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U.S. Air Force News

  • Guardsmen, Reservists can nominate employers for awards

    Reserve-component servicemembers still have time to nominate their employers for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award is the Defense Department's highest honor for employers who provide exceptional support for employees who serve in the National Guard or

  • Guardsmen, reservists essential to war effort

    National Guard and Reserve forces "have been absolutely essential" to the war on terrorism, the commander of U.S. Central Command told the Senate Appropriations Committee. His comments came during a Sept. 24 hearing about the fiscal 2004 supplemental funding request for Iraq and Afghanistan."We

  • Guardsmen, ski-equipped planes begin annual migration to South Pole

    Airmen and ski-equipped aircraft from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing have started their annual journey to Antarctica. Two ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules and 23 Airmen left Stratton Air National Guard Base Oct. 18 to participate in the wing's 29th season supporting Operation Deep

  • Guidance released on 100 percent cotton airman battle uniform

    Air Force senior leaders here issued guidance clarifying the wear of the 100 percent cotton airman battle uniform. According to a message dated Sept. 7, only Airmen in jobs that meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, requirements are authorized to wear the 100 percent cotton

  • Guide helps leaders manage people in distress

    Air Force officials introduced 12 monthly initiatives in April to help Air Force members effectively manage stress, and July's initiative is "The Leader's Guide to Managing Personnel in Distress." The guide was created to help supervisors, first sergeants and commanders recognize distress-related

  • Gulfport Armed Forces Retirement Home residents evacuate

    Officials at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Miss., announced plans Aug. 30 to evacuate 416 now-homeless veterans from the hurricane-decimated home and move them to its sister facility here.Most of the veterans were preparing to leave Gulfport on Aug. 30 by charter bus for the Armed

  • Gulfport evacuees receive helping hand

    It's been more than eight months since Hurricane Katrina displaced thousands of people. Veterans who stayed at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Miss., were among those who had to leave. More than 400 of the 600 residents were evacuated to the AFRH here and have been without most of

  • Gun safes excluded from household goods weight allowance

    As the number of accidental child injuries and deaths continue to rise, more and more incidents are attributed to unsecured, loaded guns. Defense leaders are confident this update will help improve overall gun safety in homes, while also helping to decrease service member suicides.

  • Gunfighter Flag 15-2: Bringing deployments home

    Airmen from the 366th Fighter Wing and the 266th Range Squadron teamed up with Sailors, Marines and Army National Guardsmen for combat training scenarios during Gunfighter Flag 15-2 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

  • Gunfighter Flag wraps up at Mountain Home AFB

    Gunfighter Flag wrapped up Sept. 24 in what one commander deemed a "grand slam." "We don't often have the opportunity to practice large-force employment on this scale," said Col. John Bird, commander of Mountain Home AFB's 366th Fighter Wing. "What we did here over the last two weeks rivals what you

  • Gunfighters use 1950s tech on F-35 for a huge win

    Airmen from the 366th Logistics Readiness Squadron, also known as Gunfighters, are the first in the Air Force to perform hot-pit refueling on F-35 Lightning II’s with a Type 1 hydrant system from the 1950s and hose cart from the 1970s.

  • Gunner missing from World War II buried at Arlington

    Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office officials announced April 12 that the remains of an Army Air Forces crewman have been identified and were buried with military honors April 12.Staff Sgt. Robert McKee, of Garvey, Calif., was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.On Dec.

  • Gunship commander receives Cheney Award

    The aircraft commander of an AC-130H Spectre gunship was named the recipient of the Cheney Award Oct. 6 for providing close-air support to troops on the ground in Afghanistan in May 2007. The Cheney Award is presented each year to aviators who demonstrate an act of valor, extreme fortitude or

  • Gunship crew awarded 14 medals for joint SOF Afghanistan mission

    Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, presented two Distinguished Flying Crosses with “C” device and 12 single event Air Medals with “C” device to 4th Special Operations Squadron Airmen during an awards ceremony March 2, at Hurlburt Field, for their actions in April

  • Gunship crew earns MacKay trophy

    An AC-130H Spectre gunship crew from the 16th Special Operations Squadron here was awarded the Clarence MacKay Trophy recently for most meritorious flight of the year.The 14 airmen of “Grim 31” received the Air Force-level award for saving the lives of 82 U.S. soldiers and two HH-60 Pave Hawk

