NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Targeting pods bolster F-16 training

    The 149th Fighter Wing received something Jan. 14 that will literally put its current class of F-16 fighter pilots right on target with their training.The unit will be the first in the Air Force to graduate pilots from the F-16 Fighting Falcon basic course with targeting-pod training. The enhanced

  • Exercise tests shuttle rescue capabilities

    Lajes Field's capabilities to save a downed space shuttle crew will be put to the test during a daylong exercise here Jan. 30.The exercise involves American and Portuguese forces and a Defense Department agency for space flight.The combined event joins 65th Air Base Wing and Portuguese Air Base 4

  • Tallil NCO makes history

    With history occurring here every day, there needs to be someone to make sure it is never lost. The person who makes sure that happens is Tech. Sgt. Yancy Mailes, 332nd Expeditionary Air Wing historian, deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.“I collect the raw documentation that allows

  • Wife helps identify drug problem

    “No matter what kind of person you are, drugs will ruin you,” said an obviously uneasy, 21-year-old Airman Basic Michael Dancer as he nervously turned the wedding band on his finger.Wearing a blue correctional custody jump suit, Airman Michael spoke from experience. Though he was not caught driving

  • Changes in law environmental friendly

    Portions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2004 make it easier for the Air Force to execute its mission while protecting the environment at the same time.The act includes language allowing the National Fish and Wildlife Service to legally consider measures that may already be in

  • Camera phones pose risk to security

    Carrying the latest "have-to-have" electronic gadget may mean big trouble for the person who brings it into unauthorized locations.Officials from the National Security Agency said in an advisory that new cellular phones with integral digital cameras pose an unacceptable security risk to homeland

  • Tricare Standard allows civilian care

    People covered by the Tricare Standard military health care plan no longer need approval from their military treatment facility to seek inpatient care at civilian hospitals.The need to get a nonavailability statement before seeking civilian inpatient care expired Dec. 28 under a provision of the

  • AF creates personnel system team

    The Air Force has formed a team to implement the Defense Department’s most dramatic civilian personnel system transformation in the last 50 years.The National Security Personnel System gives DOD managers the flexibility to place civilian workers where they are needed most, without delay. It reduces

  • Battlefield calls go through MacDill

    American military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan reach for their satellite phones when they want clear, secure and fast communications. More often than not, the operator who patches through their calls is sitting in a building here.People at the one-stop-shop Regional Satcom Support Center here

  • Air Force artist shows work

    At work, Master Sgt. Jeffery Kunkle is the quality assurance inspector for the 725th Air Mobility Squadron here. To friends and family, he is an aspiring artist. Sergeant Kunkle has been drawing since he was 8 years old, and recently showed his work at Peña Chuscho, a local art gallery located in

  • Airman at State of Union address

    Staff Sgt. Clinton Smith, of the 11th Security Forces Squadron at the Pentagon, was pleased and surprised with the additional temporary duties he assumed Jan. 20.Two months ago, Sergeant Smith was serving his country by performing security-forces duties while deployed in Iraq. On Jan. 20, he was

  • Dental techs to train as hygienists

    The Air Force has teamed up with Trident Technical College in Charleston to send dental technicians to an Air Force-sponsored dental hygiene training scholarship program.Tech. Sgt. Alycia Miller from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and Staff Sgt. Noreena Svoboda from McChord AFB, Wash., are the

  • AF wife takes deep breath after transplant

    Theresa Merkal was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at age 2. Like 30,000 other Americans with CF, she struggles to live with the most common fatal hereditary disease among Caucasians, according to the American Lung Association. Cystic fibrosis is the result of a defective gene that causes the body

  • Center helping deployed airmen

    Deployed personnel specialists now have around-the-clock assistance in performing personnel actions for deployed airmen that previously may have taken days to complete. The Air Force Contact Center will now provide one-stop customer support for deployed operations, said Lt. Col. Jacqueline Harry,

