HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Airmen provide medical, dental care in Thailand

    Members from medical groups all over the Pacific Air Forces teamed up with Thai and Singaporean dental and optometry teams to dedicate their time and skills setting up a make-shift clinic at the Barr Lum Nong Kaew, a village grade school here.  "We're treating those who are in need and might not

  • Airmen help aircrews return if all goes awry

    When Staff Sgt. Eric Zwoll presents his briefing, aircrew members preparing for a mission listen carefully because they know if a mission goes awry then their lives will depend on his every word. Sergeant Zwoll is one of a handful of survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists here who

  • National Guard Airmen augment Misawa maintenance

    Thirty-one Air National Guard Airmen volunteered to leave the United States in late February to help members of the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here recover and maintain F-16 Fighting Falcons returning from Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Members of the 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, who returned

  • 'Today's Air Force' features joint warfighting

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the importance of joint warfighting and the building of a joint force. Also featured is Operation Arctic Care 2009 which takes place in Alaska and brings much needed medical care for local villagers. The Air Force's newest fighter, the F-22 Raptor, is

  • Stimulus package to aid Airmen

    Improvements in dormitories, child development centers and energy conservation plans will come to fruition as the Air Force receives about $1.7 billion in Defense-related appropriations through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, military finance officials said. "The Air Force fully supports

  • Pay incentives help military avoid nursing shortage

    Army, Navy and Air Force nurse corps members are highly trained, capable and critical to the wartime mission of each service, the corps' leaders told a congressional committee this week here. The Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee heard testimony March 18 from the services'

  • Manas KC-135s revolutionize combat operations

    The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing's fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers here delivers more than fuel to the fight in Afghanistan these days as it is revolutionizing the way war is fought by serving as a data network relay high above the battlefield. At first glance, the cluster of cases mounted in the back

  • Navy-led Arctic Care team returns to Western Alaska

    Personnel here were part of a team that participated in a joint Air Force, Army and Navy medical and dental exercise in 11 of Western Alaska's most remote villages March 6 through 15.The purpose of  the exercise, the 15th annual Operation Arctic Care, was to enable medical personnel to operate in a

  • Patriot 7 course combines ISR with mission

    Troops on the frontlines are armed with pistols, rifles and grenades, but their most potent weapons might actually be flying overhead. A course called Patriot 7 trains people to use intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance tools at the tactical level to be successful at their mission.

  • Osan exercise optimizes communication between forces

    More than 2,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors participating jointly with South Korean air force members in Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle in mid-March here have learned the key to success is communication.Despite some language barriers, the key players smoothly conduct the air and space

  • B-2 aircrew participates in exercise in Pacific

    Airmen aboard a B-2 Spirit tested their endurance in a 24-hour, 8,000-mile mission to Alaska and back to Guam March 12 in an exercise showcasing U.S. commitment to peace and stability throughout the Pacific region. Four B-2s and 270 Airmen from the 13th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron are deployed to

  • Explosive ordnance disposal chosen Air Force Team of Year

    Officials from the Air Force and the Air Force Association named explosive ordnance disposal as the 2009 Team of the Year March 20 here. Each year, the AFA, working with major command-level command chief master sergeants and the Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, selects a

  • Top doctor: Medical infrastructure affects readiness

    The more than 1,000 major facilities that make up the Defense Department's medical infrastructure are key strategic national assets, the department's top medical official told Congress March 18 here. Dr. S. Ward Casscells, the assistant Defense secretary for health affairs, told the House Armed

  • Verifying records, personal information vital to career

    Successful career progression for Airmen requires hard work, planning and dedication, but even more importantly, an accurate personnel record. Of all the actions Airmen can take to affect their chances for promotion and professional development, the most important is ensuring their personal

  • Gates recommends new terms, positions for senior officers

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates March 18 announced his recommendations that President Barack Obama re-nominate Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a second two-year term. Secretary Gates also

  • Luke Airmen advise Moroccan air force on F-16 operations

    Members of the Royal Moroccan air force traveled 6,000 miles to speak with Luke Air Force Base Airmen and tour the installation for an insider's perspective on how an F-16 Fighting Falcon base operates in mid-March. Royal Moroccan air force officials are in the process of building an F-16 base in

