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U.S. Air Force News

  • Force shaping board to convene in July

    The Air Force will convene a fiscal 2014 Force Shaping Board here July 14 to consider eligible officers within competitive categories for continued retention, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Jan. 27.

  • Force shaping issues explained to Congress

    The Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel testified on force shaping and its effect on Airmen before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee March 1. Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady's testimony was presented to the committee that ensures servicemembers have the resources needed

  • 'Force shaping' means some can leave active duty early

    There is good news for thousands of airmen considering leaving active duty who thought they could not because of existing service obligations.An effort dubbed "force shaping" is opening the exit doors to officers and enlisted servicemembers in select career fields and year groups by waiving some

  • Force shaping necessary for AF budgetary management

    As Air Force officials continue to implement 2006 force shaping initiatives, they prepare for the majority of personnel reductions set for fiscal 2007. They plan to reduce the service's current size by 40,000 full time equivalent positions by 2011. This amounts to roughly 35,000 active duty

  • Force shaping opportunities expand in 2005

    Air Force personnel officials encourage more Airmen to seek opportunities to exit the service under an expanded force-shaping program in fiscal 2005.Planners have opened more career fields for force-shaping eligibility by dropping from a 100-percent sustainment level to 95 percent. This increases

  • Force Shaping Phase II evolves for fiscal 2006

    The Air Force achieved its congressionally mandated active-duty end strength of 359,700 Airmen for fiscal 2005. The Air Force had exceeded that ceiling until now.Force Shaping Phase II initiatives successfully reduced the overall size of the force; however, the Air Force still has more officers

  • Force shaping Phase II evolves for officers in fiscal 2006

    The Air Force’s officer corps is overmanned by about 4,000 Airmen.In fiscal 2005, the Air Force’s voluntary force shaping initiatives successfully reduced the size of the active duty population to its congressionally authorized level of 359,000.However, the fiscal 2006 budget trims the Air Force

  • Force shaping volunteer application deadline is March 1

    Officers scheduled to meet the 2006 Force Shaping Board have until March 1 to decide if they will leave voluntarily or meet the board. Officers planning to take advantage of the volunteer program must apply through their military personnel flights before the deadline. Through the voluntary Force

  • Force structure, military value at heart of BRAC

    The U.S. military fighting the war on terrorism is far different from the military forces developed to confront the Soviet Union.Today's military is smaller than the Cold War force but is already more agile and more flexible. And experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan show that joint operations allow

  • Force support officers represent flexibility

    Responding to evolving needs from the field has prompted several transformations in the manpower, personnel and services community over the past few years, including the recent stand up of an initial skills training course for force support officers. "Our Air Force officers are showing great

  • Force Support Squadron takes on Red Flag-Alaska

    Approximately 1,400 U.S. and foreign military members are participating in Red Flag-Alaska 09-2. The amplified workforce calls for additional support to provide basic needs, and Airmen in the 354th Force Support Squadron have willingly answered the call. "Red Flag-Alaska brings an increased number

  • Force-protection airmen keep alert

    With service and delivery contracts totaling more than $1.2 million and about 160 local nationals or third-country nationals on base at any one time, someone has to keep an eye on the workers.That duty falls to a team of about 50 airmen assigned to the force-protection section of the 407th Civil

  • Forces accomplish no-fly zone mission, Gates says

    U.S. and coalition forces have accomplished the no-fly zone aspect of the United Nations mission in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during a television interview aired March 28.Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press" and discussed what

  • Forces combine to share disaster response techniques

    Military medics from Argentina, Uruguay and the United States came together to share medical disaster response techniques in November here.The information exchange was part of Operation Southern Partner, an in-depth subject matter exchange emphasizing partnership, cooperation and sharing of

  • Forces converge for Emerald Warrior 2016

    Several hundred U.S. and partner-nation military members gathered inside King Auditorium at Hurlburt Field, Florida, May 2 for a mass in-briefing session that marked the official kick off of Emerald Warrior 2016.

