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  • Tops in Blue brings sergeant home for an encore

    A Tops in Blue performance at Veterans Memorial Park here Aug. 18 was an opportunity for one performer to catch up with friends and family. Staff Sgt. Mark Schmidt, the bass player for the Tops in Blue 2007 World Tour, grew up in nearby Biddeford, Maine, where he learned how to play the bass in high

  • B-24 gunner receives Purple Heart for heroism in WW II

    The scene in the rotunda of Randolph's Taj Mahal Aug. 21 probably seemed like too much hoopla to one former Army Air Corps staff sergeant. But all the TV cameras and reporters there to capture the moment, the remarks by an Air Force major general and the admiration shown by servicemembers and

  • Air Force convenes AFSO 21 summit

    The secretary of the Air Force, chief of staff and the heads of all Air Force major commands gathered here Aug. 22 to increase the capability of the individual warfighter through Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century, commonly known as AFSO 21. AFSO 21 is a dedicated effort to maximize

  • Airmen equip Afghan hospital with supplies, knowledge

    Despite equipment shortages, delivery delays and increased violence around Kandahar, several Airmen and Soldiers continue to work side-by-side with Afghans, putting the final touches on an Afghan National Army hospital that soon will provide state-of-the-art care to warriors injured in the field.

  • Travis Airmen grant child's wish

    The 6th Air Refueling Squadron granted a local boy's wish by making him a "Pilot for a Day" in the U.S. Air Force. Mitchell Louie, of San Carlos, Calif., who is battling gliolastoma spinal cancer, got the chance to become a KC-10 Extender pilot Aug. 20 as part of the Pilot for a Day program. The

  • Fairchild NCO receives $10,000 for great idea

    A Fairchild Air Force Base NCO used his knowledge and experience as a KC-10 Extender and KC-135 Stratotanker crew chief to come up with an idea worth $10,000.Tech. Sgt. Cade Peterson, a 92nd Maintenance Operations Squadron senior weapon system coordinator, used the the Innovative Development through

  • Assessment team arrives in Belize

    Approximately 20 Soldiers and Airmen from Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, deployed here as part of an initial assessment team following Hurricane Dean Aug 21. The team members were transported via three Army helicopters. The team is made up of a security detail, medics,

  • Maine Air Guard peddles Air Force Week from town to town

    After pedaling their bicycles along 170 miles of Maine roads, 18 Maine Air National Guard Cycle Team members, dressed in red, white and blue cycling outfits, coasted to the end of their three-day journey Aug. 20 in front of the local minor leage baseball stadium here. Their trek started in Bangor

  • Charleston Airmen get Lean with maintenance

    Airmen from the 437th Maintenance Squadron here used Lean principles to increase aircraft availability and reduce total cost for Charleston Air Force Base Aug. 6 to 10.  The Airmen used the rapid-improvement Lean process, under the umbrella of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century to

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights mentorship

    This week's Airman's Roll Call highlights mentoring to prepare Airmen for increased responsibilities as they progress in their careers. A mentor is defined as a trusted counselor or guide, according to the new Air Force Professional Development Guide. Mentoring provides a framework to bring about

  • Air Force officials announce 2008 force-shaping plans

    Air Force officials recently announced plans to meet the 2008 fiscal year end-strength of 328,600, which calls for a force reduction of about 5,400 officers and enlisted members through normal attrition, retirement or force-shaping measures. The reductions are in line with Air Force efforts to

  • Stratofortresses test operational skills in Koa Lightning

    B-52 Stratofortresses and aircrews demonstrated the Air Force's global reach and global power by participating in the latest Koa Lightning exercise Aug. 21 through 23 from Andersen Air Force Base. Airmen of the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, deployed from Barksdale AFB, La., flew 18 hours

  • Chief of chaplains visits 379th AEW

    The Air Force chief of chaplains recently visited the base on his tour of the combat theater to visit Airmen and chaplains, ensuring their spiritual needs are taken care of. Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles C. Baldwin has three priorities in his role -- glorifying God, honoring Airmen and serving all,

