DOD identifies Air Force casualty

Department of Defense officials here announced Dec. 26 the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Senior Airman Nicholas D. Eischen, 24, of Sanger, Calif., died in a noncombat related incident Dec. 24 at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 60th Medical

Maxwell trainers develop Iraqi air force officers

Four Officer Training School instructors returned here recently after spending the past several months in Iraq building the country's air force officer training program from the ground up. Maj. Scott Bergren and Capt. Michael Powell worked at Taji Air Base, Iraq, to establish a stand-alone officer

Comm team prepares Kadena for cyber war

"Intruders" from cyberspace are trying to hack into the Kadena Air Base network and steal information from unsuspecting e-mail users. The intruders are not hackers, though they pretend to be to gain access to information they would need if they wanted to cripple the mission here. Fortunately, they

American servicemembers deploy to Costa Rica

More than 600 patients were seen during a two-day medical readiness training exercise Dec. 18 and 19 in Costa Rica by Joint Task Force-Bravo American servicemembers from Soto Cano, Honduras. The team, made up of 28 Airmen and Soldiers spent two days in the village of Piedra Mesa operating a

Comfort group takes care of servicemembers

Needles, thread, cookies and warm hearts surrounded two folding tables covered in fabric. Holiday carols, cheerful voices and the low whir of sewing machines filled the room. Several women sat chatting and sewing what some may consider "irregular" articles of clothing. Members of the Sew Much

Delta II with GPS payload successfully launches

Air Force space technicians successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II booster Dec. 21 carrying the fifth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite into space. The NAVSTAR GPS was launched at 3:04 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 17A here. The satellite will join the

C-17 polar airdrop capability successful

During the winter season at the South Pole, temperatures often dip as low as minus 100 F and can paralyze an aircraft's hydraulic systems, crystallize the fuel and solidify lubricants. However, freezing temperatures did not deter Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica Operation Deep Freeze crews

Airmen, Sailors complete interservice air combat training

Forty Kunsan Air Base Airmen returned here Dec. 20 after completing an 11-day training exercise for air combat training with Sailors at Atsugi Naval Air Facility, Japan. During the training exercise, pilots received training on different basic fighter maneuvers as F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-18

Servicemembers celebrate school dedication in Djibouti

American Servicemembers from the 486th Civil Affairs Battalion and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa were greeted with a traditional Djibouti dance by the students and community members of Kouta Bouya Dec. 17 as part of the school dedication ceremony here. During the five months of

McChord combat controllers receive medals

Twenty-five medals were presented to 15 combat controllers and special tactics officers by the Air Force Special Operations Command commander during a Dec. 18 ceremony at McChord Air Force Base. Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster presented a Silver Star, seven Bronze Stars with Valor, three Bronze Stars,

AWACS' special mission: Track Santa

Airmen from the 552nd Air Control Wing here will once again track the man in red and keep a watchful eye as he and his reindeer fly through the night to deliver presents to children all over the United States. Just before midnight on Christmas Eve, an E-3 Sentry and crew will leave Tinker Air Force

CSAF announces selectees for new senior officer program

Seven senior officers were recently selected to be part of a new program directed by Chief of the Staff of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley. As part of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellows program, these select officers will work directly for the chief of staff in lieu of serving as a

Behind the scenes, Airmen help to open hospital

Airmen on a medical mentoring team have been working hard to ensure the successful opening of an Afghan national army hospital here for the past several months. The team's original mission was to mentor their ANA counterparts and teach them the necessary medical skills to treat Afghan military and

Defense secretary sends holiday message

Citing the many gains achieved by the military over the past year, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanked America's men and women in uniform for their service in a holiday message released Dec. 20. "The holidays offer a special time to remember our many blessings as Americans.  Perhaps chief

Cooperative effort nets C-130 wing for hands-on training

Robins Air Force Base units joined forces recently to help officials of the 373rd Training Squadron Field Training Detachment here obtain a C-130 Hercules wing so students of the school could have hands-on training.With the wing, instructors can now demonstrate fuel systems repairs and allow the

