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  • White House breakfast honors American Indian servicemembers

    President Bush took honored those to whom the newest Smithsonian Institution museum is dedicated Sept. 23.He praised the contributions of American Indians, both military and civilian, from Sacagawea's presence with Lewis and Clark to the Code Talkers of World War II."The National Museum of the

  • Political activity rules basically same for active-duty, reserve

    Citizen Airmen serving in the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve follow the same rules governing political activity as their active-duty compatriots.Questions about what Airmen can or cannot do abound in this presidential election year, and some situations have become national news. The rules

  • Number of officers receiving command pay reduced

    Command Responsibility Pay now received by some field-grade officers in command positions will end in October.In a Sight Picture titled, “Recognizing the Responsibility of Command,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper announced the Air Force would reduce the number of command positions that

  • Air Force issues ‘stop movement’ for Patrick, Cape Canaveral

    Air Force officials have issued a “stop-movement’ order for people permanently moving to or transiting Patrick Air Force Base or Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., based on the probability that Hurricane Jeanne will affect the area.This order also effects any duty location serviced by either base's

  • Some Airmen can carry over 'use or lose' leave

    Active-duty Airmen who were unable to take leave because they supported contingency operations may be allowed to accumulate more than the normal 60 days after the fiscal year ends.Those affected can retain up to 120 days of leave until Sept. 30, 2005, said Air Force Personnel Center officials here.

  • Air Force continues efforts to locate POWs, MIAs

    People of the missing persons branch at the Air Force Personnel Center here continue their efforts to account for Air Force prisoners of war and those missing in action. Their work goes on even after the annual National POW/MIA Recognition Day commemoratives have ended.Master Sgt. Cheryl Wells and

  • Leaders outline space-cadre strategy

    Earlier this summer, Undersecretary of the Air Force Peter B. Teets and Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, outlined for Congress their strategy to develop the professional space cadre the nation needs to acquire and operate future space systems. One of the first things they

  • Airmen run missile-alert facilities

    For the last 40 years, the great plains of North Dakota have been housing the 91st Space Wing’s intercontinental ballistic missiles. The missile-alert facilities are manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week.There are security forces who protect and operators who run the nation’s greatest deterrence

  • Airmen need to heed Hatch Act rules

    As the election season swings into high gear, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel has filed complaints against two federal employees deemed in violation of the Hatch Act.The complaints address the use of "politically partisan electronic-mail messages while on duty," OSC officials said.The Hatch Act

  • ATOC keeps troops, supplies moving

    Get ‘em in, get ‘em out. From troops to supplies, the Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s air terminal operations center here take care of it all, ensuring aerial transport lines keep flowing smoothly.With only about one-fifth the number of people with which the aerial

  • Command, control: Prescription for aeromedical-evacuation success

    A battlefield injury or illness poses a threat to those deployed worldwide. When that threat turns into reality, the Air Force’s extensive aeromedical-evacuation network ensures wounded warriors are moved rapidly to a medical facility to get the care they need. The expansive network includes Airmen

  • Special ops maintainers team up on Kadena's tiny troubles

    Ehren Wahl and Wesley Brown are both staff sergeants, they are assigned to the 353rd Maintenance Squadron, and they each have spent most of their careers here on Okinawa, a tiny island in southern Japan. That is where the similarities end.Sergeant Wahl is an outspoken, 24-year-old from New York who

  • Dental technician becomes U.S. citizen

    American citizenship for many people comes with birth in this country, while others choose it later on in life. For one Airman here, the teenage dream of American citizenship started by leaving the country of his birth, was realized Sept. 16 in a federal courtroom ceremony where he took the oath of

  • Reserve hands off Operation Deep Freeze missions

    Air Force Reserve Command C-141 Starlifter aircrews will stop flying Operation Deep Freeze airlift missions to Antarctica in February.When the new season starts in August 2005, mission responsibility will revert back to the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. The Reserve took on the

  • Airmen remain in control of their futures

    In spite of the Air Force’s force-shaping measures, Airmen are learning they remain in control of their futures, even in over-manned career fields.There are choices for those whose re-enlistments are coming up soon: retrain, join the Guard or Reserve, join the Army with “Operation Blue to Green” or

  • Deployed contracting makes it happen

    It is hard to believe that a stroke of a pen can cost the Air Force hundreds of thousands of dollars; it is even harder to believe that it is a staff sergeant’s pen that does this nearly every day.Such is the job of 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron Airmen at a forward-deployed location.