  • Forces delivering wheelchairs to Afghanistan

    The first 50 of 1,000 donated wheelchairs bound for disabled people in Afghanistan were delivered to Ganci Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, as part of an ongoing humanitarian project.Baisal Limited, a wheelchair manufacturer in nearby Bishkek, assembled the wheelchairs and then delivered them to coalition

  • Forces join together to fuel the coalition

    The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force have joined forces at an RAF base in the Eastern Mediterranean to set up a refueling mission.A refueling system was needed that was more efficient than refueling aircraft by fuel trucks, according to RAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Paul

  • Forces not 'paused'; coalition attacks continue

    Army Gen. Tommy Franks said coalition forces are not "paused" and are not suffering from a lack of supplies.Franks, who spoke today at a press conference in Qatar, said, "Where we stand today is not only acceptable, ... it is truly remarkable."He spoke of "large and capable ground forces within 60

  • Forces prepare for Exercise Balikatan 2006

    U.S. servicemembers and Armed Forces of the Philippines are in the final week of preparations for Exercise Balikatan 2006, the 22nd annual bilateral combined exercise, scheduled Feb. 20 to March 5. The exercise will be conducted in three phases: humanitarian and civic assistance on the island of

  • Forces prepare for Yama Sakura

    U.S. airmen and Japan self-defense forces are gearing up for exercise Yama Sakura ‘04 taking place here Jan. 25 to 31. Yama Sakura is an annual joint/bilateral command post exercise, and is one of the most important simulation-driven, force-on-force battle staff training exercises in Japan, said

  • Forces rotate for Operation Northern Watch

    More than 1,000 airmen are replacing Operation Northern Watch veterans as the Air and Space Expeditionary Force system performs its regular three-month rotation from late November through the first part of December.Based at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, the new airmen join Turkish and British coalition

  • Forces team up to provide security at Manas

    After five months of negotiations between the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and Manas International Airport security leaders, two security forces Airmen took their place beside their Kyrgyz counterparts at the airport entrance gate March 1. The gate, located just north of the

  • Forces train Iraqis to manage communications

    U.S. forces in Iraq increasingly are focused on training Iraqis to be self-sufficient, and most recently that training has brought Iraqis closer to managing their communications frequencies, information security and automotive maintenance. Fourteen students drawn from Iraq's ministries of

  • 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

  • Forces work jointly for security at Bagram

    U.S. military and coalition servicemembers who enforce security on Bagram Airfield work closely to accomplish a singular mission to ensure a safe and secure environment.Members of the Air Force's 455th Air Expeditionary Wing coordinate with Task Force Cyclone, Afghan national security guards and

  • Force-shaping officers can go into Reserve

    "One weekend a month, two weeks a year." This catch phrase has been repeated on television commercials over the years, but for those facing the Air Force's force-shaping initiative, it may soon become a reality. Joining the Reserve is one option open to those lieutenants affected by force shaping.

  • Ford helped U.S. recover from Watergate

    Americans will remember former President Gerald R. Ford as a man with the courage to heal a nation.President Ford, who died at his California home Dec. 26 at age 93, assumed the presidency at a grim time in American history. In the midst of a distinguished career in the House of Representatives, the

  • Ford's body arrives in Washington

    The body of President Gerald R. Ford received a welcoming 21-gun salute at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Dec. 30 as part of final goodbyes that will be made here to the nation's 38th chief executive. Ford died Dec. 26 at age 93 at his residence in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The fallen commander in chief

  • Forecasters afloat support multinational training exercise

    Air Force weather teams are used to jointness, providing weather support operations for both the Army and Air Force on land or in the air. However, Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4, a multinational exercise hosted by U.S. Joint Forces Command, would require them to truly go above and beyond -- and out

  • 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

  • Foreign air force members learn about C-130 programs

    Members of the Kazakhstan Republic air force visited here this month in an effort to learn more about how the U.S. Air Force takes care of business. The seven-person group visited the C-130 Hercules combat loss replacement program, where modifications are made to enable C-130s to be combat ready to

  • Foreign aircrews train at Altus for multi-national mission

    Instructors at the Air Force C-17 Aircrew Training Center here are preparing foreign aircrews for a first-of-its-kind mission in Hungary. A multi-national consortium consisting of 10 North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries and two Partnership for Peace nations created the Strategic Airlift

  • Foreign gifts need reporting

    Airmen who receive gifts from foreign governments valued at more than $285 must report them.Failure to report the gifts can result in a U.S. District Court penalty equal to the fair market value of the gift plus $5,000, said Frank Posey of the judge advocate's office at the Air Force Personnel

  • Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus provides Airmen incentives

    Air Force officials have recently updated the Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus policy. All Airmen, regardless of career field, are now eligible for FLPB in a broad range of languages including those identified as "dominant in the force" such as Spanish, Tagalog, French, German, Italian,

  • Foreign Naval officers dive into Air Mobility

    Approximately 56 foreign and joint military officers from 52 foreign naval services from around the world visited Joint Base Charleston Nov. 13, 2018, to learn about the mission and capabilities of Air Mobility Command as well as JB Charleston’s role as the gateway to the Atlantic.