  • Gunship guru saves $14 million

    Bill Walter, an Air Force Special Operation Command Strike Requirements Branch program analyst, has a long history of brainstorming money-saving ideas and seeing them to fruition. A tip from the U.S. Army Ammunition Program Office led Walter to a valuable supply of modified 40 mm  M2 A1 gun parts

  • Gunsmith shop gets new name, command

    The U.S. Air Force Gunsmith Shop is getting a new name and command. After 48 years of operations here under Air Training and then Air Education and Training Command, the shop is realigning under Air Force Materiel Command. Now known as the U.S. Air Force Gunsmith Integrated Product Team, the

  • Gunter park named for Air Force hero

    The monument tells the story of an Airman who earned two Silver Stars, a Defense Superior Service Medal, a Legion of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses and 18 Air Medals.A park here now bears his name.Retired Chief Master Sgt. Wayne Fisk, who was a pararescue Airman, was honored April 28 when a

  • Gymnastics: Academy freshman earns honors

    An Air Force Academy freshman was named Gymnast of the Week by the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation for the week ending Jan. 15, league officials announced Jan. 23.During the Falcons' season opener with the 17th-ranked Denver University Pioneers Jan. 13, Michelle Denise, of Kennewick, Wash.,

  • Gymnastics: AF concludes season at USAG Championships

    Members of the Air Force women's gymnastics team concluded competition at the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championships April 19 here. Competing in the all-around, senior Sashonna Iwaniec and sophomore Abigail Rogers fell just shy of advancing out of their respective sessions, as they each placed

  • Gymnastics: Air Force falls to No. 14 Denver in home finale

    The Air Force women's gymnastics team closed out the 2007 regular season posting its best overall score of the year. The Falcons set or matched season-best event scores on two events en route to the best overall total of the campaign. However, Air Force's 187.250 wasn't enough to overcome Denver,

  • Gymnastics: Air Force takes fourth at MPSF meet

    With six top-10 finishes, the Air Force women's gymnastics team picked up a fourth-place finish at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships here March 30. Senior Christine Powers led the Falcons with a pair of top-10 marks, including a fourth-place score on the balance beam. As a team,

  • Gymnastics: Cadet named gymnast of the week

    Weekly honors continue to accumulate for Air Force junior Greg Stine, who was named the Collegiate Division Gymnast of the Week by the Collegiate Gymnastics Association March 7. This award, which is voted on by the men's gymnastics coaches, comes just one day after he was named the Mountain Pacific

  • Gymnastics: Cadets shine in Rocky Mountain Open

    With freshmen Brennan Wolford and Garrett Canter earning individual honors, the Air Force men's gymnastics team concluded a successful afternoon of competition Jan. 13 here at the event finals of the Rocky Mountain Open. Wolford, from Thornville, Ohio, posted a career-best 8.200 on the floor

  • Gymnastics: Falcon tied for 11th at NCAA Championships

    Sophomore Jacob Schonig and junior Greg Stine of the Air Force men's gymnastics team concluded an amazing run at the NCAA Men's Collegiate Gymnastics Championships April 13 here. The meet featured the top six teams in the nation, as well as the top six all-arounders and event specialists not on a

  • Gymnastics: Falcons defeat Alaska Anchorage

    Highlighted by two event victories from junior Abigail Rogers, the U.S. Air Force Academy women's gymnastics team claimed the for its second victory of the season with a 190.975 to 190.250 win over the University of Alaska Anchorage March 16 here. Improving their season-high mark by more than six

  • Gymnastics: Men set season-best team score

    Backed by top three finishes from junior Greg Stine of Houston and sophomore Josiah Loeser of Alvin, Texas, the No. 16 Air Force men's gymnastics team set a new season-best team score of 194.850 in a dual meet with No. 14 Illinois-Chicago March 9. UIC won the meet with a score of 203.100, but the

  • Gymnastics: Men's team improves season-best score

    Highlighted by a pair of first-place finishes from junior Greg Stine of Houston, the No. 16 Air Force men's gymnastics team improved its season-best score for the second straight meet. The Falcons tallied a combined score of 196.500 to finish second to No. 14 Illinois-Chicago here March 11.