Pope Airmen make wishes come true for foster children

Air Force security forces members donated gifts to local foster children Dec. 18 as a way to spread a little holiday cheer this season. Tech. Sgt. John Searor, who is with the 43rd Security Forces Squadron here, recruited Tech. Sgt. Steven Kennedy to help him gather gifts for local children in the

'Today's Air Force' features security forces

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights security forces, including a simulator that does more then just prepare Airmen for qualifying on the range.  The second segment features building and maintaining international relationships and the roles Airmen play as diplomats to other

Airmen revamp Iraqi police training facility

For Iraqi police to succeed in securing their nation from the hands of insurgents, they need proper training and equipment, and they get help from American servicemembers at the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, Det. 6.In five days, Airmen from the unit built a classroom, mock

Flight safety office brings Balad bird strikes down 30 percent

With the help of volunteers from around the base, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing flight safety office reduced the number of bird strikes on aircraft by 30 percent here in November. They accomplished this through the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program, which uses awareness and proactivity to

New eye exam technology improves productivity

Air Force Materiel Command officials provided the 72nd Medical Group here with an early Christmas present, a new piece of optometry equipment that is saving the Air Force lost man-hours. The Optos 2000, a low-powered scanning laser ophthalmoscope, is eliminating the need to dilate a patient's eyes

AF officials set new course in future support operations

When it comes to people programs, community support and quality of life, there will soon be one organization on base that will handle it all -- the Force Support Squadron. The new organization is the result of an ongoing Air Force-wide merger of Mission Support and Services Squadrons and is expected

Airmen help bring gift of freedom to Afghans

Airmen of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing recently helped give the gift of freedom to the citizens of the Afghan village of Musa Qalah. Afghan national security forces, backed by coalition forces, were able to defeat the Taliban insurgents that had controlled the town since February and freed its

vMPF adds officer voluntary separation process

Self-service officer voluntary separation will be added to the Air Force Personnel Center's virtual Military Personnel Flight Web site Jan. 7. Web-based processes and 24/7 customer service support are the core of AFPC's commitment to personnel transformation, referred to as personnel services

Cookie drive delivers holiday warmth during Alaskan winter

Volunteers gathered more than 5,500 cookies for the single Airmen living in the dormitories Dec. 14 during Operation Cookie Crunch at Eielson Air Force Base. "The importance of the cookie drive is for morale building," said Jeanette Pauer, OCC project coordinator and wife of Lt. Col. Brett Pauer, a

JCS chairman sends holiday message

The following is a holiday message from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen."Whether this holiday season finds you celebrating Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa, I offer my very best wishes for a season filled with joy. "The holidays are a time to reflect on the past

Airman's Roll Call highlights family during holidays

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on taking care of the whole Air Force family, which includes Airmen's families, wingmen, subordinates and subordinates' families. Taking care of Airmen is one of the Air Force priorities. Airmen are encouraged to reach out to their extended Air Force family, to

Linebacker II anniversary marked in memorial ceremony

Servicemembers, congressional representatives, civil leaders and their families paused December 18 to recognize the 35th anniversary of Linebacker II in a memorial ceremony at Arc Light Park here. Linebacker II was an intensive bombing campaign in December 1972 ordered by President Richard Nixon to

CAP members place wreath at Air Force Memorial

Members of the Civil Air Patrol paid their respects to fallen Airmen at a wreath laying ceremony at the Air Force Memorial here Dec. 15. CAP Brig. Gen. Amy Courter, national commander, joined the Hagerstown, Md., unit at the memorial to "offer support in the spirit the Civil Air Patrol always has."