  • Program offers ‘Vigilant Look’ at AFSPC

    While the Air Force encourages its personnel to "cross further into the blue" through its new force-development philosophy, Air Force Space Command officials have been using a unique application of that philosophy -- the Vigilant Look program.Nearly four years old, Vigilant Look encapsulates the

  • Civil engineers receive honors

    Three civilian professional associations joined the Air Force in honoring civil engineers Jan 13.Each year, the Society of American Military Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives, partner with the Air

  • Reserve command seeks recruiters

    Air Force Reserve Command officials are looking for exceptional airmen and noncommissioned officers to become Reserve recruiters."We have a number of openings for recruiters throughout the country," said Capt. Chuck Pittman, chief of the Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service operations branch at AFRC

  • Assignment listing available Feb. 3

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for overseas assignments for the October-to-December cycle will be available Feb. 3.Individuals need to contact their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Feb. 19, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here. Airmen will be

  • Five servicemembers laid to rest

    Five veterans of the war on terror were laid to rest Jan. 21 in Arlington National Cemetery.The five military members -- four from the Air Force and one from the Army -- were aboard an MH-53M Pave Low helicopter when it crashed in Afghanistan Nov. 23 while supporting Operation Mountain Resolve, part

  • Now showing: Jan. 19 edition of AFTV News

    The last of four special editions of Air Force Television News focuses on Air Force people and some of the outstanding contributions they have made to the service’s mission and to their communities during 2003.In the first segment, Staff Sgt. Joe Wallace discovers what life is like for an airman who

  • Thunderbirds accident report released

    Pilot error caused a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds F-16 aircraft to crash shortly after takeoff at an airshow Sept. 14 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The pilot ejected just before the aircraft hit the ground.According to the accident investigation board report released Jan. 21, the pilot

  • Small base has big mission

    At first glance, the little-known airfield in Karshi-Khanabad, often called K-2, appears to be nothing more than a sleepy, little whistle-stop for aircraft supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.For airmen assigned to the 416th Air Expeditionary Group here, and the aircrews they support, the base and

  • Chaplains go where needed

    The Geneva Convention of 1949 gave military chaplains their status as noncombatants, which, among other things, means they are not allowed to carry weapons.Given that fact, it would seem rational for chaplains to stay behind their desks or pulpits out of harms way; however, that is not where you are

  • Tactical controllers stand strong

    For Air Force tactical air control party airmen, "The strong will stand, the weak will fall by the wayside," is more than just a motto; it serves as a battle cry.Wherever American military forces are found, TACP airmen are usually nearby. Unofficially nicknamed the "Air Force infantry" because they

  • Service demographics available

    Air Force Personnel Center officials recently published the quarterly demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force as of Dec. 31.The report outlines information regarding the Air Force’s 372,305 active-duty airmen and 139,083 civilian employees, such as

  • Back pain becomes Childs’ play

    Capt. John Childs, a physical therapist, is literally taking on a pain in the backside. By studying how patients respond to certain treatments, Captain Childs is aiming to reduce lower back pain, a condition that afflicts millions of Americans.Captain Childs, an Air Force Institute of Technology

  • Cargo, pax all in a day’s work

    Air Force and coalition forces are working together to keep cargo and passengers moving through the aerial port here.Airmen from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and Lackland AFB, Texas, have teamed with members of the Estonian military to move more than 4,000 passengers and 880 tons of cargo on

  • Transient alert keeps airflow moving

    Unlike the old saying which goes, “jack of all trades, master of none,” the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing’s transient alert team here are "airmen of all aircraft, masters of most."The team is primarily responsible for meeting the fuel, cargo and maintenance needs of military and commercial passenger

  • AAFES helping deployed troops

    Since setting up a mobile store at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, in April, the Army and Air Force Exchange Service continues providing "a little bit of home" to deployed troops.There are 30 exchanges in Iraq and 52 throughout operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, said Judd Anstey, AAFES public

