NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Being 'green' is key part of commissary operations

    Each year, Defense Commissary Agency stores use more than 200 million gallons of water, spend more than $60 million on utility services and generate more solid waste than most mid-sized cities. However, as DeCA officials deliver the commissary benefit, they also are responsible for eliminating or

  • Air Guard's domestic ops experts to confer on top priorities

    Hundreds of Air National Guard officials will gather here Sept. 21 through 25 to plan for domestic and civil support operations at the ANG Domestic Operations Essential 10 Requirements Conference. The conference will join subject matter and planning experts in working groups to discuss and

  • C-130 crew delivers humanitarian supplies to Afghan village

    Airmen from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron dropped eight bundles of humanitarian aid from a C-130 Hercules Aug. 26 to a remote village in northern Afghanistan.The Air National Guard crew, deployed from the 158th Airlift Squadron in Savannah, Ga, performed the mission to support coalition

  • Innovative Airmen make jobs, lives easier

    Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing have applied the axiom "work smarter, not harder" to come up with solutions on the job that are saving manpower, time and money here in Southwest Asia. Examples of innovation are not limited to just one group. Each of the four groups assigned to the 379th

  • Elmendorf Airmen support Army's Operation Arctic Response

    Active and Air National Guard Airmen provided assistance to Army Soldiers Aug. 24 and 26 during Operation Arctic Response here. Members of the 517th Airlift Squadron from here and the Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron supported the operation, which is an emergency deployment

  • Airmen enhance Ugandan humanitarian airlift capability

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and Army Reserve Soldiers from Nashville, Tenn., arrived in Uganda Aug. 25 to participate in a C-130 Hercules familiarization event with the Uganda peoples defense air force. The theater security cooperation initiative gives Ugandan forces a firsthand look at

  • Airmen protect space assets in new Air Force commercial

    An Air Force commercial highlighting the role men and women in the Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., play in protecting satellite and other space assets begins airing Aug. 31 in television markets and select movie theaters across the country. "Space

  • E-3 damaged while landing at Nellis

    An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system aircraft was damaged while landing Aug. 28 at Nellis Air Force Base. The 32-person crew safely evacuated the aircraft and the subsequent fire was quickly extinguished by Nellis AFB emergency response forces. The aircraft, flown by Airmen of the 552nd

  • Strike Eagles surpass 8,000 combat hours, support unique missions

    Airmen from the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron achieved a milestone here when they surpassed 8,000 combat hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle while providing security to coalition forces. The aircrew for the mission included Capt. Jaina Donberg, the F-15E pilot and a native of Arlington, Va., and

  • Aug. 27 airpower summary: B-1B destroys enemy position

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 27 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft provided armed overwatch at

  • 'Today's Air Force' features chief of staff first-year reflections

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the chief of staff of the Air Force reflects on his first year on the job, the Global Positioning System gets a high tech upgrade, and Airmen turn to a new program in Iraq to get help dealing with combat stress.Major changes have taken place across the Air

  • Base of preference requests can now be initiated online through vMPF

    Air Force Personnel Center officials have revamped the Voluntary Assignments Base of Preference Program to allow eligible enlisted members to initiate BOP requests online. Air Force members from the rank of E-8 and below can now apply for permanent change of station BOP, in-place BOP, or both

  • AFCENT commander, command chief visit JBB

    Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the new U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, and AFCENT Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff visited Joint Balad Base Aug. 25 to survey various missions and address some of the Airmen he now commands. During his visit, General Hostage met with Army officials from the

  • Officials outline adoption process for military working dogs

    Military working dogs have come a long way since the days of ancient Persia and Assyria, where they donned armor, spiked collars and warned of impending attack or charged on the enemy's cavalry. Modern battlefield and customs conditions bring forth complex and ever-changing challenges, and as such,

  • Defense Department turns to ESC to lead way on NextGen

    Dr. Tim Rudolph, the Electronic Systems Center's chief technology officer, has been named the Defense Department's lead architect for a federal initiative known as the Next Generation Air Transportation System. The center's 653rd Electronic Systems Wing here, which has a lot of experience with

  • New vice chief of staff takes office

    Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler is the new vice chief of staff of the Air Force, succeeding Gen. William M. Fraser III who held the position since October 2008. General Chandler comes to the Pentagon after two years of service as commander of Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S.

