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  • Mentoring Month brings out role models

    Most people know how hard it can be to take time, especially quality time, to spend with their children.But finding time in a busy schedule to spend with other people’s children takes dedication -- the dedication given to children by adults who choose to be their mentors.January is National

  • ‘Legend’ goes home after six months

    She is outgoing and friendly. She is an icon at the base’s shopette, and she is going home Jan. 24 after serving six months here.Anyone who has shopped at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s shopette in the Air Force’s tent city here cannot help but know Heidi Stover, the store manager.A

  • Battlefield calls go through MacDill

    American military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan reach for their satellite phones when they want clear, secure and fast communications. More often than not, the operator who patches through their calls is sitting in a building here.People at the one-stop-shop Regional Satcom Support Center here

  • AF creates personnel system team

    The Air Force has formed a team to implement the Defense Department’s most dramatic civilian personnel system transformation in the last 50 years.The National Security Personnel System gives DOD managers the flexibility to place civilian workers where they are needed most, without delay. It reduces

  • Firefighters ‘adapt’ to situation

    Necessity is said to be the mother of invention. Two firefighters here have taken this old saying to heart and invented an adapter to increase their capacity to fight fires.Staff Sgt. Clinton Saul, of the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron fire department, and Army Spc. James Michaels, of

  • Dedicated airmen fix, manage base vehicles

    When a vehicle breaks down here, airmen do not have the luxury of calling a commercial roadside assistance team for help. Instead, a team of 48 people work behind the scenes 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep the base’s fleet of vehicles on the road.With almost 470 vehicles to watch over and

  • Tricare Standard allows civilian care

    People covered by the Tricare Standard military health care plan no longer need approval from their military treatment facility to seek inpatient care at civilian hospitals.The need to get a nonavailability statement before seeking civilian inpatient care expired Dec. 28 under a provision of the

  • How to spend a million

    They have what many people would consider the ideal job -- getting paid to shop all day while spending other people’s money.But unlike many shoppers, the contracting office here cannot go downtown and browse through the shops or cruise the mall.“(We) don’t go off base (because of) the dangers around

  • Camera phones pose risk to security

    Carrying the latest "have-to-have" electronic gadget may mean big trouble for the person who brings it into unauthorized locations.Officials from the National Security Agency said in an advisory that new cellular phones with integral digital cameras pose an unacceptable security risk to homeland

  • Changes in law environmental friendly

    Portions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2004 make it easier for the Air Force to execute its mission while protecting the environment at the same time.The act includes language allowing the National Fish and Wildlife Service to legally consider measures that may already be in

  • Air Force saves native remains

    Quick action and the use of high-tech radar at an old radar site allowed an Air Force team to find 15 unmarked graves of Alaska natives that were in danger of being washed out to sea this winter.Earlier in the year, the rural village of Port Heiden, Alaska, saw their old graveyard get torn apart by

  • ‘Spiderman’ joins OEF

    Airmen are known for their innovation, and are encouraged and challenged to continually look for better and smarter ways to accomplish the mission.For one senior noncommissioned officer supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, that challenge led to a labor of love. He developed a computer tool --

  • Wife helps identify drug problem

    “No matter what kind of person you are, drugs will ruin you,” said an obviously uneasy, 21-year-old Airman Basic Michael Dancer as he nervously turned the wedding band on his finger.Wearing a blue correctional custody jump suit, Airman Michael spoke from experience. Though he was not caught driving

  • Tallil NCO makes history

    With history occurring here every day, there needs to be someone to make sure it is never lost. The person who makes sure that happens is Tech. Sgt. Yancy Mailes, 332nd Expeditionary Air Wing historian, deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.“I collect the raw documentation that allows

  • Escorts keep base safe

    When it comes down to getting the mission done, there are few things more valuable than a reliable force multiplier.Each day dozens of mostly one-, two- and three-stripe airmen provide the multiple necessary to ensure base functions continue unimpeded. Wearing arm bands identifying them as “Force