  • Manas medical group provides hope to local hospitals

    Members of the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group recently saw their efforts come to fruition during a hand-over ceremony of humanitarian medical equipment from the United States to three hospitals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as part of Operation Provide Hope.The largest single U.S.-assistance project

  • SOUTHCOM deploys damage assessment team to Belize

    Approximately 25 Airmen and Soldiers, two CH-47 Chinook helicopters and a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from U.S. Southern Command's Joint Task Force-Bravo here deployed to Belize today to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Dean. The assessment team will bring various people to evaluate the amount

  • Servicemembers treat 1,300 patients in Peru

    Members of Joint Task Force-Bravo's medical disaster relief task force continue to supply medical assistance to the citizens of Pisco, Peru, following an 8.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the region Aug. 15. Medical team members deployed from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, have treated more than

  • Artist captures Eielson mission change on canvas

    An artist recently captured the mission evolution at Eielson in an oil painting. Capt. Warren Neary, an Air Force reservist assigned to the Air Force Space Command history office, completed an oil painting that depicts the change in mission at Eielson and the 354th Fighter Wing. The painting is

  • Army Air Corps veteran talks about war experience

    The 81-year-old World War II veteran was a liar. Robert McNally shared his story at the Pease Air National Guard Base's air show Aug. 19, one of the main attractions of Air Force Week New England. Mr. McNally's military journey preceded the Air Force and started in the era of the Army Air Corps.

  • Course focuses on trauma training for nurses, medics

    To accommodate a large number of Airmen departing Wilford Hall Medical Center for Air Expeditionary Force 9/10, 59th Medical Wing leaders implemented a trauma pre-deployment course Aug. 16 for nurses and medical technicians. The course is a condensed version of the Department of Defense's Emergency

  • Air Force fitness test now pass, fail

    Air Force officials here recently announced a change to physical fitness test standards for all Airmen. The "marginal" category has been eliminated, and the test will now be either pass or fail. Previously, Airmen who scored below 70 on the fitness test failed, and those who scored between 70 and

  • Pacific Airlift Rally commences

    Pacific Airlift Rally 2007, co-hosted by the U.S. and Indonesian air forces, began Aug. 20 and runs through Aug. 24 at Halim Air Base, Jakarta, Indonesia. Pacific Airlift Rally is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored military airlift symposium and live-flying exercise for nations of the Pacific Rim. The

  • Operation Deep Freeze 2007-08 begins

    Operation Deep Freeze 2007-08 winter flights began Aug. 20 ending more than five months of isolation for the research station as the first C-17 Globemaster III delivered passengers and cargo to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Landing 15 miles from McMurdo Station at Pegasus Runway, the C-17s will carry

  • Air Force discontinues use of base decals

    Air Force officials are working with other services to allow its people to enter installations without requiring them to display a base decal on their vehicles. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley recently ended use of the sticker, officially called a DD Form 2220, on Air Force

  • Texas National Guard ready for Hurricane Dean strike

    About 4,700 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, most of them from Texas, are making final preparations Aug. 20 for a rapid response should Hurricane Dean strike the Texas coast the end of August. Another 5,000 Texas Soldiers and Airmen are poised for activation should Texas Gov. Rick Perry deem it

  • NORTHCOM ready to help save lives

    U.S. Northern Command officials continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Dean and are working closely with the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the National Guard and the state of Texas on hurricane response preparations. "While we remain fully engaged

  • Robins officer comes up BIG in life, career

    A navigator with the 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron here received the 2007 Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award Aug. 17 in Nashville, Tenn.Lt. Col. Joseph Richardson accepted given annually to a military member and Department of Defense civilian employee who has distinguished

  • Afghan conference addresses communications issues

    An American Airman spoke to more than 75 senior military communications professionals of the Afghan national army during a conference in July at Kabul.The conference, "Building a Capable C4 Force," was held to discuss strategic communications networks, tactical equipment fielding plans, signal

  • Weather center receives production system upgrades

    The American Forces Network Weather Center here received computer upgrades recently ensuring its world-wide products equal or surpass those of its civilian counterparts. The center received two major forecast production units, known as Weather Services International systems, in early August. The

