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  • Corny display honors C-130 Guard unit

    Pilots flying over the rural farmland near Lewistown, Ill., may be shocked to see the likeness of a C-130 Hercules etched into the landscape hundreds of feet below.This C-130, modeled after the neighboring Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing aircraft, is not some mysterious crop circle.

  • Every second counts for EOD techs

    The 12-inch doors clunk shut as the explosive ordnance disposal team climbs into their armored Humvee. If it was not for the cool breeze from the air conditioner, the Airmen would be puddles of sweat dripping through the floorboard.Since the side windows are barely a foot tall, 2-feet wide and

  • Airmen provide FAST security

    As the two security forces Airmen receive their weapons from the armory, they go over the day’s plan. Today, they will cover more than 1,800 miles, stop in two different countries and then return home within 10 hours. Armed and geared up, they proceed to their transportation for the day, a C-130

  • Vehicle mechanics strive to maintain perfect record

    Athens, Greece, is not the only place where records are being set. At this base, located north of Afghanistan, a team of five mechanics are making history in their own little corner of the world.Vehicle mechanics from the 416th Air Expeditionary Group’s logistics readiness flight replaced a

  • One dies, one injured in work-related accident

    One senior airman was killed and another seriously injured in a work-related accident here Aug. 23.Senior Airman Jesse Williamson Jr. died, and Senior Airman Ryan Robinson was injured while using a hydraulic lift to replace light fixtures inside an aircraft hangar, said Col. Greg Patterson, 78th Air

  • Election, holiday peak to challenge mail delivery

    The upcoming holiday peak mailing season and national elections may challenge Air Force postal workers, but recent improvements show delivery times are steadily dropping.Air Force postal officials said Airmen deployed to operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom are receiving mail in nine to 12

  • Bad checks, AWOL net Airman confinement

    Writing $18,000 in bad checks and being absent without leave for six days netted a 377th Security Forces Squadron Airman here a bad-conduct discharge, six months confinement and demotion to airman basic.Airman 1st Class Jessica Morris was convicted by a general court-martial. Military judge, Lt.

  • Air Force firefighter receive honors

    Air Force firefighters recognized their top performers Aug. 16 to 20 at the annual Department of Defense and Federal Fire and Emergency Services Training Conference in New Orleans. A California man who displayed an extraordinary feat of heroism and an Air Combat Command fire department received top

  • Airmen deserve recognition for national security operations

    Air Force leaders want to ensure Airmen get the recognition they deserve for fighting the war on terrorism at home and abroad, and for many more operations critical to national security.That is why Air Force personnel officials are looking at better ways to apply modern air and space mission

  • Avionics techs protect fighters

    Maintainers operate 24 hours daily to ensure that F-16 Fighting Falcons here can defeat sophisticated anti-aircraft defense systems during combat. These advanced systems are posing a threat against unstealthy Air Force aircraft, said 8th Maintenance Squadron’s electronic countermeasures section

  • Air Force accepting physician assistant applications

    The Air Force is taking applications for Physician Assistant Phase I training classes beginning January, April and August 2006.Only active-duty enlisted Airmen are eligible for the program.The selection board is scheduled to convene here March 22. Completed applications must be sent by military

  • Airmen keep Litening pods striking

    As A-10 Thunderbolt IIs patrol over Afghanistan, one piece of avionics equipment is extremely important to them providing unparalleled close-air support to ground forces.The Laser Infrared Targeting and Navigation pod gives A-10 pilots a number of options to search out enemy forces and protect

  • Road Warrior III reinforces continuous training

    Road Warrior III trained nearly 90 Airmen from air force bases in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota in the strategy and tactics of defending the nation’s ICBM resources for three weeks here.The exercise involved more than 120 people from the National Nuclear Security Agency’s office of secure

  • Test cell maintainers keep aircraft engines revving

    Straddling an F-16 Fighting Falcon engine that is producing 30,000 pounds of thrust as it furiously roars full blast during testing is not for the faint hearted. The ground shakes as the engine shoots 30-foot flames out the exhaust with a deafening noise, and the strong winds can knock someone to

