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  • Maintenance troops ensure Falcons are ready to strike

    Weapons loaders swarm beneath an F-16 Fighting Falcon, arming munitions before the fighter takes off on a sortie. The airmen are deployed with 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from the Oklahoma Air National Guard in Tulsa, in support of Operation Northern Watch. ONW has been enforcing the

  • C-5 fleet safer with anti-collision upgrade

    Maintenance people installed a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, or TCAS, on final operational C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft Oct. 31, according to program officials here.The system, part of an overall upgrade program designed to keep the transport giant flying until 2040, will reduce the

  • Keen eye leads to safety of 1,200 F-16s

    An astute observation by a noncommissioned officer here has resulted in widespread changes to maintenance requirements affecting more than 1,200 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.While performing inspections on an F-16, Tech. Sgt. Jason Anderson, a 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron nondestructive

  • T-38C fleet undergoes propulsion upgrades

    Air Education and Training Command's first T-38C Talon with modified ejectors, engines and inlets will be delivered to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., the week of Nov. 4th by pilots from the 415th Flight Test Flight here.Following on the heels of the recent avionics upgrade program, these new upgrades,

  • Alaskan civil engineers build super structure

    A team from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron here deployed recently to the Indian Mountain Long Range Radar Station to construct a 2,500 square foot Super K-Span storage facility.Indian Mountain is one of 18 remote Alaskan radar sites and is located several hundred miles west and slightly north of

  • Hosing 'er down

    Senior Airman Ryan Fletcher, a crew chief with the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, hoses down an F-16's main landing gear wheel wells as part of routine maintenance. His aircraft is currently flying sorties in support of Operation Northern Watch. (Photo byAirman 1st Class Isaac G. L. Freeman)

  • Horsing around

    Tech. Sgt. John Gurnsey (left) and Staff Sgt. Scott Vandersloot check the diameter of a chute used to pour concrete. The sergeants are assigned to the 819th/219th Red Horse Squadron at a forward-deployed location where they are building a secure compartmental information facility. Red Horse

  • Falcons fall to CSU, 31-12

    Two drive-killing fumbles and a stingy Colorado State University defense handed the Air Force Academy its third loss of the football season Oct. 31.This is the third consecutive loss for the Falcons, who started the season with six consecutive and decisive wins before losing to Notre Dame, Wyoming

  • Air Force selects newest chiefs

    The Air Force recently selected 561 senior master sergeants for promotion to the service's highest enlisted rank as part of the 02E9 promotion board.The Air Force will release the promotion list the first duty hour Nov. 6 (Nov. 7 for those units across the international date line.) The complete

  • A 'boo-tiful' tent

    Senior Airman Hypatia Johnson (left) and Staff Sgt. Kristi Lawrence make their way through spider webbing to view the rest of a haunted "tent" at a forward-deployed location Halloween night. The tent mates from the 380th Expeditionary Communication Squadron decked their sleeping facility out in

  • Beauty and the buff

    Senior Master Sgt. Mark Bernard polishes the C-135E Speckled Trout aircraft before it departs from here Oct. 25 on an executive airlift mission to the Pacific. The white-and-silver Speckled Trout is used primarily for avionics flight testing, but its secondary mission is transporting Air Force

  • Toil the soil

    Master Sgt. Robert Nightingale separates sieves of soil for weighing to ensure the proper percentage of material in each sieve meets construction specifications at a forward-deployed location. Nightingale, deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., is assigned to the 819/219th Expeditionary Red

  • Weather flight keeps 'em flying

    There may be rain today and heat tomorrow, or snow today and dusty winds tomorrow. These are some of the conditions the nine-member Air Force weather flight must contend with at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.Everyone needs to know what the weather is going to do, from the A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots

  • Officials release Predator accident report

    Air Force investigators have determined that human error caused an Air Force RQ-1 Predator aircraft crash May 17 near a forward-operating location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.According to an Air Combat Command accident investigation report released Oct. 30, the incorrect assembly of the

  • Eagles and sparrows

    Capt. Andy Hamann (foreground) and Capt. Brian Swyt of the 95th Fighter Squadron simultaneously fire AIM-7 Sparrow missiles at a target drone during a recent air-to-air-weapons evaluation flight over the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike Ammons)

  • Feed the falcon

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot takes on fuel from a 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender. The squadron is assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia supporting operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. The 908th EARS is

