Veterinary care helps build relations with nomadic tribe

Airmen and Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team vaccinated hundreds of animals in preparation for the long, hard Afghan winter in October here. In a region where the average income is less than a dollar a day, the PRT's veterinary civil assistance patrol not only strengthened the

Airmen receive cavalry spurs for building new base

For their efforts in building more than 25,000 square feet of housing and administrative offices for 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 29 Air Force Airmen received cavalry combat spurs, symbolic of cavalry service in a combat zone, from the

Hanscom team works to lower person-borne IED threat

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

Group surpasses $2 million in grants for military children

"Our Military Kids," a nonprofit support group, recently reached a new milestone: $2 million in grants awarded for sports, fine arts and tutoring programs. "The Our Military Kids grant program has been a wonderful way for Americans to thank our men and women serving our country overseas by providing

Commander discusses 'jewel in crown' of America's military

The United States military is the best-manned, best-equipped and best-trained force in the world, but that doesn't mean a thing if it can't get to the fight, said the commander of U.S. Transportation Command. The 138,000 military and civilian men and women of the U.S. Transportation Command and its

Air Force band rocks for Red Ribbon Week

Tinker, community celebrate aerospace complex partnership

Air Force, Tinker Air Force Base, state and community leaders celebrated the Tinker Aerospace Complex lease signing Oct. 23 here. Oklahoma County purchased a 430-acre property, which formerly belonged to General Motors earlier this year, then in late September county commissioners celebrated the

Air Force wins EPA energy award

Air Force officials received an Environment Protection Agency award for leading the federal government in purchasing renewable energy in October in Denver. The Air Force was named the winner of the 2008 Green Power Leadership Award in the Green Power Purchaser category. Air Force officials made an

Lackland-based institute teaches English to partner nations

Communication is key to maintaining healthy relationships. The same is true of interactions between the United States and members of its allied militaries: strong, clear communication opens the door to a better, stronger relationship. And being able to speak the same language helps this process

Oct. 26 airpower summary: B-1B bombs enemy fighters

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-31s and

Chief of staff wraps up Middle East tour at Joint Base Balad

The Air Force chief of staff finished a visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with a last stop to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Oct. 25 here. Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley learned about Airmen's accomplishments in theater,

Gen. Carlson stresses importance of information technology

The commander of Air Force Materiel Command showcased the value of technological advances in supporting the warfighter through better integration and life-cycle planning Oct. 23 here. Gen. Bruce Carlson spoke to a crowd of several hundred people from the information technology and management

Guard, Reserve warfighters chart tactics course

Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve officials prepared the roadmap for weapons and tactics needs for their near- and long-term during a conference Oct. 20 through 24 in Tucson.The annual Weapons and Tactic Conference began at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., with opening remarks by Lt.

Oct. 25 airpower summary: A-10s strike enemy targets

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired cannon rounds onto

Nellis Airmen begin 'War on Waste'

The "War on Waste", a new Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, began at Nellis AFB, following an Enterprise Value Stream Analysis held here Oct. 6 to 8. The Enterprise Value Stream Analysis, conducted by the 99th Air Base Wing Executive Council, aligned the wing commander's

Air Force officials to establish new nuclear major command

The Air Force will stand up a new major command specifically to manage its nuclear assets, the service's top official announced Oct. 24. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will fold into its ranks thousands of Airmen and all of the Air Force's domestic nuclear capabilities in

Vandenberg officials launch Delta II rocket

Vandenberg Air Force Base officials successfully launched a Delta II rocket carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 satellite at 7:28 p.m. PDT Oct. 24 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The 30th Space Wing team supported the United Launch Alliance in preparing for the launch just six weeks

'Today's Air Force' features Air Force secretary

This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights Michael Donley, the 22nd secretary of the Air Force.  Also featured is his visit to Southwest Asia where he discusses the mission and involvement in the war on terrorism. Another highlight is the training Airmen go through to prepare for every mission.