  • Defense institute gets new home

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

  • Veteran hiring increases

    Hiring of military veterans across the federal civilian work force increased in fiscal 2002, the government's director of personnel said recently.In fact, hiring of veterans in the federal work force was up more than 19 percent over the previous fiscal year, said Kay Coles James, U.S. Office of

  • New GPS satellite operational

    Global Positioning System satellite IIR-10, which launched from here Dec. 21, is now fully operational."It is officially 'turned on' for the warfighter as of Jan. 12," said Capt. Thomas R. Ste. Marie, an Air Force launch controller with the 1st Space Launch Squadron here. "IIR-10 will appear on GPS

  • Air Force translator arraigned

    The opening session in the court-martial case involving Senior Airman Ahmad A. Al Halabi convened here Jan. 13. The accused is charged with Uniform Code of Military Justice violations including failure to obey a lawful general order, making false official statements and attempted espionage. The

  • Development changes affect chiefs

    The Air Force is transforming the way it manages and develops chief master sergeants as part of a servicewide change in professional development.“For more than a year now … we have begun major cultural changes in the Air Force, a new vision -- how to best develop our force for the future” said Brig.

  • AF committing 2,000 airmen to war

    Airmen vulnerable to deploy as part of the Silver Air and Space Expeditionary Force but not originally asked to go, could end up going after all. In a message sent to the major commands in late December, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said continuing efforts in the war on terrorism

  • Prescribed fire destroys 30 acres at MacDill

    A raging fire decimated 30 acres of forest in 12 hours here Jan. 7. The good news is that was the whole idea.Since Tampa Bay is the lightning capital of the world, the prescribed burn dramatically cut the chance of a wildfire. Lightning strikes could naturally set off a fire that would be

  • D.C. Guardsmen have worldwide mission

    It would be hard to pick out pilots David Morales or John Moring III in a crowd most days when they are flying for the District of Columbia Air National Guard. And that is just the way they like it. They wear civilian shirts, ties and slacks, so they will not draw attention to themselves as U.S.

  • Forces winning Iraqi ‘hearts, minds’

    While overwhelming force brought a quick end to major combat operations in Iraq, it is the coalition’s ability to win over its people that will ultimately lead to a free Iraq, said U.S. Central Command’s deputy commander.During a quick visit here Jan. 12, the first of three in a daylong tour of

  • Captain donates marrow to save life

    When Capt. Brent Davis agreed to help drum up support for a bone marrow donor drive, he had no idea that 18 months and 1.5 liters of bone marrow later his actions may have saved a young man’s life.The journey began when a fellow officer contacted Captain Davis, 910th Airlift Wing public affairs

  • Development teams up, running

    Every officer career field now has development teams set up to “vector” officer career development. "They're up and running," said Col. Kathleen Grabowski, chief of assignment policy at the Air Force Personnel Center here. "They're applying a great deal of collective officer career experience to

  • Four airmen vie for GEICO awards

    Four Air Force noncommissioned officers have been chosen to represent the Air Force and vie for the 2003 Government Employee Insurance Company Military Service Awards.The NCOs' records will compete against other members of the armed forces in three categories. Staff Sgt. Mashawn Black and Senior

  • Medical priority for disabled vets

    Veterans Affairs officials want to send veterans with service-connected medical problems to the front of the line when it comes to receiving medical treatment at VA facilities.Anthony J. Principi, VA secretary, issued a new directive to all VA medical facilities requiring that "priority access" be

  • Airmen ensure runway safety

    Aircraft come, and aircraft go. Whether it is for training or a real-world mission, it is an everyday part of Air Force life.Without certain people to accomplish certain missions, the aircraft will not come, and the aircraft will not go. Maintainers, air traffic controllers, flight engineers,

