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley's many jobs. But the prospects of meeting with Airmen at four Central and South American and Caribbean bases put a smile on the face of the Air Force's top enlisted

  • Spang Airmen compete for Mr. Universe title

    Representing the United States and the Air Force two Airmen from Spangdahlem Air Base traveled to Cuxhaven, Germany, to compete in the legendary Mr. Universe competition Dec. 2. Troy Saunders, Men's Class II competitor, and Justin Usery, Men's Class III competitor, were asked to participate in the

  • New pay, personnel system on horizon for troops

    A new system coming in 2008 to the Army and Air Force will integrate pay and personnel and make life easier for servicemembers everywhere, the general in charge of the system's deployment said. The Defense Integrated Military Human Resources System, or DIMHRS, integrates the two services' pay and

  • Florida base provides mix of support for shuttle launch

    The Air Force's 45th Space Wing out of Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. supported NASA's launch of Space Shuttle Discovery from Kennedy Space Center Dec. 9 on the shuttle's first night launch in four years. Several units across the 45th SW played vital roles such as helping validate the pad after the

  • Kadena Airmen live life of Japan self defense force

    Six Kadena Air Base NCOs recently had the opportunity to experience what life is like in the Japan Air Self Defense Force. As part of the NCO Bilateral Exchange Program they traveled in JASDF aircraft Dec. 5 to Tsuiki Air Base in mainland Japan. There, they spent nine days living and working

  • Air Force delivers much needed supplies to Kenya

    After weeks of a deluge that seemingly had no end in sight, something besides rain finally fell from the Eastern Kenya sky -- compliments of a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing based in Southwest Asia. What began as a normal storm in late October in the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Dec. 11

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Dec. 11.In Afghanistan Dec. 10, an Air Force B-1B Lancer provided close-air support for International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Orgun-E. An Air Force B-1B and