  • OC-ALC to refurbish Navy E-6 aircraft

    Workers from the 566th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here will begin work next month on the first of the Navy's E-6B Mercury aircraft scheduled for a service life extension program refit. The refit will involve inspecting and replacing up to 15,000 fasteners on the aircraft's wings. Fastener holes

  • New supercomputer supports ISR research, development

    Desch, one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, will be dedicated during a ceremony here Aug. 31. The Desch is a custom-designed SGI Altix ICE 8200 supercomputer that has been optimized and will be dedicated exclusively to support real-time translation of synthetic aperture radar data into

  • Misawa Airmen rescue Japanese citizen

    Eight Airmen from Misawa AB saved the life of a Japanese citizen Aug. 15 when they pulled him away from a house and car that were engulfed in flames. The Airmen and their families were on a bus returning from a night of celebrating a child's birthday and bidding farewell to a fellow Airman.

  • Launch of civilian marketing campaign pivotal in filling Air Force jobs

    Over the next five years, Air Force officials plan to hire 20,000 more civilians into civil service. To help bases better market civilian job openings and recruit qualified applicants for current and future jobs, Air Force Personnel Center specialists will roll out the "Your Future" marketing and

  • Contractor, U.S. Attorney agree on $15 million fraud suit settlement

    Earlier this month, the United States Attorney and Dynamics Research Corporation, known as DRC, corporate officials reached a settlement agreement in a False Claims Act suit filed by government officials recently. DRC, an advisory and assistance services government contractor supporting the Air

  • Guardsman lauds employer for military support

    The past five years have been "the most exciting, dynamic and rewarding" of Brad Sams' professional career, not because of his success as an attorney, but because of the military opportunities his employer has enabled him to pursue, the Air National Guard major said. "They create a culture that

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force. View the Week in Photos slideshow.

  • Leaders to draw from defense board's NSPS review

    Senior defense leaders will use a recently issued report on the National Security Personnel System when they decide what to do with the civilian personnel system this fall, a Pentagon official said here Aug. 27. Last spring, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III directed that a comprehensive

  • Next-gen spacecraft stops at Holloman

    NASA's next generation of a manned-spacecraft  made a stop at Holloman AFB on its way to White Sands Missile Range, N.M. where launch abort tests will be performed. The Orion Program's Pad Abort One Crew Module arrived here Aug. 19 via a C-17 Globemaster III and left aboard a tractor-trailer Aug. 21

  • Academy to transform character development program

    Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould unveiled plans Aug. 27 for a major transformation and expansion of the Academy's character development efforts. Plans include re-designating the Center for Character Development to the Center for Character and Leadership Development, or CCLD, and relocating

  • Green Flag provides Italian air force new insight on close air support

    Italian airmen sharpened their close-air-support skills in realistic combat conditions here during their first-ever exercise appearance at Green Flag West Aug. 9 through 20. Nearly 180 Italian airmen from four different squadrons comprised the "Reparto Autonomo Volo," or Autonomous Flying Wing, at

  • Charleston Airman shows strength for recovery

    An explosives ordnance disposal technician with the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron mustered the strength to brace himself and stand for the first time in three weeks Aug. 21 after an explosion turned his deployment upside down. "I just want to take each day slowly but surely. In the next week or two

  • AMC wing hits high marks for nuclear surety

    Air Mobility Command Airmen showed strong support for "reinvigorating the Air Force nuclear enterprise" through a command-level no-notice inspection recently. From Aug. 17 to 24, the AMC Inspector General officials completed a no-notice Limited Nuclear Surety Inspection, or LNSI, of the 62nd Airlift

  • Aug. 26 airpower summary: Transports are AOR workhorses

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force B-1B Lancer aircraft provided armed overwatch for

  • Photo essay: Ready for takeoff

    Airmen from the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron work around the clock to ensure the B-2 Spirit is mission ready. The 509th Bomb Wing is home to 20 B-2s. The aircraft brings massive firepower to bear, in a short time, anywhere on the globe. See the slideshow. 