  • Civil engineer celebrates 63 years of service

    With admiration, he glides his hand across a huge trapezoid-shaped conference table made of solid oak. Bending down, he points out with a steady hand how he built the base precisely and securely to fit the top without nails or screws, just wooden dowels. His pride in his work and his steady hand

  • Maintainers race clock at Kyrgyzstan

    Senior Airman Derek Smith and Airman 1st Class Alex O’Donnell are perched high atop a C-130 Hercules trying to solve a mechanical problem. The No. 3 engine had a prop replaced a week before, and flight deck indicator lights now point out a malfunction. It is a mild 78 degrees at 8:50 a.m. when

  • Aircrew training squadron shapes crews for AWACS mission

    A cooperative spirit is alive at the home of the aircrew training squadron for the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System mission here. The squadron is NATO’s only E-3 training squadron. Every alliance AWACS mission begins with training here.Squadron Airmen provide basic and upgrade

  • Fuels Airmen pump up

    On a busy day at their home station, the Airmen from the fuels element measure their amount of pumped fuel by the thousands. When they are deployed here, they measure it by the hundreds of thousands. Busy is not the word.The 40th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Flight fuels Airmen pumped their

  • Water rescue team saves two lives

    The fire department water rescue team here rescued two swimmers at a local beach Aug. 21. When the rescue team arrived on scene just after midnight, security forces were already there, said Master Sgt. Gregory Chesser, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief for training. The victim had

  • RAPCON Airmen control sky over Iraq

    Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, coalition forces have controlled the air space over Iraq. The 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron's radar approach control flight here is responsible for nearly 35,000 square miles of that air space. It makes up one of three area control

  • Airmen provide tactical support from ground up

    Coalition ground troops are engaged in a firefight with insurgents. The unit's tactical air controller calls for air support and soon an F-16 Fighting Falcon is screaming overhead providing cover.Scenarios similar to this play out nearly every day in the desert of Iraq. Getting tactical aircraft

  • Cope Thunder trains warfighters

    With more than 62,000 square miles of integrated training ranges, Alaska provides the perfect backdrop for Cope Thunder 04-02, a total-force exercise which runs through Aug. 27 The two-and-a-half week exercise is held here and at nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base. “My main objective for this

  • Civilian leaders shown U.S. space capabilities

    A trip inside the Cheyenne Mountain operations center highlighted an intensive look by civic leaders from throughout the United States into how the U.S. military is using the sky and space to protect the homeland against terrorism.The civilians, all alumni of the Defense Department's joint civilian

  • Airman named outstanding young American

    An Airman stationed at Sembach Annex, Germany, was named one of the 2004 Ten Outstanding Young Americans by U.S. Junior Chamber officials here.Maj. Eric Axelbank, 38, commands the 435th Materiel Maintenance Squadron. He will receive the award during a ceremony in New Orleans on Sept. 18.Annually

  • TMO packs it, tracks it in Afghanistan

    In a combat zone, being able to track the exact location of critical outbound equipment is extremely important.That is why Airmen at the traffic management office here are the first in the service to test the Air Force’s latest version of cargo tracking software.The Airmen are responsible for

  • Officials: Register to vote before deploying

    Airmen deploying between now and the general election Nov. 2 should register to vote with their deployed unit address before departing, said voting officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here.Registration is accomplished by completing a Federal Post Card Application Standard Form 76. Some

  • Web page emphasizes importance of 'Airmen Votes'

    With less than 80 days to the presidential election, Air Force officials have added another tool to their voting effort to ensure all Airmen can participate. “Airmen Votes” is the name of a Web page designed to give Airmen, their family members and Air Force civilians all the information they need

  • Tinker Airman greets motorists with a smile

    A smile and a cheerful word are good ways to start the day, and that is how one Airman here greets his customers.His attitude at work is finding fans and the news has spread up through his chain of command.Airman 1st Class Ragan Crossland said he wonders what the fuss is all about. He is only