  • Crew navigates tanker out of trouble

    "Any aircraft, any station, this is Shell 73. Emergency. We've lost complete navigational capability. Request assistance." This was the mayday call from Capt. Matthew Jaeger as he and the crew of Shell 73, a KC-135 Stratotanker from Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, flew somewhere over the border of

  • AF Raven B operators maintain 'eyes-on' for ground forces

    "There it is," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Tomkiewicz, 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, as he pointed at a little, buzzing white dot in the sky. As the Raven B operator approached the small strip of sand of Camp Bucca's Burge Field, the tiny Raven B unmanned aircraft system hovered above the

  • Japan, U.S. forces come together to Guard, Protect

    U.S. and Japanese forces practiced defending the Misawa Air Base during Exercise Guard and Protect Exercise March 11 through 13 here. The annual exercise was expanded to last for 24 hours and included a fully integrated Base Defense Operations Center. A company-sized group of soldiers from the Japan

  • Airmen reflect on 6th anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom

    Airmen in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here took a moment to reflect on previous deployments here and the progress that's been made since 2003 to mark the six-year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 19. Some take note of the physical changes in the base, the hardened facilities and the

  • AF personnel leaders focus on Airmen, modernization

    As mission requirements continue to grow, Air Force personnel leaders said before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee in Washington March 17 that the service will refine priorities to win today's fight and prepare for tomorrow's challenges. The Honorable Craig Duehring, assistant Secretary

  • U.S., Japan forces conduct bilateral training

    Japan Air Self Defense Force pilots are practicing defensive missions with U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors in bilateral fighter pilot training March 16 through 19 over Kadena Air Base.American Airmen regularly conduct joint, combined and bilateral training from the base to defend Japan to maintain peace

  • Airmen represent U.S. military at airshow 'down under'

    About 100 Airmen from across the Air Force recently flew "down under" to represent the U.S. military and demonstrate aircraft capabilities at the 2009 Australian International Airshow March 13 through 15 at Avalon Airport. Airmen from Air Combat Command, Air Mobility Command, Air Force Reserve

  • DOD officials release sexual assault statistics

    Defense Department officials here released March 17 a congressional report that examines sexual assault allegations in the military services and sets policies for reducing incidents. Key components of the annual analysis include a finding that indicates a rise in the number of incidents reported in

  • New Kandahar unit prepares for troop increase

    Kandahar Airfield officials activated the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron March 15 here as the NATO base prepares for the build-up of forces to support Operation Enduring Freedom.The newest airlift squadron in the Air Force will be flying the C-130J Hercules, and serve under the 451st Air

  • Special assignments considered for Airmen in time of need

    Being the parent of a teenager with a bipolar disorder is often a difficult and emotional journey, said an Airman from Randolph Air Force Base recently. "Like any parent of a child with special needs, there's always a concern that the next location will not have the medical or psychiatric facilities

  • Airman's Roll Call: Air Force Climate Survey

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the results of last year's Air Force Climate Survey. Nearly a quarter of a million Airmen from across the Air Force components voiced their opinions in the Air Force Climate Survey, the largest online survey of Air Force personnel, from Oct. 1 to Dec.

  • Chief Airey memorial service celebrates life of AF hero

    During his life, he was a dedicated member of the profession of arms and fervent military supporter who became one of the most iconic figures of Air Force enlisted heritage and culture -- he was Paul Wesley Airey, the first Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force. His death was announced March 11 to a

  • Officials create Air Force Information Protection Directorate

    As security forces Airmen continue to transform into a combat-focused, globally deployable force, they will transfer responsibility for information protection to a newly established organization, the Information Protection Directorate at Headquarters Air Force. The directorate emerged from Air Force

  • Buddy Wing brings Kunsan, South Korean airmen closer

    United States and South Korean airmen took part in a series of aerial exercises designed to increase understanding and interoperability between the two forces March 9 through 12 here. The Buddy Wing Exercise and exchange program gave 8th Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots and South Korean air

  • AFSO 21 helps ease finance program headache

    A team of experts came together this week to use the Vandenberg Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, program to overcome obstacles in the Management Internal Control Program. The MICP came into effect during the President Reagan era and is intended to be a control on how the

  • Rescue Airmen support shuttle launch

    Airmen from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., supported the successful launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery March 16 from Kennedy Space Center. Pararescuemen, along with crewmembers on HH-60G Pave Hawks of the 920th Rescue Wing were stationed on or around Kennedy Space Center for the 7:43 p.m.