  • 'Today's Air Force' focuses on recapitalization

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights recapitalization -- replacing the aging F-15 Eagle with the front-line air dominance fighter, the F-22 Raptor. And see more than 22,000 Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen participate in Exercise Valiant Shield. The exercise showcases

  • Pease Airmen provide a day to remember

    Airmen hosted an air show here for special-needs children Aug. 17 in advance of the Pease Air National Guard Base's air show Aug. 18 and 19. The event, which included a drill team performance, music and a front-row view of numerous aerial acts, gave children with disabilities or special

  • Task force treats more than 500 Peruvian patients

    Medical personnel from Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras saw more than 500 patients here Aug. 18 and 19 -- including more than 200 in the first three hours of operation -- and expect to see many more in the next week. The medical team deployed from Soto Cano the morning of

  • Pope aerovac squadron deploys for Hurricane Dean

    More than 40 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Airmen deployed at 11:30  a.m. Aug. 19 to Brownsville, Texas, to set up a Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility at the Brownsville airport in support of Hurricane Dean evacuations.The team left on a C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston AFB, S.C. 

  • CENTAF commander visits 379th Air Expeditionary Wing

    Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, U.S. Central Command Air Forces and 9th Air Force commander, visited the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Aug. 15, kicking off a tour that will take him to expeditionary bases throughout the area of responsibility.General North discussed issues surrounding the Air Force's

  • F-22 demo team inspires at children's hospital

    Upon arriving at La Rabida Children's Hospital on Chicago's lakeshore Aug. 15, members of the Air Force's F-22 Raptor demonstration team noticed an immediate mood change in the air. The specialty hospital, which holistically treats more than 9,000 children annually, was one of the first places the

  • Soto Cano task force arrives in Peru

    A team of Airmen and Soldiers from Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, arrived here Aug. 17 to provide medical care to those suffering in the aftermath of an 8.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the region Aug. 15. The task force is the first American force to touch down in

  • Boston proclamation party gets Air Force Week rolling

    More than 300 people crowded outside of historic Faneuil Hall here Aug. 17 to celebrate the start of Air Force Week New England. The crowd was entertained by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill team, Air National Guard's Band of the Northeast and a flyover. Guest speakers included Massachusetts Lt.

  • Enhanced use lease will substantially benefit Air Force

    The Air Force announced Aug. 17 the selection of Sunset Ridge Development Partners LLC as the highest ranked offeror for Phase 1 of the West Side Development Enhanced Use Lease, or EUL, project here. Kathleen I. Ferguson, deputy Air Force Civil Engineer at the Pentagon, selected Sunset Ridge

  • Researchers working to reduce atmospheric interference

    The Air Force is funding an effort to reduce atmospheric interference in free space laser communication. A team of scientists has shown new ways to deal with fading effects that occur when light interferes with itself as it propagates through atmospheric turbulence. The Air Force Office of

  • Space exec course reaches out to allies, Pentagon

    August is a month of firsts for the National Security Space Institute as the school opens its senior-level class to international students and takes the course on the road to Washington, D.C. Called SOC-E, the Aug. 2 Space Operations Executive-level Course included its first international students

  • Hurricane Hunters track Dean in Caribbean

    Air Force Reserve Command's Hurricane Hunters are in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands, flying state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft into Hurricane Dean in support of the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Dean blasted St. Lucia, uprooting trees, downing power lines and damaging homes and other

  • Soto Cano team responds to Peru earthquake

    Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen departed here Aug. 17 in support of relief efforts following the Aug. 15 earthquake near Lima, Peru. The task force, composed of a mobile surgery team, communications specialists and a small security detail, departed the base aboard a C-130J assigned to the

  • Programs help Airmen, families prepare for deployment

    As part of ongoing efforts to inform Airmen about ways to manage stress, Air Force officials here introduced a monthly campaign to highlight initiatives to help Airmen and their families cope with life's difficulties, and the initiative for August is deployment readiness.Air Force officials employ