  • Exercise tests shuttle rescue capabilities

    Lajes Field's capabilities to save a downed space shuttle crew will be put to the test during a daylong exercise here Jan. 30.The exercise involves American and Portuguese forces and a Defense Department agency for space flight.The combined event joins 65th Air Base Wing and Portuguese Air Base 4

  • Firefighters keep flames at bay

    Sixty seconds. Just 60 seconds is all it takes for a fire to decimate a tent in a deployed environment.But the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing’s team of firefighters is here to prevent that from happening. The team has many missions, but fire prevention is the most critical so the team never has to

  • Sergeant deploys with casino

    As a child, Master Sgt. Thomas Shircel enjoyed sharing games of rummy with his grandparents, and playing black jack on his video game system.Some years later, as a college student, his appreciation for casino games expanded to providing casino equipment for charity and social functions. He

  • Targeting pods bolster F-16 training

    The 149th Fighter Wing received something Jan. 14 that will literally put its current class of F-16 fighter pilots right on target with their training.The unit will be the first in the Air Force to graduate pilots from the F-16 Fighting Falcon basic course with targeting-pod training. The enhanced

  • New software eases workload

    Advanced software technology has arrived at the 43rd Fighter Squadron that will soon benefit all of Tyndall and beyond.Known as the Combat Crew Training Management System, the automatic tracking program checks the progress of F/A-22 Raptor students, what stage of training they have completed, and

  • Randolph gets its first T-38C

    The first T-38C Talon destined for operations in the 12th Flying Training Wing touched down here Jan. 21 at 10:06 a.m.There were no brass bands or flag-carrying marchers to greet the new arrival. In fact, the small cluster of people waiting on the ramp gave no hint of the importance of the event.

  • Soldiers leaving AF gates

    A mix of airmen, civilians, contractors and new technology will replace Army National Guard military policemen now posted at Air Force bases.The original agreement struck between the Air Force and the Army called for using the Guardsmen at base entry points for two years, enough time to find a

  • DFAS clarifies retro civilian pay raise

    The additional 2.1-percent pay raise for civilian employees authorized by the president Jan. 23, will be retroactive to Jan. 11. However, before it can take effect, an executive order must be issued addressing how the increase will be split between base and locality pay, said Defense Finance and

  • Airmen test skills on Korean peninsula

    More than 100 airmen, 12 F-15 Eagles and three KC-135 Stratotankers returned to Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Jan. 27 after a four-day deployment here. The mission was a test of the 18th Wing’s ability to deploy during a scheduled operational readiness exercise that began at Kadena on Jan. 24 and is

  • Military retirees to see pay increase

    An estimated 150,000 military retirees will see an increase in their pay Feb. 2. The National Defense Authorization Act, enacted in November, significantly modified a long-standing law preventing retirees from receiving full retired pay if they also received disability pay from the Department of

  • February issue of Citizen Airman available

    Air Force Reserve Command's 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., is on the leading edge of the Air Force's effort to modernize its fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft.C-130H-2s from the 908th, along with C-130E models from the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Wing in Boise, will be the

  • Sergeant sentenced for larceny

    A staff sergeant with the 377th Security Forces Squadron was found guilty of larceny, making false official statements and destroying and altering public records. He was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge, reduction in rank to airman basic, 10 months confinement and total forfeiture of pay and

  • Personnel Web site slow

    Internet users trying to access the Air Force Personnel Center Web site recently are seeing unusual slowdowns and having problems connecting."We're aware of the problem and have brought in industry experts to help us resolve it as soon as possible," said Master Sgt. Gregory Brennfleck, Web

  • Challenger crew memorialized on Mars

    Late Air Force Lt. Cols. Francis R. (Dick) Scobee and Ellison S. Onizuka are among those now memorialized on the red planet. NASA officials have named the landing site of the Mars rover Opportunity in honor of the Space Shuttle Challenger's final crew. The area in the vast flatland called