Mobility leaders focused on 'getting back to basics'

About 80 air mobility leaders gathered for a three-day conference that focused on Air Mobility Command's priorities, roles and missions Oct. 22 through 24 here. The theme for this year's AMC Phoenix Rally was "Back to Basics: Executing Global Reach Fundamentals." Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the AMC

Top leaders bring praise, vision of future to Airmen in Iraq

The Air Force chief of staff and chief master sergeant of the Air Force praised Airmen for their role in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and discussed the "way ahead" during their on-going visit to meet face-to-face with Airmen deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Oct. 24

Oct. 23 airpower summary

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired rockets and cannon

Oct. 24 airpower summary: F-16 strikes enemy

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped a guided bomb

Chief of staff reenlists crew chief over Southwest Asia

The Air Force chief of staff reenlisted a C-17 Globemaster III flight crewmember 32,000 feet above the U.S. Central Command area of operations Oct. 23. Gen. Norton Schwartz signed up Senior Airman Tyrell Haney, a 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, for another tour of duty -- his second

Enhanced VA mortgages possible for vets in distress

Veterans with conventional home loans now have new options for refinancing to a Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed home loan. These new options are available as a result of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which President Bush signed into law Oct. 10."These changes will allow

Air Force leaders work to develop cyberspace roadmap

Air Force leaders here continue to create a roadmap of the service's cyberspace mission while adjusting to a new organizational construct outlined by Air Force officials in October. Officials from the Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) team here and Air Force Space Command are moving forward

Airmen speed delivery of lifesaving medicine

Coordination and hustle between several American military agencies here enabled a lifesaving package to reach an Iraqi snakebite victim and save a life Oct. 15 here. The Army Medical Materiel Center Southwest Asia staff received an urgent request for anti-venom to help a young Iraqi woman who was in

Football: Opportunistic Falcons topple New Mexico

Air Force survived a first quarter marred by turnovers and a strong New Mexico running game to pull out a 23-10 victory at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Oct. 23. The Falcons turned the ball over on three of their first four possessions, spotting the Lobos 10 points while allowing 149 total yards, 101

Air Force Nuclear Enterprise Roadmap report calls for new command, headquarters agency

Establishment of a Global Strike Command and a Headquarters Air Force staff agency to handle Air Force nuclear assets are some of the recommendations found in the Nuclear Enterprise Roadmap released Oct. 24 by senior leaders. The roadmap, titled Reinvigorating the Air Force Nuclear Enterprise, also

Airman missing in action from World War II identified

Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials announced Oct. 21 that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial. 2nd Lt. Ray D. Packard of the Army Air Forces from Atwood, Calif., was buried Oct. 22

Lasers may aid missile defense, engine crack detection

Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded work at the University of Colorado at Boulder could lead to possible future technologies that use the high energy densities of lasers. Studies by university officials explore how atoms and molecules respond to light pulses, which could show cracks in

Cannon officials use AFSO 21 to improve inprocessing

Cannon Air Force Base officials recently revamped its inprocessing program using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century to take a three week process into a four hour program. Beginning in July, base officials worked to improve and consolidate inprocessing for new base members and their

F-35 completes air-start test at Edwards

The prototype F-35 Joint Strike Fighter AA-1 completed an air-start test validating the aircraft's ability to shut down and restart its engine in flight Oct. 23 here. This ensures the aircraft, which is called the F-35 Lightning II for the Air Force, can regain power and fly safely in the event of

Joint Base Balad Airman found dead in housing unit

An Airman was found unresponsive in a housing unit at about 9 p.m. local time Oct. 22 and died at Joint Base Balad. Efforts to resuscitate the Airman, deployed to the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron here, were unsuccessful. The name of the Airman is being withheld pending next-of-kin

Student pilot gets first UAS assignment at Vance

As part of an Air Force initiative to meet increased demands for its airborne intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, force protection and strike capabilities, student pilots in the Air Education and Training Command have a new potential assignment among the array of Air Force aircraft: unmanned

Keesler officials launch new force support officer course

The first group of force support officers in a new Air Force Specialty Code began classes Oct. 6 at Keesler Air Force Base. The new 38F AFSC, which becomes official Oct. 31, is a combination of what used to be three separate career fields: personnel, manpower and services. Training previously was

Top military leaders visit Airmen in Southwest Asia

The Air Force chief of staff and chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Airmen of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Oct. 22 during their visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. "I'm pleased to be back in the AOR to see the many changes and steps the Air Force is taking to