  • Gymnastics: Rogers wins floor exercise

    Sophomore Abigail Rogers won the floor exercise with a career-best score of 9.750, as the Air Force women's gymnastics team dropped a 191.600-185.600 decision to visiting Cal-Berkeley March 18. Rogers' winning mark matched her personal-high score, which she first set at Ohio State. While Rogers was

  • H1N1 case confirmed at Goodfellow

    Air Force officials confirmed June 25 that the first case of the H1N1 virus was diagnosed at Goodfellow Air Force Base. The affected person is a dependent of a military couple stationed at Goodfellow AFB, and the patient is being treated by the 17th Medical Group pediatric staff. Base personnel have

  • H1N1 cases confirmed in Elmendorf community

    Officials from the Alaska State Public Health Laboratory and Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Laboratory confirmed several cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza virus in the community here July 6. The patients did not require hospitalization and have made full recoveries. These cases have had no impact

  • H1N1 cases identified at Hurlburt

    Four Hurlburt Field Airmen have tested positive for the H1N1 virus in July and 59 others currently have symptoms consistent with the H1N1 virus. Most of the illnesses are clustered within one work center and a few are roommates with members who are from that work center. All are recuperating well,

  • Hack the Air Force results released

    The results are in for Hack the Air Force, the “white-hat hacker” bug bounty program designed to better secure Air Force online assets that ran May 30-June 23, 2017.

  • Hackathon to help solve real-world problems

    The Air Force Research Laboratory is preparing to co-host LabHack, a 26-hour long coding competition which will task coding-savvy individuals, or "hackers," to creatively solve challenges that AFRL researchers face every day.

  • Hackers gain access to MyPay accounts

    Someone's identity is stolen every 10 seconds, according to the Federal Trade Commission, and servicemembers are not immune to this statistic. There's been a recent rise in hackers attacking MyPay accounts, and most victims don't even know it. Most of the stolen information is collected by software

  • Hacking road map to physiological episodes mitigation in Air Force

    The Air Force Physiological Episodes Action Team, or AF PEAT, recently held a “hackathon” to update the service-wide road map to mitigate physiological episodes. Hackathons are sprint-like events where subject matter experts collaborate intensively to solve problems or establish a course of action.

  • Hagel announces fewer furlough days for DOD employees

    After weeks of review, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has concluded budget cuts will require most of the department's civilian employees to be furloughed beginning in July, but that because of other efforts to deal with the shortfall, only half of the 22 days originally envisioned as temporary

  • Hagel announces reduction in civilian furlough days

    Hundreds of thousands of Defense Department civilian employees who have had to take a weekly unpaid day off from work since July 8 are getting some relief, as the total number of furlough days has been reduced from 11 to six, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced today.

  • Hagel calls DOD education support a strategic priority

    The Defense Department's commitment to military families and to quality education for military children is a strategic imperative that leaders will maintain, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in remarks July 9.During closing remarks at the Military Child Education Coalition's 15th National Training

  • Hagel discusses 'State of DOD' in Nebraska speech

    In a wide-ranging speech given today at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, his alma mater, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel talked about the necessity of adapting the nation's military to operate in a world that's undergoing far-reaching geopolitical, technological and economic change."The world is

  • Hagel eliminates Distinguished Warfare Medal

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has eliminated the Distinguished Warfare Medal, DOD officials announced today.Instead, the military will recognize service members who directly affect combat operations without being present through distinguishing devices that will be affixed to already existing

  • Hagel emphasizes summer safety in message to Department

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urged service members, civilian employees and their families May 23 to enjoy the upcoming summer, but to do so safely.In a message to all Defense Department activities, Hagel emphasized the need to make good decisions during a time of year that resulted in more than 80

  • Hagel ends Poland trip with U.S., Polish airmen

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spent the last afternoon of his first official visit to Poland by stopping at an air base where U.S. and Polish airmen work side by side, and later at a historic church where his great grandparents were married in 1882.

