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  • Bird migration season increases bird strike risks

    As summer fades into fall, birds begin to migrate south to their wintering grounds. That migration means one thing to pilots and airfield managers: a dramatic increase in the risk of bird strikes. Monthly trends recorded from 1995 - 2010 by the Air Force Safety Center Aviation Safety Division

  • Youth encouraged to 'Get Up, Get Out and Get Fit'

    Air Force Airman and Family Services officials will challenge thousands of children of ages from across the Air Force to 'Get Up, Get Out and Get Fit' as the seventh year of FitFactor kicks off with the Worldwide Day of Play Sept 24."We're proud to continue the FitFactor initiative and encourage

  • Officials reduce officers eligible for upcoming lieutenant colonel SERB

    Voluntary retirements have resulted in the removal of two competitive categories from the upcoming October 2011 selective early-retirement board, Air Force officials announced Sept. 12. Lieutenant colonels in the Chaplain and Medical Services Corps competitive categories are eliminated from meeting

  • Airmen recognized with Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards

    Five teams from across the service received Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 20.Gen. Norton Schwartz presented the awards, and lauded three teams' efforts with Air Force Best Practice

  • CMSAF shares enlisted perspective

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force discussed his enlisted perspective during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here, Sept. 21.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy shared with the audience what he feels are some of the most pressing

  • Air Force recommits to green initiatives during pollution prevention week

    One of the best ways to protect the Earth is to not pollute in the first place, a realization that became official American policy in 1990 with the passing of the Federal Pollution Prevention Act. This week, the Air Force joins the rest of the nation in acknowledging a concerted effort to reduce

  • Command chiefs address concerns, offer advice during AFA convention forum

    Issues affecting America's Airmen took center stage Sept. 19 during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition's Command Chief Master Sergeants Forum here Sept. 19.The forum provided Airmen an opportunity to communicate directly with chiefs on hot-button topics

  • Education officials seek feedback to shape way ahead

    Defense Department officials are inviting military and community members to share their thoughts on the quality and continuity of education in DOD schools and their suggestions for improvements.This feedback will be used in the development of a new Department of Defense Education Activity Community

  • Air Force officials announce FY12 voluntary force management measures

    Air Force leaders announced Sept. 9 the continuation of voluntary officer separation measures for fiscal 2012 as part of the services' ongoing force-management initiatives.In 2010 Air Force leaders implemented a tailored, multi-year program  to reduce the number of personnel to operate at the

  • Obama proposes TRICARE changes

    Military retirees would pay an annual fee for TRICARE-for-Life health insurance and TRICARE pharmacy co-payments would be restructured under the deficit reduction plan President Barack Obama released Sept. 19."If we're going to meet our responsibilities, we have to do it together," Obama said during

  • AF officials announce civilian early retirement, separation incentive options

    The Air Force is implementing civilian Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay programs, Air Force officials announced today."Our goal with these programs is to mitigate the impact of reduced fiscal year 2012 funding on our permanent civilian workforce," said Maj.

  • Rescue squadron returns home from concurrent deployments

    Approximately 60 members of the 56th Rescue Squadron returned here Sept. 15, after back-to-back deployments in support of two different operations that had them away from home for more than nine months.Their deployments began with a three-month stretch in Afghanistan where they provided high-risk

  • Officials announce colonel selective early retirement board eligibility

    As previously announced May 27, the Air Force will convene a selective early retirement board for colonels to further size and balance the force within the congressionally authorized 332,800 end-strength level. The CY12A Colonel SERB is scheduled to convene Jan. 9, 2012, to consider eligible

  • 5 basic trainees become US citizens

    Five trainees became U.S. citizens during a naturalization ceremony Aug. 25 here, making them the first to earn their citizenship during basic military training.A cooperative agreement between the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Army, Navy, and now the Air Force, created a faster

  • 440th Airlift Wing helps 'Move that bus!'