  • Holloman Airmen hand stealth knowledge to F-22 community

    The stealth community wrapped up a high-powered information exchange Aug. 13 to 17 at Langley Air Force Base, Va. More than 70 49th Fighter Wing operators and maintainers gathered at the 1st Fighter Wing to hand off 25 years of stealth knowledge, as well as stealth integration tactics. "Holloman's

  • Bolling dedicates theater to legendary actor, Airman

    Officials of the 11th Wing at Bolling Air Force Base officially changed the name of Building 52 to the Brig. Gen. Jimmy Stewart Theater Aug. 13 as the old building had finally come full circle, historically speaking. Among the some 200 people in attendance were Carson Greene, president of the Jimmy

  • Northern Viking tests command, control capabilities

    An unidentified aircraft is headed toward Iceland's coast. The aircraft is not in contact with the tower, and two F-15 Eagles deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath in England scramble to intercept the suspicious aircraft. This is the scenario playing itself out several times during Northern

  • Academy academics rank among best in nation

    The Air Force Academy was named the best baccalaureate college in the west, and received top rankings in several engineering programs, according to the U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges 2008 rankings, released Aug. 17. U.S. News & World Report evaluated the 320 universities in the

  • Manas medics perform expeditionary appendectomy

    A Manas Air Base Airman got a dose of expeditionary medicine recently when he reported to the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group.Tech. Sgt. Charles Bean of the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management wasn't a victim of the gastrointestinal ailment that sometimes plagues

  • U.S. military women reach out to Djiboutian women

    U.S. military women attached to Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa visited the girls' orphanage Aug. 15 in Djibouti City. During the visit, the servicemembers taught the female students the "Alphabet Song," how to count to 10, how to say and spell certain words and how to introduce

  • Air Force doctrine gets new home at Air University

    The Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center here stood up in August with the leaders of Air University, the 42nd Air Base Wing and local business and government agencies in attendance. The new center is the result of a merger between the Air Force Doctrine Center, which was stood up 10

  • Malmstrom Airmen rescue injured hiker on mountain peak

    A UH-1N "Huey" helicopter crew assigned to the 40th Helicopter Squadron here, rescued an injured hiker Aug. 10 near Cook City, Mont., just north of the Montana-Wyoming border. The rescue, executed at approximately 9,000 feet, raises the unit's total number of "saves" to 369 and marks its fourth

  • CSAF's Scope highlights force structure changes

    The CSAF's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen. Among Gen. T. Michael Moseley's top issues this month is the Air Force's force structure changes and "The High Ground." To facilitate effectively success of the future force

  • 'Perspective' focuses on feedback, evaluation

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted Airman discusses the the new feedback forms and the importance of honest assessment of Airmen by supervisors and rating officials. "These evaluation forms are a great improvement," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J.

  • No mountain too high, no bridge too far for Afghan PRT

    Whether crawling over dirt mounds to inspect a school, hiking mountains 9,000 feet above sea level or handing out stuffed animals, members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team are pushing progress in Afghanistan. "It's a very unique job," said Lt. Col. Christopher Luedtke, PRT commander

  • Homestead Airmen return from Iraq

    More than 260 Airmen from Homestead Air Reserve Base were welcomed home Aug. 13 as they returned from supporting the war on terrorism at Balad Air Base, Iraq. The Airmen were bused from the flightline to the reception area where hundreds of family members, friends, elected officials and local media

  • Gen. Pace visits servicemembers in Djibouti

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff answered questions and addressed concerns from a large audience of servicemembers during a "Town Hall meeting" Aug.14 at the Thunder Dome at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti. Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the highest-ranking officer in the U.S. military, went to Camp

  • Exercise Valiant Shield wraps up

    Exercise Valiant Shield 2007, the largest exercise of its kind in the Pacific, wrapped up eight days of flying operations Aug.13. During the field training exercise, more than 2,900 sorties were flown, with KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-10 Extenders offloading 2.29 million pounds of fuel to airborne

  • Training builds foundation for deploying medics

    The acrid, hazy smoke hangs over a scene that is straight out of a nightmare. A red substance that looks like blood is smeared all over the two vehicles, and one of the vehicles is tipped over on its side. Fake body parts and debris are scattered everywhere like a petulant child's unappreciated

