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  • Big Brothers, Sisters visit Eielson fighter squadron

    Eighteen children from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Fairbanks, Alaska, met Airmen from the 355th Fighter Squadron and received an up close and personal look at an A-10 Thunderbolt II when they visited here Sept. 30. "The 355th FS not only wanted to help (Big Brothers Big Sisters) in that

  • Pilots thrilled by CV-22 capabilities

    When he talks about his new aircraft, the CV-22 Osprey, the lieutenant colonel's face lights up like a kid opening presents on his birthday. After 10 years of flying the MC-130H Combat Talon II, CV-22 instructor pilot Lt. Col. Darryl Sheets, from the 8th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt

  • Captain found guilty of cheating on WAPS test

    Capt. Rhonda McDaniel of the 45th Space Wing, was found guilty of conspiring with two other Air Force members to cheat on the Weighted Airmen Promotion System test by wrongfully possessing and giving the contents of the controlled test materials to other Air Force members. She was sentenced to

  • AFIT school conducts search, recovery exercise

    The Air Force Institute of Technology's Civil Engineer and Services School here took its educational mission beyond classroom walls as students participated in a search and recovery exercise the last week of September. The goal of the exercise was for students in the School's Mortuary Affairs Course

  • Air Force leaders to discuss new 'Cyber Command'

    Air Force leaders are gathering in early November to discuss plans for creation of a new command, one chartered with flying and fighting in cyber space. Cyberspace became an official Air Force domain, like air and space, on Dec. 7, 2005, when Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Chief of

  • USAFE unit debuts small diameter bomb in combat

    The Guided Bomb Unit-39/B small diameter bomb was flown into combat for the first time Oct. 5 by members of the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The unit, deployed to the Southwest Asia area of operations, launched a two-ship formation of F-15E Strike Eagles at 1:30 a.m. EDT carrying the new

  • Officer faces court-martial in WAPS cheating scandal

    A prior-enlisted officer is facing a court-martial Oct. 4 at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., stemming from an investigation into an alleged Weighted Airman Promotion System cheating scandal that lasted nearly 10 years. Capt. Rhonda McDaniel, who is assigned to the 45th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron, is

  • DOD Eagle Vision experiment wraps up at Lajes

    A Department of Defense experiment testing the versatility of one of the Air Force's ground communications station systems wrapped up here Sept. 29. Eagle Vision-1, based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is designed to receive a variety of information from civilian remote-sensing satellites. "This

  • Scott Airmen come down with the Blues

    For many professional sports teams, summer training camp includes grueling exercises, early wake-up calls and countless hours of practice. Before their season kickoff, St. Louis Blues hockey players didn't expect to be low-crawling at Scott Air Force Base. The Blues visited Scott AFB Sept. 25 and 26

  • Ramstein team aids peacekeeping mission in Darfur

    Ramstein Airmen flew with a Botswana C-130 aircrew to the Darfur region Sept. 23 and 24 to support the African Union peacekeeping mission. Two C-130 Hercules crewmembers from the 86th Operations Support Squadron, aerial port Airmen from the 86th Air Mobility Squadron, and a force protection

  • Japanese, U.S. Airmen share insights at tactics symposium

    Airmen from 5th Air Force here sponsored a tactics symposium Sept. 26 to 27, bringing together 30 representatives from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and U.S. military components in Japan. A first of its kind, the event allowed captains and majors from operations-related specialties to discuss

  • Proactive Airmen get jump on passport process

    Airmen control the first steps to a successful passport process -- saving time, money and ensuring mission success downrange. The process to get the Department of State-issued document takes three to six weeks because of mailing, screening and coordination through official channels in Washington,

  • Ramstein crew flies with Botswana into Darfur

    Ramstein Airmen flew with a Botswana C-130 Hercules crew to the Darfur region Sept. 23 and 24 to support the African Union peacekeeping mission. Two C-130 crewmembers from the 86th Operations Support Squadron, aerial porters from the 86th Air Mobility Squadron and a force protection specialist from