  • Airmen evacuate injured Russian sailor

    Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the 56th Rescue Squadron raced 230 miles to evacuate an injured 19-year-old sailor from a Russian destroyer Sept. 14. The mission off the southern coast of Iceland began after squadron officials were notified of the situation at 1:25 p.m. “We always keep one

  • Mountain Home ‘maintainer’ readies skis for season

    Flanked on two sides by nearby mountains, this high-desert fighter base is a short drive from prime wintertime skiing, snowboarding and sledding hotspots.Though the temperature is still in the 80s, Idaho’s winter season starts in mid-September for the staff of the busy outdoor recreation supply

  • Virginia Air Guard responds to Florida storms

    Nearly 50 Virginia Air National Guardsmen responded to hurricane relief efforts in Florida, making it the first time their unit has deployed to Florida for a natural disaster.The 203rd Red Horse Squadron from Virginia Beach deployed to assist in the clean-up efforts after Hurricane Frances and wound

  • Air Force medics take control of combat hospital

    Troops with emergency medical needs will now visit the Air Force Theater Hospital while deployed to Iraq.Central Command Air Forces officials announced that Sept. 20, Air Force medics took control of the base hospital, formerly known as the 31st Combat Support Hospital.The decision to transfer

  • Civil engineers do whatever it takes to keep ‘em flying

    Airman 1st Class Aaron McDonald radios the air control tower for clearance to enter the runway. His mission: Break up five different 24-inch squares of damaged runway sections and put them back together again before the next aircraft takes off. He has less than an hour to clear each one. Each

  • Airman goes green to aid OIF medical mission

    When Senior Airman Gary Doran graduated from the Department of Defense biomedical equipment technician’s course in 2002 and moved to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., he thought his time at the joint-service school would be his last experience working with Soldiers for a long time. In fact, he said he

  • Air Force working to combat stressors

    The war on terrorism is placing many stresses on the Air Force, but Airmen are responding well to those stresses, and leaders are working to alleviate them.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray -- the service's highest-ranking enlisted person -- said there are more than 29,000 Airmen

  • Some retirees could get Medicare-surcharge refund

    A collaborative effort among officials at the Department of Defense, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Social Security Administration could prove beneficial to certain Medicare-eligible uniformed services beneficiaries.The Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 provides a chance for

  • Minot officer dies after fall

    A lieutenant colonel here died Sept. 18 at about 12:30 p.m. from injuries sustained in a fall earlier in the day.Lt. Col. David Patterson, 5th Maintenance Group deputy commander, fell from an obstacle at the base’s confidence course while participating in a team-building exercise.The colonel arrived

  • ‘Stop-movement’ order rescinded for bases

    Base officials at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and Keesler AFB, Miss., have reinstated all permanent and temporary travel to their respective bases. Certain people from Eglin AFB, Fla., can begin returning Sept. 18.Airmen should pay close attention to travel warnings associated with Tropical Storm

  • Jumper: Terror threat greater than any other

    The threat of terrorism is greater than any threat this nation has ever faced, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper. And he said he believes today's Airmen are up to the challenge.The threat of terrorism is "greater than Nazism, greater than communism," General Jumper said. "This

  • AETC commander gives education update

    Right number, right skills, right training and right quality.That is the bottom line, said Gen. Donald G. Cook, commander of Air Education and Training Command, when he gave his stakeholders’ report at the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition on Sept.