    Airmen from the 440th Airlift Wing got a taste of Hollywood recently as ABC's reality television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" was here to film scenes for an upcoming episode.Extreme Makeover: Home Edition renovates homes for families facing recent or ongoing hardships. Show host Ty

  • SECAF visits Airmen, coalition partners in Afghanistan

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited with coalition members here.During his visit, Donley addressed questions about retirement benefits, current manning levels and counterinsurgency operations. The secretary also spoke with Maj. Gen. Abdul Wahab Wardak, the Afghanistan air force

  • TRICARE portability reduces moving stress

    With a single phone call, TRICARE's "Moving Made Easy" option will take some of the stress out of moving, a top TRICARE official said Aug. 26. Using this option, service member and family beneficiaries under TRICARE Prime can ensure that when they arrive at a new duty station, their medical records

  • Los Angeles AFB to go electric

    Air Force officials unveiled a plan Aug. 31 to establish Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., as the first federal facility to replace 100 percent of its general purpose fleet with plug-in electric vehicles. "With gas prices rising and the cost of batteries falling, now is the time to move toward

  • Cadet Interfaith Council accepts president's community service challenge

    The Cadet Interfaith Council here kicked off an outreach partnership with a Colorado Springs food bank Aug. 27, answering President Barack Obama's challenge to colleges to become involved in interfaith cooperation and community service.Council members and chaplains spent two hours at Care and Share

  • National Guard TACPs develop upgrade training program

    Airmen from the National Guard tactical air control party specialists have pooled their resources to implement a standardized training program to streamline upgrade training.Project 275, whose name is a throwback to the career field's old specialty code to remind Airmen of the need to get back to

  • Job initiatives focus on vets, family members

    President Barack Obama called on Congress Aug. 30 to move quickly on an initiative to offer tax credits to employers who hire unemployed veterans, including those with disabilities.Speaking at the American Legion National Convention in Minneapolis, the president emphasized the nation's

  • Services officials 'refresh' dining menus

    Airmen will soon have more variety and availability of nutritious meals thanks to a new initiative to 'refresh' dining facility menus.Air Force Services Agency officials here partnered with industry chefs to implement a new program called "Operation Refresh." The program infuses new items into

  • CMSAF visits Offutt, speaks about tough decisions on horizon

    During a visit here Aug. 18 and 19, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy met with the enlisted members of Air Combat Command's largest wing and Offutt's tenant units. Roy took time to dispel some rumors and explain to Air Force members what's on the horizon. Understandably, one of the

  • Caring for People Survey results provide insight

    More than 100,000 total force Airmen voiced their opinions in the online Caring for People survey conducted from Dec. 1, 2010 to Jan. 3, 2011. After experts performed a comprehensive analysis, officials have released results to force support leadership. The survey allowed active duty, Guard and

  • Air Force awarded for energy savings

    The Air Force was announced as the recipient of almost half of the U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program's 2011 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards earned by Department of Defense entities, and a quarter of awards overall. The awards are scheduled to be presented during

  • American, Kyrgyz service members partner to enhance communication

    Airmen from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing here and Kyrgyz soldiers gather twice a month to practice foreign language skills. For the soldiers, speaking English offers a chance to exercise a skill they learned in school. For Airmen deployed here, it's a chance to learn the language of their host

  • New commander, president takes over Air University

    The change of command ceremony Aug. 12 was unique for Air University, as Lt. Gen. David Fadok became the organization's first president and 29th commander."We produce the future and must never forget how important that mission is," Fadok said after assuming command from Lt. Gen. Allen Peck, who

  • Panetta: Any retirement changes won't affect serving military

    In his clearest statement on the subject to date, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today that if the military retirement system changes, it will not affect serving service members."I will not break faith," the secretary said during a roundtable meeting with military media representatives in

  • DOD schools engage students with technology

    When children walk into a Defense Department school this year, they may be handed a laptop or electronic reader, or perhaps they'll be asked to build a robot or try out a simulator on the school lawn. Technology has long since changed the nation; it's now time to use these advances to transform its

  • Panetta: Congress must look at whole federal budget for cuts

    Budget concerns and the need for the Defense Department to work with the State Department dominated a discussion at the National Defense University here today with the Cabinet members who lead those departments.Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta talked

  • No changes to military retirement anytime soon, officials say

    The military retirement system isn't going to change any time soon, a Defense Department official said recently.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said any changes to military retirement should be studied carefully and should be "grandfathered" so the military doesn't

  • Officials announce civilian workforce hiring freeze

    Air Force officials announced the implementation of a 90-day hiring freeze effective immediately.A firm commitment to keep spending within requested levels led to implement the hiring freeze across the civilian workforce, officials said.In addition to a 90-day hiring freeze, the officials plan to

  • Transition assistance vital for those separating Airmen

    With active-duty positions being eliminated through current force-management measures, it's important Airmen identified for separation use a vital tool -- the Air Force Transition Assistance Program -- to help ease themselves and their families into transition from military to civilian life.