  • Academy polo team battles top 10 teams

    Playing consecutive games against a top-10 team, the No. 17 Air Force water polo team fell short of the victory, losing to eighth-ranked University of California at Davis 7-5 on Sept. 24 at the Cadet Natatorium. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 8-6 on the season, 4-1 in the Western Water Polo

  • Servicemembers shine during NFL game

    The National Football League's Houston Texans honored American servicemembers during its Salute to the Military at the game against the Washington Redskins at Reliant Stadium here Sept. 24. Starting with pregame activities and throughout the game, military members were spotlighted as part of the

  • Three Airmen awarded Bronze Star

    Three Airmen here were awarded the Bronze Star Medal recently in a ceremony at the base theater. The 20th Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe presented the awards to Senior Airman Charity Trueblood, Maj. Lawrence King and Capt. Jonathan Bennett for duties they performed while fighting the

  • Heroism earns Airman prestigious award

    An NCO from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., received the Keeper of the Flame Award Sept. 20 for his efforts in fighting the war on terrorism from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Tech. Sgt. Stephen Achey, a 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron senior fighter duty technician, received the award

  • Manas C-17 crew drops vital cargo in Afghanistan

    The primary mission of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing is to provide air mobility support to servicemembers in Afghanistan fighting the war on terrorism. Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here enabled that mission with a combat airdrop Sept. 17. The C-17 Globemaster III

  • Captain pulls missile duty on Air Force birthday

    Capt. Jason Hopkin is so busy monitoring ballistic missile launch codes that he will not have time for cake, ice cream and punch on the Air Force's 59th birthday.He will join the other Airmen around the world who will report to work to fight or support the ongoing war on terrorism. This war -- like

  • C-17 pilot on standby on Air Force birthday

    Capt. Carl Miller could be flying his transport aircraft instead of celebrating the Air Force's birthday with the cake, ice cream and punch.Because, like for the past 15 years, he and other Airmen around the world will report to work this day to fight or support the ongoing war on terrorism. This

  • Raptor pilot training on Air Force birthday

    Capt. Daniel Arkema will be flying the Air Force's newest fighter on the service's birthday -- not eating cake and ice cream and drinking punch. Instead, like for the past 15 years, he and other Airmen around the world will report to work to fight or support the ongoing war on terrorism. This war --

  • PGA champions visit Pentagon

    Members of the Professional Golfers Association and their spouses toured the Pentagon and Walter Reed Army Medical Center here Sept. 17 as part of their visit to the nation's capital. Tom Lehman,captain of the 2006 U.S. Ryder Cup team, and several other leading PGA members visited with Lt. Gen.

  • 'Bone' makes evolving mark on war on terrorism

    It can strike at a moment's notice. It is a lethal injection for the war on terrorism. It is a combat commander' s weapon of choice. The B-1B Lancer, sometimes called the "Bone," has made a name for itself for nearly 20 years and continues to make its mark in the fight for freedom. Since the war

  • Former POWs carry on American resolve

    Americans honored the nation's patriots Sept. 15 during National POW/MIA Recognition Day. They took part in ceremonies, parades and observances held across the country on military installations, ships at sea, veterans' facilities and the Pentagon. This day commemorated America's past patriots still

  • Officials award $589 million Weapon System Integrator contract

    Officials with the Electronic Systems Center's 350th Electronic Systems Group awarded a $589 million contract Sept. 12 to Lockheed Martin Corp. to serve as the Air and Space Operations Center Weapon System Integrator.With this contract, Air Force specialists will be able to aid the government's

  • Tight fit for GM-3 will save $360K per flight

    Members of the 4th Space Operations Squadron here successfully loaded their Ground Mobile-3 vehicle onto a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 10, proving a concept that will save the Air Force more than $360,000 each time the GM-3 deploys. In addition, C-17s are easier to procure and have a greater

  • Lakenheath Airmen gear up for deployments

    More than 800 Airmen assigned to the 48th Fighter Wing here are departing this month to support military operations in Southwest Asia, South America, Africa and Eastern Europe as part of the latest air and space expeditionary force."This is an average-sized deployment," said Capt. Gretchen Yule,