  • War on terror testing, reinforcing Air Force concepts

    The war on terrorism is teaching Air Force leaders important lessons and validating others, said Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche.It is emphasizing the success of the air and space expeditionary force, the importance of joint operations and the critical contribution of the Guard and Reserve in

  • Leaders, compelling mission keep AF strength high

    Air Force leaders are struggling with a problem. The service has 20,000 more people than it is authorized. And as its leaders work to pare the numbers by 16,000 by the end of fiscal 2005, Airmen and would-be Airmen are standing in line to enlist or re-enlist."It's a fascinating problem for us,"

  • Bombers rotations continue on Guam

    Demonstrating once again that bomber forces can be sustained in the Pacific, about 250 Airmen deployed Sept. 10 to 12 from Louisiana to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, as part of a 120-day air and space expeditionary force rotation.The 20th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron is the third of four existing

  • Hurricanes, home, mission focus of Gwangju Airmen

    Airmen deployed with the 3rd Air Expeditionary Group here focus daily on the task of ensuring the F-15E Strike Eagles can perform the mission and return safely. But for more than 100 of them, that focus is split between accomplishing the mission here and keeping their minds on the weather causing

  • Secretary, chief send Air Force birthday message

    The following is an Air Force birthday message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“Happy birthday to the Airmen of the world’s greatest air and space force! Our 57 years of history may be short, but they are packed with astounding

  • Italians, Americans work together in mass-casualty exercise

    Senior Airman Shaun Hasha expected to spend his morning Sept. 13 strolling the aisles of a local store. Instead, he spent the time running from authorities and choking on toxic fumes.The 31st Medical Operations Squadron Airman was not overcome by criminal mischief; he was a volunteer during a large

  • Creative Airmen shape tomorrow’s Air Force today

    The initiative and innovations of Airmen today will shape the Air Force of tomorrow, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper on Sept. 15 at the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.“The theme of this symposium is people, and throughout the

  • Medics provide critical support during hurricane

    Four respiratory therapists from the 59th Medical Wing here are working side by side with Navy and civilian medics to provide critical support at a shelter in Orlando, Fla., during the hurricane in Florida.Staff Sgts. James Woods and Jennifer Murphy, Senior Airman Tabitha Freeman and Airman 1st

  • AEF still an evolving concept

    While the air and space expeditionary force construct is not new, it is not finished growing yet either, according to the Air Force deputy chief of staff for air and space operations.“(It is likely) we’re not going to fight a war (in the United States),” said Lt. Gen. Ronald E. Keys on Sept. 14 at

  • Space mission critical to Air Force success

    The commander of Air Force Space Command made his point perfectly clear to those whose focus remains firmly on the ground -- wars cannot be won without space supremacy.“We’ve introduced, in 50 short years, the asymmetric advantages provided by space power,” said Gen. Lance W. Lord on Sept. 14 at the

  • Last active-duty C-141B Starlifter makes final flight

    The last two active-duty C-141B Starlifters in the U.S. Air Force inventory flew their final journey Sept. 16 after a special departure ceremony here.This final flight marked the end of nearly 40 years of service to the nation by C-141s and their crews.“If you look at the sum total of its history,

  • Hurlburt Field assesses Ivan damage

    Officials here are assessing the damage to the base following Hurricane Ivan. Following an initial assessment, base recovery team people will be dispatched throughout the base to begin recovery efforts and bring the base back up to operational status. As of Sept. 16, the base is without water or

  • Thirteen years later, Air Force dedicates its memorial

    Soaring 270 feet into the sky over America’s capital, three stainless-steel spires forming an equilateral triangle will memorialize the U.S. Air Force.The groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication for the Air Force Memorial was Sept. 15, in Arlington, Va. The ceremony included speeches by Chief

  • Myers sends Air Force birthday message

    The following is an Air Force birthday message from Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:“On the 18th of September, 1947, our Nation created the U.S. Air Force. Over the last 57 years, the Air Force has changed dramatically, employing new technology and responding to a

  • Officers enhance professional development through Project Connect

    Expertise, knowledge and mentorship is just a click or phone call away for officers here through one U.S. Air Forces in Europe program.Project Connect is designed to provide a forum for field-grade and general officers to counsel and enhance the individual professional development of junior officers