  • TRICARE offers transitional health care

    When service members leave active duty, TRICARE offers a transitional health care option for eligible beneficiaries and their families while they look for new health coverage. The Transitional Assistance Management Program, or TAMP, is designed to extend TRICARE eligibility for sponsors and their

  • Air Force Medical Service's first 'Sergeant Major' to be honored

    The late Chief Master Sgt. Raymond T. Smith once told a reporter: "The Vietnam conflict has brought the services closer together. We've got to keep it that way."When he made that remark in 1970, he was serving as the first enlisted senior NCO for the entire Air Force Medical Service. So new was his

  • Wounded warriors, families deserve best care, Chiarelli says

    The military has made great strides in warrior care over the past decade of war, but much work remains to be done, particularly when dealing with the invisible wounds of war, the Army vice chief of staff said Aug. 8.Speaking at the Warrior Transition Command's Warrior Care and Transition Program

  • Cleaner KC-10 engines expected to burn less fuel

    Mobility Airmen may have found a way to conserve Air Force resources and help preserve the environment.Prolonged and repeated KC-10 air refueling operations in desert climates can degrade the aircraft engines. But the Air Force now uses a new KC-10 engine cleaning process, which is projected to save

  • Panetta: DOD will help nation meet fiscal challenges

    Though defense spending must and will be part of the solution to the national financial struggle, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told the Defense Department workforce in a message Aug. 3, budget reductions must take sound strategy and policy into account.President Barack Obama signed a bill Aug.

  • Base mall undergoes changes to save $15M in energy

    Officials at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center here recently started phase II of a cost-saving energy initiative that will save at least $15 million over the course of the building's life.Phase I consisted of removing redundant and unnecessary lighting in and around the KMCC

  • Defense budget cuts must be balanced, Mullen says

    As the pressure increases on the federal budget, the Defense Department must make cuts in a balanced way, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today."There are three dials: the people dial, the operations dial and the acquisition or equipment dial," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said to about

  • American Idol meets American Military at 301st FW

    The 301st Fighter Wing's main hangar was turned into something akin to a Hollywood movie set July 20 as the 11 contestants from last season's "American Idol" television show arrived here to film a public-service announcement for Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service.The recruiting service

  • Reserve personnel center moving, going green

    Air Force Reserve Command leaders celebrated the command's newest green building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony here July 19.Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., the commander of Air Force Reserve Command, officiated the ceremony for the new Air Reserve Personnel Center. The 80,000 square foot facility

  • Chief Roy: Air Force past, present, way ahead

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy communicated his vision of the Air Force's past, present and future to more than 600 attendees at a forum during the Air Force Sergeants Association's 50th Anniversary Professional Airmen's Conference event here July 25.The chief started the forum by

  • SAFE SKIES 2011 demonstrates true collaboration

    Airmen from the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif., are partnered with Ukrainian and Polish airmen at Mirgorod Air Base, Ukraine, through the National Guard State Partnership Program. Through this program, they have developed a strong tie to this former soviet bloc-country

  • Caring for People Forum addresses issues facing Airmen, families

    The Air Force's 2011 Caring for People Forum concluded here July 21 with the presentation of several initiatives focusing on a range of issues affecting Airmen and their families.More than 250 attendees from various base-level organizations met to recommend special focus areas to the Air Force

  • Army, Air Force conduct first energy forum

    Army and Air Force officials convened their first joint energy forum here this week to demonstrate that they are making responsible and efficient energy development a priority.Kevin Geiss, the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy, and Richard Kidd, the deputy assistant secretary of

  • New tool to help support deployed Airmen

    Air Force officials are testing a new capability to expedite the personnel assistance deployed total force Airmen receive from Personnel Support for Contingency Operations, or PERSCO, teams.PERSCO teams at deployed locations in U.S. Air Forces Central's area of responsibility will be phased in to