  • Science, engineering jobs available to transitioning Airmen

    Air Force science and technology civil service career fields are in need of trained and educated applicants, which is ideal for veterans interested in post-military careers.Science, technology, engineering and math, called STEM, initiatives are availabe to train and educate transitioning Airmen, or

  • Air Force officials release F-15 accident report

    A sequence of flight analysis and assessment errors by the pilot led to an F-15 Eagle overrunning the runway and all paved surfaces Nov. 13 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Air Education and Training Command officials announced March 17 here. The accident resulted in $1.25 million damage to the

  • Elmendorf officials mourn loss of Airman

    Elmendorf Air Force Base officials will hold a memorial service this week to honor an NCO killed at 12:30 a.m. March 15 supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Eastern Afghanistan.Staff Sgt. Timothy Bowles, 24, was killed when his vehicle was destroyed by an improvised explosive device while on a

  • Prototype PT uniforms undergo wear tests

    A prototype physical training uniform for the Air Force is undergoing wear testing here, the Pentagon and MacDill AFB, Fla. The new design was introduced last month at the three sites for 185 males and females of various sizes, ethnic backgrounds, officers--including 42 general officers, and

  • Special operations officials seek best, brightest pilots

    Wanted: Individuals able to think on their feet, adapt quickly when needed, have a love for flying, and want to get in the fight now. That was the message to members of the 80th Flying Training Wing's Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program March 6 here from Maj. Gen. Kurt A. Cichowski, the Air

  • Virtual weapons provide real training for security forces

    Security forces personnel here are aiming to use "virtual bullets" to help Airmen hit the target on the first shot. The "bullets" are actually beams of light fired from a weapon that is identical in almost every way to those used in the field. The weapons -- rifles, pistols or light machine guns --

  • AFPC officials establish diversity council

    Air Force Personnel Center officials drafted a charter and established working groups for its diversity council, the center's most recent endeavor to advance diversity initiatives Feb. 26. One of the first of its kind in the Air Force and comprised of military and civilians, the council will serve

  • European Command commander discusses USAFE role

    Partnering with allies to strengthen capabilities and interoperability is the future of U.S. European Command, of which airpower is a major factor. Army Gen. John Craddock, U.S. European Command commander, visited Ramstein Air Base March 16 and spoke about the way ahead for the command, and how

  • Former Thunderbirds pilot 'an inspiration' for young girls

    Perched on a balcony overseeing an assortment of aircraft static displays, a young girl asked Maj. Nicole Malachowski, "Is it hard to be a pilot?"The major smiled at the question; it's one she'd answered many times. After all, she was the first female Thunderbirds and before that, an accomplished

  • Hickam Airmen serve Oahu community during Jungle Day

    More than 150 Hickam Air Force Base Airmen gave back to the community by helping at several projects during Jungle Day March 13 throughout Oahu, Hawaii. Airmen from 13th Air Force here supported Jungle Day, which is traditionally observed on Friday the 13th, by volunteering at the River of Life

  • 'Today's Air Force' features importance of joint warfighting

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the importance of joint warfighting and the building of a joint force. Also featured is Operation Arctic Care that takes place in Alaska and brings much needed medical care for villagers in the entire state. There is also a feature on the Air Force's

  • Gen. Schwartz to Airmen: 'We are a family'

    The chief of staff of the Air Force had a message for Airmen during an Airmen's Call here March 11: "We are a family and everyone in this room counts. "This is a big-tent Air Force," Gen. Norton Schwartz said. "In our business, you don't measure your worth by your proximity to the fight," he said.