  • Ops center maintains smooth info flow

    When an A-10 Thunderbolt II lands after a mission protecting ground forces, it is critical to know what needs to be fixed before it is ready to take off again.Making sure the right people know what needs to be fixed and coordinating that maintenance is one of three jobs facing 354th Expeditionary

  • AFA announces annual aerospace awards

    The following Airmen and organizations are winners of the 2004 Air Force Association Aerospace Awards. The awards will be presented at the AFA’s annual convention here Sept. 13 to 15.The Theodore Von Karman Award for the most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of science and

  • Crew chief follows, sets example

    "I want everyone I meet to know how proud I am to be part of the best air force in the world," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Stout, an F-15 Eagle maintenance trainer assigned to the 372nd Training Squadron’s Detachment 12 here."I like seeing the reflection of my ribbons and medals in people's eyes,”

  • Holloman maintainers training at Kunsan

    Wearing chemical warfare gear is nothing new for F-117 Nighthawk maintainers from the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Wing Airmen have been to almost every “hot spot” in the world supporting Air Force global missions.About 300 Airmen and their stealth aircraft from Holloman are

  • Civil engineers benefit from F-117 deployment

    Civil engineers are reaping the benefits of an air and space expeditionary force deployment of F-117 Nighthawks here. Building and maintaining a home for about 300 Airmen from the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., has been a great training opportunity for the civil engineers, said

  • Expeditionary fuels flight fighting gas spills

    When a 50,000-gallon capacity fuel bladder reaches the end of its lifespan, there is little anyone can do to stop the massive rupture and potential tidal wave in the fuel pits.But that is what the Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron try to foresee and head off every

  • CMSAF speaks to Nellis Airmen

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray visited here Aug. 11 and 12 and during his stay stressed that Airmen are the Air Force’s most important assets.“The strength of the Air Force is no longer the aircraft flying over the targets; it’s our Airmen in supply, vehicle maintenance, finance

  • New leadership course for chiefs in final development

    Although the transition to chief master sergeant may not be seamless, a new course will aim at eliminating some of the obstacles newly promoted chiefs may encounter.The Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, developed at the Air Force Senior NCO Academy at nearby Gunter Annex, becomes the fourth

  • Now showing: Aug. 16 edition of AFTV News

    The expanded role of North American Aerospace Defense Command headlines the latest edition of Air Force Television News. In a special “Eye on the Air Force,” Tech. Sgt. Bill Scherer goes to Rome, N.Y., to spotlight the Airmen who make up the Northeast sector of NORAD. He shows how their role has

  • Airman arraigned in Kirtland murder

    An 898th Munitions Squadron Airman here was arraigned in the 2nd Judicial District Court for the state of New Mexico on Aug. 10 for allegedly murdering another Airman also assigned to the squadron.Senior Airman Nathan Roberts is being held at a local detention center on $300,000 bond and faces an

  • AMC delivers hurricane relief

    Air Mobility Command began operations Aug. 13 to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency by providing emergency relief to areas in Florida devastated by Hurricane Charley.“AMC Tanker Airlift Control Center (began) moving 200 empty cargo pallets to Dobbins (Air Reserve Base), Ga., … so the

  • Helicopter pilots earn Cheney Award

    For the second straight year, Airmen from the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, have earned the Cheney Award for aerial achievement.Capts. (then 1st Lts.) Randell Voas and Craig Prather earned the award for their role in the March 26, 2003, airdrop mission of

  • Life support keeps pilots prepared

    The cockpit of an aircraft is a self-contained environment, protecting the pilots from their surroundings.One group of Airmen here ensures the pilots have everything they need close at hand in there, especially those items they might need just “in case.”“We take care of the entire life-support

  • Heat striking deployed warfighters in Iraq

    An enemy can take many forms, but here, heat is one of the biggest enemies faced by warfighters.“There are many enemies outside the wire of the base, but ‘big red’ is everywhere and doesn’t play any favorites,” said 1st Lt. Dennis Turriff, of the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.There

  • Air Force agent killed in Iraq

    A special agent assigned to the 33rd Field Investigation Squadron here and deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, was killed in action Aug. 8.Special Agent Rick A. Ulbright, 49, died as a result of injuries sustained during a rocket attack at Kirkuk AB.Agent Ulbright served as a psychophysiological