  • Foreign officer shares rewards of Academy exchange

    In 2001, Japan Air Self-Defense Force Maj. Kazuto Ueda, then a cadet at Japan's National Defense Academy (NDA), visited the U.S. Air Force Academy for a week. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he'd return here 12 years later to teach Japanese history, military and culture to American cadets.

  • Foreign pilots fly high in exchange program at JB Charleston

    Foreign exchange programs across the globe allow students from a secondary school or university to study abroad and are fairly well known. However, some might not be aware of the foreign pilot exchange program the Air Force implemented in 1998.

  • Foreign-born Airmen deploy, live their American dream

    The Air Force is proud of its diversity, providing Airmen the opportunity to live and visit places they never would imagine going and working with people from all walks of life. Two Airmen, who are deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, as part of the 451st Expeditionary Support Squadron, are

  • Forensic experts identify keys to crimes

    For forensic science consultants at the Air Force Office of Special Investigations' 33rd Field Investigations Squadron, criminal investigations in the Air Force begin at the crime scene.The work of Air Force forensic science consultants is similar to that of criminal investigators in the television

  • Forest Service deactivates C-130 firefighting operations

    The U.S. Forest Service has deactivated the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped military C-130 Hercules as fire conditions in the West have improved.The 153rd Air Expeditionary Group received the notification late Sept. 14, releasing the two MAFFS planes and crews that were still

  • Forest Service directs MAFFS to Arizona

    Forest Service, through the National Interagency Fire Center here, has directed the repositioning of military Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System aircraft from Colorado Springs, Colo., to Mesa, Ariz."The weather and progress on the ground have helped us in the Four Corners region." said Col.

  • Forest Service requests more aircraft for firefighting operations

    More forest fires in the western United States have prompted the U.S. Forest Service to call in two additional C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with the Mobile Airborne Fire Fighting System.Those aircraft, expected to be operating by tomorrow, will come from the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd

  • Forever family, never forgotten

    A mother watched as her 2-year-old, blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy stood in the middle of Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, hugging the gravestone of his father who had died five months prior. With heavy hearts, the two journeyed from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to meet others who understood

  • Forging iron: A triathlete's legacy

    Nine hours and 38 minutes of nonstop physical endurance requires commitment, motivation and the will to push the human body beyond the realm of what many consider to be possible. Ironman competitions, which are three-part races consisting of a swim, bike and run, are one of the world's most

  • Forging the next generation: BMT leads the way

    Following a 16-year run, Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training, or BEAST, has come to an end and is being replaced with training exercise PACER FORGE, as part of Air Force basic military training.

  • Formal training scheduling to centralize

    Scheduling of all Air Force-directed formal training historically accomplished by major command personnel and manpower directorates is being centralized at the Air Force Personnel Center here to streamline services and make maximum use of Air Force resources. Formal training includes all Air

  • Formal training sustains AF readiness, aids Airmen

    Formal training managers at the Air Force Personnel Center here are committed to ensuring Airmen are provided adequate time to prepare for their formal training classes, and that every Airman who needs to attend has the opportunity. Empty seats due to 'no shows' have an impact on the entire Air

  • Former A-10 pilot, Cowboy speaks at Pentagon

    Chad Hennings knows teamwork. Chad Hennings knows mentorship. Chad Hennings knows success. Chad Hennings also knows what it's like to fly an A-10 Thunderbolt II on a combat sortie, win three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and, most recently, speak with Airmen stationed at the Pentagon. Mr.

  • Former academy leader to retire

    The former superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy will retire from active-duty service effective Sept. 1.The announcement of Lt. Gen. John R. Dallager’s retirement came from Air Force officials at the Pentagon on July 10. It followed a decision by Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche

  • Former Academy QB under center as deployed orthopedic doc

    It’s 1999 and he steps onto the gridiron as a leader. It’s his team now. With big shoes to fill left by a record-setting signal caller, senior Cale Bonds is about to begin the final season of his college career as the starting quarterback of the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons football team.

  • Former AF chief of staff recognized for analysis legacy

    Former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper was honored for his analysis work with the Lt. Gen. Glenn A. Kent Leadership Award, presented by Kevin Williams, the director of Air Force Studies, Analyses and Assessments, during a July 11 ceremony at the Pentagon.