  • NASA accepting applications for aeronautics scholarship awards

    Officials in NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate will begin accepting scholarship applications on Sept. 1 for the 2010 academic year. The application deadline is Jan. 11, 2010. "These scholarships are a fantastic way to support our brightest students and encourage them to finish their

  • Proposed leave rule would provide for warrior care

    Defense Department federal employees could receive up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a military family member injured in the line of duty if an Office of Personnel Management proposal is adopted. The proposal would allow eligible federal employees to take 26 "administrative work weeks"

  • Osan AB's airfield damage repair team train with South Korean air force

    Airmen of the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron airfield damage repair team here participated in a combined-rapid-runway-repair-training exercise with the South Korean air force's 19th Tactical Fighter Wing and 91st Air Civil Engineer Group Aug.19 at Jungwon Air Base, South Korea. "This is the first time

  • New GI Bill to heighten professional work force

    More college-educated professionals will enter the next generation's professional work force as a result of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said this week at the American Legion's 91st National Convention in Louisville, Ky. Secretary Shinseki lauded the

  • Air evacuation liaison team's battle buddies wear Army green

    Airmen with an Air Mobility Command air evacuation liaison team and Soldiers from Army patient administration staff trained with each other during Joint Readiness Training Center Exercise 09-09 at Folk Polk, La., through Aug. 25. Their goal: prepare for Middle East deployments. "Our main goal is to

  • Info to abound at USAF Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo

    USAF Marathon officials here say you should plan to be informed and inspired at the USAF Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo on Sept. 17 and 18.Nationally-syndicated "consumer warrior" Clark Howard and Boston Marathon Director Dave McGillivray are just two of the speakers scheduled to provide

  • Secretary Donley visits deployed servicemembers

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley met with deployed servicemembers Aug. 26 at an air base in Southwest Asia and visited base facilities there during a brief stop on his tour of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.He began his visit by making a presentation of six battle streamers

  • Air Force earns 6 campaign streamers

    A new chapter of military history was recognized here, Aug. 26, as the Secretary of  the Air Force added six campaign streamers to accompany the Air Force colors. The new streamers were presented by the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, and received by Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, U.S. Air Forces

  • Dover reservists work to form Canadian sister squadron program

    Reservists here visited members of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 8 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario, Aug. 22 through 24 as part of an effort to initiate a sister squadron program. Airmen with Dover's 512th Airlift Wing hoped to forge a partnership with the Canadian airmen and identify

  • 'Defender's Edge': A new approach to combat stress

    A new customized mental health program is helping security forces Airmen here manage combat stress.The "Defenders Edge" is tailored to those security forces Airmen who conduct missions on or outside the wire. This program is intended to improve Airmen's mental resiliency to combat-related stressors.

  • Photo essay: Multi-lift airdrop at Davis-Monthan AFB

    Airmen from the Air Force Reserve Command's 306th Rescue Squadron participated in the first multi-lift HC-airdrop here Aug. 15 with the 79th Rescue Squadron. The squadrons normally must jump at a different location, because the flight line is usually occupied. The two squadrons were able to

  • Engine program aims to meet military's need for speed

    The F-22 Raptor and F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets are fast, screaming through the air at twice the speed of sound.  But the SR-71 Blackbird was faster, flying Mach 3 until mechanical problems and exorbitant operating costs forced it out of service in the late 1990s. Now, Defense Advanced Research

  • U.S. Air Forces Africa help Nigerian C-130 fly again

    A group of active-duty Air Force and Tennessee Air National Guardsmen recently helped restore one of Nigeria's C-130 transport aircraft to flying condition as part of an ongoing military-to-military engagement between 17th Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Africa) and the West African nation. Lt. Col.