  • Civic leaders, media help celebrate KC-135's 50th anniversary

    A group of 40 Spokane business people helped commemorate the 50th birthday of the Air Force's primary refueling aircraft here Sept. 6.The Boeing Company debuted the KC-135 Stratotanker in August 1956, and it was delivered to the Air Force a year later. The aircraft has supported armed conflict and

  • Charleston C-17 squadron completes deployment

    The first full-squadron deployment of C-17 Globemaster III aircrews and leaders at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., came to a close Sept. 1.Lt. Col. Ricky Rupp assumed command of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from Lt. Col. Lenny Richoux, both from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston

  • Air University offers online language training

    Air University officials here are offering an opportunity to active-duty company grade officers to study a foreign language online at no cost. In an effort to fulfill the Air Force chief of staff's guidance to develop culturally and linguistically competent Airmen, Air University will present the

  • Teams seek fresh, creative ideas to resolve problems

    With violence at deployed military checkpoints a reality, U.S. and coalition forces often have to make tough decisions when drivers ignore warnings to stop. Insurgents often attack these guarded locations, sometimes with car bombs.Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, the Air Force Research Laboratory commander,

  • First Spangdahlem jets return home from desert duty

    Six F-16 Fighting Falcons returned home to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Labor Day after a two-and a half month deployment to Southwest Asia. The fighter jets, of the 23rd Fighter Squadron, spent their deployment providing close-air support to coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, 52nd

  • 433rd Airlift Wing Airmen learn from Katrina

    When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast one year ago, members of the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, quickly joined others from across the country to help in the relief efforts.For some members, it was what they had trained for and they moved with a choreographed precision to

  • Mail-order pharmacy service saves customer, DOD dollars

    More military health system beneficiaries are opting to have prescriptions mailed to their homes, rather than picking up medications at installation or commercial-sector pharmacies, a military health care official said here Aug. 31. Defense Department officials welcomed this development as part of

  • Military helps wounded troops return to work

    Officials from the Defense Department and military services got together here Aug. 30 for the first "From Deployment to Employment" conference to discuss ways to better serve America's severely injured servicemembers. The day-long conference was a forum to exchange ideas about how to improve the

  • Enlisted assignment preference added to virtual MPF

    Enlisted Airmen will soon be able to change their assignment preferences online through the virtual Military Personnel Flight, as the Air Force continues Personnel Services Delivery Transformation. Beginning Sept. 5, enlisted Airmen will become responsible for updating their own assignment

  • Wake evacuated -- Airmen airlift 188 from Pacific Island

    Airmen from the 15th Airlift Wing and Hawaii Air National Guard evacuated 188 people from Wake Island Aug. 28 on two C-17 Globemaster IIIs, before Super Typhoon Ioke reached the tiny U.S. Territory. The evacuees -- active-duty Airmen, Department of Defense and Thai national contractors -- filed onto

  • C-17 crew delivers vital supplies to Soldiers

    A C-17 Globemaster III crew from Manas completed the base's first combat airdrop mission when they dropped vital supplies to Army units engaged in combat in eastern Afghanistan Aug. 23. Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron delivered 28 containers of ammunition weighing

  • JTF Lebanon establishes air-land and sea task forces

    The commander of Joint Task Force Lebanon has assigned two task force commanders to lead critical elements of the newly formed organization as part of assuming authority for U.S. military operations here Aug. 23, officials announced.Air Force Col. Brad Webb will command Task Force "Alpha,"

  • Ukraine officers visit RAF Lakenheath

    A group of Ukrainian military officers completed a five-day visit Aug. 18 to the 48th Fighter Wing here where they learned about U.S. Air Force training and operational processes. Part of a U.S. European Command-sponsored Joint Contact Training Program, the visit fosters bilateral cooperation

  • Salvaged flight deck from C-5 mishap becomes tool

    The crew compartment belonging to the C-5 Galaxy aircraft that fell less than a mile short of Dover Air Force Base's runway April 3 has been salvaged for use in C-5 aircraft crew training. The compartment, commonly referred to as the aircraft's flight deck, was loaded onto a C-5 and airlifted to its

  • B-52 Stratofortress ages like wine

    First deployed in 1955, the B-52 Stratofortress is already twice the age of many Airmen who maintain it. Despite its age, Airmen assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing here have an affinity for flying and maintaining this Air Force legacy aircraft and recognize its relevance today. "She gets finer with age