  • Artistic expression

    Airman 1st Class Justin Gimbel paints a mural on the outside of his unit's office at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Another mural by him is in the foreground. An aerospace ground equipment engineer with the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Gimbel is deployed to Al Udeid AB from Grand

  • Montana wing heading home

    Capt. Jason Green, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot from the Montana Air National Guard's 120th Fighter Wing in Great Falls, puts on his helmet before flying a mission supporting Operation Southern Watch. The wing leaves Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, this week after being deployed as part of

  • Dog helps keep flightline safe

    The 314th Operations Support Squadron has a new tool to keep the flightline here safe, and he works for mere kibble.Since Oct. 1, military working dog Colin, a 2-year-old border collie, has patrolled the perimeter fence to deter deer, birds and other wildlife from crossing into the runway

  • 'King' visits Seymour Johnson sergeant

    Richard "The King" Petty paid a visit here Oct. 23 to meet and have lunch with the winner of the "Win the King" contest.Tech. Sgt. Stephen Peterson, noncommissioned officer in charge of the base chapel, won a visit from Petty to his house, lunch with the driver, race tickets and gifts from Petty

  • Predator crashes in Nevada

    An RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the side of a mountain in the Nevada Test and Training Range near Indian Springs, Nev., at approximately 8:30 a.m. Oct 25.The Predator, from the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, was flying a training mission when the incident occurred. There were

  • Crew chief finds couple in C-130 engine

    Tech. Sgt. J.D. Nix is as country as a split-rail fence along a dirt road. So when the C-130 Hercules crew chief deployed here from Yokota Air Base, Japan, went toe-to-toe with a pair of birds, his animal instinct prevailed.Two bright green parakeets decided the engine intake on Nix's No. 3 engine

  • The 'ol plane and chain

    Aeronautical Systems Center Command Chief Master Sgt. Fest Miles (right) and his command staff teammates strain to pull a 60,000-pound fighter jet the farthest in 45 seconds during the U.S. Air Force Museum's 4th Annual Aircraft Pull. Approximately 600 base and community members took part in the

  • Georgia on their minds

    Capt. Brian, from the 6th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., preflights the main rotor system of a UH-1H Iroquois here, demonstrating to Georgian pilots how U.S. Air Force pilots perform the task. The Georgia Train and Equip Program has entered its third phase where the Georgian

  • Alaskan wing deploys to Singapore

    A 3rd Wing contingent here deployed to the Republic of Singapore Oct. 23 to take on that nation's air force in an annual air-to-air combat exercise.About 100 people, mostly from the 12th Fighter Squadron, and six F-15 Eagles are participating in exercise Commando Sling 2003.The exercise allows

  • Two Air Force civilians win highest honor

    Two Air Force civilians received the Department of Defense's highest civilian service award here Oct. 22, also notable because both are below grade GS-15.While the Distinguished Civilian Service Award could be given to a DOD civilian of any grade, this was the first time anyone below GS-15 has

  • Port squadron moves OEF cargo, passengers

    Mission "No.1" for the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing is keeping supply lines moving within the Operation Enduring Freedom corridor. When viewing the action on the flightline at a forward-deployed location, it seems everything just happens according to some master plan.That is where the men and women

  • Warren airman earns $10K for idea

    A little bit of epoxy sealed Tech. Sgt. Toby Taylor's chances for $10,000.Taylor, training noncommissioned officer in charge of the 90th Maintenance Operations Squadron electrical-mechanical technician team, was recently presented with a $10,000 check from the Air Force Innovative Development

  • Bloody good job!

    Loretta Haynes of the American Red Cross prepares to draw a pint of blood from Airman Basic Ransom Holland, an aerospace propulsion student assigned to the 361st Training Squadron here. Holland joined with other airmen in his unit to collect 325 pints of blood, which broke the previous Texas record

  • 'Team Target' keeps Air Force on mark

    The 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron here, known as "Team Target," is a key player in ensuring that air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons systems can meet the needs of the military in an ever-changing threat environment.With technology changing at a blinding pace, systems often become obsolete before

  • Sensor system keeping airmen safe

    As the horizon disappears and the sky fades to black, residents here wrap up the day's activities and crawl into bed like bears heading into hibernation for the winter. No worries, no fears of terrorists or enemies invading their resting place -- just soft pillows, warm blankets and sweet

