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U.S. Air Force News

  • Hagel: Numbers reflect victim confidence in reporting assaults

    A 50-percent increase in sexual assaults in the armed forces reflected in the Defense Department’s latest annual report indicates growing willingness among victims to report the crime and increasing confidence the military is providing them with support and taking action against perpetrators,

  • Hagel: Six priorities shape future defense institutions

    In the months since the 2012 defense strategic guidance first reflected a new budget reality, Pentagon officials and military leaders have been working on the department's longer-term budget and strategy, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said here this morning.

  • Hagel: States refusing same-sex family benefits must comply

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel directed the chief of the National Guard Bureau to meet with the adjutants general of nine states to resolve the issue of those states denying ID cards to same-sex spouses at National Guard facilities.

  • Hague, Ovchinin talk ISS mission during presser

    Surrounded by media representatives and audience members, Col. Nick Hague, NASA astronaut, and Alexey Ovchinin, Russian Roscosmos cosmonaut, discussed their upcoming trip to space during a news conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, June 18, 2018.

  • Haiti airport transitions, commercial flights begin

    American Airlines flight 377 landed at 9:21 a.m. at Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport here Feb. 19 marking the return of commercial air service to the nation following the Jan. 12 earthquake that destroyed ports of entry into the country.Airmen have been working since their arrival Jan. 13

  • Haiti flight coordinators explain chain of command at airport

    U.S. military officials are working across organizational boundaries in a concerted effort to keep supplies and people flowing into Haiti's main airport."Port-au-Prince is the center of gravity for the relief effort currently in Haiti. If something happens to that airfield, we are in trouble to get

  • Haiti task force commander notes progress

    Humanitarian assistance efforts in Haiti are improving every day despite enormous challenges, the commander of Joint Task Force Haiti said. "Today, we had 180 flights go through the airport with zero delays," Army Lt. Gen. P.K. "Ken" Keen said Jan. 18 during a "DoDLive" bloggers roundtable. "That's

  • Haitian earthquake survivors land at Joint Base Andrews

    An 89th Airlift Wing C-32 carrying 22 survivors of the Haitian earthquake landed at Joint Base Andrews just after midnight Jan. 17. The repatriated U.S. citizens arrived at the passenger terminal with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who returned from Haiti after pledging U.S. support toward the

  • Handbook consolidates warrior care information

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said a new handbook is another step in improving the care and support wounded, ill or injured troops and their families deserve. The handbook compiles the myriad information they need in one succinct, easy-to-read publication. In his foreword to the Compensation and

  • Handbook helps weapon systems get to warfighter quicker

    The Department of Defense is constantly looking for ways to reduce the time it takes to get new weapon systems in the hands of the warfighter. The acquisition community at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command here is helping the DOD do just that. The acquisition logistics division recently rolled

  • Handheld imaging tool expands aircraft inspection capability

    When pilots climb into the cockpit they expect their aircraft to perform as expected, regardless if take off is from a home or deployed location; but ensuring that the aircraft is healthy enough to fly has become a challenge for the Air Force.

  • Handmade quilts cloak wounded warriors in love

    Service members categorized as critical care aeromedical transport team patients are all leaving the contingency aeromedical staging facility with a very special package: a handmade quilt stitched with love. Shortly after the January arrival of the current CASF team, quilts began arriving at the

  • Handout updated for overseas returnees

    Lieutenant colonels and below and senior master sergeants and below who are eligible to return from overseas assignments now have an updated guide to make informed decisions regarding their assignment options. The Overseas Counseling Handout, issued by military personnel flight or commander support

  • Handy inducted into Order of the Sword

    Representatives from the 43,000-strong Air Mobility Command enlisted force honored the commander of U.S. Transportation Command and AMC during an Order of the Sword ceremony here July 29.More than 400 Airmen commandwide along with Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units attended the ceremony

  • Hangin' out

    Airman 1st Class David Perleberg, from the 363rd Expeditionary Communications Squadron, lowers an aging security camera down from the top of a 100-foot communications tower at a deployed location supporting Operation Southern Watch. A new camera was installed and will assist security forces in

  • Hanging around

    Capt. Damian Schlussel describes to his students each action he takes while rappelling from a 90-foot water tower here. Schlussel, from the 31st Fighter Wing security forces here, leads the wing's anti-terrorist force protection program. He routinely trains new members of the team on key tactics

  • Hannah Dake wins Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award

    Senior Hannah Dake was named the recipient of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's National Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the 2012-13 academic year, May 21.After winning the Mountain Region award last week, Dake was on the national ballot with 11 other regional winners.The

  • 'Hanoi Taxi' arrives at National Museum of the Air Force

    The first aircraft to return Vietnam prisoners of war to the United States arrived at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at 9:30 a.m. May 6. The C-141 "Hanoi Taxi" was the first aircraft to arrive in Hanoi in February 1973 to pick up POWs returning to the United States. The "Hanoi