  • F-16 accident investigation complete

    Air Force officials have completed their investigation of the April 11 F-16 Fighting Falcon accident near Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., which resulted in the loss of the 56th Fighter Wing aircraft. The accident investigation board determined the cause of this mishap to be an engine explosion. The

  • Bagram A-10s surge for summer offensives

    Six U.S. and coalition troops peer out from a remote position on a ridge top in Afghanistan. At sunset on the third day of their vigil, a large force of Taliban extremists carrying heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades surround and pin down the team.By design, an Air Force joint tactical

  • 340th maintainers keep pace with optempo

    At one of the busiest refueling hubs in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Airmen from the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are in constant motion. They support fighters, bombers, cargo and attack aircraft fighting in the war on terrorism. The fact the unit is blended from five bases --

  • Phoenix Warrior prepares security forces

    More than 100 security forces Airmen participated in Phoenix Warrior 06-1, a program run by the Air Mobility Warfare Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, Aug. 5 to 17. The 13-day predeployment course prepares security forces in areas such as weapons and live fire training, convoy operations,

  • Maintainers keep jets healthy, safe during Viper Lance

    While most participants involved in Exercise Viper Lance 2006 here call it a day at sunset, the workday is just beginning for maintainers on the night shift.Of the more than 250 Airmen here for the air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercise, roughly 170 support the maintenance mission. Viper

  • Falcons eye 'Return to Dominance'

    The Air Force football team broke out new uniforms for its annual media day following their first fall practice last week. The players told reporters the 2006 season will be the Falcons' "Return to Dominance." "Their motto sends a great message to me," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said.

  • Challenge continues for security forces

    Guardian Challenge security forces showed off their tactics and marksmanship skills at Jacks Valley here Aug. 14 and 15. The tactics portion was planned out by a team of 19 Airmen and headed by Capt. Kathy Jordan, Air Force Space Command. She said the team started planning the scenario in May.

  • C-5 Galaxy undergoes dynamic runway testing

    As part of the C-5 Galaxy's Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, the aircraft is undergoing dynamic taxi testing to check the structural strength and flexibility of the four-engine modification. The main focus of the RERP testing was the C-5 structure's movement when traveling over

  • Modifications to extend service life of A-10s

    At first glance the A-10 Thunderbolt II cockpit looks like a Category 5 tornado just touched down in the middle of it. The chaotic scene, with hundreds of loose wires and instrumentation ripped from consoles, is really the beginning of modifications that will extend the service life of A-10s while

  • Air Force Theater Hospital doubles surgeries treating Iraqis

    Air Force Theater Hospital records here indicate that in the past year the number of combat-wounded Iraqis is increasing while U.S. casualties seen at the hospital are beginning to decrease. In a strange twist, this means more work for the U.S. Air Force and Army surgeons who performed more than

  • History comes full circle for black aviators

    The past and present came together Aug. 4 as black aviators from different generations took part in a historic flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III. An all-volunteer, black aircrew from the 315th and 437th Airlift Wings at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and the 446th AW at McChord AFB, Wash., flew

  • KC-135s take on aeromedical evacuation role

    While the KC-135 Stratotanker was originally designed to extend the length of other aircrafts' flight times, aircrews at Fairchild are also using the airplane for a completely different mission: to extend medical care to critically injured patients. Tanker aircraft began augmenting the Air Force's

  • C-17 Globemaster III crew doing its part

    A long day of loading and unloading cargo off of the C-17 Globemaster III is nothing new to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron aircrew. On this day the crew was able to fly in more than 80 aircraft pallets full of supplies to Balad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "The deployed

  • Space brings invisible power to the fight

    When space professionals deploy, they learn how to better provide combat effects, and warfighters learn more about the invisible power space brings to the fight. "It's not good enough to fly satellites from afar," said Lt. Col. John Shaw, the 4th Space Operations Squadron commander. "We need to

  • Awareness crucial in motorcycle safety

    The thrill of motorcycle riding is one that many Americans will experience during these 101 critical days of summer. With gas prices and temperatures rising, many people feel that now is the perfect time to get on their bikes. But before doing so, motorcyclists should consider a few things before

  • Rescue unit faces moving challenges

    It will be a while before the 56th Rescue Squadron fully transitions into operations at this fighter base and begins its new mission in Europe. The combat search and rescue unit arrived here in May from Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, where it served 35 years. It left as part of the U.S.