  • Air Forces Africa commander visits Kenyan air force

    Air Forces Africa officials arrived in Kenya Aug. 21 for the latest in a series of engagements between U.S. and Kenyan forces. AFAFRICA, also known as 17th Air Force, is the air component for U.S. Africa Command. AFAFRICA Commander Maj. Gen. Ronald R. Ladnier led the visit, which came in the wake of

  • Aug. 25 airpower summary: Pave Hawks transport medivac patients

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces

  • Aug. 24 airpower summary: A-10s provide cover for convoy

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft responded to a strike call

  • NCO donates kidney, begins 'donor chain'

    Valinda Jones, a nurse in Woodland Hills, Calif., has endured more than 14,500 hours of dialysis throughout the last five years -- that's eight hours a day, every day -- relying on a machine to filter impurities from her blood. Thanks to Master Sgt. Nicole Lanstrum, Ms. Jones is back to a living a

  • New munitions units advance nuclear weapons center role

    With the activation and assumption of command for the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Aug. 18, Air Force officials significantly advanced one of their top goals: reinvigorating the service's nuclear enterprise. The maintenance group was the last of four similar

  • New ergonomic seats installed in E-3 fleet

    For operators occupying the 19 control stations aboard E-3 Sentrys, 12-to-14-hour missions will become a bit more comfortable after new ergonomically designed seats are installed on the U.S. fleet. This Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft is the first of five legacy platforms to receive the

  • Their 'American Spirit' earns Salt Lake Bees baseball team Air Force award

    Before a sold-out crowd of more than 17,000 fans, the Salt Lake Bees Triple-A baseball team was presented the Air Force Recruiting Service's most prestigious award, the American Spirit Award, here Aug. 22. Col. Mark Ward, 372nd Recruiting Group commander, presented the award to Greg Miller, chief

  • Blog offers support to military families

    Defense Department officials have launched a blog called "Family Matters" that is dedicated to providing resources and support to military families. The blog, which can be found at http://afps.dodlive.mil, features tips from experts, and military-related topics that discuss anything from deployments

  • Portal to AF past found at Frankfurt Airport

    Almost 13 years ago, members of the 626th Air Mobility Support Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, left their mark when they created and buried a time capsule. Today, Rhein-Main AB is closed and the Frankfurt Airport is undergoing construction for cargo buildings where the base's flightline

  • Business board calls for changes to personnel system

    In its final report, a Defense Business Board task group has recommended a "reconstruction" of the National Security Personnel System. Former Deputy Defense Secretary Rudy DeLeon chaired the group. Defense Department officials will use the board's recommendations as they ponder the system's future.

  • Aug. 23 airpower summary: C-17s provide intra-theater heavy airlift

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly forces near

  • Aug. 20 airpower summary: F-16s cover coalition convoys

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16CJ Fighting Falcons and F-15E Strike Eagles provided

  • Collaboration key to success in cyber operations

    The Air Force Information Technology Conference opened Aug. 24 in Montgomery, Ala., with keynote addresses from the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Air Force chief of staff and the CEO of McAfee, Inc. Collaboration emerged as a key theme in the opening day of the conference, which is now in

  • Airmen, Soldiers host health fair for Iraqi children

    Airmen and Soldiers here hosted a Department of State Provincial Reconstruction Team-initiated health fair for local Iraqi children Aug. 22. More than 30 children from the surrounding Salah ad Din province interacted with servicemembers while learning about basic first aid, the role of emergency

  • Aug. 21 airpower summary: Predator targets enemy force

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 21, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-1B Predator provided armed overwatch for friendly

  • Aug. 22 airpower summary: A-10s provide protection

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft provided armed overwatch near

  • 3rd Bombardment Group reunites at Elmendorf

    Several members of the 3rd Bombardment Group reunited here Aug. 12 through 16 to honor an important chapter in the 3rd Wing's history.The 3rd BG, which was also known as the 3rd Attack Group, was stationed in Australia during World War II and is today's 3rd Wing. The members who reunited here were

  • Iraqi agency ready to take over civil aviation operations

    The Iraqi civil aviation authority staff will independently conduct day-to-day civil aviation operations beginning Aug. 25 after Airmen of the Regional Air Movement Control Center helped direct the organization stationed here. The Regional Air Movement Control Center staff worked for more than half

  • Iraqi air force brings ISR capabilities online

    Intelligence collection has become a valuable capability for the Iraqi air force in its push to provide security and stability. Unique to the Iraqi air force, the King Air Squadron 87 here boasts the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities necessary for detecting and deterring

  • United Arab Emirates air force participates in first Red Flag

    United Arab Emirates air force pilots and maintainers are participating in the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the first time Aug. 22 through Sept. 5. The UAE airmen spent the previous two weeks at the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International

