NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • ‘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

  • AF suicide prevention recognized

    A landmark University of Rochester study of suicide in the U.S. Air Force concluded that the service’s suicide-prevention program reduced the risk of suicide by 33 percent during the past six years. The research was reported in the Dec. 12 edition of the British Medical Journal. "This is a

  • United Arab Emirates honors Moseley

    The United Arab Emirates conferred the highest military order on Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley during a ceremony at the Dubai Air Show on Dec. 8.Lt. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the deputy crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chief of staff of the United Arab Emirates

  • Officials prohibit war trophies

    Servicemembers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are prohibited from bringing back to the United States any items that were formerly in the possession of the enemy, officials said. With about 140,000 American servicemembers scheduled to rotate out of Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command

  • General addresses supply-chain problems

    When boxes of bubble wrap, filing cabinets and DVDs show up among "Triple Nine" cargo -- a number that designates the Air Force's highest priority shipment that usually is assigned to military units in places like Iraq -- it tells Gen. John W. Handy there is a problem with the military's supply

  • Smithsonian opens new facility

    One of the most popular museums of the Smithsonian Institution here celebrated its expansion with a day honoring military aviation veterans.Military aviators from conflicts as far back as World War II were invited to the "Salute to Military Aviation Veterans" Dec. 9, at the National Air and Space

  • Murray: Air Force faces challenges

    The service's top enlisted leader assured a group of more than 200 people here Dec. 8, that Air Force officials are working hard to overcome challenges in readiness and manning levels."Our family readiness is absolutely a direct component of our military readiness ... our ability to fight and win

  • Cadet named academic all-American

    An academy senior has been named to the 2003 Academic All-American Men’s Soccer Team, a first in the 48-year history of men’s soccer here.Cadet 1st Class Casey Chronister, of Yakima, Wash., is a forward and team co-captain on the soccer team, is a second-team selection and has a 3.85 grade point

  • AFN broadcasts from Baghdad

    U.S. military broadcasters hit the airwaves in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10 with the first manned American Forces Radio and Television Service broadcast from the country.American Forces Network-Iraq, features live shows, news, sports, weather and commentary 24 hours a day in Baghdad. By the end of

  • Officials target military pay increases

    Military personnel will see their basic pay more in line with their civilian counterparts in the private sector in 2004 thanks to an increased pay and benefits compensation package. The package is included in the 2004 Defense Authorization Act approved by Congress.The 2004 military pay and benefits

  • Survivors will receive extra money

    Congress is making death and taxes a little bit less painful by giving extra money to families of deceased airmen.Families of almost 500 airmen who died on active duty since Sept. 10, 2001, are receiving an additional $6,000 beyond the death benefits they originally received. They will also be

  • Council saves major commands money

    Collective buying power helped Air Force Information Technology Commodity Council members save three major commands more than $4 million in computer purchases.Representatives from Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command and the United States Air Forces in Europe now collectively have

  • C-130J squadron created

    The Air Force reactivated the 48th Airlift Squadron here Dec. 5, to establish the first active-duty C-130J Hercules training squadron in the Air Force.The reactivation of the 48th AS, the third flying unit attached to the 314th Airlift Wing here, will train crews in the newest generation of C-130s.

  • Airman convicted of sex crimes

    An airman here was convicted of carnal knowledge, sodomy and disobeying a lawful order. He received 30 months confinement, a bad conduct discharge, demotion to airman basic and forfeited all pay and allowances.Senior Airman Donny R. Stafford, of the 58th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was convicted

  • Jacket, pullover require nametags

    The Air Force has established both the mandatory wear date and proper wear for the new metallic nametag on service dress uniforms and pullover sweaters.Effective Jan. 1, the nametag must be worn on the wearer's right side of the service dress jacket with the bottom of the nametag level with the

  • Advisory board seeks reservists’ input

    When reservists on the Air Force Reserve Advisory Board meet at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, Jan. 23 and 24, they can add another success story to their list of accomplishments.President George W. Bush signed the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act on Nov. 24,

  • Now showing: Dec. 8 edition of AFTV News

    The journey from wanting to be a pilot in the Air Force to becoming one is the subject of the latest edition of Air Force Television News. “The Making of a Pilot” is the first program in a series of four special productions to be aired during the holiday season.Produced by Staff Sgt. Marty Rush at