  • ART leave no longer authorized

    Volunteerism by Air Force Reserve Command's full-time military technicians may drop as result of a new interpretation of law. Air reserve technicians can no longer use 44 days of military leave while serving on active duty outside the continental United States, said officials in the office of the

  • C-5 lands safely after emergency

    A C-5 Galaxy leaving Baghdad International Airport declared an in-flight emergency Jan. 8, at 6:20 a.m. Baghdad time, because of an explosion in the No. 4 engine.The crew immediately returned the aircraft to the airport and landed safely. The 11 crewmembers and 52 military personnel on board were

  • 'Fellows' get front-row view of government

    At a time when citizen airmen are being activated and deployed, making personal sacrifices and being placed in harms way, it is important the government they defend understands the issues facing them.To ensure they are represented in Congress, Air Force reservists participate in the Air Force

  • DOD resumes anthrax shots

    A federal judge ruled Jan. 7 that the Defense Department could again legally administer anthrax immunizations to servicemembers.Military commanders "should immediately resume the anthrax vaccination program," wrote Dr. David S.C. Chu, DOD personnel chief, in a department-wide memorandum. The

  • Airman fulfills 'the American dream'

    She is of Bulgarian descent, her last name is Irish and she picked up English as her fifth language.Although Senior Airman Deliana Kelly, of the 376th Mission Support Group, has lived in the United States for less than five years, she feels she is the living, breathing embodiment of “the American

  • Plant could get airmen in legal hot water

    A hallucinogenic plant, lawful to possess and use, is being reviewed as a controlled substance that could land airmen in legal hot water.The plant, Salvia divinorum is a perennial herb related to sage and a botanical cousin to an ornamental favored by gardeners, said Ven Sovo, of Tinker's Joint Drug

  • 2005 BRAC process begins

    Base commanders in the United States and its territories and possessions have been asked to gather data on their installations in preparation for the 2005 round of base realignments and closures, Defense Department officials said here Jan. 6. The fiscal 2002 National Defense Authorization Act

  • Voluntary NCO retraining begins

    The Air Force needs 1,100 noncommissioned officers in surplus career fields to voluntarily retrain into shortage career fields to balance the enlisted force in 2004.The voluntary phase of the fiscal 2004 NCO Retraining Program began Jan. 5 and ends Feb. 23. The program helps balance the enlisted

  • AFRL computer guides Mars rovers

    Radiation-resistant computers Air Force Research Laboratory experts here developed helped steer one of NASA's Mars exploration rovers to a safe landing on the red planet Jan. 4.The AFRL's Rad6000 32-bit microprocessors, manufactured for the Air Force by BAE systems, controlled the spacecraft during

  • New law protects servicemembers

    A new law replacing the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 provides servicemembers greater protections to handle personal financial and legal obligations, officials said.President Bush signed the Service Members' Civil Relief Act into law Dec. 19."The focus of the (new act) is the same

  • SVS helps airmen stay fit, fed, entertained

    Adopting the slogan “Not without us,” airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Services Squadron routinely take on the daily challenge of keeping the people assigned here fed, fit and entertained. “You can’t sustain a long-term forward presence and world-class combat capability … without bringing services

  • Rumsfeld outlines DOD priorities

    The war on terrorism will remain the Defense Department's top priority in the new year, as officials continue to focus on improving and modernizing its programs, systems and forces to make them more responsive to 21st century requirements.Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the department

  • Balad medics aid villagers

    She could not walk or sit. The 5-year-old girl was the size of a child two years younger. In the United States she would have had surgery in infancy and would have likely grown and developed normally. That is in the United States. In Iraq, millions of Iraqis have gone without proper medical care

  • Some tax statements now online

    Tax statements are now posted on myPay for Army, Navy and Air Force Reserve, Department of Defense and Department of Energy civilian employees, military annuitants and military retirees.The W-2 and 1099 statements are available for these groups to view and print, allowing them to submit their tax