  • Airmen, community help vets

    Beale Air Force Base volunteers teamed with partners from the Yuba-Sutter community to transform a shady patch of lawn at the River Bottoms Park here into a mini tent city used to provide assistance to veterans in need Aug. 20 through 22. "It's good to help out and give back to them," said Staff

  • NATO AWACS proves interoperability during test

    A NATO E-3 AWACS took part in six-hour combat scenarios that demonstrated interoperability between its prototype interrogator and various joint platforms that interrogate in the same mode in July flying at an observation point 100 miles off the coast of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. During

  • Hanscom Airmen train with Massachusetts state troopers

    Hanscom Air Force Base security forces Airmen received specialized tactical training as part of an ongoing partnership with the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations team in early August. The training, which took place in base dormitories, offered instruction on handling

  • Platelet donations bring troops home

    The pint-sized bags of cloudy, yellow liquid may not look like much, but the fluid inside them has proved to be a lifesaving substance to injured servicemembers. "Platelets heal. I've seen it firsthand," said Lt. Col. Thomas Jordan, the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron platelet

  • Guardsmen deliver medical care to Guatemala

    About 40 medical personnel from the Arkansas Air National Guard are here performing a humanitarian medical readiness exercise as part of their annual training requirement. The medical team -- made up of general physicians, pediatricians, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, nurses and medical

  • Airman witnesses daughter's birth via webcam

    Airmen take pride in the electronic devices that allow them to listen to their favorite music, see distant targets or identify the movements of an enemy force.But one Airman assigned here used modern technology recently to witness something a little different and a lot more personal.Tech. Sgt.

  • Photo Essay: Kids' Day 2009 at the Academy

    About 1,000 people, young and old, trekked to Falcon Stadium Aug. 22 to watch an Air Force football scrimmage. Afterward, fans had a chance to meet with players and coaches.View the Kids' Day 2009 slideshow.

  • Chief of staff visits Beale

    Deployment lengths, force-shaping efforts and emerging unmanned aircraft missions were some of the topics on the minds of Beale Airmen during the visit by the Air Force chief of staff here Aug. 21. In his first visit to Beale since becoming the Air Force's top officer just over a year ago, Gen.

  • Air Force Marathon makes history

    Registration for the 13th Annual United States Air Force Marathon has exceeded last year's total participation, making this the largest field in the history of the service's largest participatory athletic event. A weekly registration release, on Fridays, shows that as of Aug. 21, more than 7,410

  • Lajes Field clinic hosts school, sports physical day

    A steady flow of children and their parents passed through the 65th Medical Group clinic during a school and sports physical day here Aug 20. With almost 120 appointments scheduled for the day, the 65th MDG staff was far busier than a normal duty day as children came in to get their school and

  • Airdrop fuels troops in austere Afghan locations

    Air Force officials from here airdropped 3.3 million pounds of supplies into Afghanistan during the month of July. Members of the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron contributed more than 276,000 pounds of equipment, ammunition and other supplies ranging from fuel to food and water to fellow

  • SECAF outlines Year of the Air Force Family

    The secretary of the Air Force emphasized the Air Force's firm commitment to its families during his speech at the 2009 Air Force Sergeant's Association Professional Airmen's Conference here August 19. Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz designated July 2009

  • Air Force unveils new fitness program

    Approval of the new Air Force fitness instruction in the coming weeks will bring about some of the most significant changes to the Air Force fitness program in the last five years.Those changes, which take effect Jan. 1, 2010, shift a greater responsibility of maintaining physical fitness 365 days a

  • Leaders issue joint message, define cyber mission

    In a joint Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff focus on the alignment of the service's cyberspace mission."Without question, cyberspace is vital to today's fight and to the future U.S. military advantage over our adversaries," said Air Force Secretary

  • Pacific Airlift Rally 2009 kicks off

    A biennial symposium involving Pacific Rim nations to enhance military airlift interoperability with a focus in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations kicked off here Aug. 17. Pacific Airlift Rally 2009, co-hosted by the American and Royal Malaysian air forces, includes

  • Civilians can now apply for new professional development program

    Air Force civilian employees can now apply for a new professional development opportunity with applications due to Air Force Personnel Center officials by Sept. 4. The Civilian Acculturation Leadership Training program provides a unique in-residence experience at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.,

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force. View the Week in Photos slideshow.