  • EOD team enjoys ‘a booming business’

    Most boys dream of growing up to be just like their fathers. They imitate the way they walk, the way they talk and even the way they dress. Tech. Sgt. John Bell went a step further. He imitates the way his father made things explode.“I guess you can say blowing up things runs in the family,” said

  • Sailors, Airmen can 'go green'

    "Go Green" is not just the slogan of environmentalists anymore.The Army is increasing its end strength, and Operation Blue to Green is one method being used to assist in reaching the desired end strength, said Lt. Col. Roy Steed, recruiting policy branch chief at the Army's personnel

  • Planning for civilian retirement takes time

    As the number of retirement-eligible Air Force civilian employees is expected to double by 2009, officials are encouraging them to begin retirement planning early.Potential retirees are encouraged to obtain an estimate of retirement pay via the Benefits and Entitlements Service Team Web-based

  • Airmen make an F-16 ‘Thunder-ready’

    It takes less than 72 hours to convert a red, white and blue Thunderbird F-16 back to combat status. But what about taking a combat-ready Fighting Falcon and making it "Thunder-ready?"That is exactly what the people of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, demonstrated

  • Special ops Airmen up to task of war on terror

    The war on terrorism has changed the way leaders think about managing conflict, but the commander of Air Force Special Operations Command said he is sure of one thing: His Airmen are right for the job.“(Sept. 11) redefined some key concepts,” said Lt. Gen. Michael W. Wooley, AFSOC commander. “It

  • Starlifters retire from active-duty service

    The last two active-duty C-141B Starlifter transport aircraft will retire Sept. 16 at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.During the past 40 years, the C-141 has proven versatile for troop and cargo transport, humanitarian- and disaster-relief operations and aeromedical evacuation. As such, the Starlifter

  • POW/MIA day provides time to reflect, thank

    “However long it takes, wherever it takes us, whatever the cost.”Those words reflect the pledge of the more than 600 people who work every day to locate and identify 88,000 American servicemembers still missing from World War II through today.They are also apt words to describe the theme of the

  • Chief of staff hosts four-star forum at AFA

    The top generals in the Air Force addressed the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 14, taking time to share their views and answer questions from the audience.“It is a privilege to sit here in a leadership position in the greatest Air Force on

  • Americans, Czechs honor those lost in World War II battle

    While people worldwide paused to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, a few hundred residents and visitors here gathered to remember a different air disaster -- one that occurred the early afternoon of Sept. 11, 1944. That was when a particularly fierce and bloody World War II air battle took

  • Personnel chief gives force development update at AFA

    The Air Force deputy chief of staff for personnel told Airmen at the 2004 Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition on Sept. 14 about three key programs that will shape their service.Adhering to the theme of this year’s AFA conference -- professional development

  • Command chiefs address Airmen’s concerns

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force joined command chief master sergeants from Air Force major commands at a forum during the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 13.“As I travel around the Air Force, I (stress) that one of the most

  • Squadron ‘cleans house’ to build new home

    Stepping out of the sweltering heat into the cool shadows of hardened aircraft shelter No. 21, many visitors might notice the new paint on the walls or the freshly swept floors and the spacious room.The former Soviet-era shelter was not always so fresh, clean and inviting. Formerly used as a

  • AMC vice commander addresses mobility in 21st century

    Lessons learned during the war on terror are reshaping the way Air Mobility Command wages war, said Lt. Gen. John R. Baker, AMC vice commander, during the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 13.“(We need) the ability to go into an austere place,

  • Air Force Association’s 2004 conference opens

    Touting America’s superior air and space force, the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition opened here Sept. 13.Under the theme “Professional Development for the Total Force,” the conference features three days of workshops focused on furthering the potential

  • Air Force beats Army, wins softball championship

    The 2004 Armed Forces Men’s Softball Championship ended here Sept. 11 with the Air Force defeating the Army, 16-3, to win the gold.On Day 3 of the tournament, the Army had its second loss of the tournament to the Navy, but still could have taken it all since the championship game is a head-to-head