  • 'Your Guardians of Freedom' site set to scale down

    Budget constraints and contract services reductions have forced officials  to make changes to the "Your Guardians of Freedom" Web site starting Oct 1. The Web site enables Air Force members to order pins for employers of activated Guardsmen (E pin), parents (P pin) and spouses (S pin). Pin

  • Small-diameter bomb makes F-15E squadron more lethal

    When the 494th Fighter Squadron deploys to Southwest Asia later this year, its new small-diameter bomb will make its F-15E Strike Eagles even more lethal. The squadron will be the first to use the Air Force's new Guided Bomb Unit-39 bomb. It is a thin, Global Positioning System-guided 250-pound bomb

  • Lakenheath Strike Eagles return from Bulgaria

    Airmen and their F-15E Strike Eagles returned to this base today from Bulgaria with new flying skills and friends in a land they had never visited. About 200 Airmen and 10 jets from the 48th Fighter Wing deployed to Graf-Isnatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, for the two-week exercise Immediate Response that

  • Maintainers keep B-1 in the fight

    Maintainers assigned to the 40th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron are responsible for servicing, inspecting and repairing B-1B Lancers used to drop bombs in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Being in charge of most flightline repair items on a $283 million aircraft that is saving lives in

  • Ramstein medics provide humanitarian care

    Securing the health of the thousands of U.S. citizens leaving Lebanon has been placed in the hands of a small group of medical personnel from the 435th Medical Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "Our people love helping," said Capt. Chris Kurinec, who is serving as the operations officer here. "We

  • Falcons cut Mildenhall bird strikes

    Keith Mutton and Alan Marenghi roam the flightline at this base in their small blue vans doing a job that is truly for the birds. The father and stepson duo command a squadron of falcons, hawks and owls that help keep away birds that pose a bird-strike threat to aircraft here. But, it is not an easy

  • Contracting provides base 'buying power'

    When Airmen deploy they quickly find there are differences from how they do their job at their home station. At a deployed location, if something needs to be purchased, built or serviced, chances are the contracting office has a hand in it. According to the 447th Air Expeditionary Group chief of

  • Exercise strengthens U.S., international combat skills

    Cooperative Cope Thunder 06-3 is the largest multi-lateral air combat exercise in the Pacific bringing together about 1,300 participants to train in Alaska.The operations officer for the exercise said Cope Thunder is very air forces centric -- providing realistic training in joint and combined

  • Hospital revamps referral appointment system

    Air Force Smart Ops 21 initiatives are not just for operational matters. The Referral Management Center at the hospital here is making a difference in the care for all patients requiring the need of a specialist. The hospital caters to more than 21 specialties in 12 separate clinics, according to

  • Long days, flexibility part of tanker crew's life

    Air Force tankers refueled fighters over a stretch of the North Sea off England's East Anglia coast Tuesday in support of a joint NATO exercise. The scenario is nothing new for the two KC-135 Stratotanker crews that flew the mission from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. About 100 miles off the

  • Pit stops in 'hot' zone require quick off-loads

    When people deployed to Afghanistan say a location is "hot," it could mean one of two things. Either it feels like the sun is closer than the moon, or the enemy is lurking about. Here, both meanings apply. For pilots, that equates to making quick pit stops here so they can get in and out of this

  • Incirlik continues helping Americans leaving Lebanon

    The new Incirlik Deployment Processing Center officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 30. Just a few weeks later, the facility is serving as a real-world reception center for 1,600 American citizens leaving Lebanon and seeking travel back to the United States. More than 500 Airmen

  • Mildenhall's tanker services in high demand

    The KC-135 Stratotanker crews at this base in the sedate English countryside are refueling aircraft that are helping get Americans out of Lebanon. Transporting Americans from Lebanon is topping world headlines. But for the 100th Air Refueling Wing it is just its latest mission, wing commander Col.