  • Hickam Airmen conduct 4-ship airdrop training

    Four C-17 Globemaster III aircrews from the 535th Airlift squadron conducted multi-element airdrop training over the Kahuku training range Aug. 13 here allowing aircrew members to maintain currency while increasing proficiency and capability. Strategic airlift for the eight C-17s at Hickam AFB is in

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights streamlined services

    This week's Airman's Roll Call highlights the merging of services and mission support squadrons at six Air Force test bases to streamline processes, increase efficiencies, maximize customer service and cut costs associated with maintaining two separate organizations. The new combined organizations

  • Automated test helps maintainers solve F-15 problems

    Maintainers from bases around the world are focusing their eyes on Robins Air Force Base, the 566th Combat Sustainment Squadron's test equipment office, and a new test set that officials developed as a solution to F-15 Eagle maintenance dilemmas. A new automated flight control system test set has

  • Virtualized servers saving time, money and power

    'The server is down' are four words you never want to hear at work, especially in Iraq. Global Cyberspace Integration Center Airmen have teamed with Multi-National Corps-Iraq communications people to evaluate server usage and provide methods of improvement to eliminate this problem, specifically

  • USO takes to the road in new mobile canteens

    One of three United Service Organizations' mobile canteens spent Aug. 11 here during drill week as part of an effort to reach out to servicemembers who are not often exposed to the USO. The USO, famous for taking the show on the road, is using the new set of wheels to help the agency travel to

  • Icelandic defense exercise kicks off

    Leaders from the United States and Iceland joined NATO partners Aug. 13 to kick off an exercise to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the 1951 bilateral U.S.-Iceland defense agreement and reinvigorate air defense command and control capabilities of joint and coalition forces in Iceland. Exercise

  • Hurricane Hunters fly into Flossie

    As Hurricane Flossie made its way across the Pacific, a few Airmen were doing the unthinkable -- making trips directly into the eye of the Category 4 storm. Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron's Hurricane Hunters out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., flew missions into the storm from

  • Afghan police seize weapons cache with Airmen support

    Members of the Afghan National Police recently took control of a weapons cache discovered by the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team during a construction site inspection here recently. It's a perfect example of the teamwork occurring between the Afghans and the Americans working in this region

  • Cargo flight keeps warfighters moving

    The Airmen with the 379th Logistics Readiness Squadron Cargo Movement Flight here serve as force multipliers by ensuring anything warfighters need gets to the proper place at the proper time. Members of the flight receive and ship supplies in and out of the base to and from anywhere in the world,

  • Airmen trek over mountains to deliver aid in Afghanistan

    Trekking more than four hours over mountain ridges and valleys, 19 members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team delivered medical and humanitarian aid Aug. 7 to people living in Roydara, a village set deep in a valley in Afghanistan. The group, made mostly of Airmen, as well as Soldiers,

  • Airmen, Soldiers compete during boxing tourney

    Fighters from the U.S. Army and Air Force settled their interservice "differences" in the ring during the 2007 summer Smoker Boxing Tournament Aug. 11 here. The competition, sponsored by Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation, pitted 36 Airmen from Osan, Kunsan and Suwon air bases against Soldiers from

  • Misawa mayor tours base first time in 67 years

    After 67 years of living next door, the newest mayor of Misawa set foot on the base for the first time July 26. Kazumasa Taneichi, the new Misawa City mayor, received a tour of the flightline, fire station, new dorms and dining facility. He was even treated to a seat in the cockpit of the 35th

  • 'Today's Air Force' highlights mission in Ecuador

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the Manta Air Base mission in Ecuador -- the fight against drug trafficking. It also features the Air Mobility Command Rodeo. See how more than 40 teams and 2,500 people from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and allied nations took part in the

  • Crew chief awarded Purple Heart after 39-year wait

    Wayne Sufficool vividly remembers what happened to him Feb. 19, 1968, when he was a crew chief on the RF-4C aircraft at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. It was the day the flightline area he was working on was hit with more than 40 rounds of 122 mm mortar rounds. Now Mr. Sufficool has another