  • Reservist selected for NASA crew

    A reserve officer assigned to the F-16 Fighting Falcon system program office here is one of four NASA astronauts named to fly on space shuttle mission STS-121. The mission, planned for November, will follow a shuttle mission scheduled for September. Making his first flight into space will be

  • Guard legal team working hard

    For some, the base legal office is a place to take care of wills or powers of attorney, but the office staff here does a lot more than that.Lt. Col. Brent Wright, an Oklahoma Air National Guard staff judge advocate, and Master Sgt. Mary Alice Rebis, a New York ANG paralegal, are teamed together to

  • Commander selections get boost

    The latest 503 officers selected as support commanders highlights a new way of identifying future commanders using force development, said Air Force Personnel Center officials here."Squadron commanders are the heart and soul of the Air Force and support command is a prestigious leadership position,"

  • TO management becoming easier

    Ever receive an update to a technical order that is out of sequence? For instance, update No. 11 came after update No. 12 rather than before.Ever ask for a specific technical order and never receive it? Technical orders provide the blueprint maintainers use for the upkeep of aircraft in the Air

  • AF medical facilities win awards

    Two Air Force medical facilities received honors when the Defense Department's Tricare Management Activity presented its annual customer satisfaction awards Jan. 26.Awards recognize customer service excellence provided to servicemembers and their families in 2003, Tricare officials said.Wilford Hall

  • Medical, dental officer promotions announced

    The Air Force has selected 619 medical and dental corps officers for promotion. The officers were chosen by the colonel, lieutenant colonel and major medical and dental corps selection boards that convened at the Air Force Personnel Center here Nov. 17.The entire list will be posted on the Air

  • Squadron part of rovers' success

    The 45th Space Wing can now put two more historical milestones under its belt -- the successful landings of the twin Mars exploration rovers on the red planet. Opportunity touched down on its target, Meridiani Planum, shortly after midnight Jan. 25, joining its twin, Spirit, which landed on the

  • Volunteers take weight off staff

    Aside from the occasional mortar attack, people at Camp Sather sometimes forget they are in a combat zone. Not everyone serving in Iraq is that lucky. Of all the units here, the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility gets almost daily reminders of what goes on outside Baghdad International

  • New equipment saves time, money

    Paying at the pump is always cheaper and faster than using the old system with a full-service gas station attendant. The staff at the 445th Maintenance Squadron’s machine shop has a new piece of equipment that does not pump gas, but it is saving them time and money. Plus, it is great for the

  • Airmen should file vouchers promptly

    When returning from a deployment, the first thing a person should do is go to his or her base finance office, said 1st Lt. Mary Ward, budget officer.“Your voucher is used to determine dates for certain entitlements and if you don’t file your voucher in a timely manner, you run the risk of being

  • USTRANSCOM tackles rotations

    The U.S. Transportation Command's basic mission is moving the nation's military wherever and whenever required. The current task is to redeploy the forces who defeated the Iraqi military and liberated that country and replace them with fresh troops. At the same time, forces must be redeployed from

  • Helpline gives airmen vital info

    The Air Force will expand efforts to take care of its own Feb. 1 with the 24-hour-a day “Air Force One Source” live helpline for airmen and their families.The “beyond-the-gate” support and referral service is intended to help address personal and family support needs for active-duty airmen,

  • Winter record set at Grand Forks

    A record was set here for the coldest day in January when temperatures reached minus 37 on Jan. 29 and 30, said officials at the 319th Operations Support Squadron weather flight here.The base is also experiencing one of the snowiest winters on record,From Jan. 24 to 26, the base received 21 inches

  • Japanese forces arrive to help

    Three Japanese air self-defense force C-130Hs arrived here Jan. 30, bringing to fruition an initial deployment plan Japanese forces thought would never happen.This is the first time since World War II Japanese troops have deployed supporting humanitarian activities in a hostile area.The JASDF joins