  • Second language just what doctor ordered

    Imagine how frightening it must be to lie in a hospital bed and not be able to understand the people taking care of you. Now imagine how frustrating it would be if you are the doctor or nurse trying to care for a patient who cannot tell you where they hurt. A call went out Jan. 3 for anyone who

  • Now showing: Jan. 5 edition of AFTV News

    The celebrated history of the Air Force’s precision aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, is the subject of the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Produced and anchored by Staff Sgt. Marty Rush, the program is the third in a series of four special editions during the holiday

  • Loans temporarily help reservists

    Overseas deployments can be tough on families. Naturally, the initial focus falls upon the emotional cost of separation. But, for guardsmen and reservists who own small businesses, the cost involved in a deployment takes on a whole new meaning.For the past two years, the U.S. Small Business

  • Airmen provide humanitarian relief

    An adolescent Afghan girl watched protectively over a group of small children as they looked for winter clothing amidst a pile of boxes containing humanitarian relief supplies. As crowds of people from neighboring villages pressed their way forward, the girl stood her ground and pushed people back

  • Operation Hero Miles expands

    Alice Rodgers, a single mother, paid more than $1,000 for round-trip tickets from Tipton, Iowa, so she and her daughter, Lindsey, could visit her son. He is recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here from wounds he suffered in an ambush in Iraq.However, when Rodgers returns for her next

  • Airman country, faith ambassador

    In the military, servicemembers pull double duty as worker bees in their daily jobs and, on a more far-reaching level, U.S. ambassadors in their communities and around the world. One noncommissioned officer here pulls triple duty. He is also an ambassador for his religion -- Islam. Tech. Sgt.

  • Visual information flashes light on mission

    Thousands of unsung heroes are contributing to the rebuilding of Iraq, and a team of military visual information specialists at Baghdad International Airport are letting the American public see more of these dedicated airmen.“Primarily, we support the 447th Air Expeditionary Group by documenting

  • Officials may improve commissary benefits

    Finding ways to improve commissary benefits tops the Defense Department's list of things to do to enhance quality of life for servicemembers and their families.But when DOD officials announced they were studying the "variable pricing" concept being used by private-sector grocery stores and

  • ‘SmackDown’ in Iraq airs Dec. 25

    A holiday special edition of World Wrestling Entertainment’s “SmackDown” will air Dec. 25 on UPN and American Forces Network television.The show was filmed at the Army’s Camp Victory near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq.It features some of today’s biggest names in professional wrestling like

  • Officials examine anthrax court decision

    The Defense Department will stop anthrax vaccinations until the legal situation around a recent court decision is resolved, Department of Defense officials said. Defense officials and lawyers with the Justice Department are examining a decision handed down by a federal judge in Washington on Dec. 22

  • Reservist riding in Rose Bowl parade

    An Air Force Reserve officer will join marching bands, equestrian teams and colorful floats traveling down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Calif., at the 115th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 1.Maj. Tami Rougeau, along with her family and civilian employer, will receive an

  • CMSAF sends holiday message

    The following is a holiday message from Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray:“To our airmen stationed at home and abroad, and their families -- Sherry and I send our warmest wishes to you this holiday season. It is an honor for us to serve in our U.S. Air Force with each of you.“The

  • UK now requires entry clearance

    New immigration regulations enacted by the United Kingdom require people visiting for more than six months to obtain entry clearance before travel.These new rules apply to military family members, as well as civilian personnel, contractors and their families. Active-duty military members on orders

  • Contractors bring relief to radar maintainers

    Supporting flying operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has thinned manning at bases worldwide in many already critically manned career fields. One of which is the radar maintenance career field. Central Air Force officials have brought some relief to the career field by contracting maintenance at

  • Blood donors needed during holiday

    Armed Services Blood Program officials are urging eligible donors to give blood this holiday season to ensure supplies are available to treat servicemembers, retirees and their families.The blood program organization collects, processes and distributes blood and blood products for the Department of

  • New MRE entrees coming soon

    Servicemembers in the field about to grab a Meal, Ready to Eat combat ration might want to choose the Jamaican pork chop, the pasta with alfredo sauce or the beef with mushrooms.These entrees will soon be gone from the MRE inventory, and replaced by new dishes that food technologists at the U.S.