  • Rock band reaches out to Djiboutian villages

    The U. S. Central Command Air Forces Expeditionary band "Thunder Roll" entertained audiences in local villages around Djibouti City during their summer concert series in Africa Aug. 8 to 10. Their stops included the villages of Hol Hol and Danerjog. The CENTAF band deployed to the area of operations

  • Airmen go hand-to-hand with Afghan National Police

    Airmen from the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team and Afghan National Police recently roughed each other up here with a little hand-to-hand combat, but all for the sake of training. Teaching pressure point control tactics to the Afghan police in the Anaba district helps increase the local

  • Upgraded armored vehicles aid Moody's war training

    Warfighters preparing for combat deployments are now using the same highly armored combat vehicles during stateside training missions as they will use in theater. The 820th Security Forces Group recently received 18 Humvees outfitted with the safest and thickest armor modifications, known as Frag 5,

  • Command celebrates Air Force's 60th Anniversary

    Airmen, family and friends from throughout the Kaiserslautern Military Community celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the United States Air Force here Aug. 11 with band performances, demonstrations and special guest speakers. "In addition to celebrating our historical anniversary, this year marks the

  • Recent ops eval challenges Lakenheath Airmen

    While most Airmen either have participated in or are familiar with an operational readiness inspection -- both the Phase 1 and Phase II portions--some are scratching their heads over a recent evaluation exercise held here.  The operations evaluation, more commonly known as an "ops eval," looks and

  • Afghan cadet selected for Air Force pilot training

    An Afghan translator soon will attend Air Force pilot training in the United States as part of the service's Aviation Leadership Program, becoming the first such trained pilot in the Afghan National Army Air Corps. Cadet Faiz Mohd Ramaki said he is the luckiest person in Afghanistan because of the

  • Air National Guard recognizes top Airmen

    The Air National Guard's top six enlisted Airmen of the year were recognized for their achievements when the Air Guard's command chief master sergeant hosted Airmen of the Year Week here Aug. 4 to 11. The Airmen are: -- Airman of the Year: Staff Sgt. Jesse Permenter, 116th Air Support Operations

  • Retired Airmen don uniforms once again to teach JROTC cadets

    More than 1,900 Junior ROTC instructors, who teach at 869 school units throughout the world, finished their initial instructor training here last week. Jo Alice Talley, chief of JROTC instructor management at Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools, said the newly hired instructors were

  • Recovery agency teams complete 100th Laos mission

    Four recovery teams from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recently completed JPAC's 100th recovery mission in Laos."The JPAC mission is as important in our effort to account for each missing American here as it is in Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Korea and everywhere else where we have unresolved

  • SERE training to be required for all Airmen

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley met Aug. 10 at the Pentagon with several Air Force leaders to discuss the road ahead for survival, evasion, resistance and escape training. Air Force leaders plan to broaden the focus of SERE training for all Airmen due to the threat of isolation and

  • Balad's medics move into new facility

    Approximately 150 base volunteers and 380 Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group moved patients and equipment as they closed the doors on the old Air Force Theater Hospital and opened the doors to their pre-engineered facility here Aug. 3. Starting at 4 a.m., Airmen in each tent tunnel

  • Staff sergeant promotion rates announced

    Air Force officials selected 15,130 of 36,608 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant for a selection rate of 41.33 percent, up 5.46 percent from last year. The staff sergeant promotion list will be released at 9 a.m. Central Daylight Time Aug. 15, and score notices will be posted on

  • Leaders consider returning maintainers to flying squadrons

    Air Force leaders are considering realigning aircraft maintenance units directly into flying squadrons. "It's important for Air Force units to be structured by mission and not by function," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "Aircraft maintenance is an important element of a

  • Air National Guard assists with Utah mining rescue

    Air National Guard members airlifted a critical piece of equipment Aug. 9 in Salt Lake City to assist with rescue operations for six Utah miners, who have been trapped deep inside the earth since the Crandall Canyon Coal Mine collapsed Aug. 6.Within hours of receiving the request for help from Utah

