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  • Airmen contribute to the fight in Iraq

    The 586th Air Expeditionary Group is one of three Air Force groups organized to complete joint expeditionary taskings and is contributing significantly to operations in Iraq and Kuwait, the group's commander said. Col. Alan Metzler, 586th AEG commander, spoke with journalists and bloggers during a

  • Biden to Academy graduates: 'This is your moment'

    Vice President Joe Biden, the U.S. Air Force Academy commencement speaker, told graduates and newly-commissioned second lieutenants from the class of 2009 "this is your moment to bend history to the service of a better day." "You will carry our skies and beyond on your backs. I promise you, we will

  • Defense officials identify Air Force casualties

    The Department of Defense officials announced May 27 the death of two Airmen who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died May 26 near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device. Killed was Lt. Col. Mark E. Stratton II, 39, of Houston, who was

  • America's first combat aviators memorialized

    In a lush and serene park on the outskirts of Paris, U.S. Air Forces in Europe Commander, Gen. Roger A. Brady joined several hundred American and French citizens beneath an ornately sculpted ceremonial arch to pay homage to aviators, known as the Lafayette Escadrille. The 68 volunteers flew in

  • Obama touts solar power at airpower hub

    President Barack Obama held up Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as an example for America to follow toward energy independence during a visit there May 27. The air base, a huge facility outside Las Vegas best known as the "Home of the Fighter Pilot," also is the site of the largest solar electric plant

  • Airmen 'unleash' new recovery program for patients

    Trained in explosives detection, narcotics detection and more, military working dogs here are now assisting in a different type of fight: The fight to rehabilitate patients at the Air Force Theater Hospital here. Members of the AFTH medical staff here held the first session of the K-9 Visitation

  • Dedication culminates efforts of embedded American advisors

    More than 250 U.S. servicemembers and Afghan security forces celebrated seven years of military cooperation during a monument dedication ceremony at Camp Blackhorse here May 14. The ceremony also culminated the efforts of nearly 20 Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors who have embedded with the 5th Kandak

  • Controllers keep aircraft moving

    Air traffic controllers here manage the base's runway that never rests, averaging 5,100 takeoffs and landings a month, or approximately 200 each day. Members of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron are responsible for anything within the base's air space, which extends out in a 5-mile

  • Air War College faculty hosts 56th National Security Forum

    For the 56th consecutive year, civilians from across America came to Maxwell-Gunter for the National Security Forum during the week of May 18. The forum, hosted by the faculty of the Air University Spaatz Center for Officer Education's Air War College and sponsored by the secretary of the Air Force,

  • May 26 airpower summary: Strike Eagles strike enemy positions

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II conducted strafing runs

  • Air Force officials test new constant-pressure fuel system

    Air Force officials officially began to test a 50-50 mixture of synthetic and JP-8 fuels in a Type 3 constant-pressure fuel hydrant system here May 18. Fuel tankers, including five trucks with 100 percent synthetic fuel and three with the 50-50 blend, arrived at the base May 17 to unload 113,000

  • New PCS program puts customers in the driver's seat

    With nearly 200,000 permanent change of station moves expected in the approaching season, it is important for Department of Defense personnel to note several broad changes to the personal property shipment process. The uniformed services began using the Defense Personal Property System to move DOD

  • 'Ironman' visits Edwards

    About 60 members of Edwards Air Force Base Scenes supported the upcoming "Ironman II" movie as extras in the film and technical advisers May 11 through 13 here. Parts of the first "Ironman" as well as other movies and television shows have also filmed at Edwards AFB in the past. "Edwards has a long

  • Photo essay: testing mobility forces

    A C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., takes off from the Tonopah runway May 20 near Nellis AFB, Nev., while participating in the Mobility Air Forces Exercise. Approximately 12 U.S. Air Force bases participate in the exercise twice a year,

  • Officials look for best, brightest to fill first sergeant positions

    Taking care of today's Airmen is the responsibility of everyone in leadership and supervisory positions in the Air Force. But, for a select group of senior non-commissioned officers, this specific mission is their primary job. Air Force first sergeants are the eyes and ears of a unit and serve as

  • New options available for accompanied Korea tours

    Air Force members headed to certain locations in Korea now can request an accompanied tour and serve with their families for two or three years. Current base facilities, such as housing, schools and support activities, will limit the number of Airmen authorized to serve the accompanied,