  • Capturing holiday with one shot

    “Just like senior pictures.” More than one airman or soldier made that remark on a recent weekend as they waited their turn to pose for digital Christmas portraits.The picture-perfect gifts were meant for family and friends.A 455th Expeditionary Operations Group aircraft maintenance hangar was

  • Time selects military as Person of the Year

    Three 1st Armored Division soldiers -- Sgt. Ronald Buxton, Spc. Billie Grimes and Sgt. Marquette Whiteside -- graced the cover of Time magazine Dec. 22. They represent "The American Soldier" -- all men and women in uniform -- who have been chosen as Time's 2003 Person of the Year."For uncommon

  • AF leaders visit Bagram airmen

    Air Force senior leaders praised the dedication and sacrifice of airmen here during a visit Dec. 19.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray were welcomed to Afghanistan by 455th Expeditionary Operations Group airmen who are supporting

  • Two missing airmen identified

    Two airmen missing in action from the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to their families for burial. They are Maj. Richard W. Cooper Jr., of Salisbury, Md.; and Chief Master Sgt. Charlie S. Poole, of Gibsland, La.On Dec. 19, 1972, Cooper and Poole were crewmembers aboard a B-52D

  • Now showing: Dec. 22 edition of AFTV News

    The Dec. 22 edition of Air Force Television News celebrates the centennial of flight, the Air Force contribution to man’s eternal quest to fly and the repository highlighting that quest.Produced and hosted by Tech. Sgt. Bill Scherer, the second of four special editions of Air Force Television News

  • Concurrent receipt pay reality in Jan.

    Military retirees will begin receiving both retired pay and Veterans Affairs disability compensation as the disability offset is phased out.Previously, the offset reduced the amount of the military retiree’s pay by an amount equal to any disability payment received from the VA.Legislation

  • Pilot talks about Enola Gay mission

    “Airspeed and altitude” was the flight strategy that positioned the Enola Gay to deliver the first atomic bomb used as a weapon nearly 60 years ago, said the pilot who planned and flew the mission.Retired Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets spent several days in the nation’s capital attending events leading

  • Pilot talks about Enola Gay mission

    “Airspeed and altitude” was the flight strategy that positioned the Enola Gay to deliver the first atomic bomb used as a weapon nearly 60 years ago, said the pilot who planned and flew the mission.Retired Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets spent several days in the nation’s capital attending events leading

  • Airmen remember Linebacker II

    Thirty-three airmen stood in a somber formation here Dec.18 to mark the 31st anniversary of the Linebacker II missions that led to the end of the Vietnam War. Each airman, who represented a fallen airman, snapped to attention as a name was read from the list of those lost. Thirty-three airmen and

  • Lackland civilian wins DOD award

    Department of Defense officials named the 2003 Outstanding DOD Employee with a Disability Award during a recent ceremony in Bethesda, Md.Raymond Jenks, an instructional systems specialist with the 37th Training Support Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is the winner.“It really feels great

  • B-2 reaches full operational capability

    The B-2 Spirit reached full operational capability status, Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson announced Dec. 17 during a ceremony here. The event was marked by the Spirit of Missouri's re-enactment of its first delivery here 10 years ago."The B-2 Spirit is combat-proven. It's now officially fully

  • SG prioritizes influenza vaccinations

    The Air Force is taking prudent steps to protect the health and safety of all its beneficiaries in light of the early onset of influenza.The nationwide increase of influenza cases and reports of severe complications, including deaths, has led to a higher demand for influenza vaccination than in

