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  • Sun strike

    An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 494th Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, sits on the ramp here prior to a sortie with South Africa's "Flying Cheetahs." (Master Sgt. Cesar Rodriguez)

  • New system makes tracking supplies easier

    In Afghanistan and other austere locations, U.S. troops are now able to better track their orders of vital supplies. That is because of recent efforts by U.S. Transportation Command officials to improve the "in-transit visibility" of people and cargo moving through the Defense Transportation

  • PJ medical training returns to Kirtland

    Medical instruction for Air Force pararescuemen, or PJs, returns to Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., on Oct. 2 when 19 students start their training.Air Force PJs will no longer receive medical training at Fort Bragg, N.C. Instead, Detachment 1 of the 342nd Training Squadron, the Air Force pararescue

  • Tuition assistance increases for undergraduate program

    For the second year in a row, Air Force Reserve Command is boosting the amount of help offered through its Tuition Assistance Program for undergraduate work.Starting Oct. 1, the Reserve will increase a student's maximum assistance per semester from $187.50 to $250 for undergraduate work, reimbursing

  • Reserve recouping funds from ineligible GI Bill recipients

    Beginning Oct. 1, the Air Force Reserve will recoup money from reservists who receive GI Bill benefits but fail to complete their military or education obligations.The Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve enables reserve component members who enlist, re-enlist or extend in the Selected Reserve for a

  • NASA honors academy aeronautics research efforts

    Members of the Air Force Academy's aeronautics department received recognition from the NASA Johnson Space Center for their work on the X-38 crew return vehicle, which will serve as a lifeboat for the International Space Station.Named as recipients of the NASA Group Achievement Award are Dr. Tom

  • Maintenance group focusing on core competencies

    Wings around the Air Force are creating maintenance groups as part of a move toward the new combat wing organization structure.The changes are in accordance with a recent directive by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper that maintenance groups be stood up and have attained initial

  • Recent deployments test employer support

    Master Sgt. Mike McAdoo, a reservist firefighter with the 446th Civil Engineer Squadron here, is finally home after nearly a year. Coming home is even more enjoyable because his time on active duty did not break his bank account, thanks to the support of his civilian employer.McAdoo is a

  • Dog days of summer

    With his eyes on the action, Carlo, a military working dog, watches his handler, Staff Sgt. Carinae Samsel (right), check a "suspect" for any concealed weapons. Samsel is a military working dog handler with the 31st Security Forces Squadron here. The suspect in the training is Samsel's husband,

  • $10.4 million upgrade increases test capability

    With a $10.4 million test facility upgrade here, Air Force officials hope to make Arnold Engineering Development Center a "one-stop" shopping center for aerodynamic and propulsion test customers by providing Mach 8 capability.The Mach 8 milestone, which equates to objects traveling about 6,000 mph,

  • B-1B crash cause remains unknown

    Air Force investigators have determined the cause of the crash of a B-1B Lancer bomber into the Indian Ocean on Dec.12 remains unknown.An Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report stated that aircraft malfunctions affecting the reliability of the pilots' attitude information might have

  • Teamwork spans across miles of water

    While they may not ride the same shuttle to work or eat in the same dining facility, members of the 40th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron are very much a part of the deployed 40th Air Expeditionary Wing.The 40th EMXS is located at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and provides contingency phase

  • Oklahoma Guardsmen join U.S. planes in South Africa

    Even with more than 60 nations represented on the flightline and in hangars at the South African Aerospace Defense Exhibition here, many here say the most recognizable tail art goes to the 185th Airlift Squadron from the Oklahoma Air National Guard's 137th Airlift Wing.The unit, based in Oklahoma

  • A little help from a friend

    Airman Jimmy Garibaldi (right), from the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron here, hoses down Staff Sgt. Matthew McQuaig to start the decontamination process during the 52nd Fighter Wing's operational readiness inspection Sept. 20. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Cook)

  • Air Force, NASCAR teams compete in 'reverse pit stop'

    Elite teams of highly skilled professionals from NASCAR and the Air Force faced off on the flightline here Sept. 19 in a unique competition dubbed the "reverse pit stop." The purpose of the three-hour event was to demonstrate the many similarities and contrasts between the two organizations and to

  • Demobilized reservists receive time to out-process

    Air Force reservists who are not being extended into a second year or have not been identified for early demobilization should begin demobilizing at least 45 days before their call-up anniversary date, said officials.These days give reservists time to complete mandatory medical evaluations and