  • OSI team dedicated to safety, security

    From improving the quality of life to taking off and landing on the runway here, each and every unit assigned here has an important mission. The Air Force Office of Special Investigation Forward Operating Location 19 is no exception.The special agents here are dedicated to making the base a more

  • PFE changes with feedback

    Master sergeants and senior master sergeants studying for promotion in 2005 will have a combined study reference because of feedback to the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron here.The consolidation of the Promotion Fitness Examination Study Guide and Supervisory Examination Study Guide into

  • Environmental symposium registration begins

    Registration began Dec. 1 for the 2004 Environmental Training Symposium scheduled for March 8 to 12 in Nashville, Tenn.The symposium is conducted by officials from Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Mobility Command and Air Force Space Command. More than 1,500 students from

  • Deployed airmen plead guilty to thefts

    Two airmen pleaded guilty and were sentenced recently to bad conduct discharges, reductions in rank and confinement for a series of thefts that occurred here during a two-week period in October.Airman 1st Class Victor Adams Jr. and Airman Jamie Smith pleaded guilty to multiple counts of larceny and

  • AFPC passwords reset online

    More than 500 people forget their passwords to the Air Force Personnel Center’s customer service Web applications every day. Many of them are unaware they can reset a password on their own online within seconds, officials said."Instead, hundreds of people call the technical assistance center

  • Officials release F-16 accident report

    Air Force investigators have determined trapped external fuel because of an aircraft malfunction and the pilot’s failure to properly monitor his fuel status were the causes of an F-16 Fighting Falcon crash in Iraq on June 12.The aircraft was assigned to the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and

  • Academy applications on the rise

    The number of applicants to the Air Force Academy so far this year is 301 students more than all of last year, the academy’s admissions department officials said.“As of Dec. 2, the total number of applicants to the academy is 11,081,” said Rollie Stoneman, admissions associate director. “By the end

  • CSAF signs Air Force Basic Doctrine

    The service’s core document outlining the enduring basics of air and space power has been revised and hard copies will be in the hands of every officer and top-three noncommissioned officer by spring 2004.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper approved the latest revision to Air Force Doctrine

  • Paper CLEP tests coming online

    The College Level Examination Program, a popular route for many servicemembers seeking degrees, will introduce 14 new paper tests in April.Since July 2001, more than 1,300 campus test centers have offered electronic computer-based CLEP tests. The reintroduced paper-based exams are considered "high

  • Civilian makes sculptures from recyclables

    Turning discarded aluminum soda cans, fabric, cardboard, plastic, glass, newspaper and wood into environmental art is a labor of love for Helen Walker.“Environmental art sculptures are very effective because they tell a story,” said the quality assurance evaluator for the 89th Civil Engineer

  • December issue of Airman available

    Learn where the Air Force is heading with the future of flight, take a look at airmen supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and learn about a unique program creating elite canine airmen. These features and more highlight the December issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online at

  • EOD ensures runway safety

    Remnants from the 1991 Gulf War still reside here, and the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal team is ensuring those remnants are not able to put people in harm’s way.The EOD team is working to remove ordnance found in the vicinity of the runway that was

  • Simulator improves command post training

    A state-of-the-art simulator in the 334th Training Squadron here is giving command post apprentice course students vivid training, making them more mission-ready upon graduation.The new $500,000 simulator replaced a 20-year-old system that was losing its upgrade capability, said squadron

  • Military establishing global network

    The U.S. military is working to establish a state-of-the-art global communications network designed to provide real-time information to warfighters.The network will gather massive amounts of information and provide users "the right information at the right time," said Ron Jost, Department of Defense

  • Families ‘guarded’ while loved ones deployed

    Saying goodbye is never easy, especially to children who may not understand why their parents must deploy to support their country.One of the many tools Minnesota Family Programs Office officials offer is the Guardian Bear, which is available for children ranging in age from birth to 16 years.The

  • Insurance helps fire recovery

    When a fire destroyed the home of Airman 1st Class Brandon Voges and his family at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., the flames, smoke and water damaged everything they owned -- furniture, clothes and electronics. Despite this tragedy, the Voges family said they are not worried. An investment of $9 a