Langley Winds spread holiday cheer

Wearing battle dress uniforms with red Santa hats on, the Langley Winds from the Heritage of America Band spread holiday cheer Dec. 13 to Pope Air Force Base members. The band from Langley AFB, Va., toured around the base and sang songs such as "Jingles Bells," "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,"

Travel policy change benefits military families

Military families now can access military-supplied air transport to travel to their official "homes of record" located outside the continental United States when their sponsors are deployed for 120 days or more, thanks to a recent policy change, a military official said today. Before the change,

'Today's Air Force' features cyberspace domain

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the Global Cyberspace Integration Center or GCIC at Langley Air Force Base. Also featured is TRICARE's new Web site for beneficiary enrollment and one of the most unique careers in the Air Force, Tops in Blue. See how the talented uniformed

Immunology laboratory named Center of Excellence

The newest Center of Excellence for radioallergosorbent, or RAST, testing in the Air Force Medical Service lies within the Diagnostic Immunology laboratory at Wilford Hall Medical Center here. RAST testing is the process of using a patient's extracted blood to detect the antibodies associated with

Council co-chairmen send holiday message to retirees

The following is a holiday message from Air Force Retiree Council Co-Chairmen retired Lt. Gen. Donald L. Peterson and retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray: As another year draws to a close, and our friends and family gather to celebrate during this holiday season, we offer

C-17 uses synthetic fuel blend on transcontinental flight

The Air Force marked the 104th anniversary of powered flight Dec. 17 by completing the first transcontinental flight of an aircraft using a blend of regular aviation and synthetic fuel. A C-17 Globemaster III using the synthetic fuel blend lifted off shortly before dawn at McChord Air Force Base,

AFPC retools personnel services delivery

Immediate access and ease of use form the foundation of the Air Force Personnel Center's ongoing efforts here to refine its personnel products available for Air Force customers. In the wake of significant cutbacks to the personnel career field, the center has leveraged technology to improve customer

U.S. team opens shelter for Afghan women

Officials of the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team unveiled a new women's shelter during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 13 in Kapisa Province.Khuweja Abubaker, the Kapisa Provincial governor; Safura Kohistani, the director of women's affairs for Kapisa Province; and members of the PRT were on

USO group visits servicemembers in Southwest Asia

More than 3,000 U.S. and coalition forces servicemembers were treated to a United Service Organizations show featuring Lance Armstrong, Lewis Black, Kid Rock, Robin Williams and Miss USA Rachel Smith Dec. 17 in Southwest Asia. Brig. Gen. Charles W. Lyon, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander,

Air Force names 2007 Sijan award recipients

Air Force leaders recognized four Airmen with the service's 2007 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. The Sijan award annually recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities. The Senior officer category winner is Lt. Col. Laura A. Soule, who is assigned to Lackland Air

Aircrews bring joy to Western Pacific during Christmas Drop

Visiting aircrews and several base Airmen pulled together Dec. 14 through 18 to initiate Operation Christmas Drop from Anderson Air Force Base. This operation is possible because of the Air Force's unique capability to deliver palletized warfighting supplies from the air to any place on the

Balad aerial port bests cargo movement record

The 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Aerial Port Flight broke the single-day cargo-movement record here Dec. 6. The aerial port Airmen surpassed the previous record set in 2006 by more than 100 tons, moving 930 tons of cargo from 77 aircraft. "It's not surprising we broke the record,

Wounded Warrior program delivers cookies

Wounded American servicemembers aeromedically evacuated out of Ramstein Air Base every Tuesday leave Germany with home-baked goods made by base spouse group volunteers. The program, called Wounded Warrior, is sponsored by spouse groups in the 86th Operations Group and occurs every Tuesday throughout

Airmen deliver Christmas to South Korean orphanage

Program offers cash, advanced assignment consideration

Airmen selected for assignment to South Korea who apply for the Korea Assignment Incentive Pay Program can earn $300 a month and apply for advanced assignment consideration. The incentive program authorizes the monthly payments to Airmen who sign a written agreement to serve the prescribed tour

Air Force dental team cares for Iraqi counterparts

The Airmen deployed with a purpose -- to advise and train Iraqi military dental specialists to care for their own -- but they're redeploying home with a reward -- the experience of lifetime. Airmen of the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group Special Operations Iraqi Transition Team, or SOITT, came to Iraq