  • Former AF ISR Agency now numbered Air Force

    As the Air Force's premier intelligence organization approaches its 66th Anniversary, it will mark the occasion under a new unit name and structure.The Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency is now the Twenty-Fifth Air Force, following its re-designation ceremony Sept. 29 in

  • Former AF museum collections chief convicted

    Scott Ferguson, 44, was found guilty of two crimes connected with the theft of a Peacekeeper armored car from the U.S. Air Force Museum at nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.Mr. Ferguson is the former collections chief at the museum -- the third highest position in Air Force Museum management.

  • Former AFMC commander named TD White Award winner

    A former vice chief of staff and commander of Air Force Materiel Command received the Air Force Academy's Thomas D. White National Defense Award in a ceremony here Oct. 25.Retired Gen. Lester Lyles received the award for his involvement with the president's Intelligence Advisory Board and the

  • Former AFMC commander talks innovation, third offset

    Innovation and the nation’s third offset strategy were topics brought forth by retired Gen. Gregory S. Martin, a former commander of Air Force Materiel Command, as he spoke with service members at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 24.

  • Former Air Force general sworn in as VA undersecretary for benefits

    Retired Brig. Gen. Allison A. Hickey, a 27-year veteran of the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve and a graduate of the first U.S. Air Force Academy class to include women, has been sworn in as the Department of Veterans Affairs' undersecretary for benefits."General Hickey is a

  • Former Air Force leader passes away

    A former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was also a chief of staff of the Air Force, passed away Saturday in Falcon’s Landing military retirement community in Potomac Falls, Va.

  • Former Air Force medic participates in Warrior Games

    As a former firefighter, emergency medical technician and Air Force aeromedical evacuation Airman, retired Staff Sgt. Ricky Tackett dedicated his life to taking care of others. As a member of the Air Force team participating in the inaugural Warrior Games, people, his teammates, continue to be his

  • Former Air Force official gets nine months in prison

    Darleen Druyun, former principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisitions and management, was sentenced Oct. 1, to nine months in federal prison by a U.S. District Court judge.Earlier this year, Ms. Druyun pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate Title 18, Section 208(a) of the

  • Former Air Force pilot, NFL star touts opportunities for veterans

    Chad Hennings has been known by many titles in his life: U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot, Gulf War veteran, Dallas Cowboy. The three-time Super Bowl champion now can go by one more title: small-business advocate. "Small business is the lifeblood of America," Mr. Hennings

  • Former Air Force secretary dies at 92

    Verne Orr, the fourteenth secretary of the Air Force, died Nov. 27 at age 92 in his home in Pasadena, Calif.  He served under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1985. "Former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr was a leader and a professional committed to the United States Air Force and our

  • Former Air Force Two now part of AMC Museum

    The Air Mobility Command Museum here has long been home to many landmarks of American avionic innovation. The retired military and civilian airframes are restored to historically accurate quality by museum volunteers and displayed for the enjoyment of several generations of patrons.If the planes

  • Former Airman competes in veterans wheelchair games

    Swimming 100 meters is difficult. Swimming this distance without the use of your legs seems near impossible. Yet, this is exactly what Terri Fuda did July 15. She is taking part in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games here, where she competed in the 100-meter freestyle swimming event at

  • Former Airman credits AF for success in acting career

    A former service member credits the Air Force for helping him make a successful jump from the military to a television and film career.Jon Huertas, born Jon William Hofstedt, served eight years in the Air Force as an aircraft nuclear and conventional weapons specialist. He took advantage of the Air

  • Former Airman now NBA pro

    The court was shining and cameras flashing as a crowd of thousands gathered in the Sleep Train Arena to watch the Dallas Mavericks duel the Sacramento Kings April 5. Beale Airmen and 9th Reconnaissance Wing commander, Col. Phil Stewart gathered to witness the contest and meet former 9th Security

  • Former Airman oversees U.S. cemetery in Manila

    Dan Neese gets strange looks when he invites people for dinner and gives them his address. It is not because he is some kind of a weird character, but living inside a cemetery is something most people do not normally brag about.Mr. Neese resides at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial here.