  • Air Force, Army team up to explore 'green' solutions

    Senior leaders from the Department of Defense, federal agencies, Air Force and Army discussed the strategic importance and way ahead for energy solutions during the Army-Air Force Energy Forum here July 19. The two-day event enables hundreds of attendees to get a clearer perspective from military

  • Airmen's ideas sought to help cut wasteful spending

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton sends the following message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force:The White House continues to challenge all federal employees to help identify areas where we can cut wasteful spending. Over the past two years, 56,000 ideas have been submitted through the

  • Top civil engineer visits PACAF Airmen

    The Air Force Civil Engineer visited civil engineers across Pacific Air Forces to discuss initiatives pertaining to their career fields.Recently, Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, visited 374th Civil Engineer Squadron at Yokota Air Base and spoke to Airmen about their vital role in Operation Tomodachi,

  • Air Force Key Spouses of the Year honored at forum

    Some of the Air Force's outstanding 'Key Spouses' were honored during the service's Caring for People Forum here July 19.Suzie Schwartz, wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, and Paula Roy, wife of Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy, accompanied Lt. Gen. Darrell

  • Mullen: U.S.-Japan alliance serves as model for others

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on his first visit to Japan since the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March, recently praised the U.S.-Japanese alliance and said the two nations must expand such relations throughout the Pacific region.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, speaking at a news

  • First lady plans 'Joining Forces' events

    First Lady Michelle Obama will take part in three events over the next several days to promote "Joining Forces," a national initiative that mobilizes all sectors of American society to support service members and their families. The first lady and Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden,

  • Total Force Service Center expands service hours for civilians

    The Total Force Service Center here has expanded its hours of operation for Air Force civilians requiring personnel assistance. The center is now servicing civilian inquiries 24/7 to help civilians resolve personnel issues.The TFSC was able to expand its support for civilians by providing service

  • VA officials launch childcare pilot

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the launch of free, drop-in childcare service centers at three VA medical centers to an audience of more than 700 participants attending the Fifth National Summit on Women Veterans' Issues July 15 through 17 at the Hyatt Regency Washington on

  • New Jersey base realizes joint benefits

    With two months left for Defense Department officials to comply with the 2005 base realignment and closure plan, a related initiative -- joint basing -- already is paying off through closer interservice collaboration and the promise of future cost savings, officials here reported.Joint Base

  • Officials look to reduce strategic airlift inventory

    Combatant and major command officials provided testimony to members of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower to propose a reduction of strategic airlift aircraft numbers in a session here July 13. Gen. Raymond Johns, the Air Mobility Command commander, and Gen. Duncan McNabb, the U. S.

  • Officials name productivity award winners

    Air Force selected four winners for the Air Force's productivity and excellence awards recently. The awards recognize individuals or groups that provide resource-saving improvements to the Air Force. The Air Force Productivity Excellence Award recognizes individuals and small groups of military and

  • Airmen prepare for a ruck march to remember

    Airmen in the 4th Security Forces Squadron here are gearing up to host participants of a 2,181-mile ruck march that begins at the Air Force Security Forces Center in San Antonio July 12 and ends at ground zero in New York Sept. 11 in recognition of the 10th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist

  • Air Force chief scientist lauds AMC as a leader in energy initiatives

    The Air Force's chief scientist, Dr. Mark T. Maybury, visited Air Mobility Command here June 27 to 29 and lauded AMC's initiatives as he discussed the importance of energy efficiency. Maybury's visit included serving as the keynote speaker for the AMC "Future Aircraft Fuel Efficiency Industry Days"

  • Ramstein 'grows' green visitor center

    Members of the 435th Construction and Training Squadron built a new "green" visitor control center here, which opened July 6 at the entrance of the west gate.The new facility houses many initiatives that put it in the running for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. The

  • Commissaries support 'Feds Feed Families' campaign

    Commissaries in the U.S. have joined with other government agencies and organizations to support the 2011 Feds Feed Families food drive campaign, which runs through Aug. 31. Customers who visit their military store will see marked bins near commissary entrances or exits, where they can donate

  • Air Force officials boost personnel support to warfighter

    The Air Force Personnel Center is partnering with Headquarters, Air Force Manpower, Personnel and Services and U.S. Air Forces Central to provide additional personnel support capabilities for deployed Airmen in AFCENT's area of responsibility.Vince Fonner, AFPC's air and space expeditionary force