ACC team effort vital to nuclear evaluation mission

A three-month process, planned a year in advance, involving hundreds of man-hours of detailed coordination with people at more than four Air Force bases funnels down to one aircraft, one missile, one sortie and the push of a button. The aircraft is a B-52 Stratofortress flown by an aircrew from the

Servicemembers help malnourished Afghan children

Members of the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team medical staff used "strong food" to help hundreds of malnourished Afghan children back to health in October. The PRT members began a four-week regiment of their "strong food," known locally as Qavi Ghiza, to the Shajoy hospital two months

2nd Air Force transformation driven by warfighter's needs

Transformation is underway at 2nd Air Force here beginning with construction on a 2,000-square foot operations floor designed to support the new technical training operations center. The new center will serve as the operational command and control hub for technical training operations across 2nd Air

Officers, civilians selected for developmental education

More than 960 officers and 68 civilians were selected recently to attend intermediate, senior and civilian developmental education programs during the academic 2009-2010 year, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced. The Developmental Education Designation Board, or DEDB, met Oct. 15 to

Inaugural Air Force Enlisted Force Development Panel meets

Members of the Air Force Enlisted Force Development Panel, chartered to guide future enlisted force development efforts, recently held their inaugural meeting in Arlington, Va. At the first meeting, panel members discussed ways to use enlisted professional military education as a tool to

Oct. 22 airpower summary: B-1B bombs bad bikers

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired cannon rounds onto

Arts festival gives wounded warriors therapeutic outlet

Veterans of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are among more than 120 disabled veterans from across the country attending the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in October in Riverside, Calif. The week-long festival kicked off Oct. 20, bringing together medal winners in national creative

Chief of staff tours Bagram, addresses Airmen's questions

The 19th Air Force chief of staff accompanied by the chief master sergeant of the Air Force made his first official trip to Bagram Airfield Oct. 21. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz toured the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group to learn more about the growing efforts to support the mission here, and

Defense secretary lauds wounded warrior care improvements

The military has made "some significant steps forward" in caring for wounded warriors, the Defense secretary said during a Pentagon Channel interview broadcast Oct. 22. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said inpatient care provided to wounded warriors always has been world-class. "We've never had a

Rules for political activities apply to troops, civilian employees

With the national election less than two weeks away, Defense Department officials are stressing to troops and civilian employees that federal law and DOD directives limit their involvement in certain political activities. Political-related "dos and don'ts" pertaining to members of all service

AF officials agree to ship 18 cargo planes to Afghanistan

The deal is done for the Air Force officials to ship 18 G-222 cargo planes to the Afghan National Air Corps. Officials signed the $287 million contract at Robins AFB Sept. 29. The Italian-built planes are being purchased from Alenia North America and will be refurbished, with 16 to serve as medium

Launch complex now available for civil, commercial launches

Officials with the Air Force and Space Florida made history during a dedication ceremony held here Oct. 22 when Space Launch Complex 36 officially was made available for operational use by the State of Florida, subject to completion of the environmental impact analysis. Attending the historic

Agility, flexibility, teamwork: Key components of airpower

Examine most successful business or sports teams, and you may find their foundation is based on flexibility, agility and teamwork. The success of airpower in Iraq and Afghanistan incorporates these three traits on a daily basis, through the interaction with coalition forces and U.S. sister services.

Tricare, Medicare work together for eligible beneficiaries

Tricare officials want beneficiaries who receive a disability check to ensure they are getting the Tricare coverage they are entitled to receive. In general, most beneficiaries become eligible for Medicare at age 65; however, many beneficiaries younger than 65 also qualify for Medicare and there is

Officials call energy efficiency 'huge priority' for Air Force

As the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, the Air Force has made conserving resources a priority, a top official said Oct. 21. "We have to continue with our strategy of reducing demand and increasing [energy] supply and changing the culture within the Air Force," said Kevin

Airmen's rapid response to fire saves $52 million

Four Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here protected $52 million in aircraft parts from being damaged or destroyed with their quick response to an electrical fire Sept. 22. Staff Sgt. Akeilee Murchison, Senior Airman Heather Libiszewski, Airman 1st Class Mayra