  • Program helps prevent, deal with domestic violence

    The Department of Defense considers all forms of family violence as unacceptable and provides extensive resources that focus on prevention, intervention and treatment.The Air Force's Family Advocacy Program, charged with the prevention and treatment of family maltreatment, has the shared goal of

  • Fifth Air Force Marathon a success

    More than 3,200 runners from 48 states and eight foreign countries ran in the fifth Air Force Marathon here Sept. 21.Wheelchair competitors began the 26.2-mile race at 7 a.m., followed by individual runners at 7:05 a.m., and relay teams at 7:30 a.m.Patrick Doak of Alpharetta, Ga., was the first male

  • Experts investigate 18-year-old crash site

    Experts here visited an 18-year-old crash site recently to make sure no human remains, unexploded munitions or environmental hazards remained.On May 2, national and state environmental specialists were performing wildlife checks when they came across what looked like a military crash site 5,000 feet

  • Engine failure causes Predator crash

    Air Force investigators have determined that engine failure caused an Air Force RQ-1B Predator aircraft to crash May 25 near Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. The aircraft was conducting a mission in support of Operation Southern Watch.The Predator, which is an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft,

  • Mass re-enlistment honors birthday

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper recites the oath of enlistment at a mass re-enlistment ceremony honoring the service's 55th birthday Sept. 19. Participating in the ceremony were 55 airmen from the surrounding National Capitol Region. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth)

  • USAFE gains two units under realignment plan

    A major command, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, is gaining two new units with the implementation of the Unified Command Plan on Oct. 1.The 65th Air Base Wing at Lajes Air Base, Azores, and the 85th Group at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, will transition from Air Combat Command to USAFE as part of

  • Moving on out

    Loaded with bags and records, people from the 31st Fighter Wing here process through a mobility line in preparation for a deployment to Kuwait to support Operation Southern Watch (Photo by Master Sgt. Keith Reed)

  • AAFES employee deploys instead of her spouse

    Oddly, a temporary assignment half way around the world in Southwest Asia is bringing Cathy Talley, an Army and Air Force Exchange Service manager, closer to her husband stationed at Minot Air Force Base, N.D.She is one of the more than 70 AAFES employees who volunteer to spend six months abroad to

  • Vigilance remains key to preventing terrorist activity

    Air Force members and their families are vital assets to law enforcement authorities who identify and assess potential threats in the area to help safeguard people and other resources."Vigilance at home is a phrase that's been used time and again since Sept. 11," said Special Agent Robert Hicks,

  • Our town

    The military base at Bagram, Afghanistan, is home to U.S. airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Bagram Air Base is about 25 miles north of the Afghan capital of Kabul. Residents have turned the former Soviet fighter base full of mined areas into a functional

  • Air Force participates in South Africa exercise

    Air Force people arrived here Sept. 17 to participate in the first bilateral exercise between the air forces of South Africa and the United States.More than 200 airmen from Royal Air Force Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath in England, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., and the Oklahoma Air National Guard

  • 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

  • ID cards prepare airmen for deployment

    An airman's projected deployment information can fit inside his or her wallet thanks to the new air and space expeditionary force identification card available online.Officials at the AEF Center here recently introduced the cards as a way to help airmen understand the details of their

  • Officials announce OTS selections

    The Air Force is giving 42 enlisted members the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars after being chosen to attend Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.Officials from Air Force Recruiting Service headquarters conducted OTS Selection Board 0208, which met here Aug. 6 to 9.

  • 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

  • Combat weather: More than just forecasting highs

    Monday, hot, 109. Tuesday, hot, 110. The rest of the week, extremely hot.Some people may think a deployment to a desert in Southwest Asia would be a weather forecaster's dream -- same forecast, different day. However, the 363rd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron combat weather team does

  • Squadron inactivating after 34 years

    Airman 1st Class Travis Reid checks an EC-130 Hercules for potential post-flight fuel and hydraulic leaks. Reid is a member of the 42nd Airborne Command and Control Squadron here which was born during the Vietnam War and is being inactivated Sept. 30. Air Force officials determined the unit's

  • Deployed servicemembers complete playground for local children

    Volunteers at a forward-deployed location in the Arabian Gulf region completed hours of hard work in the blazing sun recently to build a playground for children in a neighboring town.More than 100 volunteers participated in the project, which included removing jagged rocks and shattered glass from