Airman supports burn clinic for Iraqi children

When Army Cpl. Joseph Barzeski invited Staff Sgt. Tracy Davidson to tour the Convoy Support Center's burn clinic in Scania, Iraq, he didn't think she would be back. But she did come back, again and again. "I didn't think she was going to want to stay, but she wanted to help," said the corporal. "She

Thunderbirds announce 2008 schedule

The Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, has announced its 2008 airshow schedule. The team is scheduled to perform more than 67 shows in 25 states and Canada, as it commemorates the 55th Anniversary of the "Ambassadors in Blue." Lt. Col. Greg Thomas takes the reigns as the

USAFE hosts AFSO 21 Process Council

The Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Process Council was hosted by U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials Dec. 10 and 11 at Ramstein Air Base. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley kicked off the council with a round-table

Air Force flies to top of world to care for member

Thule Air Base, Greenland, may be located more than 700 miles north of the Arctic Circle, but it's never too far for Air Force members to go when an emergency arises. When the call came in that a medical evacuation was needed from Thule AB, members from around the Air Force came together with a team

Lackland near top of 'best place to raise a child' list

In November, BusinessWeek.com reported a study that recognized Lackland AFB for being the eighth best place in the country to raise children. The study rated cities from all over the country in the following categories: school test scores, cost of living, recreational and cultural activities, number

Airmen participate in buddy wing program

Republic of Korea air force airmen from Seosan Air Base visited Osan's 36th Fighter Squadron Dec. 11 to Dec. 13 to participate in Seventh Air Force's quarterly "buddy wing" program. The purpose of the buddy wing program is to exchange ideas, introduce tactics and improve interoperability between the

Air Force's top nurse visits Landstuhl medical center

Approximately 30 years of experience separate the careers of 2nd Lt. Shelley Briggs and Maj. Gen. Melissa Rank, and both appreciated a recent opportunity to bridge the gap. "It was a great opportunity to glean some of the wisdom from her years of experience," said Lieutenant Briggs, one of a few

Basic training instructors help mold Iraq's future leaders

The bark of the military training instructor's command voice, when heard by many current and former Airmen, may bring back memories of one of the most stressful periods of their lives, basic training. However, for the Iraqi air force warrant officer candidates in training here, it is the sound of a

CSAF's Scope cites maintenance, logistics reorganization

The Chief of Staff of the Air Force's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen.Gen. T. Michael Moseley's latest CSAF's Scope focuses on the reorganization of wing maintenance and logistics."As chief of staff, I'm responsible for

Commander brings holiday cheer to Ecuadorian schools

U.S. Southern Command's deputy commander, Lt. Gen. Glenn F. Spears, visited two schools Dec. 10 in Manta, Ecuador, presenting both with certificates pledging thousands of dollars to fund renovation projects and provide school supplies. General Spears was accompanied by a group of personnel from

Iraqi Air Force Training School graduates firefighters, officers

American Airmen helped the first 10 Iraqi firefighters graduate Dec. 11 and 28 more Iraqi officer candidates receive their diplomas and commissions as second lieutenants Dec. 10 at the Iraqi Air Force Training School here. The firefighter graduation marked another first in the milestones of

New eye treatment offers better outcome, saves money

Two 59th Medical Wing team member's implementation of a new drug project to treat age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly, is helping patients and saving the Air Force $990 per unit dose.In recognition of their accomplishments, Pamela Singleton and Lt. Col.

Air Force graduates first network warfare class

The first Undergraduate Network Warfare Training Class graduated Dec. 7 here representing the Air Force's expansion into the domain of cyberspace. The course, developed and taught by members of the 39th Information Operations Squadron, represents the most comprehensive network warfare training

Military mail record broken

With holiday mailing in full force, Dec. 5 was a record-setting day for mail destined for American military personnel in the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones. Mail Terminal Services, a U.S. Postal Service-contracted company that prepares and ships mail to the war zones, processed 96 semi-trailers of

Airmen missing in action from Korean War are identified

Officials from the Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office announced Dec. 12 that the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Korean War, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Col.