  • Food transformation test locations begin campus dining concept

    Airmen at the six Air Force Food Transformation Initiative pilot installations will experience more variety for their meal choices when the program expands to a campus-style dining concept this summer.The initiative, known as FTI, is a pilot program launched in October 2010 with a goal to better

  • Air Force issues guidance to streamline environmental reviews

    In order to get "back to basics" and the original intent of National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Air Force recently issued new program guidance entitled "Planning Requirements for the Environmental Impact Analysis Process." The program will help Air Force installations, major commands,

  • AMC officials hold 'Future Aircraft Fuel Efficiency Industry Days'

    Officials in Air Mobility Command's Future Concepts Office and Fuel Efficiency Office are co-hosting the "Future Aircraft Fuel Efficiency Days" conference here from June 27 to 29. The conference is designed to allow AMC experts to work with industry partners to gather information on

  • TRICARE begins home delivery education initiative

    TRICARE beneficiaries who still get two or more maintenance prescriptions from a retail pharmacy should start checking their mailboxes. TRICARE Management Activity and Express Scripts Inc. are mailing out home delivery education "alert" letters to promote pharmacy home delivery.The alerts focus on

  • 'Vigilant Skies' brings ESC-infused NATO, Russian effort to fruition

    When NATO and Russian representatives wrapped up a joint international airspace demonstration June 10, it marked a great success for an effort Electronic Systems Center officials helped set in motion.Dubbed "Vigilant Skies 2011," the joint demonstration was sponsored by the NATO-Russia Council

  • New vehicle affects future of Air Force firefighting

    Soon Air Force firefighters will have a new weapon in their arsenal. The P-34 Rapid Intervention Vehicle will be in production by late September 2011. The Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency here has been the driving force behind this initiative."This will be the first firefighting vehicle in

  • Obama announces troop reductions, way forward in Afghanistan

    Thanks to the tremendous progress U.S., coalition and Afghan troops have made, the United States will draw down the number of troops in Afghanistan by 10,000 this year and 33,000 by the end of summer 2012, President Barack Obama said here June 22."The tide of war is receding," the president said

  • IAAFA continues to expand security cooperation initiatives

    The Air Force has implemented education and training institutions such as the Defense Language Institute English Language Center and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy to meet the demand for security cooperation initiatives, officials said here June 20. "Graduates of IAAFA build relationships

  • Senate confirms Panetta as defense secretary

    The U.S. Senate voted unanimously June 21 to confirm Leon E. Panetta as the next secretary of defense.Mr. Panetta received broad bipartisan support following his June 9 confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in which he said his foremost mission as defense secretary would be

  • TRICARE does not retire when you do

    When beneficiaries retire from active duty, they may have big plans for how they are going to spend their time. Along with choices about where to live and their next great adventure, they must make choices about their health care. Understanding these choices will help beneficiaries and their

  • Dr. Biden urges cable industry to support military families

    Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, called on the cable television industry June 16 to use its vast reach to help educate the public about military families and rally national support for "the very best of our country."Dr. Biden, speaking at the National Cable and

  • Retiring chief honors father: Bronze Star Medal presented after 40 years

    Following 27 years of service, an Air Force Space Command chief master sergeant used the occasion of her retirement ceremony to take care of one last troop. The troop was the chief's father, who was finally presented the Bronze Star Medal he earned more than 40 years earlier.At her retirement

  • Obama salutes military dads

    With Father's Day nearly at hand, President Barack Obama took time to single out military dads yesterday, thanking them for their service to the nation."Thank you for your dedication," he told the dads gathered for a special screening of the Disney-Pixar movie "Cars 2" on the White House complex.