  • Phoenix Readiness to become 'graduate-level' training

    Expeditionary combat support personnel throughout the Air Force will soon have more opportunities to get "graduate-level training" in the art of building and operating an air base from scratch.Phoenix Readiness, the Air Mobility Command-run training program operated by the Air Mobility Warfare

  • Maintenance backshop takes center stage

    It is a little known fact that if you connected the KC-135R Stratotanker's nearly 5,000 electrical wires end to end, the result would stretch to more than 14.5 miles in length.Combine those numbers with the amount of electronics on the aircraft, its generator, battery, pressurization equipment,

  • Sergeant returns home after lengthy surgery ordeal

    Early assessments indicate he is the only person in medical history to survive the removal of a large brain-stem tumor and have few side effects afterward. The tumor was the size and density of a baseball.Tech. Sgt. Michael Newell, 47th Mission Support Squadron group training manager here,

  • Refresher course allows pilots to hone survival skills

    Out among unknown landscape, pilots scramble to evade potential captors by hiding under bushes and trees until they can escape enemy territory. It will take all their survival skills not to get caught, even if this is only an exercise.About seven times a year, pilots are brought together here for a

  • Airman sets world bench press record

    Gene Bell recently set world and national records with a 514-pound bench press at the USA Powerlifting National Bench Press Championships in Bedford Heights, Ohio.The quarter-ton-plus lift gave Bell, a master sergeant assigned to the Air Force Services Agency, the Master's World Bench Press and USA

  • 'Light Bulb' brightens the flightline

    He is been called 'Light Bulb' for so long that only a handful of people know his real name. When asked, he tells them he is sure 'Light Bulb' is his real name.Randy Westervelt, a high voltage electrician with the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron's exterior electric shop here, works day and night to

  • Test Pilot School updates admission requirements

    Pilots, engineers and navigators applying for slots at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School here are finding some of the school's requirements have changed recently.The biggest difference for applicants comes in the easing of experience requirements for pilots and navigators.Beginning with this

  • 10 years later, ALS continues to evolve

    A little more than a decade old, airman leadership school has evolved in much the same way the rest of the Air Force has. Although the school and curriculum have changed with the times, one thing has not, said Tech. Sgt. Pamela Jones, an instructor and director of education at the Senior Master Sgt.

  • Teleconferencing IDEA earns employee $10,000

    A suggestion to change the way in which video teleconferencing is provided has earned an Air Force Research Laboratory employee here a $10,000 award from the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Gregory J. Howe, a telecommunications specialist in the AFRL information

  • Over, under, inside, out

    Senior Airman Alden L. Garlitz, with the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing security forces squadron, inspects the underside of a vehicle Sept. 10 before permitting it to drive onto the base at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Garlitz is an Air National Guardsman

  • School children send patriotic support to 'home team'

    Handmade posters and drawings depicting the American flag have made the journey from Dothan, Ala., to special operations troops forward-deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.Children from Dothan's Girard Elementary School wanted to show their support for the military, especially the men

  • Technology symposium highlights turbine engine successes

    Nearly 100 years after the Wright brothers changed the future with their first powered flight at Kitty Hawk, N.C., a new generation of American scientists and engineers gathered here to tackle the challenges of powering flight for the next century.Nearly 700 Defense Department, NASA and aerospace

  • Out on patrol

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., patrols the no-fly zone in support of Operation Northern Watch. The aircraft, assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, was part of an air and space expeditionary force deployment package. The unit spent the 90-day rotation

  • A cut above the rest

    Master Sgt. Ed Caffrey, superintendent of a heavy equipment section of the 219th Red Horse squadron here, has forged a new identity for himself.He is one of only 92 master bladesmiths in the world.Although he has always been interested in making knives, he did not take it up until after a visit to a

  • Give me a brake

    Airman First Class Derek Smith, an engine mechanic with the 776th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, operates the hand pump controlling the brake pressure on a C-130 Hercules. The aircraft was being towed to clear the parking ramp for incoming aircraft at a forward-deployed location supporting

  • Celebrating Patriot Day far from home

    OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (AFPN) -- Chief Master Sgt. Michael Retzlaff, 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, takes a moment to sign a wooden memorial board in memory of Sept. 11 victims. During the base's Patriot Day