UAS volunteers sought for Air Force test program; deadline approaching

Air Force officials are seeking up to 20 captains with four to six years of experience to volunteer for the unmanned aircraft systems beta test program. "This first run of the test-run program is open to captains who have no previous military pilot-training experience," said Col. Curt Sheldon,

Defense secretary honors two Air Force civilians

Two Air Force civilians received Department of Defense Awards for their efforts in housing management and electrical engineering at a ceremony Oct. 21 in the Pentagon. Presenting the awards were Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Michael L. Rhodes, deputy director of administration and

Airman, medical response save Korean leukemia patient

It took less than 24 hours for one Kunsan Airman and several base medical providers to respond to the needs of a 24-year-old Korean leukemia patient; ultimately saving her life. After finishing a 14-hour shift defending the base, Airman Tamarias Pope, 8th Security Forces Squadron, was alerted that

Oct. 21 airpower summary: A-10s provide escort for convoys

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 21, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired cannon rounds onto

Congressional team evaluates Airmen's living quarters

A two-person House Appropriations Committee Studies and Investigations team spoke to Airmen and inspected dormitories on Ramstein Air Base and Kapaun Air Station in Germany in October. The inspection, conducted by Keith Baker and Adam Johnson are House Appropriations Committee staff

Airman's Roll Call: Participation in the political process

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on Airmen participating in America's political process. It is the duty of Airmen and all servicemembers to protect and defend the political freedoms of all citizens; however, those in uniform cannot give the perception that the military supports one political

E-9A crews survey gulf, track missiles

Tyndall Air Force Base aircrews flying the twin-turbo-propped E-9A help ensure the Gulf of Mexico waters are clear of boats and aircraft for live-fire missile launches during Air Force exercises. The E-9A is used as an airborne surveillance/telemetry data relay aircraft and its aircrews evaluate the

Iraqi air force pilots take flight into history

The first three pilots graduated from Iraq's only fixed-wing flight training school at Kirkuk Regional Air Base Oct. 13. With cooperation from the Coalition Air Force Training Team and the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron at Kirkuk Regional AB, the Iraqi training wing presented the new

Servicemembers provide dental training for Afghans

Members of the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team united with U.S. Public Health Service officials to offer an emergency dental care certification course to Afghan dental professionals from the province in October. In Zabul, Afghanistan's poorest province, many people are forced to either provide

Air Force officials invest $12 million in research program

Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials here announced Oct. 17 they will award approximately $12.1 million in grants to 39 scientists and engineers who submitted winning research proposals through the Air Force's Young Investigator Research Program. The program is open to scientists and

Oct. 20 airpower summary: Reaper strikes enemy target

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-9A Reaper dropped a guided bomb unit-12

Air Force chief of staff visits Southwest Asia

The Air Force's top officer addressed manning, service priorities and success in the war on terrorism during his first visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility since becoming chief of staff Oct. 20 here. The service's prior strategy of reducing 40,000 active-duty positions to free up

Gates vows continued commitment to wounded warrior care

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates assured participants in the first Wounded Warriors Family Summit here Oct. 20 he will "continue to press forward with a sense of urgency" to provide top-level care and support for wounded warriors in a way that lays groundwork for the next administration's leaders

AF officials, Ohio hospital to ready nurses for deployment

University Hospital Cincinnati and the Air Force officials inaugurated a new program in October to provide newly graduated registered nurses the advanced clinical training and experience needed to become Air Force Nurse Corps officers and to prepare them for deployment. University Hospital is the

Service demographics offer snapshot of force

Air Force Personnel Center officials here recently published a demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force. This data is current as of Sept. 30 and can also be found at Air Force demographics. Statistics are rounded to the nearest tenth. Active-duty

Group helps military families take flight

While on patrol in northern Iraq last year, Army Spc. Kevin Hardin of Jupiter, Fla., was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. He suffered injuries to his hands and arms. As a result, some of his fingers were amputated. Shrapnel penetrated his skull, leaving inoperable injuries. Twenty surgeries later,