  • Airman steps in when patrons have enough to drink

    Staff Sgt. Brian Miller, a bartender at the sports bar J.R. Rockers here, will not hesitate to take keys from patrons he thinks have had too much to drink.Sergeant Miller is assigned to the 2nd Airlift Squadron and has been bartending for six years.In Sergeant Miller’s bartending tenure, he said

  • Reserve medical team arrives in Niger

    A team of Air Force Reserve Command medical specialists arrived here Aug. 6 and quickly set up shop at the camp’s medical clinic. They began seeing patients early Aug. 9.The 12-person medical team deployed alongside a U.S. Marine counterterrorism team here which is outside Niamey, the African

  • Air Force seeks career enlisted aviators

    Opportunities for Airmen to become enlisted aviators are taking off as nine aircrew specialties are opening up for retraining.The Air Force’s senior enlisted aviator said more than 360 training slots are available for enlisted Airmen in ranks senior airman through master sergeant.Chief Master Sgt.

  • Quarterly assignment listing now available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for April to June 2005 overseas requirements is now available.Individuals need to work through their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Aug. 19. Airmen will be notified of their selection by mid-September, said Air Force Personnel

  • Engine workers keep A-10 flying in Afghanistan

    When A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots fly over Afghanistan, one system ensures they continue to provide top cover for coalition forces.The engines.“Without engines, the aircraft really couldn’t get off the ground,” said Airman 1st Class Quinn Eisenbraun, of the 354th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance

  • Deployed team helping Airmen communicate

    Deployed units rely on a steady flow of communication to accomplish the mission, so computers and phones provide a vital link between organizations around the Air Force.Equally important is making sure that those computers and phones work well, especially in an environment that is not very conducive

  • Airman’s actions come to light after a recent accident

    Staff Sgt. John Wright had just come off a night shift here when his quick-thinking and immediate response to an accident made him a hero in some people’s eyes.Sergeant Wright, an avionics specialist with the 116th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was driving home when he came across a car accident

  • ‘Beer goggles’ give Airmen view of alcohol’s effects

    If you think it is OK to drive after having a few beers, fatal-vision goggles may change your view.Tanya Paul, an intern at the health and wellness center here, developed a program called BE AWARE (Basic Education of Alcohol: What to drink, Ability to drive, Risk and Effects). It is designed to

  • Center helps when disasters strike

    As the busiest time of the 2004 hurricane season begins; Air Force Personnel Center officials here are reminding Airmen that the personnel readiness center can assist them when natural disasters strike. When people evacuate or communication is impaired, the readiness center staff acts as a central

  • Engineers design a lighter AC-130 ammunition rack

    The AC-130H gunship’s mighty arsenal has a new home that is lighter and more efficient for the low-flying hunter of the sky. And, its engineers and users said the modification is making a positive difference.A new ammunition rack is more than 1,000 pounds lighter than its predecessor -- a weight

  • JEFX 04 execution phase ends in success

    Two years, three spirals and three weeks of simulated combat in a fictional area of operations culminated in the completion of the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2004 execution phase here Aug. 5. JEFX 04 assessed 15 new initiatives in technology and processes designed to increase command and

  • Airmen from different specialties serve as escorts

    A tight-knit group of jet-engine mechanics, radar operators, communications specialists, medical administrators and transportation troops, to name a few, makeup the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s force protection flight here. With a motto of “Eyes on, Watch Your Back,” about 50

  • Pest management is serious business at any base

    Keeping pests under control at an Air Force base is a serious business no matter where that base may be.Senior Master Sgt. Burhl Hartin, a pest management specialist from the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, recalls an incident at his home unit, the 125th Fighter Wing in Jacksonville,

  • Medical officials clarify policy on cosmetic surgery

    Air Force doctors perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries as part of essential training, but elective cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentations are not routinely available as perks to servicemembers and their families, according to Air Force Medical Service officials.Recent published