  • Air Force redesigns Web site

    The Air Force is unveiling a new look, feel and functionality for its official Web site Feb. 1.“Air Force Link, the service’s Web site, will have a cleaner, more modern look,” said Leslie Benito, chief of news technology and project manager for the redesign for Air Force News Service, a part of the

  • Oversight office changes name

    The agency that ensures the Air Force gets its money’s worth from contracts totaling more than half the service’s annual procurement budget takes on a new identity Feb. 1.The Air Force Program Executive Officer for Combat and Mission Support officially stands up, changing its name from AFPEO for

  • Proposed budget shows AF path

    The fiscal 2005 Defense Department budget provides the foundation upon which the Air Force will continue the war on terrorism.Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for budget, discussed how the service’s budget priorities would allow airmen to be a better air and space

  • Airmen combat sickness in community

    Airmen of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron joined soldiers to provide medical care and humanitarian assistance to residents of a local community Jan. 23. The visit to a small, impoverished town about 10 miles from here was part of the Medical Civic Action Program. The program

  • Now showing: Feb. 2 edition of AFTV News

    The growing effect long activations are having on reservists and Air National Guardsmen spotlights the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Staff Sgt. Melissa Allan visits a reservist at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., whose family is trying to decide if re-enlistment is an option because of

  • Wing moves from Tallil to Balad

    The famed “Red Tails” were on the move recently when they relocated from a base in southern Iraq to just north of Baghdad.The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing flag was furled here before being flown to its new home at Balad Air Base, where the wing was reactivated Jan. 30. The move is part of the

  • Civil engineers’ work noticed every day

    Every day, airmen of the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are seen doing a multitude of tasks, from digging trenches for electrical wiring to setting up restroom facilities.The unit’s accomplishments can be noticed when one makes a 2 a.m. trip to the restroom and comes face to face with a

  • Homelink ensures family communication

    Operation Homelink is a nonprofit organization that facilitates e-mail communication between deployed servicemembers and their loved ones by providing free, refurbished computers to families of junior-enlisted servicemembers deployed overseas.“Military families want to know their loved ones are safe

  • Patriot Express restructures

    Fiscal realities and limited use have led U.S. Transportation Command to restructure Patriot Express. Patriot Express is the military's chartered commercial air service for transporting servicemembers on permanent-change-of-station orders and their families to and from overseas locations. Air

  • Nominations open for employer support award

    The Defense Department began accepting nominations Feb. 1 for the 2004 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, which recognizes significant contributions and sacrifices made by employers of National Guard and Reserve members.For the first time since the awards program was established in

  • Multimedia shop keeps focus

    An airman peers through the lens of the weapon, anticipating the moment the target is in sight. The target steps off the plane. “Closer,” the airman murmurs as her eye shoots back and forth in the lens, checking the scene. Her finger squeezes gently. Click. She shoots, and another distinguished

  • Air Force boxer takes national crown

    The Air Force has its first national boxing champion since Jerome Bennett in 1977.James Johnson, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, took home the title in the 165-pound weight class at the 2004 Everlast U.S. Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., recently.Johnson won four fights on his way

  • February issue of Airman available

    Take a look at changes to the face of U.S. bases in Germany, read about life at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, and take a behind-the-scenes look at Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. These features and more highlight the February issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online at

  • Team reviewing academy’s athletic department

    A team arrived at the Air Force Academy here Feb. 1 to begin reviewing the school’s athletic department. The review was directed by Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper.The review team is led by retired Air Force Gen. Michael E. Ryan and his

  • Squadron supports 'Freedom Hangar' mission

    People from the 728th Air Mobility Squadron’s aerial port flight have a hand in servicing just about every aircraft that transits here, whether it is supporting Operation Enduring Freedom or carrying passengers home after a holiday in the United States.While their job may not be as visible or