  • First Iraqi ISR aircrew members graduate

    The first class of Iraqi Air Force Squadron 87 King Air intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircrew members completed their yearlong training May 17. The Iraqi King Air program, headed by Air Force and Navy aircrew instructors, trained four Iraqi pilots, seven co-pilots and five mission

  • Servicemembers save money by clearing Alaskan bombing range

    American servicemembers cleared 10,000 acres of land of old ordnance and munitions at the Joint Pacific Alaskan Range Complex Yukon training area in May to make the area safe and to save money. Last year, 354th Fighter Wing officials spent more than $1 million on a contracted team to clear ordnance

  • NASCAR salutes military at Memorial Day race

    NASCAR saluted the men and women of the military past and present during pre-race festivities for the Coca-Cola 600 Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway here May 24. The salute included performances by the 82nd Airborne Division Chorus, the 2nd Marine Division Band and the Air Force's Tops in

  • Air National Guard wing reaches milestone of 600 lives saved

    Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing based here rescued two Afghan National Army soldiers in the Oruzgan Province of Afghanistan May 15, raising the number of lives saved by the unit from 599 to 601. Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters were scrambled to recover the Afghan soldiers who were

  • Training team, Iraqi air force host first joint commanders' conference

    The Coalition Air Force Training Team and the Iraqi air force held their first joint commanders' conference for nearly 100 coalition and Iraqi senior leaders here May 20. "Based on the level to which the Iraqi air force has matured over the past couple of years, it was time to have a combined Iraqi

  • May 24 airpower summary: A-10s outgun enemy forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an extended battle took place near Oruzgan which began

  • Last Utah ANG KC-135E Stratotanker retires

    The last KC-135 "E" model Stratotanker assigned to the Utah Air National Guard's 151st Air Refueling Wing flew its final flight May 21. Aircraft tail number 57-1510 was flown approximately 15 miles from the Air Guard base in Salt Lake City to nearby Hill Air Force Base where it was officially

  • Space operations vital to Air Force, nation

    Air Force officials discussed the importance of space as a warfighting domain before members of the Senate May 20 on Capitol Hill. Senior Air Force leaders in the space realm answered questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee Strategic Force Subcommittee, telling them that Air Force

  • May 25 airpower summary: C-17s provide intra-theater airlift

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier along with Navy F/A-18F

  • Airmen honor fallen comrade in arms

    Airmen here paid tribute to a fallen comrade on the two-year anniversary of the death of a fire team leader from the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, Det. 3, Police Transition Training Team here.Staff Sgt. John T. Self was killed May 14, 2007, while out on patrol when the Humvee he was

  • Space Command officials exceed GPS standard

    Air Force Space Command officials here maintain the Global Positioning System constellation that now has 30 operational satellites, six more than the standard."I have high confidence we will continue to sustain at least the 24 satellites required to maintain our current performance standard," said

  • Eglin gate guards wear new uniforms

    Civilian guards at Eglin Air Force Base are now wearing new uniforms that are the standard uniform set by Department of the Air Force Security Forces Center officials. "Eglin is unique in this Air Force-wide initiative because we are the benchmark base," said 1st Lt. Roger Main of the Department of

  • 'Today's Air Force' features building bridges in the Pacific

    This week's video features a segment on a new, more efficient way to track airmen displaced because of natural and other disasters.  Also, medics and engineers make an instant impact during a four day exercise in the Philippines, building bridges with a key Pacific Ally. Finally, view a memorial

  • May 23 airpower summary: F-15Es prevent enemy confrontation

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations May 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets conducted strafing runs against

  • May 22 airpower summary: MQ-1Bs engage enemy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations May 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, the battle in Lashkar Gah concluded after additional

  • May 21 airpower summary: B-1Bs attack anti-Afghan forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations May 21, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, the battle in Lashkar Gah, which started May 18,

  • General officer assignments announced

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz has announced new assignments for the following general officers: Maj. Gen. William N. McCasland, director of space acquisition, Office of the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., to director, Special Programs, Office of the

  • Team helps put tactical satellite in orbit

    Air Force officials helped launch an Air Force Minotaur I rocket launches into orbirt carrying the Air Force Research Laboratory's TacSat-3 satellite, NASA's PharmaSat microsatellite and NASA's CubeSat Technology Demonstration at 7:55 p.m. EDT May 19 from Wallops Flight Facility, Va.This mission

  • Personnel chief discusses military personnel budget

    Airmen are the focal point for winning today's fight and efforts relating to recruiting, developing and retaining a high-quality and diverse fighting force need to reflect that, the service's top manpower and personnel officer said on Capitol Hill May 20. Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, deputy chief

  • CENTCOM commanders gather in Bahrain to discuss regional security

    Commanders from the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility gathered here May 20 for a three-day conference to discuss regional security issues and approaches to these challenges.The conference, hosted by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command officials, brought together Army Gen. David H.