  • Humble hero visits RAF Lakenheath

    "I don't have anything really profound to say," said Col. Leo Thorsness, retired Air Force fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient. The colonel, who visited RAF Lakenheath Aug. 7 to speak to Airmen about the importance of teamwork and families as part of a successful military, received the Medal

  • Ops center commands sky during Exercise Valiant Shield

    Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines are working together in the 613th Air and Space Operations Center here and within the airspace around Guam to enhance joint combat skills and interoperability during Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 held Aug. 6 to 13. The week-long exercise tests the military's

  • General shares Tuskegee heritage with Balad Airmen

    Airmen serving with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here got a chance to meet with a man who shared some heritage with them July 31. On his sixth visit to Balad Air Base in recent years, Maj. Gen. Darryl A. Scott, the son of a Tuskegee Airman, arrived with a number of purposes. As the commander of

  • Airman's fight-back bravery earns him Bronze Star

    Whenever Senior Airman Phillip King looks at his medal, he is reminded of Aug. 8, 2006. That was the day Airman King, through his brave actions, earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor. Col. Bryan Gallagher, 95th Air Base Wing commander, presented the medal to him during a ceremony here July 30.

  • Blood center supports U.S., coalition warfighters

    Airmen of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group's blood transshipment center here have a tendency to make people's blood run cold -- literally. Blood transshipment center members are responsible for receiving blood from donors stateside, processing it, accounting for it, repacking it and shipping it

  • NCO's training proves worth for accident victims

    An NCO attending a deployment training course at Fort Eustis, Va., became a hero recently when she used her self-aid and buddy care experience to tend to several people injured in an automobile accident. Staff Sgt. Brenda Johnson, the 8th Air Force manpower and personnel readiness NCO in charge

  • Predator soars to record numbers of sorties

    When terrorists tried shooting mortar rounds at Balad Air Base in July, they didn't count on the tireless, unblinking eye of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle overhead, transmitting their every move to Airmen on the ground here. Airmen assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance

  • Elmendorf welcomes F-22 Raptor

    It was a historic day for Elmendorf as the base officially welcomed the first of its F-22 Raptor fleet during a ceremony here Aug. 8.Elmendorf became the second operational base and the first Pacific Air Forces installation to receive the Air Force's new superiority fighter. "These incredible

  • SECAF certifies synthetic fuel blends for B-52H

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne announced the completion of the Air Force's certification of the Fischer-Tropsch fuel blend in the B-52H Stratofortress during a signing ceremony here Aug. 8. The signing ceremony certified that the blended FT and JP-8 fuel is safe for operational use in

  • Rules change to require technicians to wear uniforms fulltime

    When people visit an Air Force Reserve Command unit during a normal work week in the coming months, they are likely to see more people in military uniforms. Air Force officials changed three instructions Aug. 7 to require all air reserve technicians to wear military uniforms rather than civilian

  • Letter to Airmen focuses on stress and prevention

    In the latest Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force focuses on how Air Force people can stem the rising number of suicides in the Air Force by taking care of each other. "In stressful times such as these, with so many Airmen deployed and with so many others pushed to the breaking point,

  • Valiant Shield exercise brings services together

    Kadena-based units departed Okinawa Aug. 5 on their way to Guam to join fellow Airmen and sister services in the joint Exercise Valiant Shield which runs through Aug. 14. The 44th Fighter Squadron, with elements of the 67th FS, and the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron and 909th Air Refueling

  • Enlisted aviator career fields open for retrainees

    Opportunities for Airmen to retrain into one of eight career enlisted aviator career fields have just been released by Air Force officials here. The Air Force has openings for first-term Airmen to retrain into the flight engineer, flight attendant, and aerial gunner specialties. In addition, the

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights Airmen's education benefits

    This week's Airman's Roll Call highlights the importance of education for the professional and personal development of all Airmen. Through base education centers and the Air Force Virtual Education Center, Airmen have countless educational benefits right at their fingertips. The Air Force Tuition