  • Academy rated best in west by U.S. News & World Report

    The U.S. Air Force Academy was named the best baccalaureate college in the west for the third year in a row and received high rankings in engineering in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" 2010 rankings. U.S. News evaluated universities which offer only undergraduate degrees, and

  • Aug. 19 airpower summary: F-15E destroys enemy position

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft provided armed overwatch for friendly

  • Shaw Airmen train with South Carolina Civil Air Patrol

    Shaw Air Force Base Airmen joined volunteers of the South Carolina wing of the Civil Air Patrol in Exercise Fertile Keynote Aug. 11 here. The training exercise occurs five to six times per month and gives 20th Fighter Wing alert Airmen experience with different scenarios, said Maj. Benjamin Price,

  • 5 NATO countries take part in jump week

    Five NATO countries including Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States participated in airborne jump operations during International Jump Week Aug. 9 thru 14. Parachuting out of the back of a C-130 Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron here, more than 250 paratroopers guided

  • Acquisition work force steps toward reform

    Big changes are ahead in the acquisitions community as Defense Department officials increase and reshape the acquisition work force so it's better postured to support the reforms Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Barack Obama are championing. The federal civilian defense acquisition

  • Gates, Mullen use new media to hear from troops, public

    Got questions you'd like to pose directly to the defense secretary or chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? Now is your chance! Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen have launched interactive, virtual town hall sessions through the Internet. The initiatives are part of a broad administration

  • Clinic traffic downrange shows need for hearing protection

    When gearing up for a mission in Afghanistan, servicemembers don't forget their helmet, gloves, weapon, eye protection or body armor. But what about hearing protection? Staff Sgt. Lee Adams, an ear, nose and throat technician here, said more than half of the patients seen in the ENT walk-in clinics

  • Guard chief encourages 'continual support' of families

    The state's are doing a great job of supporting the National Guard and its families, but it takes continuous support to make sure no one falls through the cracks, the National Guard's top military officer said Aug. 18 here. "If there is an area that we have to concentrate on, to continue to focus

  • Flying hospital staff gives wounded fighting chance

    At any given moment, a call can come in requiring an entire aeromedical evacuation staff here to stop what they are doing and begin preparing to care for the wounded and sick headed their way. The team of Airmen will pull supplies, alert additional crewmembers, get updates from aid stations and make

  • Aug. 18 airpower summary: 3,400 pax moved

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs were providing armed

  • Mildenhall serves as base for Turkish C-130 engine replacement

    A team of 13 Turkish air force mechanics arrived here Aug. 17 to repair one of their C-130s after a maintenance inspection revealed problems with one of the aircraft's engines. Members of the 100th Maintenance Squadron lent support of its facilities and equipment to the team while they swapped out

  • Four USSTRATCOM units win prestigious awards

    Four units of U.S. Strategic Command have been selected to receive the Omaha Trophy for 2008 in their respective categories.  The trophy is presented annually to USSTRATCOM units demonstrating the highest performance standards. Selection for each of the four award categories is based on formal

  • General North assumes command of Pacific Air Forces

    The command of Pacific Air Forces, celebrating 65 years of providing American airpower in the Pacific this month, was passed from Gen. Howie Chandler to Gen. Gary North during a ceremony here Aug. 19 on Freedom Tower Mall. General North assumed command here after completing more than three years of

  • Quilts of Valor comfort complex wartime emotions

    In 2003 Catherine Roberts, a midwife by profession and quilter for 25 years from Seaford, Del., wanted to give a wounded Soldier a quilt to bring him comfort during his recovery. "We are a nation at war," Ms. Roberts said. "Warriors need something tangible, a physical representation of love, support

  • AMC commander receives Order of the Sword

    Arriving at the Scott Club in a horse-drawn carriage while a bagpipe melody filled the air, the commander of Air Mobility Command and his wife became a part of military history Aug. 14 here. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte and Chris Lichte received the carriage ride under security forces escort as the start

  • CMSAF talks integrity, training, development

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force praised the enlisted force and highlighted several of his key priorities during a speech at the 2009 Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airmen's Conference here. "Everywhere I've traveled it's very apparent our Air Force places great trust in our