  • Son follows father's footsteps into firefighting

    As the chief master sergeant walked through the firefighter school here, he exchanged friendly smiles and greetings with students, instructors and other staff members who passed by.Standing at about 6 feet tall with his back straight and his head held high, the man displays an obvious pride in what

  • Coalition strikes back at Iraq

    Coalition aircraft struck at an Iraqi integrated air defense site in the northern no-fly zone Oct. 22, said Air Force Maj. Scott Covode, a spokesman for the combined task force.Both U.S. and British aircraft took part in the attack. While Covode would not specify the planes used, he did say the

  • Coping

    Master Sgt. Kevin Beaty, from the 613th Contingency Response Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, explains the usefulness of an all-terrain vehicle to Indian security troops guarding an aircraft ramp. Nearly 150 Pacific Air Forces airmen are in Agra for Cope India, a bilateral airlift

  • Defender Challenge competition under way

    Ten security forces teams from U.S. Air Force major commands worldwide, the Department of Energy and the Royal Air Force Regiment gathered here to participate in the 20th annual Defender Challenge competition Oct. 21 to 24."This is a competition of our all-stars," said Brig. Gen. James Shamess,

  • Keeping cool key for surviving desert deployment

    It would seem to take a Herculean effort to turn a 32-foot by 12-foot by 20-foot tent that has been boiling outside in 90- to 130-degree temperatures into a veritable icebox. But superheroes from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing -- appropriately dubbed "icemen" - do it every dayThe heating,

  • Supply, fuels teams compete during 'Roadeo'

    Thirty-six teams from around the Air Force gathered here to compete in this year's supply and fuels readiness competition, also known as "Roadeo." When it was all over, the team from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, earned bragging rights by accumulating the most points in the three-day competition.The

  • What a big tail you have

    Tech Sgt Russ Gardner, a maintainer with the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Japan, inspects the tail of a C-130 Hercules here. The first wave of airmen arrived here Oct. 17 for Cope India, an exercise designed for U.S. and Indian air forces to exchange information on several aspects of

  • A room with a view

    Staff Sgt. Ricky Nedrow, from the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, looks out over Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Nedrow is one of more than 20 members of the 437th Aerial Port Squadron deployed from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., to Bagram AB and supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (Photo

  • Maintaining in Sardinia

    Staff Sgt. Ryan Alfke, a 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, changes out oil screen filters during post-flight inspections on an F-16 Fighting Falcon. The 31st Fighter Wing deployed here from Aviano Air Base, Italy, in mid-September while the Aviano fightline is repaired and a new

  • By dawn's early light

    A crew chief with the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here stands by as a 494th Fighter Squadron aircrew completes preflight checks on a F-15E Strike Eagle. The 48th Fighter Wing is currently involved in a local tactical evaluation exercise that tests the wing's ability to operate and survive in

  • Transportation troop is caught 'knapping'

    People on deployment find many ways to pass the time. Some chip away at calendars marking the days left until they return home. For Staff Sgt. Barry Hester, a special purpose vehicle mechanic with the 384th Expeditionary Logistics Squadron, it is chipping away at stones.Hester, from the 56th

  • Turkey falcons

    Senior Airman Michael Solberg, an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief, waits to marshal his aircraft, flown by Capt. Kevin Menard, onto the taxiway at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, prior to an Operation Northern Watch sortie. Both airmen are deployed with the 78th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. ONW

  • Mass casualty exercise focuses on readiness, teamwork

    The 363rd Expeditionary Medical Group got an edge on readiness and teamwork during a mass casualty exercise recently."Exercises like this keep us prepared for anything," said Lt. Col. Les Folio, 363rd EMDG chief of aerospace medicine and exercise coordinator from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. "We

  • For you, my friend

    Staff Sgt. Ken Ahrens, a 363rd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal craftsman, accepts a rock as a gift from the remote ordnance neutralization system during training on using the robot's arm. Ahrens is part of a 10-member EOD flight responsible for protecting aircraft

  • Students get geological lesson at Alaskan base

    Students attending schools in the Anchorage area are getting a lesson in Alaskan geology, courtesy of a base civil engineer employee here.About 100 children, parents and teachers from Chinook Elementary School in Anchorage visited Knik Arm Beach recently, also known as Fossil Beach, near Six-Mile