  • Rescue at sea

    An HH-60 Pave Hawk crew from the 56th Rescue Squadron here prepares to rescue two men from their damaged boat in the North Atlantic, 300 miles out to sea, Sept. 6. Two HH-60 helicopters were sent to rescue the crew from a 30-foot American-registered yacht, which rolled over in heavy seas and lost

  • Random act of kindness rewarded

    Darby Hill, whose drawing of the American flag and the words "Thank you" inspired Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing in the weeks following the attacks of Sept. 11, was honored Sept. 6 by the unit at its headquarters in Richmond, Va.Dropped off at the gate days after the terrorist

  • Medevac provides vital service

    Maj. Janet P. Broome (left) attends to the medical needs of Army Spc. Serena L. Scott during transport from a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Servicemembers with major illnesses and injuries are evacuated from forward locations for specialized medical care

  • Some Air Force families eligible for free child-care

    Certain Air Force people returning from overseas deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedom are eligible for free child-care.The Extended Duty Child-Care Program will provide the service for up to 16 hours per child under 12 years old. The child-care is available to active-duty, Reserve and

  • Inspectors keep an eye on Raptor production

    Master Sgt. Richard Bailey and Staff Sgt. Mike Bedtelyon are administratively assigned to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., but they are playing key roles in another state to ensure the base's future F-22 Raptors are delivered with the right stuff.Bailey and Bedtelyon, both from the 325th Operations

  • Packing to go

    Staff Sgt. Rob Thompson, a radar maintenance technician from the 31st Communications Squadron here, prepares an antenna mast for an upcoming deployment to Sardinia. More than 550 people, 27 aircraft and 569 short tons of cargo will temporarily relocate to Decimomannu Air Base, Sardinia, while

  • Gas-n-go

    An Air Force F-15 Eagle pilot tops off his tanks with help from a 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender on a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo by Capt. Tim White)

  • Teach the teachers

    Capt. Kristen Leist, an air surveillance officer deployed from the 970th Air Control Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., briefs Department of Defense Dependents Schools teachers about the airborne warning and control system aircraft and mission during an annual orientation day and tour here

  • Promotion study list now available

    Promotion-eligible enlisted people can now find out which materials to study for the 2003 testing cycles.The most current Weighted Airman Promotion System catalog, which lists the materials used by test writers to develop the 2003 promotion tests, is now available on the Air Force Personnel Center

  • Keep 'em flying

    Airman 1st Class Robert Parson, a 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron crew chief, inspects the rear turbine of a C-130 Hercules before the aircraft departs on a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Parson and other members of the 777th EAS are from the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess Air

  • Two ideas save money, net airmen $10,000 each

    Two airmen here each earned $10,000 recently through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Master Sgt. Jon Newsom, from the 315th Maintenance Squadron, and Senior Airman Michael Morris, of the 437th Operations Support Squadron, are Charleston AFB's most recent

  • Aircraft storage center refurbishes German F-4s

    The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center here is in the business of aircraft storage and regeneration plus aircraft parts reclamation for various agencies, including the U.S. military and its allies.Recently, AMARC technicians have assumed a slightly different role by taking on the

  • Walking the beat, 10,000 km from home

    Ask most cops why they went into law enforcement, and they will say it is about people -- helping people, meeting people, even just talking with people.For a people-focused cop, Staff Sgt. Travis Hartzell has a dream job. As patrolmaster for the 376th Air Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, he

  • Thirsty Tomcat

    A KC-10 Extender, assigned to the 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron based at a forward-deployed location in the Arabian Gulf region, refuels a Navy F-14 Tomcat over Afghanistan. The 44th EARS has flown more than 2,200 missions, delivering more than 225 million pounds of fuel in the war on

  • Pals for life

    Senior Airmen Lisa Leonard (left) and Desere Daniel, from the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron, serve lunch at a forward-deployed location. The two Ohio Air National Guardsmen became best friends in the second grade and have since joined the Girl Scouts together, played on the same sports

  • Greater access to pay information through E/MSS

    The Defense Finance and Accounting Service Employee/Member Self-Service system has been expanded to allow greater access to pay information and more changes to pay records.The new enhancements provide more options to employees, are user-friendly, and help give employees more control over their pay

  • Heavy metal

    A four-man crew, from the Air Force Reserve Command's 622nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron, replaces a piece of sheet metal on the tail of C-141 Starlifter during depot-level repair at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center here. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Sean P. Houlihan)