  • Airman killed in Eastern Afghanistan

    An Airman was killed by an improvised explosive device March 15 in Eastern Afghanistan.The Airman was assigned to the 755th Air Expeditionary Group's Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team in Jalalabad.The name of the Airman is being withheld pending notification of next of kin and release by

  • Multinational consortium celebrates milestone of first C-17

    Twelve nations simultaneously came a step closer to fulfilling their national strategic airlift requirements today as a single C-17 Globemaster III reached a key manufacturing milestone here. Officials associated with the first-of-its kind strategic airlift capability, or SAC, consortium of 10 NATO

  • Mildenhall Airmen assist RAF members redeploy

    When servicemembers return home after a six-month deployment, the fewer things standing between them and their loved ones, the better. Knowing that, Royal Air Force Mildenhall members wasted no time helping about 150 Royal Air Force members returning from Afghanistan get through the necessary return

  • AF Africa commander addresses continental challenges

    The commander of U.S. Air Forces Africa spoke about the increasingly focused role the U.S. is taking to bolster Africa's air capabilities during a March 9 visit to Air University here. "We must invest in the future of Africa," said Maj. Gen. Ronald R. "Ron" Ladnier Jr. The general's comments came on

  • Air Guard engineers prepare for involuntary deployment

    Air National Guard civil engineer squadrons comprising hundreds of construction and repair experts will involuntary deploy overseas in historic numbers and scope during the next two years, senior Air Guard officials said. The mobilizations involve nearly one-eighth of the Air Guard's civil engineer

  • Gen. Petraeus praises medics, corpsmen

    The commander of U.S. Central Command praised the Army medics and Navy corpsmen whose courage on the battlefield protects the lives of fellow servicemembers March 11 here. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus told the 400-person audience at the 3rd Annual Armed Services YMCA Gala here that he was an

  • Battlespace command, control center protects region

    The Air Force's newest Battlespace, Command and Control Center officially opened during a ceremony here Feb. 26 adding new systems and upgraded capabilities for the 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron as well as becoming their permanent new home. The center allows persistent command and control

  • Public affairs chief takes stock of tumultuous year

    Information is a critical element of national power, and public affairs personnel have a role in how the government and military employ that element, the outgoing principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs said March 12 here. "Information is absolutely part of diplomacy and

  • Wilford Hall doctors perform lifesaving procedure on newborn

    A medical team at Wilford Hall Medical Center here recently performed a lifesaving procedure on a newborn infant that is unique to Air Force medicine. Alexander Gardner, son of Natascha Gardner and Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gardner of the 23rd Armored Calvary Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, was born

  • 'Letter to Airmen' discusses balanced approach

    In his current Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force highlights the need to create a balance across the Air Force."A balanced approach means prevailing in today's operations while investing in new capabilities, force structure, skills and technologies to meet tomorrow's needs," Secretary

  • Maxwell expands reach into 'Twitterverse'

    Maxwell Air Force Base officials joined Twitter March 7, becoming the first base in Air Education and Training Command to do so. Twitter is a popular social-networking tool where users send short messages, or "tweets," to other users. "We're always looking for new avenues to tell people the Maxwell

  • Exercise in Thailand shows multilateral partnership

    Approximately 20 military members from Thailand, Singapore and the United States are working together to coordinate the aerial missions throughout the region for Exercise Cope Tiger 2009 March 9 through 20 here.Cope Tiger is a two-week exercise including both flying and humanitarian missions

  • No margin for error at Tinker bomber egress shop

    Members of the 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's bomber egress shop here have just one chance to maintain B-52 Stratofortress and B-1B Lancer egress systems because there are no second chances when it comes to their line of work.Unit members maintain, replace and repair egress systems for the

  • 'Perspective' recognizes women's contributions

    In the latest "Enlisted Perspective, the Air Force's top enlisted Airman reflects on the distinguished heritage of women in the Air Force. From the members who served in the Army Air Corps to Women in the Air Force, or WAF, to today's Airmen who perform with distinction across our great Air Force,