  • Remains from Vietnam War identified

    An Airman missing in action from the Vietnam War has been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.He is Chief Master Sgt. Luther L. Rose of Howe, Texas.On June 23, 1966, Chief Rose was serving as a gunner on an AC-47 Spooky gunship on a nighttime armed

  • Motorcycle safety can save Airmen

    For anyone on two wheels, the asphalt offers no pardon for its hunger, and guardrails, lamp posts and four-wheeled vehicles do not forgive an impact.Motorcycle accidents continue to rob the Air Force of its most precious resource – people.“I saw an Airman with little riding experience snap his back

  • 2005 NCO retraining program under way

    Air Force officials want more than 1,000 noncommissioned officers to pick a new job during the voluntary phase of the fiscal 2005 NCO retraining program that began Aug. 3.Eligible NCOs have until Sept. 30 to apply. If the Air Force does not meet its goal of placing 1,098 Airmen from overage career

  • Center professionals helping fight terrorism

    A well-trained terrorist looks for ways to exploit his target's vulnerabilities; however, through training and vigilance, the malicious deeds of America's enemies can be foiled.That is the message people from the U.S. Air Force Counterproliferation Center here want to spread.With the motto, "We

  • Reservists helping forest service fight fires

    As the sun sets, a C-130 Hercules rolls in, covered in a thin misty layer of reddish orange liquid fire retardant. The retardant coats everything it has touched, serving as a reminder to the Airmen from the 302nd Airlift Wing of the heroic adventure they have just completed.As of Aug. 5, the unit

  • Air Force officials announce E-5 promotion rates

    The Air Force has selected 13,625 of 33,306 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant, a 40.91 percent selection rate.The Air Force will release the promotion list Aug. 11. The complete list of selectees will be posted to the Air Force Personnel Center's Web page,

  • Team in desert decides when bombs go ‘Boom!’

    In a country still struggling to overcome the devastations of war and terror, U.S. servicemembers are helping rebuild Afghanistan's infrastructure and weed out the terrorist trail left behind.Five explosive ordnance disposal flight people from here are taking part in this process at Khandahar Air

  • Mission focus combats complacency

    Two narrow wire fences -- one of looped concertina wire, one of interlaced metal strands a quarter inch thick -- are all that appear to stand between coalition forces and potential enemies.Appearances, however, can be deceiving, as integrated layers of defense provide protection for forces here.

  • New procedures will ensure absentee ballots count

    With the 2004 elections fast approaching, the handling of absentee ballots from overseas servicemembers is undergoing intense scrutiny. Air Combat Command's 82nd Communications Support Squadron postal flight is among the many organizations working to make sure these ballots arrive in the hands of

  • Longer school gives security forces more training

    The charter class of a longer, more intensive Security Forces Apprentice Course began here July 23.Training now lasts 65 days instead of 51, and teaches security forces students about missile security, convoy actions, capture and recovery of nuclear weapons, law enforcement, directing traffic and

  • Recruiting school marks 50 years at Lackland

    More than 4.3 million people have joined the Air Force in the past 50 years through the efforts of enthusiastic recruiters trained at the Air Force Recruiting School here.“Every recruiter has to come through this school first,” said Tech. Sgt. Lynn Bryan, one of 14 active-duty recruiting instructors

  • Execution team orchestrates experimentation

    The operators are running through the trenches of the war scenario on the floor of the Combined Air and Space Operations Center. Meanwhile, the chief of the execution phase and his team for Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2004 are directing the play and stimulating the operations.They are

  • Assessment team answering JEFX questions

    What distinguishes the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2004 here from an exercise is not just the addition of new innovations, but the work of more than 200 people on the experiment’s assessment team.These analysts are responsible for collecting and compiling the experiment findings for

  • Lynch visits reservists who brought her to U.S.