  • Hagel focuses on readiness at Reagan Library Speech

    Long-term preparedness and near-term readiness are being affected by sequestration and America ignores this rise in risk at its peril, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Nov. 16, in California today. Hagel spoke at the first Reagan National Security Forum at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley. The

  • Hagel orders retraining of recruiters, sexual assault responders

    Amid a spate of allegations of criminal behavior by military recruiters and service members involved in the Defense Department's efforts to prevent sexual assaults and help that crime's victims, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has ordered the services to retrain, re-credential and rescreen all sexual

  • Hagel outlines budget reducing troop strength, force structure

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has proposed cuts in military spending that include further reductions in troop strength and force structure in every military service as part of an effort to prioritize U.S. strategic interests after more than a decade of war.

  • Hagel promotes partnership at Aviation Detachment

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visited with U.S. and Polish airmen from the 52nd Operations Group Aviation Detachment here, Jan. 31. Hagel traveled to Poland to discuss U.S. and Polish partnerships and defense alliances across a range of global security issues. He also thanked them for their support

  • Hagel receives update on shutdown from service leaders

    The Defense Department's top leadership, including the service secretaries and service chiefs, updated Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel yesterday on the impact of the ongoing government shutdown, Pentagon officials reported.

  • Hagel says national security assured during shutdown

    The Defense Department and other government agencies responsible for national security will carry out their missions despite the government shutdown, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Oct. 1 here. The secretary, traveling in the Asia-Pacific region this week for high-level meetings here and in

  • Hagel seeks to limit convening authority powers under UCMJ

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will ask Congress to change military law so that commanders cannot overturn major convictions, the secretary announced in a written statement issued today.Article 60 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice currently gives power to "convening authorities," or commanders,

  • Hagel takes office as 24th SecDef

    Just before his private swearing-in ceremony as the 24th secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel and his wife, Lilibet, arrived at the Pentagon this morning and were greeted by Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Thomas D. Waldhauser, military assistant to the secretary of defense.Hagel said hello to waiting members of

  • Hagel talks sequestration with Joint Base Charleston civilians

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel discussed sequestration and defense budget cuts with several hundred Air Force civilian employees during a town hall here July 17.He opened the discussion by thanking the entire military family -- those in uniform, the federal civilians who support them, and the

  • Hagel talks with troops about 2015 defense budget request

    In spotless aircraft hangars at two different military bases in southeastern Virginia yesterday, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel stood before several hundred Airmen and Soldiers, highlighting priorities in the Defense Department’s fiscal 2015 budget request and taking questions.

  • Hagel to make furlough decision soon, press secretary says

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will make a decision soon on the scope of civilian furloughs in response to sequestration spending cuts, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.Hagel is reviewing analysis on the budget "and he'll reach a decision in the near future," Little told

  • Hagel visits Airmen, stresses importance of mission, gratitude

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel visited Airmen from the 90th Missile Wing here Jan. 9 to learn about the ICBM mission and the people who operate, maintain, secure and support the Minuteman III weapon system. Hagel also took time to speak to Airmen who were selected as top performers by their

  • Hagel visits troops, defense nuclear facilities in New Mexico

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said he was impressed with what he saw here Jan. 8 at an Air Force base on the northern edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, where two facilities represent a large and historic part of the nation’s nuclear weapons expertise.

  • Hagel vows to prioritize cyber, nuclear capabilities

    Malicious cyberattacks are quickly becoming a defining security challenge "for our time, for all our institutions," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said June 19 during a speech in Omaha, Neb., at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska-Omaha."They are putting America's economic and technological

  • Hagel, in Hawaii, praises 'value added' force integration

    The tight integration in Hawaii between active-duty service members, civilian defense employees and National Guardsmen points to the future of the overall force, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told troops at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam here May 30."That's as much value added as I think we can get

  • Hagel, Winnefeld Honor Korean War Vets, Those Still Serving in the Republic

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Navy Adm. James Winnefeld remembered the Korean War as the first time the world united under the banner of the United Nations to stand up to aggression and support the rule of law.The men spoke today at the ceremony here marking the 60th anniversary of the armistice

  • Hagel: Defeating ISIL is long-term endeavor

    Defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant will require a long-term commitment by the United States and its allies on many fronts and will not be achieved by airstrikes alone, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters Sept. 26.

  • 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.