  • 'Hanoi Taxi' to retire at National Museum of the Air Force

    More than 120 former prisoners from the Vietnam War and their families will help the Air Force Reserve Command's 445th Airlift Wing retire the Air Force's last C-141 Starlifter, the "Hanoi Taxi," during festivities May 5 to 6. The aircraft was the first one to arrive in Hanoi, Vietnam, in February

  • Hanscom AFB branch provides radars to NATO, completes mission

    After delivering MP-RTIP radars for use in similar NATO aircraft in late 2019, the team spent 2020 providing sustainment support to NATO, repurposing spare parts to other branches in the Theater Battle Control Division, and closing out all remaining contracts.

  • Hanscom AFB leaders invest in energy resiliency

    Installation officials are demonstrating their commitment to bolster Hanscom Air Force Base’s energy resiliency and efficiency through innovative pilot programs, partnerships and prioritizing energy-related projects.

  • Hanscom AFB mourns loss of Airman

    Senior Airman Jason “Khai” Phan was deployed to Kuwait with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing’s SFS in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

  • Hanscom AFB software teams decode F-35 maintenance

    Software teams from Hanscom Air Force Base are fielding applications that help aircraft maintainers at Nellis AFB, Nevada, plan for successful operational testing of the Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-35 Lightning II.

  • Hanscom AFB team demos data sharing technology

    The Tactical Data Link Enhancements Team, formed through a partnership between the Aerial Networks Division, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, a federally funded research and development center, traveled to Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,

  • Hanscom AFB team supports ‘revolutionary’ zero trust effort

    Personnel from the AFNet Sustainment and Operations Branch at Hanscom Air Force Base are partnering with the Air Combat Command Directorate of Cyberspace and Information Dominance to develop a modern software-based perimeter that will deliver zero trust capabilities to applications across the Air

  • Hanscom AFB-managed program helps save Airman's life

     A program managed here that helps get supplies safely to warfighters was recently used in Afghanistan to help save an Airman's life.The Dynamic Retasking Capability Urgent Operational Need provides the ability for C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130J Hercules to be directed to an alternative location

  • Hanscom Airman finds happiness far from home

    Growing up in Ghana, Airman 1st Class Jude Baidoo had big dreams. Like many in the gold-mining community where he grew up kicking a soccer ball on dusty fields in the hot sun, Baidoo dreamed of playing soccer professionally.

  • Hanscom Airmen learn how to identify drugs to fight crime

    Airmen of the 66th Security Forces Squadron here learned to recognize drugs and drug paraphernalia in the event they encounter them during their day-to-day duties during Sept. 17 and 18 training.Detective James Donovan, a narcotics officer with the police department of Saugus, Mass., showed Hanscom

  • Hanscom Airmen receive heroes' welcome

    Hundreds of base members, family and friends gathered at Memorial Park here June 22 to welcome home more than 60 Hanscom Air Force Base Airmen.The Heroes' Homecoming, held in conjunction with the base's annual Summer Bash event, formally welcomed home Airmen who have returned from their deployments

  • Hanscom Airmen to help Iraqis control, defend their airspace

    Members of the 350th Electronic Systems Group here are working to bolster Iraq's air force with the capabilities needed to better defend the country's airspace.A formal request for proposal is due out next month to provide long-range radars to Ali Base, Iraq, to help Iraqis detect incoming air

  • Hanscom Airmen to participate in annual interoperability demo

    Members of the 653rd Electronic Systems Wing's Enterprise Integration Division are preparing for Hanscom AFB to once again become a key site for this year's Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration from June 14 through 24.CWID is a global, annual event directed by the chairman of the Joint

  • 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

  • Hanscom children honored with medal

    Base officials have a new medal in their arsenal to recognize family sacrifices made during the war on terrorism.The Children's Home Front Hero Medal, which features a replica of the American flag, is for children of deployed servicemembers.Dawn Andreucci, a community readiness consultant for

  • Hanscom going green with electric vehicles

    In efforts to save energy, the 66th Logistics Readiness Squadron recently unveiled Hanscom Air Force Base's first plug-in electric hybrid vehicle and charging station.

  • Hanscom heritage event highlights heroes

    During this quarter's Heritage of Freedom event here April 15, a group of speakers enlightened the audience about resolve, heroism and meeting warfighter's needs.  And, the emotional impact of a reunion was a powerful moment for those in attendance when a once-downed pilot reunited with the man who

  • Hanscom historian captures share of Air Force-level award

    Hanscom Air Force Base historian Randy Bergeron has earned a share of the Dennis F. Casey Award for Excellence in Periodic History in the Albert S. Simpson Category for co-authoring the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's periodic history last year.