    At the time, it was a matter of doing their job. In retrospect, it was a brush with history.Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command’s 445th Airlift Wing here helped transport then-Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch along with other injured servicemembers from Germany back to the United States in April 2003. It

  • ‘SOLE power’ present during experiment

    When most people think of special operations forces the image that comes to mind is a dusty, gritty warrior with a rifle in one hand and a land-mobile radio in the other.Within the Combined Air and Space Operations Center these warriors have traded their stealth and rifles for a computer and a

  • Fallen friend’s memory drives Vermont father, son

    While growing up in the lush Green Mountains near South Burlington, Vt., he was considered part of the family. Ultimately, the childhood playmate and best friend became a hero when he gave his life as a Marine in battle. The memory of Marine Cpl. Mark Evnin is what puts the fire in the fight of

  • Airmen begin hurricane-hunting season.

    "Hurricane Hunters" from the Air Force Reserve's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron completed their final mission tracking Hurricane Alex late Aug. 3, but are already on the trail of a tropical storm in the Lesser Antilles.Meanwhile, people from the North Carolina National Guard's 690th

  • Warfighters get ‘sneak peak’ at JEFX

    Battle management in the Air Force is changing, and 58 Airmen and two Soldiers from 14 different home bases are helping to shape its future.The Battle Control Center-Experimental, currently being tested and evaluated at the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2004, is a bridge between the Air

  • Airman gored by bull calls it ‘all in a day’s work’

    The bullfighter stands focused: four hooves, two 18-inch horns and 2,000 pounds of bull attempting to buck its rider is charging wildly toward him. In this case, 1st Lt. Jeremy Sparks is the target. Unlike a Spanish version with a red cap and tights, the lieutenant is the western bullfighter

  • Explosive disposal team aids warfighters one threat at a time

    Explosive ordnance disposal is a dangerous business under normal circumstances, but add the challenges of a deployed environment and a constant threat of attack and it truly becomes hazardous duty.The Airmen with 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal flight here

  • Airmen help repair runway lights

    Usually when the lights go out in an office, it is an inconvenience; a work stoppage at worst. When the lights go out on the runway, as they did here July 30, the entire mission threatens to come to a screeching halt, creating a domino effect all over the area.It was shortly before lunchtime when

  • Transient-alert team packs ‘em in

    Standing on the flightline here, people can see a lot of strange birds -- “birds” with names like AN-12, L-1011 and IL-76.These “birds,” and a host of other Soviet-built aircraft, join other, more common C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster IIIs on the flightline here, bringing supplies to coalition

  • Going from Air Force to NASA blue for astronaut wings

    It is the all too famous image seen across the world -- the orange suits, the big smiles, the friendly waves -- as an astronaut crew prepares to launch out of Earth’s orbit. Since the first U.S. manned space flight in 1961, the Air Force has been a part of the nation’s space program.There are some

  • Flight docs keep deployed force healthy

    In a deployed environment, keeping assigned people healthy is extremely important because each deployed Airman is needed to accomplish the mission.If one of those people gets sick or injured, his or her absence can significantly impact the mission.Making sure the deployed Airmen here stay healthy is

  • Promotion study list now available

    Promotion-eligible enlisted Airmen can now find which materials to study for the 2005 testing cycles.The most current Weighted Airman Promotion System catalog, which lists the materials used by test writers to develop the 2005 promotion tests, is now available on the Air Force Personnel Center Web

  • Raptor continuing Air Force's air superiority record

    With air dominance training under way here, the Air Force's newest asset, the F/A-22 Raptor, is proving its worth every day as it nears initial operational capability.The Raptor will eventually replace the F-15 Eagle, an aircraft with an undefeated 104-0 combat record, according to Brig. Gen. Larry

  • Service names top enlisted aircrew members

    The Air Force has selected its top enlisted aircrew members for 2003.The following Airmen are winners of the Staff Sgt. Henry E. “Red” Erwin Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member of the Year award:Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year: Master Sgt. Clive C. Bond, 964th Airborne Air Control

  • August issue of Airman available

    Read about Airmen protecting convoys in Iraq, discover what it takes to become an astronaut, and learn how the rich ecosystem at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is being protected. These features and more highlight the August issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online at

  • Airman makes good on promise

    To Airman Diana Herbert, her reason for serving in the Air Force was simple. She made a promise.She did not seek or want the attention she is getting, but that does not change the enormity of her promise to her brother, Army Pfc. Rayshawn Johnson.Airman Herbert, 18, fulfilled her pledge July 28