  • Mural thanks fallen servicemembers

    Bayshore patriots wave flags, kindergartners write thank you letters and spouses send pictures, all supporting servicemembers fighting during Operation Enduring Freedom. Stewart Wavell-Smith took a different approach to show his appreciation to the military, especially those who give the ultimate

  • Group develops C-5 grease

    A low-cost, multipurpose grease developed by Air Force Research Laboratory technicians has received a positive evaluation from Air Force maintainers. The evaluation follows nearly 1,529 airframe hours, which adds up to roughly 11 months of operation, on the C-5 Galaxy aircraft.Equipment specialists

  • Certificate of Creditable Coverage automatically issued

    Department of Defense Military Health System officials are now automatically issuing a Certificate of Creditable Coverage to any former uniformed services sponsor or family member who loses eligibility for health-care benefits under Tricare. The service began Feb. 1.Eligibility for Tricare may end

  • Fleet Viability Board provides longevity assessment

    The Air Force's newly created Fleet Viability Board will begin assessment of the KC-135E/R Stratotanker in April.The Air Force Fleet Viability Board stood up in August and was created in response to a directive from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche to create an agency that could provide

  • DOD has civilian buyout, retirement authority

    The Department of Defense now has permanent authority to offer civilian employees voluntary early retirements and buyouts (voluntary separation incentives) without having to get Office of Personnel Management approval each year.The voluntary early retirement and voluntary separation incentive

  • Medical care at 15,000 feet

    On the ground and in the air, airmen in this part of the world can rest assured that medical care is always close by.If a person is injured, medical people on the ground stabilize and treat the patient. But if that person needs to be transported by air for specialized care, a team of medical

  • 'Force shaping' means some can leave active duty early

    There is good news for thousands of airmen considering leaving active duty who thought they could not because of existing service obligations.An effort dubbed "force shaping" is opening the exit doors to officers and enlisted servicemembers in select career fields and year groups by waiving some

  • K-2 airmen use innovation to prevent ‘Groundhog Day’

    For 25 members of the aerial port flight here, every day would be "Groundhog Day" if they focused only on the day-to-day task of moving passengers and cargo. But for this team from the Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing, the mission is not just loading and unloading aircraft, it is

  • New dining facility opens in Iraq

    After several months of planning and construction, the new dining facility here officially opened for business Jan. 27. The facility broke ground in early December and served its first meal Jan. 22. With a full-sized kitchen, serving lines and a highly trained professional staff, Maj. Robert

  • Civil engineers putting shivers aside

    Despite record-setting cold temperatures here, people assigned to the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron are keeping the base running as usual.From Jan. 24 to 26, the base received 21 inches of snow. By Jan. 29, temperatures dipped to a new winter low of minus 37 with a wind chill that hit 60 below

  • Leave program helps activated fed employees

    Federal employees who are called up by a Reserve or National Guard unit to support a contingency can use special leave to supplement lost wages.They can receive their civilian income instead of military pay for 22 days if their civil service job pays more than the military.“Although not new to the

  • Airman shares patriotism with thousands

    The honor guard team members were at attention on the sideline, hearts pounding and adrenaline racing, although the momentous game would not begin for another half hour. The honor and glory was not for the servicemembers themselves, but for their flag, their country and their military.Tech Sgt.

  • IDEA brings Davis-Monthan man $10,000

    A suggestion that saves labor and material costs on F-4 Phantom actuator assembly repairs here earned an aircraft pneudraulic systems mechanic $10,000, courtesy of the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Steven Herman, who works in the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration

  • Donations arrive in Iraq, Afghanistan

    Donated goods collected here and nine other bases are beginning to arrive in Iraq. A similar donation program in Afghanistan is expanding to weekly visits, after a year of monthly deliveries. In January, workers here shipped nearly 500 pounds of school supplies, children's clothes and personal