  • Hanscom looks to leverage industry to improve air picture

    A program office at Hanscom Air Force Base is working to improve and upgrade a system that provides comprehensive air surveillance and defense with a recent request for information and industry days.The Battle Control Systems Fixed, or BCS-F, provides a comprehensive air picture for North America

  • Hanscom man goes to extremes for charity

    Making a financial donation to the Combined Federal Campaign is a conventional way to support charitable causes. But there have always been those who relish the opportunity to challenge themselves in an effort to rally the troops to dig deep for a good cause. Rick Penn, the 66th Comptroller Squadron

  • Hanscom officials kick off combat support system

    Logistics leaders here to discuss the initial setup of Release 1 of the Expeditionary Combat Support System during a town hall meeting in the Hanscom Air Force Base Conference Center Oct. 6. ECSS, a commercial off-the-shelf software program tailored for the Air Force to bring 240 separate

  • Hanscom SFS captures best in AF again

    For the second year in a row, and the third time in four years, members of the 66th Security Forces Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, are celebrating their selection as the Air Force Outstanding Small Size Security Forces Unit award.

  • Hanscom starts new energy competition

    A new energy competition is underway here called "How Low Can You Go?" The competition requires little effort but big results by focusing on energy consumption during the weekend. "We want people to place special focus on their pre-weekend shutdown measures," said Tom Schluckebier, the base civil

  • Hanscom team awards contract for up to six aircraft

    A Hanscom Air Force Base team awarded a $464.8 million contract to Learjet, Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of the Specialized Aircraft Division of Bombardier Inc., on June 1 in support of the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node program.

  • Hanscom team helps 'forge' new path for software development, testing

    Acquisition by its nature is a fairly rigid business, governed by established rules and procedures designed to ensure integrity, fairness and programmatic oversight. This creates a vexing problem for those trying to increase acquisition speed and agility. It's particularly challenging when dealing

  • Hanscom team works to lower person-borne IED threat

    Members of an Electronic Systems Center office are working to minimize the threat of suicide bombings at the entry points of controlled-access zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The team has been working since late September to rapidly evaluate technologies designed to detect what are known as

  • Hanscom team works to upgrade airborne comm for top U.S. officials

    A Hanscom Air Force Base team is working to acquire a comprehensive system that will provide highly reliable, secure and integrated voice, data and video equipment for airborne U.S. senior leaders. Those leaders include the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, numerous senior

  • Hanscom to lead Air Force efforts in interoperability demo

    Officials here are busy setting up a mock air operations center for the annual Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration, which will run June 15 through 25. Hanscom is once again serving as a major host site for CWID and the lead Air Force site. Operators from the Air Force, other services,

  • Hanscom to play vital role in coalition demo

    Hanscom Air Force Base officials are setting up to serve as a major host site for the June 9 through 20 Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration, an annual event sponsored by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and directed by U.S. Joint Forces Command.  The primary goal -- at Hanscom

  • Hanscom unit applies 'gold standard' to contract

    When a joint team led by the Electronic Systems Center awarded the system development and demonstration contract for the Airborne and Maritime/Fixed Station Joint Tactical Radio System this spring, the move triggered not a single protest. "It's one way we can tell we listened, learned, understood

  • Hanscom unit preps new CAOC facility

    Members of the 652nd Electronic Systems Squadron here are preparing for the future home of the U.S. Air Force Central's Combined Air and Space Operations Center facility as construction continues in Southwest Asia. The Air and Space Operations Center Weapons System, officially referred to as the

  • Hanscom welcomes heroes home

    A crowd of more than 500 gathered to welcome home 80 Hanscom deployers with praise and thanks at the Aero Club Hangar Jan. 19. The Heroes' Homecoming, the first event of its kind here, honored troops who returned from deployments over the past six months. Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Sirois, 66th Air Base

  • Happy birthday to us

    Airman 1st Class Conner Maher (left) and Col. Gregory Ihde cut cakes at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, in celebration of the Air Force's 55th birthday Sept. 18. Maher, 20, is deployed with the 822nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Traditionally, as the most junior

  • Happy birthday, NASA!

    NASA is 50 years old. It was established on July 29, 1958, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, providing for research into the problems of flight within Earth's atmosphere and in space. The act inaugurated a new civilian agency designated the National

  • Happy birthday, U.S. Marine Corps

    The Air Force salutes the Marine Corps on its 233nd birthday Nov. 10. Originally founded on Nov. 10, 1775, the Marine Corps was composed mainly of infantrymen serving aboard Navy ships. They were primarily responsible for the security of the ship, offensive and defensive boarding parties. They also

  • Happy Holidays from Air Force senior leaders and spouses

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather A. Wilson and her husband, along with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright and their spouses, wish all Airmen and families season’s greetings.