  • Chairman notes fallen Airman's sacrifice in Memorial Day message

    In his annual Memorial Day message to servicemembers worldwide, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff evoked the sacrifice of an Airman who died in Afghanistan last month. Here is Navy Adm. Mike Mullen's message: "On Memorial Day, and every day, we honor Americans who volunteer to serve a cause

  • Air Force chief predicts fewer 'exquisite' acquisition programs

    Air Force leaders are taking a more critical eye in weighing the technological capabilities of new systems against their corresponding cost, the Air Force's top military officer said here May 21. "We have had a temptation to design and try to build the most exquisite systems, and we've proven we can

  • Air Force leaders issue posture statement

    The Air Force's top leaders presented the official Air Force posture statement May 19 to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. During their testimony, they focused on the upcoming budget as well as current and future Air Force capabilities.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force

  • Stain-resistant boot research under way

    The Air Force Uniform Office, here, continues its research to find a stain-resistant utility boot that retains the low maintenance of the current sage green boot and is composed of material that will not stain nor absorb workplace chemicals. A request for information, or RFI, was posted on

  • Arlington 'Flags In' tribute begins Memorial Day commemoration

    More than 3,000 servicemembers officially kicked off the Memorial Day commemoration last evening as they placed more than 250,000 miniature flags at every grave at Arlington National Cemetery, Va. The tradition, known as "Flags In," dates back to 1948, when soldiers of 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment,

  • Senate confirms next Air Force surgeon general

    The Senate has confirmed Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Charles Bruce Green to become the Air Force's 20th surgeon general. General Green is currently the Air Force's deputy surgeon general, a position he has held since August 2006. He will replace Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush, who is retiring. General Green

  • Leaders issue Memorial Day message

    The Air Force's top leaders remember those who have been killed, wounded or permanently disabled in a Memorial Day message today . Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz issued the following message:"Never in the field of human conflict was so

  • Air Force officials mull 9th Air Force, AFCENT separation

    As Air Force leaders continue to balance mission requirements and available resources, they are proposing a separation between the stateside numbered air force and its warfighting component to the U.S. Central Command. Currently, a three-star general commands both 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force

  • Emergency aid reaches Pakistan refugees

    A third C-17 Globemaster III aircraft landed here May 22 bringing emergency aid promised by the Department of Defense to the people of Pakistan who have evacuated the war-torn Swat Valley. During the past 24 hours, three such aircraft delivered relief supplies here, part of $10 million in supplies

  • Critical Days of Summer videos aim to save Airmen's lives

    The Air Force chief of staff and the Air Force top safety officer appear in videos to launch the service's annual Critical Days of Summer safety campaign, which begins May 22 and ends Sept. 7. Gen. Norton Schwartz appears in a video calling for everyone to be proactive in saving lives during this

  • Leaders send letter to Airmen on Critical Days of Summer

    The Air Force's top two leaders cited the start of the 2009 Critical Days of Summer campaign, and called for everyone to be proactive in saving lives during this high-risk season in a letter to Airmen sent out May 22. In the letter, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights cover Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force who fly, fight and win ... in air, space and cyberspace. View Week in Photos slideshow.

  • Air Forces Africa chaplain engages in faith-based cooperation

    "Religion is so central to the lives of people in Africa," said 17th Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Rex Williams. He should know. The chaplain has been representing U.S. Africa Command in working with chaplains and religious leaders from across the continent. He recently joined the U.S. Africa

  • May 20 airpower summary: A-10s provide overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a battle in Lashkar Gah which began May 18 continued. 