  • Tax statements available on myPay

    Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials have compiled a schedule of dates when servicemembers, military retirees and annuitants and defense civilian employees can access their tax statements through myPay. Military members and Department of Defense civilian employees will have access to

  • Military dogs help defend Iraq

    Hiding behind mounds of dirt or anything else his handler could find, Tino sat and waited for an intruder to breach the base’s fence on his random listening and observation post. Suddenly, the military working dog’s ears, eyes and nose zeroed in on two men as they entered the base’s perimeter. As

  • Babies help parents workout

    Balancing a career, family and fitness program is not always easy.A training routine, created by fitness trainer Mindy Mylrea here, may help new parents get fit and spend quality time with their babies.The routine is designed for mothers and fathers with a 20- to 30-pound baby and should be done

  • Now showing: Nov. 24 edition AFTV news

    The terrorist threat of urban warfare and how the Air Force is preparing for it, is highlighted in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Tech. Sgt. Pachari Lutke goes to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to report on training airmen are getting before deploying to places like Iraq and

  • AF leaders send holiday message

    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:“Thanksgiving is a wonderful national tradition that provides a special opportunity to recount our blessings as Americans.“Today, we have much for which to be

  • Technology helps locate shooters

    Military people in world hotspots might soon tell where people shooting at them are located by using technology Defense Department and Air Force researchers are developing.Network Embedded Systems Technology uses a system of sensor nodes that can be scattered throughout a given area, checkpoint,

  • ACSC launches force-development curriculum

    More than 500 majors attending Air Command and Staff College here are the first to experience a more robust and tougher curriculum. The changes, directed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper, prepare officers for operational career broadening and increase their knowledge of military

  • Chu calls authorization act 'transformational'

    The Defense Department's top personnel and readiness official called the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act "transformational" for its support of the department's aim to change to confront the threats of the future.President George W. Bush signed the act into law during a Pentagon

  • Act gives commissary, other benefits

    The fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act offers reservists and their families unlimited commissary privileges, better health benefits and an overall average military pay raise of 4.15 percent.President George W. Bush signed the defense bill Nov. 24. It allows reservists in the Selected

  • Online voting offers alternative

    Potentially hundreds of airmen serving worldwide may be eligible to vote online in 2004 based on a major government initiative to simplify the absentee-ballot process.The secure electronic registration and voting experiment program is part of the Federal Voting Assistance Program. Program

  • Students welcome back 'Baghdad Buddy'

    Fourth-grade students Allison Foster and Rebeca Reyes, both 9, said they were sad to see the military go off to war in Iraq. Reyes said she really did not know much about the war, other than what her mother told her: "That my grandpapa was in the last one."However, on Nov. 21 any sadness the two

  • Bush signs defense authorization act

    Calling it a landmark piece of legislation that sends the clear message that "Americans stand with the United States military," President George W. Bush signed the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act in a Pentagon ceremony here Nov. 24.A bipartisan group of legislators and Department of

  • Airman found guilty of indecent acts

    An airman here received 24 months confinement and a bad conduct discharge from the Air Force on Nov. 20 after being found guilty of indecent sexual acts involving minors.Airman James Hinton Jr., an entry controller with the 78th Security Forces Squadron, pleaded guilty of committing indecent acts

  • Implant restores instructor’s hearing

    After serving 22 years on active duty, retired Maj. Robert Graves was stricken with sudden hearing loss in 1990."I woke up, and everyone sounded like they were a block away in a tunnel even though they were in the same room with me," he said.Stationed at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, at the time, he

  • Doctrine summit focuses on lessons learned

    Doctrine Summit IV gave Air Force leaders the chance to discuss lessons learned from recent and on-going operations and to assess practices for better educating, organizing, training and equipping the service to fight the next fight.The summit was held Nov. 17 and 18 at the Air Force Doctrine

  • Civilians earn their 'stripes'

    The noncommissioned officers academy here is one of two Air Force test sites allowing civilians to learn the ropes of leadership by working side-by-side with enlisted airmen.Robins and Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., are part of a yearlong trial phase that could change the way professional military

  • New protection ahead in helmets, body armor

    New, reinforced helmets and body armor currently being fielded to the military represent just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is on the drawing board for protecting warfighters of the future.The future fighting force will have far superior protective systems that provide enhanced