  • Reservists must report extension to keep benefits

    Mobilized reservists who are extended into a second year must report the extension to their servicing military personnel unit to ensure they receive continuous health care and other benefits.If deployed overseas, reservists can go to their personnel support for contingency operations team to update

  • Exercising their right

    (Left to right) Airmen 1st Class Matt Martinez and Alvin Gutierrez, Airmen Stephen Tarouilly and Ruben Martinez, and Airman 1st Class Drew Mueller, all members of the 568th Security Forces Squadron here, register to vote for the first time. Federal Voting Assistance Program officials are

  • First test of 'Net Decoy' system shows promise

    The airmen of the 100th Communications Squadron here hosted the first-ever demonstration of the pioneering "Net Decoy" system, combining two defensive information systems that detect, track and potentially identify cyberspace intruders.During the latter part of August the Air Force Information

  • E-tools tested for maintenance use

    Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., hosted a rodeo recently, but instead of bulls, broncos and clowns, participants corralled laptop and handheld computers, personal digital devices and tablet personal computers.Arranged by the Standard Systems Group here, the E-Tools Rodeo was designed to test the

  • Student pilots learn basics of aerospace physiology

    While most people think of parasailing as a vacation sport, it is just another part of training for specialized undergraduate pilot training students here.Experts from the 14th Medical Operations Squadron spend eight and a half days with students during their first phase of training. The

  • Refuelers at rest

    The sun sets behind KC-10 Extenders assigned to the 44th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The 44th EARS has flown more than 2,000 sorties in support of the war on terrorism and delivered more than 225 million pounds of fuel to

  • Raptor redefines maneuverability

    "Turning on a dime" brings to mind images of a split-second change of direction. Imagine doing that in a jet hurtling through the sky. That is the F-22 Raptor.The F-22 design, with its stealth, supercruise and integrated avionics, provides a high degree of assurance that a "dogfight" will not be

  • Research lab applies robotic technology to mission

    On June 25, 1996, the military community was devastated when several American military members were killed and many more injured, including some local civilians, when the Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, were bombed.Following this tragic event, Air Force officials identified a need to safely

  • Keep out!

    Staff Sgt. James L. Walters, from the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing's security forces squadron, installs concertina wire on top of a barrier at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Walters is an Air National Guard member deployed from the 129th Security Forces Squadron

  • Hill experts renovate F-16s for Thailand's air force

    The first five F-16 Fighting Falcons of 16 being renovated by aircraft experts here left for Thailand recently. The remainder of the modified fighters are scheduled to join the Royal Thai air force by January.The F-16s, which will be used as air defense fighters, were brought here from

  • Supply flight keeps parts moving at OEF base

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is one of the largest units in the Persian Gulf region to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Its primary aircraft are KC-10 Extenders and KC-135 Stratotankers. The wing has delivered almost 300 million pounds of fuel to U.S. and coalition aircraft in the war on

  • 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

  • Launch marks new era of space vehicles

    A new era of space launch vehicles began when the first Lockheed-Martin Atlas V lifted off the pad at Cape Canaveral Aug. 21.This launch begins the operational start of the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program, the latest in technology for launching critical payloads into space.EELV

  • Mr. Sandman

    Staff Sgt. Jon Slingerland, from the 379th Expeditionary Comptroller Squadron at a forward deployed location, sands wood on a hole his unit is building for the base's new miniature golf course. Once complete, the course will be added to a growing list of activities offered by the 379th

  • Let there be light!

    Senior Airman Jeremy Tripp, an electrical power production journeyman from the 438th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Flight, works on an air compressor Aug. 17 that boosts a telescopic floodlight unit into position to illuminate a new laundry facility at a forward-deployed location. (Photo by Staff

  • Clear communication

    Tech Sgt. Jimmy Kuwahara, 40th Expeditionary Communication Squadron radio maintenance journeyman, installs a UHF antenna that will be used for ground to air communication at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Kuwahara is a member of the Hawaii Air National Guard.