  • Record-breaking numbers ensure ‘boots on the ground’

    Airmen assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing had a record-breaking month supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.Active-duty, Guard and Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft at the wing’s forward-deployed location had more flying hours and carried more pallets and passengers during

  • Survey will measure personnel services delivery

    Airmen can help make their personnel services delivery system better through survey feedback beginning Sept. 20.Air Force officials said they are transforming the way personnel services are delivered to make them more effective, efficient and timely. This PSD transformation uses technology to place

  • Now showing: Sept. 13 edition of AFTV News

    The Cold War and Vietnam legacies of the B-52 Stratofortress highlight the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Staff Sgt. Leigh Bellinger traces the history of the bomber during its half century of service in the Air Force, including its significant role in both wars against Iraq, and its

  • Twins stick together, even on deployment

    For the past month, people here have been seeing double but family and friends of Staff Sgts. Sharon and Lerinda Carle have been seeing double for 22 years.Ever since these identical twins joined the Air Force two weeks after graduating from high school in Silverton, Idaho, their careers have

  • ‘We’ve Been Waiting for You’ campaign returns to television

    The secretary of the Air Force unveiled a new Air Force television advertising campaign Sept. 13 at the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.The four 30-second ads are a continuation of the “We’ve Been Waiting for You” theme, showing how young people

  • Airmen ensure medical lifeline in Pacific

    A ready, reliable and efficient war reserve materiel operation is the “heart and soul of medical readiness,” said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Alfaro, superintendent of the 374th Medical Group’s logistics flight here.WRM is pre-positioned equipment and consumable items needed to support Air Force

  • Civil engineers build ‘Airmen-Soldiers’ legacy

    Throughout Iraq, Airmen are working side-by-side with Soldiers performing what have been traditionally considered Army jobs. Among those blazing a trail for this new culture of “Airmen-Soldiers” are the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen.The more than 240 combat-trained engineers in

  • Employee celebrates half century of service

    You might say the Air Force and Steve Espinosa grew up together.For a fact, the two have shared more than five decades together. In uniform and as a civilian, Mr. Espinosa has served the Air Force for 54 years, nearly as long as the service has existed.A small-parts sheet-metal worker at the

  • Aid to local cop nets sergeant meeting with president

    Saving an Albuquerque policeman's life and receiving the Airman's Medal for his actions earned a Kirtland pararescueman the right to welcome the president during a recent visit to the area.Staff Sgt. David Biddinger, assigned to the National Assessment Group here, met President George W. Bush as he

  • Airman tells of medical response to Pentagon attack

    When terrorists attacked the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, the ops tempo at nearby Andrews Air Force Base, Md., hit a feverish pitch, said an Airman who was there.At that time, Senior Airman Andrea Taylor, a 319th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron bioenvironmental engineering journeyman, was working with a

  • Pilot recalls Sept. 11 medical flight mission

    Three years after terrorist attacks killed more than 3,000 people, Capt. Kenneth Langert is deployed fighting the war on terrorism.The terror war is a direct result of those attacks -- taking the fight to the enemy in an effort to prevent any future “9-11s.” For Captain Langert, this effort has

  • Logistics transformation roadmap takes shape

    In less than 18 months, Air Force officials are seeing the benefits of “eLog21,” the service’s logistics plan for the new century.“We’ve only just begun, and we’ve made great progress thus far,” said Lt. Gen. Donald J. Wetekam, deputy chief of staff for installations and logistics. “We’re more into

  • Radar techs keep combat zone airspace safe

    The sky over here is filled with aircraft around the clock -- A-10 Thunderbolt IIs share airspace with cargo aircraft and helicopters.Keeping those aircraft safe is an important and daunting task; but a team of Airmen recently installed new equipment to make that task a little easier.“We installed