  • More veterans gain federal employment

    Thanks to President Barack Obama's Veterans Employment Initiative, more veterans are now federal employees.Federal agencies hired 72,133 veterans in fiscal 2010, about 2,000 more than in 2009, U.S. Office of Personnel Management officials said in a recent news release."Through the president's

  • Gates calls for superb military, not hollow force

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he'd rather have a smaller "superbly capable" military than a hollow force.Secretary Gates told the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee June 15 that even as the department looks for savings, there has to be an admission that reductions will

  • 50th Space Wing completes GPS constellation expansion

    The 50th Space Wing successfully completed a two-phase GPS constellation expansion known as "Expandable 24" June 15. The expansion increased global GPS coverage and is now providing civil, military and commercial GPS users with a more robust signal and a higher probability of signal acquisition in

  • Mullen calls veteran support initiative 'terrific beginning'

    The nation's top military officer spoke here June 14 at a press conference announcing the "Community Blueprint," a resource designed to help local leaders focus support to veterans and their families.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, both

  • Air Force inspector general focus group realizes efficiencies

    In an effort to further minimize the effects of inspections on missions throughout the Air Force, the Air Force inspector general held an Inspection System Efficiencies Conference May 23 through May 26 in Lansdowne, Va., officials said here June 2.Conference participants included approximately 170

  • Air Force organizations win telework awards

    Two Air Force organizations earned the 2011 Telework Exchange Tele-Vision Award for excellence in leadership and for best new initiative, respectively, officials said here June 13.The office of the administrative assistant to the secretary of the Air Force won the award for its headquarters Air

  • Academy hits switch on solar array

    Officials with the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs Utilities and SunPower Corp. flipped a switch signifying the official dedication of the Academy's 6-megawatt solar array in a ceremony June 13.Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould called the event significant because it demonstrates

  • DOD officials aim to streamline foreign military sales program

    Defense Department officials are streamlining the way they administer the foreign military sales program, including testing a concept to get pre-approvals for requests for high-demand technologies such as unmanned aerial systems, the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June

  • Air Force chapel community raises money for quake victims

    In the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan March 11, members of the Air Force Chaplain Corps on 43 installations helped raise more than $257,000 toward relief efforts for victims of the disaster, officials said here June 9. On March 15, Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Cecil R. Richardson, the

  • VA to expand housing for homeless veterans, families

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials continue to develop housing opportunities for homeless and at-risk veterans by adding 34 VA locations across the country. This strategy will increase the department's available beds by more than 5,000. VA currently has 15,000 transitional beds available to

  • DOD seeks Input from employers of Guardsmen, Reservists

    Defense Department officials want to hear by July 6 from the civilian employers of reservists and National Guardsmen in a survey intended to measure the impact of service members on the civilian workplace.Announced in March, the Department of Defense National Survey of Employers will indicate how

  • Policy changes consider troops, families, official says

    The Pentagon office for personnel and readiness and the programs it oversees will not be immune from Defense Department efficiency initiatives, but will keep troops and their families at the forefront in the consideration of changes, the office's top civilian leader said."I joined with an efficiency

  • Panetta vows to put national security, troops first

    Leon E. Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee June 9 that if he's confirmed as the next defense secretary, his first and foremost mission will be to protect the U.S. and ensure it has the "best-trained, the best-equipped and the strongest military in the world" to provide that defense.Mr.

  • DOD joins effort to promote healthy habits in children

    The Defense Department has joined a national initiative aimed at ensuring the nation's youngest children, including children from military families, get off to a healthy start.Speaking from a child care center here yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by Marine Corps Gen. James E.

  • Air Force civilian named IMFA Gold Plate winner

    An Air Force civilian was named the 2011 International Foodservice Manufacturers Association's Gold Plate winner here May 23.George Miller, the Air Force Services Agency food and beverage operations chief, is the first military member to receive the 56-year-old award that annually recognizes the

  • Reservists complete combat aviation advisor training

    Training with their active-duty counterparts, five 919th Special Operations Wing reservists completed the baseline certification course May 27 that will lead to their recognition as combat aviation advisors.This was the first time Air Force reservists have taken this elite special operations course.

  • Multinational exercise kicks off in Macedonia

    Members from seven multinational forces gathered in Macedonia June 6 to kick off the 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe, or MEDCEUR 11. MEDCEUR, an annual regional and multilateral exercise sponsored by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is held in the spirit of

  • 'Critical Days of Summer' off to a great start

    For the 2nd consecutive year, the Air Force had zero mishap fatalities over the Memorial Day weekend. Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Feest, the Air Force chief of safety, said he was pleased with these results, but he reminded Airmen of the need for continued vigilance throughout the remainder of the