  • AF mourns the loss of first chief master sergeant of the Air Force

    Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Paul Wesley Airey died March 11 in Panama City, Fla. "Chief Airey was an Airman's Airman and one of the true pioneers for our service," said Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff. "He was a warrior, an innovator, and a leader with vision well

  • CSAF signs official charter for Expeditionary Center

    The official charter for the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center was signed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz on March 3 giving the center its "mandate to operate." The charter outlines how the Air Force must provide expeditionary combat support, or ECS, capabilities to combatant

  • Guard members assist car accident victim

    Air National Guard members from the 129th Rescue Wing here displayed their lifesaving skills as they aided a car crash victim March 9 near Suisun, Calif. Two combat rescue officers and four 131st Rescue Squadron pararescuemen were traveling north on Highway 80 to survey a potential new parachute

  • New records viewing system improves access to unit records

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here will release the new Personnel Records Display Application in early April. PRDA is an electronic viewer for the Automated Records Management System, facilitating search, retrieval and management of personnel records in ARMS through a role-based-access

  • Airmen process more than $1 billion worth of equipment

    Joint expeditionary tasking Airmen from 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here fill roles in the Army's 586th Task Force and recently processed more than $1 billion worth of vehicles during their tenure here. The redistribution property assistance team members process vehicles ranging

  • Accountability system helps leaders, families during crises

    Air Force officials here want to ensure the safety of all Airmen and their family members when a natural disaster or large-scale crisis strikes, and a new program being implemented April 1 will help account for personnel. Air Force Personnel Center officials will use the Air Force Personnel

  • Combat controller receives Air Force Cross, Purple Heart

    Tears stood in Sue Rhyner's eyes as she talked about her son, who, in a ceremony March 10 here received the Air Force Cross, the highest military decoration awarded by the service, and a Purple Heart. Staff Sgt. Zachary Rhyner of the 21st Special Tactics Squadron from Pope Air Force Base, N.C.,

  • Iraqi Vice Chief of Staff: Air component top priority

    The Iraqi joint forces vice chief of staff discussed his country's top military priorities during a visit to Air Education and Training Command March 4. Chief among those priorities are the establishment of credible, effective air and naval components, General Nasier Arkan Al-Abadi said. "The Iraqi

  • Engineers save nearly $300 million in engine repairs

    Engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate here saved nearly $300 million by reducing the costs associated with aircraft jet engine maintenance.The Engine Rotor Life Extension program, called ERLE, demonstrated a life-cycle cost avoidance for engine rotor

  • Multinational exercise Cope Tiger 2009 kicks off

    The first flights of Cope Tiger 2009 launched March 9, filling the sky above Thailand with fighter aircraft and signaling the 15th year of partnership between the United States, Thailand and Singapore militaries. Cope Tiger is an annual, multilateral aerial exercise which divides Thai, Singaporean

  • Grand Forks refueling squadron to deactivate

    Grand Forks Air Force Base officials are scheduled to deactivate the 912th Air Refueling Squadron March 20 here as part of the Base Realignment and Closure law of 2005.  The squadron's final KC-135 Stratotanker flight out of Grand Forks AFB is scheduled for March 16. "It has been an honor and

  • F-15E pilots protect ground forces in massive firefight

    Ten Soldiers who earned Silver Stars and an Airman who will receive an Air Force Cross March 10 might not be alive today if it were not for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Airmen providing crucial close-air support during an assault on an insurgent stronghold in Afghanistan's Shok Valley last year. A

  • Training gives medics confidence prior to deployments

    It's utter chaos. A child injured by a roadside bomb is wheeled into surgery. A woman with facial burns is rushed in on a stretcher. A small boy with a severe leg injury hobbles into the room. Who do you treat first? Who can help? What medical supplies are on hand? These are the questions deployed

  • 11 Airmen selected for Air Force wrestling team

    Eleven Airmen have been selected for the All Air Force Wrestling Team after three weeks of training March 6 at Mountain Home Air Force Base. More than 75 Airmen responded to join the team, of which 30 were selected to attend the Air Force wrestling camp here that started in late February