New year brings higher housing allowance to most recipients

Most servicemembers receiving a housing allowance will see more in their 2008 paychecks. The average increase more than doubled for 2008 at 7.3 percent over last year's 3.5 percent average increase. The Defense Department will pump an additional $600 million into the housing allowance program, for a

Pacific area legal teams train to deploy

Two dozen experts in military law deployed to this desolate training area on the island of Hawaii Dec. 9 to spend a week sharpening their skills in preparation for upcoming deployments. The Pacific Air Forces-sponsored Pacific Joint Operations Legal Exercise, or PACJOLE, is an annual localized

F-22s at Langley receive FOC status

F-22 Raptors here reached full operational capability Dec. 12, said Gen. John D.W. Corley, the commander of Air Combat Command.The announcement officially makes Langley's F-22 squadrons combat ready. FOC for the F-22 means the aircraft are now ready for global engagement, said Lt. Col. Mark Hansen,

Senior NCOs mentor junior sergeants in Iraq

More than 30 NCOs attended the Ali Base Top 3 Council's NCO Mentorship Seminar Dec. 8 here to enhance their professional development. A panel of three chief master sergeants gave Airmen a glimpse into what it takes to make E-9, and discussed the new performance report and feedback. "The role of the

Advanced CT scanner saves lives in Iraq

In addition to having a standard X-ray machine, the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group Radiology Flight  has one of the most advanced CT scanners in Iraq, saving seconds that contribute to saving lives.Diagnosis is critical at the Air Force Theater Hospital here. For trauma victims the initial

Forecasters save millions in resources via storm updates

Heavy rains this year rescued three states suffering from 54 years of drought, while prompting military resources in the region to guard against flooding in the process. Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, mired in a decades-long drought, saw major storms throughout much of the year provide much needed

Fairchild Airmen rescue stranded hiker

A four-member crew from the 36th Rescue Flight here rescued a stranded, injured hiker Dec. 4 after an avalanche that killed two others hit in the Snoqualmie Pass area in Washington. The crew took off Dec. 4 and arrived at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., where they were tasked by the Washington State

FM chiefs attain bottom line at conference

Financial management and comptroller chief master sergeants from across the globe gathered at Gunter Annex's Senior NCO Academy Dec. 3 to 7 to discuss the state of the Air Force financial management transformation.While attending the Financial Management Chief's Conference, 38 chiefs focused on the

Air Force leaders: Make a difference this holiday season

The following is a holiday message from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "Thank you for the difference you make every day, defending the United States of America and promoting our interests and ideals around the world. As the holiday

Airmen light up Afghanistan camp with holiday cheer

Airmen here found a dazzling way to capture a little bit of the holiday season Dec. 8 amidst the snow-capped peaks of Afghanistan and thousands of miles from home. A switch was pulled illuminating a 30-foot wreath and 1,200 feet of holiday lights draped across the control tower in Camp Cunningham

Warfighting integration, cyberspace expands service's reach

Shortening the "kill chain" and enabling commanders to make well-informed decisions are a priority for the Air Force, said the chief of warfighting integration at the recent Air Force Information Technology Day here. Technology and cyberspace are the two top components for that priority, said Lt.