  • Ready for a challenge

    Airman 1st Class Kevin Reid, from the 89th Security Forces Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., assumes an ambush position during tactics training here. Reid is a member of the Air Mobility Command Defender Challenge team that will represent the command at the annual worldwide security forces

  • 27 RAF Lakenheath airmen suspected of drug use

    Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents here ended a four-month-long counternarcotics operation Oct.13. The operation provided evidence that 27 U.S. Air Force active-duty airmen from the base may have been involved in the use, possession, and distribution of controlled substances.The

  • First lady touts 'Troops to Teachers' program

    The birthplace of aviation became a launching pad for new career possibilities Oct. 16 as first lady Laura Bush spoke here about the Defense Department's Troops to Teachers program.Bush recognized educators and the potential roles departing military members can play in education during a rally

  • Army, Air Force test Stryker capabilities

    Soldiers of the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry, Alpha Company from Fort Lewis, Wash., prepare to upload a Stryker infantry carrier vehicle while configuring another Stryker after off loading it from a C-130 Hercules belonging to the Kentucky Air National Guard's 165th Airlift Squadron during a

  • Nighthawks visit Germany

    An F-117A Nighthawk from the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., taxis down the runway here Oct. 13. The 49th FW is at Spangdahlem AB for a training exercise. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Timothy Cook)

  • 'AGEing' in the desert

    Senior Airman Amanda View, a 363rd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment journeyman, tightens a line on a hydraulic test stand. The AGE flight has many responsibilities including delivering support equipment to aircraft and providing lighting to various parts of the base.

  • Combat ready

    Capt. Helen Howell, a C-130 Hercules pilot from the 36th Airlift Squadron here, prepares to taxi during a combat readiness exercise. The exercise is designed to test the combat capabilities of the base. (Photo by Master Sgt. Val Gempis)

  • Good morning, Incirlik!

    Actor and comedian Robin Williams is greeted by Staff Sgt. Kerry Warren and his partner, Xasco, during a visit here Oct. 14. Williams viewed a working dog demonstration by the 39th Security Forces Squadron and met with wing people, family members and deployed airmen supporting operations Northern

  • 'This is only a test'

    An aircraft recovery team from the 374th Maintenance Squadron here uses a 60-ton crane to "hoist" a "crippled" C-130 Hercules aircraft during a combat employment readiness exercise recently. The maintainers, dressed in chemical warfare gear, "repaired" the "damaged" main landing gear of the

  • Schriever bodybuilder works at professional status

    A bodybuilder here who placed fourth in the U.S.A. Championships in August is busy sculpting his body for a professional qualifier match in Dallas next month.William Owens, a captain with the 22nd Space Operations Squadron, started working on his physique 20 years ago at age 13. In 1990, at his

  • Deployed life support shop vital to OEF missions

    The people in the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron life support shop work hard to maintain their equipment, but they will be content if customers never have the chance to use most of it.That is because most of the equipment they maintain, including body armor, global positioning system

  • An eye for detail

    Master Sgt. Shawn Williams, a terminal attack controller from Detachment 1-1 in Friedberg, Germany, checks grid references prior to establishing communications with an F-15E Strike Eagle pilot from the 48th Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, during a live weapons drop at a South

  • 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

  • Telling pilots where to go

    Tech. Sgt. James Hicks, a 321st Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron air traffic control watch supervisor, clears aircraft to land while working in the ATC tower at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Controllers working in the tower provide safe and expeditious

  • Out on a limb

    Senior Airman Jeff Risko, from the 86th Maintenance Squadron here, replaces a bleed-air manifold duct on a C-130 Hercules aircraft Oct. 3. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Justin D. Pyle)

  • 'Victim' gets a shower

    Airman 1st Class Jamie Kershaw, a firefighter here, sprays simulated victim Airman 1st Class Edgar Moso to decontaminate him during an accident-response exercise here Oct. 2. The exercise tested the 49th Fighter Wing's capability to respond to a major accident involving a hazardous-material spill.