  • Roche visits RAF Mildenhall troops

    The secretary of the Air Force visited here Dec. 11 and 12 to say “thanks” to the men and women for their hard work during the past year.During his two-day trip, Dr. James G. Roche toured aircraft and units, received mission briefings and, most importantly, met with the airmen he specifically came

  • Stars tour Iraq for holidays

    Airmen and soldiers crowded the only hangar here Dec. 17 in hopes of capturing a glimpse of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several entertainers who were traveling throughout Iraq.Gen. Richard Myers brought with him Academy Award winning actor and comedian Robin Williams, Olympic gold

  • Cadets get job assignments

    Senior Air Force Academy cadets got an early holiday present this month when they found out which Air Force jobs they will perform after graduation.Fifty-three percent of the senior class -- 530 of 988 -- are bound for undergraduate pilot training. Another 34 cadets will be navigators and seven

  • KC-10 crew flies flag of hope

    A KC-10 Extender crew at a forward-deployed location carried a special message of hope and peace on their flight over Iraq on Dec. 9.As part of the project “Hands on America,” the crew displayed from their boom window an 86-by-76-inch American Flag hand-crafted by Iowa school students. In doing so,

  • Firefighter challenge to air on ESPN

    Air Force and Department of Defense firefighters will get airtime this weekend as ESPN2 broadcasts the 12th annual Firefighter Challenge at 2 p.m. EST on Dec. 21.Twelve military teams participated in the Firefighter Challenge competition, joining almost 200 other fire departments from the United

  • Air Force announces OTS selections

    Air Force officials are giving 84 enlisted airmen the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars by choosing them to attend Officer Training School, officials announced Dec. 16. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 515 applications and selected 157 as part of Officer Training

  • Quarterly assignment listing available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for people returning from overseas May through July will be available Jan. 13.Individuals should contact their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Jan. 30, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here. Airmen will be notified

  • Leaders reflect on 100 years of flight

    The following is a joint message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“It was the most significant 12 seconds of the last 100 years.“On Dec. 17, 1903, two bicycle builders from Ohio, Orville and Wilbur Wright, launched the world on a

  • Group explains re-employment rights

    Bobby Hollingsworth calls it “closing the loop.”He is the executive director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, commonly referred to as ESGR. He is referring to how that organization is taking its message to members of the National Guard and other reservists,

  • Proceedings delayed for translator

    The military judge appointed to preside over the court-martial case involving an Air Force translator has delayed the proceedings. The initial session of Senior Airman Ahmad I. Al Halabi’s court-martial was scheduled for Dec. 15. It has been postponed until Jan. 13 to allow resolution of questions

  • Air Force celebrates Centennial of Flight

    The U.S. Air Force is bringing aviators, aircraft and adventure to the First Flight Centennial Celebration here through Dec. 17.The celebration commemorates the past century of flight and looks to the next generation of aviators to further the Wright brothers' dream."The Centennial of Flight is as

  • Most commissaries not closing

    To soothe anxiety among service members and their families about reports of the Defense Department closing commissaries, a top Department of Defense official emphasized that the department strongly supports commissaries as an important benefit of military service. "The future of the commissary

  • Airmen ongoing an ‘Amazing Race’

    Many organizations here have active group fitness programs. Some airmen head to the fitness center to play volleyball, while others go there and do timed push-ups and sit-ups.Each month, Space and Missile Systems Center Detachment 11 and Electronic Systems Center Detachment 5 airmen come together

  • Armed Forces reach million-moved milestone

    The U.S. military reached a major milestone recently. More than 1 million troops have been moved (deployments and redeployments) supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.According to 2000 census data, this is like moving every man, woman and child in Montana more than 7,000

  • Airmen keep water flowing at Tallil

    When airmen here turn on a water faucet to brush their teeth or take a shower, they may not think about where the water comes from. But it takes six airmen working 12-hour shifts to keep the water flowing here around the clock.The pressure on them to keep water on tap is high because running