Airman's Roll Call highlights sharing the Air Force story

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the opportunity every Airman has to share his or her stories and experiences and to give a first-hand account of the Air Force mission while spending time with family and friends during the holiday season. Many people outside of the military don't know about

Airmen named the 'Best of the Best' performers

From a little bit of country to a whole lot of rock and roll, 56 Airmen from around the world displayed their talent before standing room only crowds, during free live performances this past weekend at the Bob Hope Theater at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. All have hopes of not only being named the

AFPC announces civilian personnel services transformation

Civilian personnel services are transforming at the Air Force Personnel Center to ensure speed of personnel actions and enhanced self-service capabilities. "Overall the transformation is designed to improve the efficiency of delivering personnel services," said Charles Huerta, the AFPC Personnel

Officals use virtual in-system supplemental promotions

The December in-system supplemental release, scheduled for Dec. 13 at 8 a.m. CST, will be the first use of the virtual enlisted promotion release for monthly in-system releases. The Air Force went to virtual notification Nov. 14 with the release of the chief master sergeant list. More than 400

Operation Toy Drop brings international, U.S. military together

Army Private Gregory Amones sat on the ground with cherry pie oozing out the right thigh pocket of his uniform. Finishing his first parachute jump at Fort Bragg, N.C., the Soldier didn't mind the smashed cherry stain on his battle uniform. The "cherry pie" rite of passage didn't compare to the jump

Kehler: 'The future of Space is now'

"Air Force Space Command performs a national, and in some cases, an international space mission," said Gen. C. Robert Kehler, the new commander of AFSPC. "The space capabilities we provide today are embedded in all of our combat operations," he said. "They're also embedded in our military

Djiboutians delight in the sounds of 'Hot Brass'

The U.S. Central Command Air Forces Expeditionary Band "Hot Brass" played for nearly 100 Djiboutians Dec. 6 at a community development center in Douda, Djibouti. The Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa in Djibouti was the Airmen's first stop on their tour of the U.S. Central Command area of

Keesler couple earns 2007 O'Malley award

The former Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., commander and his wife, who led the base's recovery efforts the two years following Hurricane Katrina, recently won the 2007 Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. Brig. Gen. Paul Capasso and his wife, Laura, received the award that recognizes the wing

Services meet November recruiting goals

All military components met their recruiting goals in November, Defense Department officials said here Dec. 10. It was the sixth month in a row that all services made their recruiting goals, officials said. The military is recruiting in a difficult environment, defense officials said. Only three out

Astronaut applications available for May board

Active duty Air Force Airmen have the opportunity to compete for pilot and mission specialist crew positions with the nation's space program through the Air Force Astronaut nomination program. Air Force nominees will compete with representatives from the other services for the chance to become an

Lieutenant's oversight mission vital to Air Force testing

In his duties as the air propulsion test project manager at the Arnold Engineering Development Center here 1st Lt. Josh Frederik plays a key part in numerous multimillion dollar projects."You're dealing with these big numbers and as the representative on the government side you need to be a good

Key maintenance, logistics functions realign

The alignment of fighter and combat search and rescue aircraft maintenance units under flying squadrons was announced by the Air Force chief of the staff  Dec. 7 here. Between July and November 2008, AMUs supporting fighter and CSAR flying squadrons will realign within those squadrons, Gen. T.

Portal IM service allows Airmen, friends, family to connect

Friends and family members can keep in touch with Airmen anywhere in the world through an instant messaging program available through the Air Force Portal. Every Airman is permitted up to five guest users through the Friends and Family Instant Messaging service, which works "24 hours a day, seven

'Gifts from the Homefront' support does 'double time'

Military advocates across America are making their support work twice as hard with Army and Air Force Exchange Service "Gifts from the Homefront" gift certificates. While assistance sent through this troop-support initiative provides for the immediate needs of troops throughout operations Enduring

'Today's Air Force' features F-16 history

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the history of the first F-16 Fighting Falcon model flown in 1976, and the newest F-16 upgrades to include one of the most impressive feature of the new aircraft -- the helmets and visors. Also featured is a civil engineer squadron exercise

F-15s undergo extensive technical inspections

Air Force maintainers continue to perform methodical and time-intensive inspections on all F-15 Eagle A, B, C and D model aircraft which are revealing more cracks in the aircraft longerons. The discovery of more structural damage in the F-15s prompted the Dec. 3 stand-down order from Air Combat