  • Silently surveying surroundings

    At first glance, it appears to be an airplane model a child might pull off a local toy-store shelf. But unlike the recreational remote aircraft, this force-protection asset is no toy. The 7-pound aircraft allows security forces to see beyond what the human eye can see and silently survey the

  • Combat Flightline keeps C-130s flying

    The year was 1965. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive and man had yet to land on the moon. Amazingly, most of the C-130E Hercules aircraft currently based here were flying in 1965; many were used during the Vietnam conflict. Like a car, these aircraft will last longer and perform better

  • International student training requests increase

    The business of training international students is booming for a small unit here.Requests for globetrotting teams from the Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron have skyrocketed in recent months with the expansion of the global war on terrorism.Already this year, AFSAT is ahead of pace to

  • Emulator boosts GPS training

    Gone are the days of using a compass for direction finding.Now, through a constellation of 29 satellites, warfighters, banks, automobile drivers and others benefit from the Air Force's technological advancements with the Global Positioning System.Owned and operated by the Air Force, GPS provides

  • Basic trainees now clean M-16s in new facility

    A recently completed 9,000-square-foot facility here has added a few hours and a new activity to the Air Force basic training program: M-16 cleaning.The more than 40,000 trainees who attend basic training each year will now use the $365,000 weapons cleaning pavilion to clean their rifles after

  • Security forces announces annual award winners

    The deputy chief of staff for air and space operations recently announced the 2003 Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Individual Award winners.These annual awards recognize the top security forces members in each category.The 2003 winners are:Career field-wide award:-- Col. Billy Jack Carter

  • C-130s modernized with new avionics

    After extensive air and ground testing, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard will begin modernizing their fleets of C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft with new avionics.C-130H-2s from AFRC's 908th Airlift Wing here, along with C-130E models from the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Wing

  • Military participates in Pro Bowl

    Representatives of all five military services in Hawaii will get a special honor this weekend as they take to the Aloha Stadium field in Honolulu to participate in Pro Bowl activities Feb. 8.The game, which will bring together the top players in the American and National conferences of the National

  • Air Force, FAA continue air traffic control modernization efforts

    Air Force sites in Michigan and Arizona joined the growing list of airfields replacing aging legacy air traffic control systems with state-of-the-art technology through the National Airspace System upgrade.The Alpena Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan and Luke Air Force

  • Special operators recount Iraq missions

    Multiservice special operations troops have led the way to victory in overseas campaigns during the war against terrorism, a senior U.S. military officer said.Special operators' expertise was a factor in driving the Taliban out of Afghanistan as well as in the ouster of former Iraqi dictator Saddam

  • Antenna shop technicians make waves

    Onboard radar systems are the eyes and ears for aircrews conducting flying missions. These sophisticated components, a vital part of the navigation system, give aircrews a clear picture of the route ahead.Fourteen technicians here perform the important task of maintaining them. Their job is to

  • Air Force salutes hospitalized veterans

    Airmen worldwide are visiting Veterans Affairs medical centers this month to deliver support and encouragement.They are joining celebrities, civic groups and community leaders during 2004 National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans week Feb. 8 to 14. The annual salute honors hospitalized veterans and

  • Five airmen represent Air Force on ‘Family Feud’

    Five airmen here participated along with members from other military services on the “Family Feud” game show taped Jan. 31 in Los Angeles.Air Force contestants included Capt. Robert Wagner, from the Air Force Flight Test Center judge advocate general's office; Master Sgt. Jim Gantar, 95th Mission

  • Next Aerospace Vehicle Test Course launches

    The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School here is accepting student applications for the Aerospace Vehicle Test Course that begins May 30.The deadline for applying is March 16, and only 15 slots are available, officials said.Designed as a four-week program, the curriculum includes about 80 hours of

  • Doors open for active duty to join Air Force Reserve

    The Air Force is opening doors and modifying programs to give people leaving active duty an opportunity to continue their military careers in the Air Force Reserve.As the active force tries to reduce manning by about 16,600, the Air Force Reserve is seeking to hire many of those experienced airmen