  • Pacific Air Forces Airmen mourn loss of Airman

    Airmen are mourning the loss of a Pacific Air Forces lieutenant killed in action May 20 during Operation Enduring Freedom. First Lt. Roslyn L. Schulte, 25, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations officer assigned to the 613th Air and Space Operations Center, died May 20 near

  • T-38 crash claims life of Edwards' pilot

    An Air Force test pilot student died May 21 when his jet trainer crashed north of Edwards Air Force Base. Captain Mark P. Graziano, 30, died when the T-38A Talon he was piloting crashed about nine miles north of the base here, near California City, Calif. Captain Graziano was assigned to the U.S.

  • T-38 crashes north of Edwards

    An Air Force T-38 Talon crashed at 1:15 p.m. May 21, about nine miles north of Edwards Air Force Base. The Edwards aircraft was on a flight-test training mission at the time of the accident. Two crewmembers were on board; their condition is unknown at this time. A board of officers will investigate

  • Space Command official tweets on GPS

    An Air Force Space Command official hosted a tweet forum on the Global Positioning System from 2 to 3 p.m., May 20. Col. Dave Buckman, AFSPC command lead for position, navigation and timing, responded to fellow tweeter's questions on GPS and clarified some points that came out of the recent

  • Team offers Airmen outlet for traumatic stress

    With Airmen deploying now more than ever, it only makes sense for Air Force officials to create resources for the Airmen once they get back to their home station. One of these resources is the traumatic stress response team, which was introduced Air Force-wide in 2006. All Air Force bases with a

  • Department of Defense officials identify Air Force casualty

    Department of Defense officials announced May 21 the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 1st Lt. Roslyn L. Schulte, 25, of St. Louis, Mo., died May 20 near Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. She was assigned to the Headquarters

  • Personnel officials asking e-subscribers to forego hard-copy news

    Subscribers to the e-Afterburner are being asked to forego receiving hard-copy editions by allowing their names to be removed from the postal mailing list. Retirees and annuitants who receive the e-Afterburner should send their full name, U.S. Postal Service mailing address, and the last four digits

  • Air Force makes Indy 500 debut

    Race fans tuning into the Indianapolis 500 May 24 will see Luczo Dragon Racing's No. 2 car making its Indy debut in Air Force colors. Behind the wheel will be rookie driver Rafael Matos who hopes to exploit his success as the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights champion into a win at what is deemed "The

  • North Dakota floods tested Air Force EPLOs

    When Col. Stacy Collins became an Air Force emergency preparedness liaison officer last November, she couldn't have predicted that in less than five months, she'd be assisting in one of the worst natural disasters to hit North Dakota in years: the flooding of several rivers including the Red and

  • Wounded major fulfills career milestone

    An Air Force major recovered from injuries suffered in Afghanistan to complete 20 years of honorable service. "I decided pretty early on what I wanted to do," Maj. Matthew Conlan said. "I was going to get back on the job and continue serving. I wanted to finish what I started." Major Conlan,

  • Four charged with terror plot against Air Guard base, Jewish facilities

    Less than a month after the sentencing of five defendants found guilty in a terror plot to kill soldiers at Fort Dix, N.J., authorities say they have foiled another terrorist plot against an Air National Guard base and a synagogue and Jewish community center in New York. The FBI and New York police

  • 'Her War' podcast aims to help military wives

    When Melissa Seligman's husband left for his second deployment to Iraq, she knew all too well what was expected of her. "I was expected to be the nice, caring, understanding military wife and mom," Mrs. Seligman said. "No military wife wants to admit that she is hurt -- and sometimes angry and very

  • After market uniforms may present risk

    The Air Force authorized a single all-season version of the Airman's Battle Uniform, or ABU, for wear service-wide, making any other version or claims of a summer weight uniform unauthorized. The one exception is a 100 percent cotton ABU, which is only authorized for wear in the firefighter and

  • AFSO 21 initiative at Dover will save $1.8 million

    A new process here will save the Air Force $1.8 million in man hours in the course of a year and most Airmen will not notice the change. Inprocessing at Dover took an average of 20 days, but through an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, that time has been cut to two days. "A

  • May 19 airpower summary: Reapers engage anti-Afghan forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, numerous Air Force and coalition aircraft engaged

  • Defense officials launch official military blogging platform

    Defense Department officials have unveiled "DoDLive," a centrally linked and unified platform from which services can create and maintain blogs. "This blogging tool allows all branches of the military an opportunity to establish an official blog about their command, organization or unit," said Brian