  • Mom, son fight war on terrorism together

    The Schnichels family has done a great job of sticking together.Not only are three of them bearing the same last name stationed together at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., but two are fighting the war on terrorism at the same forward-deployed location in the Arabian Gulf region.Master Sgt. Carol

  • Peterson airman stars in AF commercial

    The moment Airman 1st Class Jessica Sanchez stepped onto the Hollywood sound stage recently, she was "crossing into the blue" at the same time.The missile warning intelligence analyst with the 21st Operations Support Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., won the role of a young Hispanic woman

  • Spouse's program takes off

    McConnell graduated its first spouses recently from a new program designed to increase spouses' and caregivers' awareness of the Air Force mission, customs, traditions, protocol, support resources and other services available to them."I thought (Heartlink) was very informative, especially for a

  • 'Go ahead, make my day'

    Staff Sgt. Rich Kelley loads rounds of 7.62 mm bullets into a GAU-2B minigun Aug. 15. Kelley, from the 66th Rescue Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., is currently serving at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Reynaldo Ramon)

  • Wing practicing sound resource management

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing has established new resource management forums that comptroller officials at this forward-deployed location say will be a benchmark for large contingency bases.The wing recently held its first Financial Working Group and Financial Management Board to ensure

  • Operation Pillowcase softens sting of family separation

    An award-winning program designed to make children feel less anxious is softening the sting while a parent is away from home on military duty.Operation Pillowcase, developed by the 439th Airlift Wing family support center staff here, provides children of activated reservists with a pillowcase

  • SATCOM delivers critical info for war on terrorism

    In today's information age, satellites are a vital link for global communication. Commanders and troops rely on them to ensure information is at least one step ahead of the enemy in the war on terrorism. At this forward deployed location, that job falls to a satellite communications team from the

  • Disciplinary authority for friendly fire incident changed

    Disciplinary authority over the April 17 friendly fire incident near Kandahar, Afghanistan, that resulted in the deaths of four Canadian paratroopers was passed Aug.16 to the U.S. Air Force's 8th Air Force commander, Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson.Gen. Hal M. Hornburg, Air Combat Command commander,

  • ROTC cadets shadow pilots

    Cadet Jeffery Hill, from the University of Alaska-Anchorage's ROTC Detachment 1, receives an incentive flight in an F-15 Eagle. ROTC cadets are shadowing 19th Fighter Squadron pilots and other support people here as part of a working agreement between the squadron and university to show future

  • Reserve aircrew honored for heroic mission

    When the call for help came the evening of Dec. 7, the MC-130E Combat Talon crew from the 919th Special Operations Wing here, did not hesitate to fly through enemy territory to assist their fellow special operators.The 711th Special Operations Squadron crew's actions earned them one of the Air Force

  • Remembering close air support's humble beginnings

    Even the most complex of systems often begin with a simple idea.Case in point: close air support.While today's soldier can expect aerial support from fighter aircraft, specially designed gunships and helicopters -- even heavy bombers dropping laser guided munitions from several miles away -- the

  • Help desk 'makes bits flow' to support war on terrorism

    They call it "making bits flow." That is how members of the 379th Expeditionary Communications Squadron help desk refer to assisting customers at this forward deployed location.The help desk is responsible for troubleshooting and repairing computer problems for about 2,000 warfighters here.The

  • U.S. Northern Command setup becomes clearer

    When U.S. Northern Command stands up Oct. 1, the new organization in charge of homeland defense will have "combatant command" of a small number of specialized units.Combatant command, or COCOM, gives combatant commanders the authority to organize, train and operate units. It is different from

  • Yokota airmen stay ready

    Tech. Sgt. Michael Cannon, an electrical power production technician from the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron here, installs a barrier cable at the flightline during a readiness exercise here. The barrier is used to assist aircraft during emergency landings. Yokota is the primary airlift resource

  • Resume requirements clarified for Air Force civilian employment

    Palace Compass officials here recently clarified whether or not applicants need a resume when applying for civilian employment."Applicants for job vacancies filled by the Air Force Personnel Center may not need a resume," said Lee McGehee, technical director. "But all applicants must self-nominate

  • Detachment activated to support V-22 testing

    A new detachment was activated here recently to support V-22 Osprey testing.Detachment 2 was created to operationally test the MV-22 from the special operations perspective to assess its value as a baseline for the special operations variant, the CV-22."I'm proud to be part of the outstanding team

  • Cable guy

    Staff Sgt. Lonnie Gonzales, from the 363rd Expeditionary Communications Squadron, works with limited space while laying fiber and copper cable for the new base theater here. Gonzales is deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. (Photo by Senior Airman Shannon Kluge)