  • Bystanders key to preventing sexual assault

    When it comes to preventing sexual assault, Airmen have a responsibility to look out for their own, the Secretary of the Air Force's policy expert on preventing sexual assault told members of Congress here March 6. Charlene Bradley and other sister service representatives testified before the House

  • 'Today's Air Force' features interview with chief of staff

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the visit to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, by the Air Force chief of staff during which he discussed what the future holds for the Air Force in Afghanistan. Also featured are ways to reduce personal debt and become financially stable through free

  • Joint team surveys 7 OEF, OIF bases in less than 30 days

    Airmen assigned to the 615th Contingency Response Wing here recently completed a nearly 30-day assessment mission in Afghanistan and Iraq. The 10 Airmen were part of a 13-member joint Air Force-Army team, which received their mission tasking from U.S. Transportation Command. The group, known as a

  • LeMay Center realigns doctrine development

    The commander of the Curtis E. LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education said Feb. 19 that the center is taking a vision "first imagined in 1997," when the Air Force Doctrine Center moved from Langley Air Force Base, Va., to Maxwell, and is moving forward to ensure a direct relationship

  • U.S., Afghan forces unite to open fuel depot

    The Afghan assistant defense minister and other senior Afghanistan national army officials inaugurated Afghanistan's most modern Class III fuels depot Feb. 28 at Khuja Rawash in Kabul. Afghan Lt. Gen. Jawhari, chief of acquisition, technology and logistics, led the ceremony that brought the ANA and

  • Guard essential at home and abroad, says chief

    The National Guard is playing an essential role domestically and overseas, Gen. Craig McKinley said here March 6, challenging leaders to do more with the same amount of money. The chief of the National Guard Bureau spoke to about 700 leaders attending the National Guard's 2009 Domestic Operations

  • Job opportunities available for Airmen in recruiting

    The decision to increase the Air Force end strength from 316,000 to 330,000 at the end of 2008 forced Air Force Recruiting Service officials here to ramp up the number of recruiters across the nation, offering more Airmen a chance to enter a uniquely challenging career. "Recruiting offers a direct

  • Kadena Airmen deploy to Thailand for Exercise Cope Tiger

    About 170 Kadena Air Base Airmen are deploying with 12 F-15 Eagles to Thailand to participate in Exercise Cope Tiger 2009 from March 9 through 20. The F-15s from the 44th Fighter Squadron here will fly alongside their Thai air force counterparts as well as the Singaporean air force and other U.S.

  • Korean VIP goes for a ride

    The 8th Fighter Wing commander literally took Gunsan City's Korean National Police chief for a ride here March 4. Colonel J.D. Harris invited Kim Myung Jung to the base to familiarize him with the wing mission and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Kunsan's Pilot for a Day program brings local civilians who

  • Airman tracks down parts for Iraqi maintenance depot

    A joint expeditionary tasking Airman with the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group here is a scavenger. Capt. Jeff Allen, a contract officer representative for the depot, is charged with locating the parts the Iraqi army needs to restore their vehicles, whether it be buying it or finding it at a salvage

  • Air Force on target with recruiting, retention

    Air Force leaders' efforts to have the "right number of people in the right jobs" remains a challenge and so far, the Air Force is headed in the right direction, according to Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, the deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel. The general was one of several senior

  • Top agents praise OSI efforts within Afghanistan

    The Air Force's top Office of Special Investigations leaders recently spoke with agents and support personnel serving in Afghanistan during a Feb. 23 through 26 visit to Bagram Airfield. Brig. Gen. Dana Simmons, the Air Force OSI commander, Col. Humberto Morales, the 24th Expeditionary Force

  • Process for validating reserve early-retired pay explained

    Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here are finalizing procedures for validating the receipt of retired pay before Citizen Airmen, both guardsmen and reservists, turn 60 years old.Since Jan. 28, 2008, Guard and Reserve Airmen can reduce the age they receive retirement pay by three months for

  • Players, spectator save life of fallen Airman

    Five minutes into an intramural basketball game, two base teams were locked in a battle for victory but then had to shift focus to battle to save a fallen player's life at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 18 here. A player fell head first to the floor at the Pope Fitness Center's basketball court, but two players