  • Secretary, chief send Patriot Day message

    The following is a Patriot Day message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“On the third anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, the world will remember those tragically lost (because of) the heinous actions of terrorists in New York, the

  • Air Force team helps with Genesis return mission

    NASA scientists onboard a specially modified aircraft from here collected data as the world watched the unmanned Genesis spacecraft return to Earth Sept. 8. During the reentry, however, its parachute failed to deploy and Genesis crashed into a Utah desert.Although damage to the spacecraft and the

  • Airman dies supporting OIF

    Department of Defense officials announced Sept. 8 the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.Capt. John J. Boria, 29, of Broken Arrow, Okla., died Sept. 6 from injuries he received in an all-terrain vehicle accident in Doha, Qatar. The 1998 Air Force Academy graduate was a

  • AFPC provides communication link during evacuation

    As Hurricane Frances blew through Florida, 45th Space Wing officials at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., relied upon the assistance of Airmen at the personnel readiness center here to keep track of evacuated people. Once the evacuation was announced Sept. 2, the center’s Airmen prepared for 24-hour

  • Military personnel data system managed like a weapons system

    Three years ago, Air Force Personnel Center officials here replaced the 30-year-old computer mainframes running on obsolete software with the military personnel data system.It was not just an upgrade, but an entirely new system designed to use Web technology for instant access and feedback, a system

  • Aircrew training ensures air superiority

    Superb people and state-of-the-art technology help make the U.S. Air Force the most formidable air power in the world. But the general who oversees flying training for more than 19,000 Airmen a year said the biggest single factor that makes America's military stand out from other countries is its

  • Patrick, Cape Canaveral get ‘all clear’

    The 45th Space Wing commander has given the "all clear" order for here and nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This allows members of the work force, families living in military family housing and Airmen living in base dormitories to return. Base people evacuated Sept. 2 to escape the path of

  • Airmen deliver aid to Russia

    Two C-130 Hercules crews from the 38th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, flew medical and humanitarian supplies here Sept. 6.The crews dropped off about 36,000 pounds of medical and humanitarian supplies for relief agencies treating hundreds of victims of a terrorist attack on a school

  • Article 32 hearing scheduled in double killing case

    An Article 32 hearing is set for Nov. 15 in the case of a senior airman charged with two counts of premeditated murder and one specification of attempted murder.Senior Airman Andrew Paul Witt was charged with two counts of premeditated murder after the killings of Senior Airman Andrew Schleipsick

  • NATO’s top leaders discuss air power

    A NATO Air Chiefs Conference held here Aug. 30 and 31 brought together the top leaders of NATO's air forces to discuss their favorite subject, air power.The air chiefs of 19 nations, including six of the seven new-member nations accessed in March, came together to discuss current operations, the

  • Student pilots find new meaning to phrase 'taking the bus'

    What has a wing, four tires, steer horns, tan couch cushions and makes animal noises?The answer is a bus for students attending a specialized undergraduate pilot training class here.“(We) came up with the idea for the bus when we met the night before pilot training started,” said Capt. Andy Builta,

  • Reservists fly into heart of Hurricane Frances

    As Hurricane Frances bears down on Florida and the coastal residents evacuate, Air Force reservists are flying directly into the storm that everyone else wants to avoid.Called "Hurricane Hunters," members of Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base,

  • Posturing plan to produce more capable Air Force

    The major worldwide troop movement unveiled Aug. 16 by the president will result in a service that is better able to meet the needs of warfighting commanders, Air Force planning officials at the Pentagon said.While most of the 70,000 servicemembers who return from overseas to the United States will

  • Report focuses on Air Force Academy instructors

    Service and Department of Defense officials have agreed with most of the findings in a congressionally mandated study of faculty at the Air Force Academy.The Study and Report Related to Permanent Professors at the United States Military Academy was directed by the 2004 National Defense Authorization

  • For two Airmen, being good Soldiers kept them alive

    More and more Airmen are finding themselves training for convoy duty, deploying to Iraq and making mad dashes from Point A to Point B while under the watchful eye of the enemy. It is dangerous duty. During a convoy, Staff Sgt. Amelia Grahn, a transportation dispatcher from Royal Air Force

  • September issue of Airman available

    Read about Airmen living and working at the Air Force’s headquarters in Iraq, learn how one Airman inspires young burn survivors and discover the coldest classroom on earth. These features and more highlight the September issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online at

  • Medical warriors deploy to Iraq

    About 100 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Medical Center here left Aug. 30 to staff a field hospital in Iraq.They are the largest contingent of about 160 people from the medical center deploying to Iraq."We’re proud to be sending highly trained and qualified (medics)," said Maj.