  • Former Airman returns to Hickam

    Retired Chief Master Sgt. Ralph Barnett returned here for the 65th Anniversary of the attack on Oahu and to show his family where he was on that fateful Sunday morning. At the time of the attack he was a 24-year-old sergeant assigned as assistant armament chief with the 23rd Bombardment Squadron

  • Former Airman sentenced for distributing child pornography on the Web

    Brig. Gen. Kevin J. Jacobsen, Air Force Office of Special Investigations commander, announced today the sentencing of former Air Force member Craig Allen James, 24, of Laurel, Md., to six years in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for distributing child pornography. Additionally,

  • Former astronaut takes command of Air Force Space Command

    Gen. Kevin P. Chilton assumed command of Air Force Space Command in a ceremony here June 26, presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. Current and former national defense leaders, active and retired senior officers, community leaders and active-duty servicemembers gathered

  • Former astronaut, AF test pilot dies

    C. Gordon Fullerton, who compiled a distinguished career as a NASA astronaut, research pilot and Air Force test pilot spanning almost 50 years, died Aug. 21. He was 76.

  • Former bases offer communities earth-friendly education opportunities

    As one of 10,000 students at Arizona State University's Poly Technic campus at the former Williams Air Force Base, Ariz., Theodore Betkie heard about the Air Force's soil cleanup efforts at his campus. Since he knew past military operations caused some problems from fuel spills and leaks, he

  • Former basic training instructor fulfills dream to practice law

    For Senior Master Sgt. Alex Brown, a 20-year Air Force veteran and Arizona Air National Guard member, a lifelong calling to practice law set him upon an arduous journey to fulfill a dream. That dream recently became reality when he passed the Arizona bar exam.

  • Former Chief Master Sgts. of the Air Force to meet

    The 14th Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, Gerald R. Murray, will host a conference for former chief master sergeants who have held the Air Force's highest enlisted position. Eight of the nine living former CMSAFs will attend the conference, to be held at the Pentagon Feb. 13 to 16. "This group of

  • Former chief of staff dies

    The Air Force’s 11th chief of staff died Sept. 4 in McLean, Va.Retired Gen. Charles A. Gabriel served as chief of staff from July 1982 to July 1986. He died of natural causes, according to officials at the Air Force Senior Leader Management Office in the Pentagon. He was 75.Gabriel also served as

  • Former chief of staff laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

    The 10th chief of staff of the Air Force was laid to rest in a full-honors ceremony March 22 at Arlington National Cemetery, but his legacy lives with today's Airmen through his emphasis on developing camaraderie, pursuing history and recognizing excellence.Gen. Lew Allen Jr. passed away Jan. 4 in

  • Former chief of staff visits Fairchild, praises AMC

    "The primary purpose of the United States Air Force is to fight and win America's wars."With this statement, retired Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, the former Air Force chief of staff, summed up an address on the history of Air Mobility Command and the Air Force during his meeting with more than 400

  • Former chiefs reflect on today’s Air Force

    Several former chief master sergeants of the Air Force came together here Feb. 13 to 15 to meet with Airmen and speak with current service leaders. Of the 14 Airmen who’ve held the highest enlisted position, nine were present as the group met at both Bolling Air Force Base and the Pentagon. It’s

  • Former CMSAF discuss hot topics of today

    With more than 250 years of combined Air Force experience, eight former chief master sergeants of the Air Force answered questions facing Airmen today during the 2014 Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airmen’s conference here Aug. 20.

  • Former CMSAF Murray joining retiree council

    A new face will share the head of the Air Force Retiree Council table at its annual meeting May 14 to 18. Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray, who left active duty in October, succeeds CMSAF Frederick J. Finch as council co-chair with Lt. Gen. Donald L. Peterson. The

  • Former CMSAF offers Airmen words of wisdom

    The fifth Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert D. Gaylor visited Ramstein Air Base Sept. 6 through Sept. 10 offering words of wisdom to Airmen along the way.Chief Gaylor's primary reason for his trip was to speak at the noncommissioned officer's graduation ceremony, but he also wanted to

  • Former CMSAF visits Andersen AFB

    The 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 27 and shared his perspective as the service's former top enlisted member.Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley retired from active duty at the highest enlisted level of leadership in

  • Former CMSAFs continue serving airmen

    Eight former chief master sergeants of the Air Force met with the man who currently holds the position and other senior leaders during a conference at the Pentagon on April 8 and 9.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray said the two days provided many opportunities for the group to

  • Former CMSAFs offer advice

    Two key members of Air Force enlisted history and former chief master sergeants of the Air Force are visiting with U.S. Air Forces in Europe airmen. Retired Chief Master Sgts. of the Air Force Paul Airey, the first person to hold the title, and Sam Parish, the 8th CMSAF, are here as guest speakers

  • Former command chief charged under UCMJ

    A former command chief master sergeant for the Air Force Materiel Command here, has been formally charged by Air Force officials with several counts of violating specific articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Chief Master Sergeant William Gurney was charged with seven specifications of