  • SecDef addresses military at Osan

    Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld spoke with nearly 1,000 airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines and family members here Nov. 18 during a town hall meeting.“It’s a real privilege for me to be with those who are doing so much to keep the peace in such an important part of the world,” Rumsfeld

  • Test pilot school wins international award

    The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School here received the 2003 Richard G. Cross Award on Nov. 19 in Lihue, Hawaii.Presented by the International Test and Evaluation Association, the award recognized the contributions the school’s short courses made to the training and education of test and evaluation

  • Officials focus on ‘art-of-war’ decisions

    A new capability demonstrated by Electronic Systems Center officials here drives right to the heart of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen John P. Jumper’s quest for “machine-to-machine” automation of command and control.Known as Synchronized Air Power Management, this process gets air battle managers out

  • Seasons greetings host has AF background

    The emcee for a whirlwind musical and comedy show making six stops in Europe carries with her three decades of Air Force family life and the want to give back to her country.Mary Therese Tebbe is the hostess for the Air Force Reserve's Operation Seasons Greetings program. It includes combined Air

  • Air Force announces OTS selections

    Air Force officials are giving 22 enlisted airmen the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars by choosing them to attend Officer Training School, officials announced Nov. 20.Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 299 applications and selected more than 165 as part of Officer

  • Space-acquisitions policy changes

    Air Force leaders announced a change in space-acquisition policy at a Senate Armed Services subcommittee meeting Nov. 18.Undersecretary of the Air Force Peter B. Teets and Lt. Gen. Brian Arnold, Space and Missile Systems Center commander, testified before members of the strategic forces

  • History project tells story of veterans

    The letters, memoirs, audio interviews and photographs are "everything that you could imagine," said Ellen McCulloch-Lovell, director of the Veterans History Project. The project is an effort which began two years ago by Congress to preserve the stories and memories of America's war veterans.The

  • Fed grants leave to demobilized reservists

    In a Nov. 14 memorandum, President George W. Bush directed executive departments and agencies to grant five days of uncharged, administrative leave from civilian duties to federal employees returning from active-duty to reservist status."The federal government will continue to be the model for

  • Working group releases museum report

    Independent working group officials, tasked to review the Air Force Museum's operational procedures, released their findings Nov. 18. The working group was assembled after museum artifacts turned up lost or missing.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche chartered the working group Sept. 15

  • Rescue center helps save pilot

    A Coast Guard pilot is alive thanks to quick action from Pacific Rescue Coordination Center workers on Nov. 16, officials said. Lt. Cmdr. William Spears, who was en route to Oakland, Calif., from Honolulu, crashed his single-engine Canard Pusher aircraft into the ocean Nov. 14, following an

  • Supplemental bill to improve quality of life

    Part of the $87.5 billion supplemental-appropriations bill for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan signed earlier this month by President George W. Bush will go toward improving quality of life for servicemembers there."We want people to have air conditioning," Dov S. Zakheim said here Nov.

  • Two programs help officers join JAG Corps

    Company grade officers who want to join forces with the Air Force's Judge Advocate General Corps will have a chance from January to March.Two programs, the Funded Legal Education Program and the Excess Leave Program, allow active-duty officers to pursue law degrees without ever leaving the Air

  • Legal proceedings set for cadets

    Four cadets are facing legal proceedings here Nov. 20 and 24. Three of the cadets are charged with drug use, and one is charged with sexual assault. Cadet 1st Class Jacob Billeter faces a court-martial Nov. 20 for allegedly using Ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine and an Ecstasy derivative. He was also

  • SecDef: Up-or-out policy 'lousy idea'

    The U.S. military's "up-or-out" personnel policy is "a lousy idea," Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld said in Yokosuka, Japan, on Nov. 15.Speaking aboard the USS Blue Ridge, flagship of the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet, the secretary told sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines that he believes the

  • 'One click, one call' customer service arrives for pay, personnel issues

    A one-stop customer service phone number and Web page are up and running, linking several call centers and online resources Air Force people use when managing personnel and pay information.A single phone number and a companion Web site now make it easier for Air Force active-duty and reserve

  • Discrimination, harassment hot line available

    The Air Force's hot line for reporting unlawful discrimination and sexual harassment remains open for business.The quickest method to resolve complaints is by visiting the local base military equal opportunity or the equal employment office, Air Force Personnel Center officials said."But the hot