  • Now showing: Aug. 2 edition of Air Force Television News

    The Air Force’s contribution to treating the wounded in Iraq is featured in the latest edition of Air Force Television News.Tech. Sgt. Pachari Lutke visits Balad Air Base, Iraq, where Air Force and Army doctors, nurses and medical technicians work side by side to deal with battle casualties. For

  • Liaison officers provide link to Naval airpower during JEFX

    For Sailors, it is not the typical tour of duty – witnessing rows of Airmen dimly outlined against the faint glow of computer screens requesting Naval airpower for a coordinated strike against enemy assets.The setting is the Combined Air and Space Operations Center and the tour of duty is the Naval

  • Deployed senior NCOs offered course in leadership

    Future senior noncommissioned officers at one forward-deployed location were recently given an opportunity that until now might have been available only to those at their home stations.Twenty-six master sergeant selectees attended the first Senior Noncommissioned Officer Symposium held in the U.S.

  • Days are long for B-1 aircrews

    The sound is instantly recognizable as the walls of the tents start fluttering. Airmen slowly awaken to hear a light rumbling in their eardrums. Five seconds later they begin to think their tent is sitting on the tarmac of Cape Canaveral during a space shuttle launch. It takes a lot more than just

  • Incirlik Airman found guilty of black marketing

    An Airman here was found guilty of black marketing during a summary court-martial recently.The Airman received a reduction in rank from staff sergeant to senior airman, restriction to base for 60 days and a verbal reprimand.“The Airman needed to accomplish paperwork for personal business, and a few

  • Motorcycle safety important part of critical days

    Since the start of the “101 Critical Days of Summer,” at least 16 Airmen have been injured or killed in motorcycle accidents, primarily because they lacked proper training or were not wearing all the required safety gear when they went down.Rod Krause, the 5th Bomb Wing safety office manager here

  • Weather officers provide key launch data

    A great deal of preparation goes into launching a missile or rocket here. Logistics, maintenance and operations are just a few essential aspects.One critical piece of a launch mission is determining and evaluating weather conditions up to the very second the vehicle lifts off from a pad or blasts

  • Airmen helping researchers by living in the clouds

    A handful of Air Force Academy Airmen are living in the clouds on the 14,110-foot Pikes Peak summit this summer as part of an Army/Air Force acclimatization research study.The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, based in Natick, Mass., and the academy’s Human Performance

  • Pentagon Channel available to all Airmen

    The Pentagon Channel is available to practically every active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Airman and his or her family thanks to a recent expansion of services.Officials from the office of the secretary of defense for public affairs made the Pentagon Channel free to all cable

  • Plans on table to sustain Minuteman III

    The officer in charge of America's intercontinental ballistic missile force said plans are well under way to sustain the life of the Minuteman III missile until the year 2020.Maj. Gen. Frank Klotz, 20th Air Force commander, visited here recently and spoke about the future of America's ICBM force.

  • Mask liner giving Airmen a second skin

    A simple innovation in chemical protection gear could save thousands of Airmen’s lives and millions of Air Force dollars, according to the support equipment team here.Known as the second skin, or SS, the recent addition to the MCU-2P and the MCU-2A/P personal protective gas masks adds a literal

  • Airmen help Army control fighting

    With operations in Afghanistan moving toward supporting increased voter registration and election security, coalition forces regularly travel throughout the countryside.Those forces count on aerial support from A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and other in-theater close-air support aircraft in theater for

  • Airmen begin structural analysis of C-5A

    Rolling up their sleeves, people from the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron set about cutting through the skin and muscle of a C-5A Galaxy this week to remove the giant wings and lend a hand to those evaluating the aircraft’s viability for the future.Inspections began last year on a Galaxy,

  • Phase maintenance prevents problems for aircraft

    Like automobiles, combat aircraft need regular preventative maintenance to minimize breakdowns.Unlike combat aircraft, though, automobiles do not normally need to be virtually dismantled for a 30,000-mile checkup. Each A-10 Thunderbolt II here is taken apart after 400 flying hours so the