  • Air Force solar-powered hydrogen plant completed

    A $1.1 million solar array project to power the base hydrogen production and fueling station was completed here May 8, marking a "first" for both the Air Force and the state of Hawaii. After about six weeks of installation, 810 solar modules can now produce 146 kilowatts of energy per hour,

  • Keesler officials open gates to military bloggers

    Airmen in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron here hosted the Air Force's first ever orientation flight for military bloggers May 19. The flight, which took place aboard one of the Reserve unit's WC-130J Hercules, was designed to give the bloggers a taste of what it's like to fly on a military

  • Airmen compete in Boston Marathon Iraqi style

    People at Contingency Operating Base Adder were buzzing with excitement at 5 a.m. April 18, as runners anxiously awaited the start of the annual Boston Marathon-Iraq held for the fifth time here. More than 300 servicemembers and civilians from throughout the area of responsibility ran the perimeter

  • Senior enlisted leaders strengthen international bonds

    Senior enlisted leaders from nine countries met in the San Antonio area for a closer look at Air Education and Training Command programs and processes during a visit May 12-15. As part of the 2009 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit, international enlisted leaders from Australia, Bulgaria, Japan,

  • U.S. military shepherds humanitarian aid to Pakistan

    Two Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs have begun delivering humanitarian aid to internally displaced people in Pakistan's northwestern provinces, the chief U.S. defense representative said May 20. For Navy Rear Adm. Michael A. Lefevre, who works out of the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, the humanitarian

  • Airmen airlift aid to Pakistan's war-torn Swat Valley

    In response to specific requests for support from the government of Pakistan, the Department of Defense has arranged for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to aid the estimated 1.7 million Pakistanis displaced by current military operations against extremists in the country's northwestern

  • Airman's Roll Call: Summer Safety

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the 101 critical days of summer, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Summer safety is important to the Air Force and its members. From 1997 to 2008, an average of 24 Airmen were lost each summer. Last year, 17 Airmen were fatally injured. Air

  • May 18 airpower summary: C-130s provide intra-theater airlift

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and an F-15E Strike Eagle

  • AF officials announce Combat Air Forces restructure plan

    Following the May 7 roll-out of the fiscal year 2010 budget proposal for the Department of Defense, Air Force officials announced plans to retire legacy fighters to fund a smaller and more capable force and redistribute people for higher priority missions. The Combat Air Forces restructuring plan

  • Air Force chief of staff visits Osan

    The common themes of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz's remarks to more than 400 Airmen gathered here May 11 were teamwork and excellence, key elements in mission accomplishment as well as in Airmen's personal lives. The general also reminded the crowd that all Airmen are a part of the

  • Huge crowd turns out for Night at the Air Force Museum

    More than 10,000 visitors came face-to-face with aviation history May 15 during a Night at the Air Force Museum at the National Museum of the United States Air Force here. The sizeable crowd had the opportunity to look into the cockpits of aircraft such as the B-24D Liberator and SR-71A Blackbird

  • Track-Field: Air Force Academy claims 13 all-conference selections

    The Air Force track and field team collected 13 all-conference honors at the recent Mountain West Conference Championships in Laramie, Wyo., the league office announced May 18. By finishing within the top three of their respective events, 11 individuals and one relay team earned all-conference

  • DeCA announces best commissary winners

    Five commissaries were honored as the Defense Commissary Agency's best during the DeCA's 2009 Conference and Training Event in Richmond, Va., May 19. Winning commissaries by category for the competition were:       Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., winner of the Bill Nichols Award for the Best Large

  • Apheresis broadens impact of blood donations

    Rose Weatherly plays a major role in providing life-saving blood products to patients at Keesler Medical Center and, literally, around the world. Ms. Weatherly, a registered nurse, is the apheresis supervisor with the 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron's pathology and clinical laboratory

  • Flight crews fight weather to continue medical mission in Nicaragua

    Day two for the Soldiers and Airmen of Joint Task Force-Bravo working their first medical readiness mission to Nicaragua dawned bright and clear in Managua May 15. But 80 miles to the north, the skies told a much different story. For the aviators of the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, the

  • Airmen support Soldiers by putting bombs on targets

    On a battlefield they plan, request and direct air strikes against enemy targets in close proximity to friendly forces, namely the army units on the frontlines who may need close-air support in the blink of an eye. "I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I am supporting my Army counterparts," said