Depot efforts continue to keep T-38s flying

Members of the 573rd Commodities Maintenance Squadron here continue to put in long hours to make sure Air Force pilot training doesn't come to a halt. Many members of the squadron have been working 10-hour days, seven days a week to make a new aileron actuator lever for the T-38 Talon used to train

Idaho Air Guard unit wins Hawgsmoke team award

The Idaho Air National Guard's 190th Fighter Squadron was named the top team at Hawgsmoke 2008 in Salina, Kan., Oct. 17. An awards banquet capped off four days of competition among 14 A-10 Thunderbolt II squadrons from across the Air Force. The 190th, part of the 124th Wing, based at Boise

Defense Media Activity officially stands up

The Defense Media Activity gives public affairs within the Defense Department a new structure to move forward as a consolidated and integrated team, Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said during the organization's activation ceremony at the Pentagon Oct. 20. "This is where jointness really

Security forces employ tough, agile vehicle

When the Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Group took sole responsibility for base defense here in October, they did so with one of the Defense Department's newest armored vehicles. The Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, already is used by Air Force security forces,

Football: Falcons win thriller in desert 29-28

The U.S. Air Force Academy football team won a nailbiter against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in a 29-28 back and forth game Oct. 18 in Las Vegas. The Falcons put the ball in the air only seven times while rushing 68 times; however, freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson connected on six of those

Programs promoted for people with disabilities

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Air Force officials want to ensure every Airman is aware of the ongoing efforts to support people with disabilities. "The Air Force hopes to increase awareness, promote opportunities for employment candidates with disabilities and become

'Today's Air Force' features Airmen training Iraqi's military

This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights a challenging assignment of mentoring another country's airmen. See how American Airmen train Iraqi air force pilots to fly, fight and win. Also featured is a new combat vehicle: the high mobility engineer excavator. These new vehicles are built strong,

18 Oct. airpower summary

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped a guided bomb

17 Oct. airpower summary

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fired cannon rounds and

Water polo: No. 19 Air Force Defeats Iona, 15-8

In its first home game of the season, the 19th-ranked Air Force water polo team surged to a 15-8 victory over Iona Oct. 18 at Cadet Natatorium. With the win, the Falcons improve to 11-8 overall on the season, while the Gaels fall to 11-15. Air Force's offense struck first, as sophomore Matt Versage

Hockey: Falcons blank Bemidji State, 6-0

Seniors Mike Phillipich and Greg Flynn each scored two goals and goaltender Andrew Volkening stopped all 15 shots to lead Air Force to a 6-0 win over Bemidji State in a non-conference college hockey game Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Cadet Ice Arena. The Falcons swept the two-game series and improved to

SECAF visits wounded warriors in Europe

The Air Force's top leader dedicated time Oct. 10 to visit wounded warriors here to thank them for their service and encourage a speedy recovery as part of his first overseas trip since being confirmed as the secretary of the Air Force. Secretary Michael B. Donley spent time meeting with wounded

Donley officially sworn in as Secretary of the Air Force

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates officially swore in Michael B. Donley as the Secretary of the Air Force Oct. 17 at the Air Force Memorial. In his speech, Secretary Donley said he's honored to serve as the senior civilian leader of the Air Force and looks forward to the challenges of the

National Veterans Creative Arts Festival begins

More than 120 veterans from across the country who are medal winners in national creative writing, music, dance, drama or visual arts competitions are preparing to attend the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in Riverside, Calif., from Oct. 20 to 26. "Creative expression is an important

Officials outline challenges, needs at logistics conference

About 1,200 logisticians gathered at the National Logistics Officer Association Conference Oct. 13 through 16 to learn Air Force priorities, urgent warfighter needs and sustainment initiatives that will affect their profession. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Sue Payton and Gen.