  • Happy homecoming

    NAVAL AIR STATION-JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas -- Capt. Chris Gough hugs his daughter at his welcome home from Iraq. More than 150 301st Fighter Wing Airmen returned home Dec. 11 after a two-month deployment Balad Air Base. The captain is a pilot with the 457th Fighter Squadron. (U.S. Air

  • Happy New Year!

    South Korean air force's 38th Tactical Fighter Group commander, Col. Kwong O Sung, and Col. Timothy Byers, 8th Support Group commander, present offerings to their ancestors as part of the Korean Lunar New Year celebration here. Offerings often include fruits and liquors. The Koreans assigned here

  • Hard work, dedication in below zero temperatures

    It's 6:30 a.m., 27 degrees below zero and the sky remains dark. Senior Airman Taylor Lancaster heads to his locker to sort his gear and make sure he has everything ready to begin work in the frigid weather.

  • Hardship withdrawal rules relaxed to help victims of Hurricane Sandy

    The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board announced it has made temporary changes to the Thrift Savings Plan hardship withdrawal rules to help victims of Hurricane Sandy pursuant to the guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service on Nov. 16.The TSP will treat any Financial Hardship

  • Hardships affect mobilization length

    Mobilized reservists may request to remain on or get off active duty because of personal or financial hardship caused by mobilization, early deactivation or demobilization."We look at each situation, whether it's a request to remain mobilized or a request to demobilize early," said Col. Mike

  • Harlem Globetrotters put on a show at Andersen

    The world-famous Harlem Globetrotters visited Andersen Air Force Base, toured operations, conducted a sports clinic and a played an exhibition game with the Washington Generals Dec. 14 here. Using their "C.H.E.E.R. for Character" program, the Globetrotters held a basketball clinic for Andersen AFB

  • HARM targeting system ready ahead of schedule

    The delivery of 15 Revision-7 pods in September to the Air Combat Command by the 693rd Armament Systems Squadron's High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile Targeting System Program is more than two months ahead of Raytheon's contract requirement date. The pod is mounted to the side of an F-16 aircraft and

  • Harnessing the power of science, technology, engineering and math

    The chair of the U.S. Air Force  Academy's Engineering Division and head of the Aeronautics Department here said the nation faces a crisis in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.To help avert the crisis, Col. Neal Barlow and other Academy officials are developing educational

  • Harrigian cites sustainment center’s F-35 support

    The head of the Air Force's F-35 Lightning II integration team cited the Air Force Sustainment Center's overall joint strike fighter support during a visit to the center’s headquarters at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, July 10.

  • Harvesting the wind at Cape Cod Air Force Station

    It's not just the leaves that are changing at Cape Cod Air Force Station. The Air Force station is also changing the way it gets electricity as two new giant wind turbines are being installed at the 6th Space Warning Squadron.

  • Hate groups, gangs not acceptable to Air Force

    Active participation in hate groups and gangs is not compatible with the Air Force way of life, and any Airmen found guilty of such participation will be punished accordingly, said Air Force leaders here recently. "It goes without saying that participation in such activity has no place in our Air

  • 'Hat-in-the-Ring Gang' says goodbye to its Eagles

    The 94th Fighter Squadron flew its last F-15 Eagle sortie today, marking the squadron’s official evolution to F-22A Raptor operations. The “Hat-in-the-Ring Gang” is the second squadron at Langley to convert from the F-15C/D -- a strictly air-to-air fighter -- to the Raptor, which has air-to-ground

  • Hauling ordnance

    Staff Sgt. Todd Slate guides an all-terrain forklift driven by Airman 1st Class Jesse Carlin who is picking up several general purpose bombs July 24 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The bomb components are stored in different secure areas until they are needed for assembly. The munitions movement team is

  • Haunted reading room spooks teens

    The glow of electric candles lit the darkened room. The glowing eyes of a skull glared out at passersby. Bats lined the ceiling. A platter of eyeballs and other body parts sat waiting for those daring enough to try a piece.This was the scene at the base library here when its staff transformed the

  • Haute cuisine desert style

    (Left to right) Senior Airman Garth K. Courtney, Tech. Sgt. Ken A. Pronti, Staff Sgt. James L. Hallmark and Tech. Sgt. John A. Barone, assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron, look for "customers" on the deck they constructed at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation

  • Have a healthy Valentine’s Day

    Many Americans plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. The holiday originally marked the death of St. Valentine who secretly married couples in defiance of Roman Emperor Claudius II. Today, people are more likely to remember message written on tiny candy hearts than St. Valentine. Almost

  • Have you tried MyVector yet?

    National Mentoring Month is coming to a close, but there are still opportunities for Airmen at all levels to invest in their development and the advancement of others through MyVector. In 2015, the Air Force launched MyVector to provide members seeking mentoring an opportunity for personal and