Commander retires after 38 years of service

With one last review of a formation of Ramstein's finest Airmen, and along with it, one last coin challenge, Gen. William T. Hobbins, commander of United States Air Forces in Europe, was retired at a ceremony here Dec. 10 after more than 38 years of service. General Hobbins cited cooperation as key

Combat leadership course takes PME to next level

What does an Air Force supply noncommissioned officer and an Army infantry NCO have in common? What can someone who spends their days troubleshooting computers learn from someone who spends their days on convoys? The answer to these questions is leadership. Regardless of the branch of service or

AFMC Airmen honor commander with Order of the Sword

Air Force Materiel Command's enlisted corps honored its leader with the Order of the Sword Dec. 6 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force here. Gen. Bruce Carlson, the AFMC commander, received the AFMC Order of the Sword, the highest honor Air Force noncommissioned officers can give to an

Spirited remembrance: B-2 marks Pearl Harbor event

Two members of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron piloted their B-2 Spirit stealth bomber over Pearl Harbor Dec. 7 in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. This flight was part of a stealth bomber global power sortie, where the aircrews practice their global reach capability by flying more than

Hickam commemorates 66th anniversary of attack

Survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Hickam Air Field, and their family members descended upon Hickam Air Force Base for a commemorative ceremony to pay tribute and remember those who paid the ultimate cost. With the Courtyard of Heroes Eternal Flame burning in the background, Chaplain (Maj.)

Kunsan Airmen paint arctic F-16s for Eielson

Airmen from the 8th Maintenance Squadron corrosion shop recently completed painting an arctic scheme on one of their F-16 Fighting Falcons -- a first for Kunsan and soon Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. In October, Kunsan received its initial group of Block 40 F-16 aircraft under the Common

Moody unit consolidates to support battlefield Airmen

Members of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing here will bring a new level of support to Airmen who specialize in ground-combat missions by consolidating units starting in January. The 93rd AGOW officials will consolidate the tactical air control party and battlefield weather specialties of the 3rd

Force protection Airmen keeps vigilance in the forefront

Up before dawn, an 80-member team made up of 51 different Air Force specialty codes is armed and ready to roll at Ali Base, Iraq. The Airmen of the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron force protection serve to support Operation Iraqi Freedom as third country national escorts. Crew chiefs,

Joint Task Force in Honduras unveils new public Web site

Officials from U.S. Southern Command's Joint Task Force-Bravo here recently unveiled its new public-access Web page. The site, which can be found at http://www.jtfb.southcom.mil, is regularly updated with current news and photos from the JTF-Bravo Public Affairs Office. The site is the official news

Cultural, language center expands Air Force-wide

Air University's Culture and Language Center is beginning an evolutionary change toward becoming an Air Force-wide institution focusing on culture and language throughout the service. Beginning next year, the center's mission will expand to include service-wide responsibilities as it becomes the Air

Boxing trio visits Hurlburt Field Airmen

Boxing promoter Don King and two world champion boxers talked to Airmen and signed autographs during a meet-and-greet session Dec. 5 at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Five-time boxing world champion Felix Trinidad and eight-time boxing world champion Roy Jones Jr., on their "We Care" tour, stopped at the

Lackland officer court-martialed

During a military court martial Dec. 3 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, a captain was convicted of committing indecent acts with two children. Tthe court sentenced Captain Edward Hudson Dec. 4 to 10 years confinement, total forfeitures of pay and allowances and dismissal from the Air Force. The

Operational readiness exercise tests Airmen, Marines

Airmen from the 18th Wing joined with elements from the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing to conduct a joint operational readiness exercise Dec. 3 to 7 here. During the week-long exercise, Kadena Air Base members and their Marine counterparts were tested on their ability to execute their wartime taskings,

PME classrooms open for sister service

Some students attending the Elmendorf Professional Military Education center wear a different shade of blue ... U.S. Coast Guard blue. Two Coast Guard members are enrolled in the Elmendorf NCO Academy while three other guardsmen are in Airman Leadership School. They are set to graduate Dec. 13 with