  • Retired combat controller returns to duty

    Retirement for Master Sgt. Jay was five years of adventure in Alaska as a king crab fisherman, a state law enforcement officer and a Trans-Alaskan Pipeline security officer. But the former airman missed the adventure of being an Air Force combat controller and has returned to active duty to add

  • Board announces cause of F-15 crash

    Investigators have determined that structural failure led to the April 30 crash of an F-15 Eagle into the Gulf of Mexico about 60 miles south of Panama City, Fla.James A. Duricy, from the 46th Test Wing here, was declared dead following the crash after search and rescue efforts were

  • Coming home

    Fifteen C-130 Hercules from the 302nd Airlift Wing taxi down the runway here toward a crowd of anxious families Oct 1. Coming home were more than 250 Air Force Reserve members who were deployed in support of operations Joint Forge, Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. A ceremony afterward signified

  • Malmstrom airman's idea earns $10K

    Everyone likes to save money and the Air Force is no exception. So when Master Sgt. Bruce Ronke submitted a price challenge saving the Air Force $400,000 annually, the Air Force awarded him $10,000.Ronke, the former noncommissioned officer in charge of weapons and tactics codes operations here,

  • Scott crews evacuate patients away from Lili's path

    The crews of two C-9 Nightingale aircraft, loaded with medical specialists and gear, evacuated 41 elderly critical care patients early Oct. 3 from Lake Charles, La., to Shreveport, La.As Hurricane Lili took aim for the Louisiana coast, Governor Mike Foster determined many medical patients could be

  • A bite out of crime

    Military working dog Aghbar works with Tech Sgt. Chris Jakubin, from the 10th Security Forces Squadron here, to take a bite or two out of crime. The addition of military working dogs such as Aghbar is the latest increase in security at the academy, which is the Air Force's only open installation.

  • Air Force releases A-10 accident report

    An accident investigation board determined pilot error caused an A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft accident June 27 near Nancy, France. The aircraft belonged to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.The pilot of the aircraft was killed when his A-10 crashed in a rural area a half-mile

  • Hurricane Hunters monitor Lili

    The "Hurricane Hunters" of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, a Reserve unit here have been busy, flying their WC-130 Hercules aircraft into Hurricane Lili, gathering data about the storm for the National Hurricane Center.The hurricane, with winds in excess of 145 miles per hour, was expected

  • Rescue ready

    Capt. Esther Bley, an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter pilot, starts up her aircraft at a forward-deployed location Sept. 27. Bley is deployed with the 129th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. The 129th ERS performs search and recovery operations throughout the world. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Anna Hayman)

  • Guard, Reserve forces cope with active-duty extension

    For Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard troops, the jab "weekend warrior" lost relevance long ago.As many as 14,000 such troops, more than 60 percent of them in the security forces career field, have been on active duty for more than a year now as a result of the war on terrorism. Recently,

  • Airmen brave hazards inside fuel tanks

    Keeping fuel flowing to an aircraft engine is an essential part of flight. Fuel systems specialists from the 374th Maintenance Squadron here operate around the clock ensuring Air Force aircraft fuel systems are safe and in peak operating condition.The 14-person team is responsible for diagnosing

  • 'Oh say can you see...'

    Senior Airman Marcie Mascaro and Airman 1st Class LaTanza Meabon, both touring performers with Tops In Blue, invite an airman to help sing the "Star Spangled Banner" during the opening of their performance at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom recently. Tops In Blue,

  • ROTC offers airmen education, commissioning opportunities

    Enlisted people interested in becoming commissioned officers may want to consider Air Force ROTC.Airmen have four Air Force ROTC commissioning programs from which to choose. If selected, they will enroll and will receive a commission when they complete the program.The programs are the Airman

  • Latest issue of Citizen Airman magazine now available

    A little more than a year into the nation's war on terrorism, Air Force leaders are in the midst of a transition from a "crisis-response" mode, with heavy reliance on mobilized Guard and Reserve members, to a new steady state, which relies mainly on volunteer reservists and guardsmen to help meet

  • Hollywood animation enhancing survival training

    Instructors at the U.S. Air Force Survival School here are incorporating Hollywood-style animation techniques into programs used to train students in such skills as navigation and surviving underwater aircraft accidents.Six years in development, this newest training technology will allow students to

  • Kunsan civilian re-connects with Korean War savior

    A civilian employee here recently re-established ties with the man who saved his life and the Air Force unit that adopted him during the Korean War.Yong Ku "Mike" Yi, an employee at the base skills center, received an honorary induction into his savior's unit, the 6147th Tactical Control Group's

  • 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)

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • $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,

  • 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,

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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,

  • 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