  • Prescription crosscheck program helps Tricare beneficiaries

    The Tricare military health plan is ensuring patient safety for its 9.2 million beneficiaries through a revolutionary drug utilization program, a senior Tricare official said last week. "We cover about 2.2 million prescription medication claims per week -- that's about 120 million prescriptions per

  • Air Force Climate Survey yields insights

    More than 90 percent of Airmen responding to a recent survey indicated that they are happy with their Air Force jobs and the performance of their organizations. These findings are according to a study that measures Airmen's attitudes toward their work environment and unit. "I am extremely pleased to

  • Post commemorates 99th anniversary of first military flight

    A vintage Stearman PT-17 and a Fairchild PTY-26 flew at approximately 11 a.m. March 2 under a clear blue sky over the grounds of Fort Sam Houston commemorating the 99th anniversary of the first military flight made by then 1st Lt. Benjamin Foulois. Sponsored by the Stinsons Flight No. 2, Order of

  • Guard aviators gear up for Afghanistan deployment

    Four New York Army National Guard aviators got a taste of high-altitude flying in Afghanistan on Feb. 25 without leaving the United States. The Afghan-bound members of Detachment 20, Operational Support Airlift, went through high-altitude training at an Air Force oxygen chamber here. The Soldiers

  • Chapel team goes outside wire for duty

    The chaplain and his assistant for the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group here serve Airmen who perform their duties in combat zones outside the wire, so they do to.Chaplain (Capt.) David Haltom and Staff Sgt. Porscha Howard, the chapel team for the 732nd AEG, provide chapel support to joint

  • Army, Air Force partner to improve facilities for Iraqi military

    Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers members joined forces to improve the training facilities for Iraq's air force cadets here. The $1.96 million rehabilitation project at the Iraq Military Academy Rustamiyah included five major components that will greatly enhance the learning and living

  • National Guard chief visits troops in war zone

    The National Guard's first four-star general visited citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen serving throughout Southwest Asia in dozens of formal briefings, town hall meetings and tours at the end of February and early March.General Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited the Guard

  • Retirees can give to Air Force Assistance Fund

    Even if retired, Airmen still can give to the Air Force Assistance Fund. This year's annual campaign, the 36th, began Feb. 9 and runs through May 1; however, installation commanders will decide on a specific six-week period for their base's campaign. Retirees can contribute through a one-time gift

  • Servicemembers provide medical care to 120 Afghans

    American servicemembers of the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction team conducted a medical assistance mission and cared for more than 120 Afghans at the Hope of Mother School and Clinic in Surkh Rod District Feb. 24 in Afghanistan. In approximately three hours, the team's medics and an Afghan

  • ESC uses new acquisition steps to advance critical program

    An Electronic Systems Center team has completed one of the Air Force's first Materiel Development Decisions using the new DOD Instruction 5000.02, Operation of the Defense Acquisition System, acquisition procedures approved in December. The team, composed of people in the 653rd Electronic Systems

  • AFSPC commander speaks on changing nature of warfare

    General C. Robert Kehler, the commander of Air Force Space Command, spoke at the Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando Feb. 24 about the future of conflict. "We're very excited about what is happening in our command," he said, referring to the decision to make Air Force Space Command the lead for (Air

  • Successful Deep Freeze season comes to an end

    Another season of Department of Defense support to the U.S. Antarctic Program and National Science Foundation activities in Antarctica came to an end Feb. 28. The 2008-2009 season of Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. military's operational and logistical support of the NSF's scientific research

  • Misawa officials welcome home 300 deployed Airmen

    The Misawa Air Base community welcomed home about 300 Airmen who had been deployed supporting expeditionary operations Feb. 27 through March 1 here. Families gathered on the flightline to greet their loved ones who have been gone for five to six months at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in support of the

  • Army, Air Guard at full strength, directors tell Congress

    The Army National Guard is over strength and the Air National Guard has met its end strength for the first time since 2002, the directors told Congress March 3 here. "This is a new era for us," said Army Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, the director of the Army National Guard. "We've never been in this