  • AFSO 21 improves war-ready engines

    The 20th Component Maintenance Squadron is currently taking steps to improve the process of producing war-ready engines by applying Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. From March 23 to March 25, Airmen from the 20th Maintenance Group gathered to participate in the TF34 Rapid Improvement

  • AFMC senior leader reflects on suicide close to home

    With a phone call on the night of Jan. 29, the "You Matter" suicide campaign at Robins suddenly became more personal to Maj. Gen. Polly Peyer. The commander of Warner Robins Air Logistics Center suspected something was wrong when the phone rang at 9 p.m. because most people who would be calling her

  • Combat controller receives two Bronze Stars with valor

    A combat controller, who is now charged with helping fill the special tactics ranks, was presented with two Bronze Stars with valor during a ceremony held recently at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Master Sgt. Ken Huhman, a special tactics recruiter in San Antonio, received the medals for his

  • May 17 airpower summary: F-15Es support coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II carried out strafing

  • AF men take gold, women silver in b-ball championship

    The 22nd annual Armed Forces Basketball Championship wrapped up competition May 17 with the Air Force men taking gold medals and the Air Force women taking silver in their divisions.  The Air Force men swept the competition with a record of 6-0, clinching their fourth consecutive title, while the

  • New online application added to voluntary assignments

    Air Force officials recently introduced a new Web-based application that allows Airmen to withdraw or cancel a voluntary assignment from their desks at their convenience. Voluntary assignments are assignments that are self-initiated and that Airmen can apply for on their own. They differ from normal

  • Local high school students get inside look at Southwest Asian air base

    Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted 75 high school students from the local America-Mideast Educational and Training Services language training center during their visit to the base May 16. Members of the 386th AEW along with Soldiers, Navy Seabees and Australian personnel from the

  • Guard bureau chief sees peacekeeping as likely National Guard mission

    The National Guard can expect peacekeeping roles in Afghanistan and Iraq in the future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here last week. "I've challenged our staff with thinking through what happens after Iraq, what happens after Afghanistan," Gen. Craig R. McKinley told an audience at

  • Blood center is lifeline for servicemembers

    Every year, thousands of units of blood and plasma are donated and sent into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to save the lives of servicemembers and civilians who sustain life threatening injuries. Thanks to the hard work of the four members of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group

  • Panjshir PRT medics improve medical sanitation

    As soon as the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team arrived in the Panjshir Valley in November 2008, they noticed a need for a more sanitary way of disposing of contaminated needles. "We saw that they were using cardboard boxes and buckets for [sharps] disposal. We also observed needles laying

  • Freedom Conference Center NCOs boost morale

    Air Force supervisors make it their mission to provide leadership to their subordinate Airmen as well as boost unit morale whenever possible. One pair of NCOs here takes boosting morale one step further serving as the focal point for the entire base. 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, Tech.

  • 'Air Force Knowledge Now' turns 10

    Randy Adkins, Knowledge Management Center of Excellence director, clearly recalls the Friday afternoon when the idea of Knowledge Now was first raised. Members of the Air Force Materiel Command staff discussed the possibility of a "lessons-learned" database and sent the idea to Mr. Adkins, who had

  • New system for tracking personnel gets workout soon

    As the Air Force gears up for its second test of the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System, Air Force Materiel Command leaders are reminding people to participate during the May 19-21 exercise. The new system is designed to improve the way the Air Force keeps track of its people.

  • 'Today's Air Force' features the new CMSAF

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the next chief master sergeant of the Air Force, unmanned aircraft systems operated from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., the dangers of supplements and an F-16 Fighting Falcon that passed 7,000 hours of flight time. The 16th chief master sergeant of the

  • Pacific Command strategy centers on partnership, readiness, presence

    The three major tenets of the U.S. Pacific Command strategy -- partnership, readiness and presence -- are having a powerful impact in bringing together the joint, interagency and international capabilities required to promote regional stability, the command's top officer told American Forces Press

  • May 14 airpower summary: F-16s provide armed reconnaissance

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations May 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles conducted strafing runs

  • May 15 airpower summary: KC-135 tankers fueled 174 sorties

    Coalition airpower integrated with Coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations May 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a B-1B Lancer Bomber struck anti-Afghan forces'