New first-aid products could save lives, officials say

Two new first-aid products being sent into the combat theater could save more servicemembers' lives, medical officials said at a Pentagon news conference Oct. 15. Test results from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command's Institute of Surgical Research, or ISR, showed Combat Gauze field

AFRICOM officials note milestones, challenges ahead

Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward brought the celebration of U.S. Africa Command's activation home to Germany Oct. 17 as he praised those who came together to stand the command up so quickly and urged them to continue working together so it can reach its potential. Speaking at the AfriCom's

Berlin Airlift vets recognized by German government

Veterans of the Berlin Airlift were recognized by the German government for their bravery and sacrifice at an Oct. 15 ceremony here.The ceremony celebrated the 60th anniversary of the operation and marked the opening of a six-week exhibit on the Berlin Airlift at the air museum at Travis Air Force

Afghan baby born at Bagram Airfield hospital

It was the middle of the night and hospital staff's pagers were going off. Inside Craig Joint Theater Hospital there was a scramble to pull together the people and equipment needed for a successful procedure. It wasn't a coalition servicemember's life they were trying to save; they were bringing a

Hawgsmoke A-10s dazzle local visitors

The Hawgsmoke 2008 bombing and gunnery portion of the competition took place Oct.16 as A-10 Thunderbolt IIs attacked targets on the nearby Smoky Hill Range, dazzling the spectators who gathered to observe. It was Day 3 of the event and members of the press, community leaders and other distinguished

F-35 environmental impact statement released

Air Force officials have announced that the final environmental impact statement addressing the beddown of the Joint Strike Fighter and 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is available for public review. The publication of the notice of availability in the Federal Register begins a 30-day public

Secretary Donley visits Bagram Airmen

Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley visited with Airmen from Bagram Airfield Oct. 15 during his first visit to the country since being confirmed by Congress earlier this month. During his visit, Secretary Donley held an Airman's call for approximately 400 Airmen stationed here. "Since I

SECAF discusses vision with Airmen in AOR

After gaining insight into the diverse mission capabilities of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley discussed the Air Force vision with Airmen from the wing Oct. 14 at an air base in Southwest Asia. The secretary toured the base for much of the day, delving

Historic homecoming for Tuskegee Airmen as site opens

Hundreds of aviators, mechanics and support personnel who once worked at the Tuskegee Army Airfield and Moton Field, Ala., during the 1930s and '40s gathered here once again Oct. 10 when the National Park Service memorialized the efforts of the first black pilots, the famed Tuskegee Airmen, in the

Oct. 16 airpower summary: Tankers continue to fuel the fight

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fired cannon rounds and

Hawgsmoke 2008 gets into full swing

With the arrival of the last group of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs late in the afternoon, Hawgsmoke 2008 got into full swing Oct. 15 as pilots flew out to the Kansas Air National Guard's Smoky Hill bomb and gunnery range nearby for range familiarization flights. The clearing sky signaled the end of nearly

National Guard responds to Hurricane Omar

More than 90 National Guardmembers in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are on duty Oct. 16 after Hurricane Omar passed through their area as a major Category 3 storm."Take this very seriously," said Gov. John deJongh of the U.S. Virgin Islands Oct. 15 after he activated his National Guard,

Training bomb strikes vehicle near Nellis

A training weapon fell from an Air Force aircraft on a training mission and struck a vehicle traveling on a road adjacent to the base Oct. 15, said Nellis Air Force Base officials. The weapon, a 25-pound bomb dummy unit-33, landed near a mobility warehouse on the base before bouncing into the road

Dover Airman donates kidney to fiance

A Dover Air Force Base NCO gave her heart to her fiance in 2005, and almost four years later she gave him the gift of life Sept. 22. Master Sgt. Laura Perry, an air Reserve technician with the 512th Civil Engineer Squadron, donated her kidney to her fiance and fellow squadron member, Staff Sgt. Mark

Guard unit provides 'one-stop' Predator training

As the Air Force's and Air National Guard's unmanned aircraft system mission continues to grow, Airmen with the 163rd Maintenance Group here are stepping up their training program to ensure availability of enough highly-skilled personnel to support these systems, especially the MQ-1 Predator.

Pope energy initiative saves thousands, lights the way

A 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron member here received $10,000 for a proposal of a wireless-ramp-lighting initiative. Anton Klein submitted the proposal to the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program, or IDEA, for base members to turn off ramp lights when planes were not

Air Force secretary wraps up first visit to the AOR

Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley visited with Airmen throughout the Air Forces Central Command area of operations Oct. 9 to 15 during his first trip to the combat zone since being confirmed Oct. 2 as the 22nd secretary of the Air Force. Secretary Donley visited with thousands of Airmen