  • Defense Department axing Internet voting plans

    Defense Department officials are axing an Internet voting program because of concerns about security, a Pentagon spokeswoman said Feb. 6.The Federal Voting Assistance Program, which aids Americans serving overseas in the voting process, will not use the SERVE system in November. The acronym stands

  • Test uniforms hit the streets

    Airmen at two bases will get a first-hand look at the proposed new utility uniform Feb. 9 when the tiger-striped blue-, green- and gray-patterned ensemble begins its wear-test phase.Officials will deliver the distinctive uniforms to testers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Langley AFB,

  • Command post stays vigilant during darkest hours

    “Ain’t it funny how the night moves?” sang Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band. Although Mr. Seger probably was not thinking about an Air Force command post, most strange occurrences seem to happen while the world sleeps. No one knows this better than command post controllers working the night

  • Flying Old Glory for a grateful nation

    The spirit of Sept. 11, 2001, is still evident in the sky above Afghanistan as airmen here do their part to support a long-standing tradition of carrying U.S. flags onboard aircraft flying combat missions.Crewmembers from the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Support Squadron and the 22nd Expeditionary

  • Hill equipment investigates whale geometry

    Although located hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean, technology here may help unlock the mysteries of how whales use and are affected by sound.Experts here recently used computed tomography equipment, normally used to scan Minuteman missile parts to detect cracks, voids or separations, for

  • Bolling Cub Scouts receive gift for selfless act

    “Two, four, six, eight. Who do we appreciate? Colonel Koslov!” exclaimed a group of excited Bolling Cub Scouts from Den 2, Pack 343. That was the Scouts’ response when Col. Dan Koslov returned twofold their gift of selflessness at their Feb. 2 meeting.The Scouts recently bought necessity items

  • IDEA program awards technical order savvy

    Two equipment specialists here are saving the Air Force more than $140,000 through a suggestion to stop digitizing certain technical orders for an aircraft system that is headed for retirement.Michael Simmons and Calvin Haugen submitted the suggestion using the Innovative Development through

  • Officials update enlistment test norms

    Department of Defense officials announced Feb. 6 that new norms for the enlistment test, Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, will be implemented this summer. The ASVAB is a multiple aptitude test battery originally designed to predict training and job performance in military occupations.

  • Storytelling serves as favorite pastime

    In Africa, storytelling is a tradition and a favorite pastime. After a hard day's work and after dinner, elders and children sit around the fire to tell stories.Some are fables with fictional characters, but others are true stories of great warriors from long ago.When Africans were captured and

  • Officials limit re-enlistment window to three months

    Air Force personnel officials are changing the re-enlistment eligibility window beginning March 5.The new policy requires active-duty airmen to re-enlist within three months of their term of service expiring, a change from the 12-month window currently in effect.“In our effort to shape the force, we

  • Ogden center delivers first Falcon STAR F-16

    Maintainers here recently handed off to the Minnesota Air National Guard's 148th Fighter Wing the first F-16 Fighting Falcon to undergo a nearly $1 billion upgrade that promises to make the fleet operational beyond 2020.The revamped F-16 was part of the Structural Augmentation Roadmap program, also

  • Reserve system streamlines Air Force travel processing

    Accurate and secure records, universal e-mail copies of vouchers and possibly faster payouts are what Air Force travelers have to look forward to starting this spring.Financial management offices throughout the active-duty Air Force are set to begin using Air Force Reserve Command’s Reserve Travel

  • Retired NCO credits blood donations for saving his life

    Blood drives are almost as common as commander's calls here because Air Force leaders stress the importance of donating blood.Retired Tech. Sgt. Derrick Duncan, a former jet-engine mechanic instructor here, knows better than most the significance of those lifesaving donations.Sergeant Duncan packed