  • No matter the nationality, pilots speak same language

    United States and European pilots may have language barriers but at the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program, they all speak the same language -- aviation. In the 55-week ENJJPT program, approximately 250 American and European students earn their wings yearly. Of those graduating, about 65

  • Misawa F-16 unit flying high at Cooperative Cope Thunder

    Pilots and support staff from Misawa Air Base, Japan, are taking advantage of realistic air combat training here during Cooperative Cope Thunder, Pacific Air Forces' largest joint and bilateral air combat exercise. The 13th Fighter Squadron brought about 40 pilots and support Airmen and 12 F-16

  • Ramstein passenger services aids displaced U.S. citizens

    Shortly after 2 a.m. today, the senior 435th Air Base Wing representative at the base passenger terminal surveyed the scene before him -- more than 200 Americans displaced from Lebanon were stretched across seats, the floor and cots as they awaited transportation back to the United States.Then he

  • C-17s deliver supplies to aid Americans leaving Lebanon

    C-17 Globemaster III crews of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron added another mission to their resume earlier this week -- providing humanitarian civil assistance to the American citizens fleeing Lebanon.The 816th EAS, based in Southwest Asia, is flying humanitarian supplies such as water and

  • Shaw hosts Operation Iron Thunder

    More than 100 aircraft from the U.S. military and NATO forces participated here this week in Operation Iron Thunder. Hosted by the 77th Fighter Squadron, the exercise offered a chance for players to be exposed to missions nearly identical to those faced in combat. "Operation Iron Thunder is a large

  • Air Force big hit at big show

    Capt. Brett Clutter was not exactly sure what to expect as he traveled here in his B-52 Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to participate in the Royal International Air Tattoo. But as the big event got under way, it seemed like it was for him that the thousands of spectators were

  • RIMPAC 2006: Perfecting air operations

    Airmen and Sailors working in the Pacific Air Operations Center here are getting unique command and control training during the Rim of the Pacific exercise, known as RIMPAC 2006. Seven Pacific Rim nations and the United Kingdom are participating with the United States in the major maritime exercise,

  • C-130 Hercules crew delivers critical supplies

    A C-130 Hercules crew assigned to the 738th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron provided critical support to an Army operating location in Afghanistan on July 6 by airdropping essential supplies before a potential enemy attack. Aircraft commander Capt. Travis Sjostedt and his crew just completed their

  • Lakenheath tests small-diameter bombs

    Four F-15E Strike Eagles loaded with the electronically simulated version of the Air Force's newest small-diameter bombs flew their first training mission July 10.The 494th Fighter Squadron aircrews tested the capability of the GBU-39 -- guided bomb unit -- and trained with aircraft modifications

  • AFIT linked to past, future of America's space program

    The Air Force Institute of Technology, or AFIT, has long been involved with America's efforts in space. Its association began with the early test flights of the high-altitude research aircraft, the X-15, and has continued to NASA's "Return to Flight" Discovery space shuttle launch July 4.Col. Steve

  • More airborne cargo means fewer convoys

    A new way of moving cargo in theater is allowing Airmen here to process more raw tonnage of cargo than airlift wings in the states, while doing it with a fifth of the manning. The 96 Airmen assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's aerial port flight are the core of the

  • 48th Fighter Wing jets receive high-tech overhaul

    When aircraft launch from the British Isles in September to support operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, they will be fitted with the most advanced avionics and carry the most accurate, lethal weapons in the Air Force inventory. The 48th Fighter Wing here has taken the Air Force lead in

  • Wavelet researchers want to ease decision-making process

    An Air Force Research Laboratory team began a new study on wavelets to help information analysts better prioritize workload. Basically, a wavelet represents a snapshot of information at a given point in time. The research team's estimated $200,000, one-year-long project is titled: "A New Paradigm in

  • Spouses, families of deployed Airmen go the distance

    Spouses and family members of Moody's deployed Airmen have an opportunity to go the distance through the "Inching Toward Iraq" program. The program is designed to help families cope with the stress of deployments, and it focuses on having families walk the distance it would take them to reunite with

  • Academy grad named 2006 MWC male student-athlete

    U.S. Air Force Academy 2006 graduate Matt Karmondy was honored as the Mountain West Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Established by the Mountain West Conference Joint Council in 1999, the award is the highest honor presented to a student-athlete by the league. The award is bestowed

  • AFSO 21 streamlines logistics processes

    Airmen with the 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron Material Management Flight are implementing a new way of thinking by streamlining their process of asset distribution at Incirlik and collocating people into one building. "We are wringing out the water and giving time back to our Airmen," said Capt.