  • Jumper speaks on decreased Air Force manning

    A decrease in recruiting rather than forced reductions is the right way to reduce manning, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper on Aug. 30.Throughout this process, ensuring America’s Airmen know they are appreciated is a No. 1 priority, he said during a visit here.“Retention and

  • Airman on convoy killed in Iraq

    An Airman was killed while on a supply convoy near Mosul, Iraq, on Aug. 29, defense officials announced Aug. 31.Airman 1st Class Carl Anderson Jr., 21, of Georgetown, S.C., was deployed with the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group and died after his convoy hit a roadside bomb. He was a

  • Airmen will receive AEF ID cards

    The Air Force chief of staff directed all major command officials to issue air and space expeditionary force identification cards before the beginning of Cycle 5 in September. Card usage ended during the height of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom because six to eight AEFs were deployed

  • Teamwork provides best security while deployed

    The Airmen who came together in March to form the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at a forward-deployed location have learned to work hand-in-hand with the host-nation security.“We share a common goal with our hosts in the protection of (people) and resources on the base,” said Maj.

  • Airmen give 'Warthogs' bite

    In a war zone, two elements make the A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, unsurpassed in its close-air support mission.The first is speed. Its slow speed allows it to loiter in an area for long periods of time. The second is weaponry -- A-10s pack a wide variety of munitions giving them

  • Airmen reach out to locals

    Many of their homes are made of fabric held up by sticks. They have no running water, no septic system and no electricity. For more than 15 years, they have lived on the barren land that surrounds Tallil Air Base. They are local Bedouin families, they are survivors and they play an important role

  • Airmen save aircraft crash victim

    For Alaska Air National Guard’s pararescuemen, it was a “pretty vanilla” rescue, but to one man, it was his life.The 49-year-old pilot of a Kolb Fire Star II Ultra Light aircraft apparently hit a large boulder when attempting to take off from his refueling point in Lake Clark Pass on Aug. 26,

  • Cadet candidates punished for inappropriate behavior

    Administrative punishment was given to six of the seven cadet candidates who were disenrolled following the inappropriate exotic dancing incident at the academy preparatory school on July 31. They have also been separated from the Air Force. Disciplinary action is pending on the seventh cadet

  • Airman’s contributions recognized at Enlisted Heritage Hall

    Officials at Air Force Space Command headquarters here and the Enlisted Heritage Hall at Gunter Annex, Ala., will recognize the contributions of an enlisted Airman on Aug. 31.Retired Chief Master Sgt. Michael Kenderes devoted his entire working life, both in uniform and as a civilian, to the

  • Now showing: Aug. 30 edition of AFTV News

    The far-flung supply train for troops in Iraq headlines the latest edition of Air Force Television News.Tech. Sgt. Angie Pianga goes to Moron, Spain, to show how active-duty, Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen are performing a vital role in getting people and equipment to and from Iraq. Tech.

  • Sexual assault prevention, response report released

    The Air Force has released a study that assessed the service’s sexual assault prevention and response capabilities. The 96-page document titled, Report Concerning the Assessment of USAF Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, was released Aug. 30. In February 2004, the secretary of the Air Force

  • Annual program honors pioneers

    Air Force Space Command officials here will welcome six more pioneers into the Air Force Space and Missile Program Hall of Fame on Sept. 1.The program recognizes individuals who played a significant role in the early history of Air Force space and missile programs. “In keeping with our celebration