  • Mission success depends on refuelers

    The B-1 Lancers that drop bombs on targets cannot get to those targets without the support of the KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-10 Extenders that refuel them en route. The general premise of the missions seems simple: refuel the B-1s on the way to and from the area of responsibility. In reality,

  • Airmen ensure blood flows to forward locations

    It is the job of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group's Expeditionary Blood Transshipment System to ensure that lifesaving blood, plasma and cryoprecipitate (the part of the blood that aids in clotting) get from the states to the forward operating bases. "All blood comes through here and that is

  • Laughlin students keep air traffic controllers busy

    Just outside this small border town, with its low-key appearance and down-home lifestyle, Airmen control the Air Force's sixth busiest runway. Airmen of the 47th Operations Support Squadron's air traffic control complex at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, operate in a unique training environment.

  • Allied aircrews train for action

    More than 300 German and American aircrews are expanding their scope of modern coalition warfare during a two-week training exercise that concludes June 30. The exercise is the final stage of training for weapons instructors with the German Air Force Flying Training Center, or GAF-TC, stationed at

  • Testers set sights on joint strike fighter

    Allowing a pilot to turn in any direction but still have access to information on the heads-up display at the front of the cockpit is the aim of testing here. Members of the 412th Test Wing completed a project June 20 to help evaluate a helmet-mounted display system for the F-35 joint strike

  • Air Force announces captain selections

    One hundred and thirty-two first lieutenants have been selected for promotion to captain in the chaplain and judge advocate specialties, as well as the nurse, medical science and biomedical science corps. The calendar year 2006 captain selection process considered 132 officers, making it a 100

  • Theater leaders discuss different methods of war

    Representatives from all the geographic combatant commanders met here June 15 to discuss new ways of affecting change on an adversary involving less force than standard operations, and, in some cases, little or no force at all. U.S. Pacific Command’s Standing Joint Force Headquarters served as host

  • Squadron monitors sky over Afghanistan

    If it’s flying over Afghanistan, Airman 1st Class Kyle Neill will be the first one to notice it. That is, as long as he is on shift as a surveillance technician with the 73rd Expeditionary Air Control Squadron here. Airman Neill's job is to manage data as part of a two-person team in an operations

  • Northern Edge 2006 takes joint operations to next level

    Exercise Northern Edge 2006, Alaska's largest joint training exercise, concluded June 16.Nearly 5,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen worked together against a simulated enemy for two weeks, destroying targets on land and in the sea, gaining control of the Alaskan sky and performing

  • Medical care in the air

    It was only a 30-minute flight from Bagram to Salerno, Afghanistan, and the C-130 Hercules carried four pallets and two passengers. When it returned, that 30-minute flight proved to be just one leg of a longer aeromedical evacuation mission that would eventually take two wounded Soldiers to

  • Exercise highlights Raptor synergy, joint capabilities

    The final mission flies today at Northern Edge 2006, but the majority of the results are already in, and success is the buzzword from Alaska. During the two-week joint service exercise, several scenarios have proven that the interoperability and integration between American assets are stronger than

  • Red Horse keeps planes landing at Kandahar

    Runways are essential to any air operation and many of the airfields in Afghanistan, used in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, need improvements. The runway here is being refurbished by cutting it in half length-wise, with crews repairing one side while aircraft land and take off on the other.

  • Air Force announces integration, information award winners

    The winners of the Air Force’s annual Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer Awards for 2005 have been announced. “Each year, the quality of the nominations we receive shows we have troops at every level of command who continue to excel in conducting warfighter missions around the