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  • Airmen continue to deliver relief supplies in devastated Thailand

    As the calendar turned a new year, the aid delivered by Airmen of the 353rd Special Operations Group to communities on Thailand’s southwest coast approached 100 tons.Four MC-130s and 100 Airmen from the group continue to pump vital relief supplies into strategic cities located along the devastated

  • Now showing: Jan. 3 edition of AFTV News

    The Jan. 3 edition of Air Force Television News is a special production of the program dedicated to the Airmen involved in Operation Enduring Freedom. Produced and coanchored by Tech. Sgts. Pachari Lutke and Joy Josephson, the program examines the continuing role of the Air Force in that

  • Predators help TACP Airmen with mission

    If mentioned at all, tactical air control party Airmen are usually linked with a group of special forces on the front lines.Normally these Airmen find themselves out in the field directing combat aircraft against insurgents or coordinating artillery fire with air strikes, but most certainly not

  • Four earn Sijan award

    Four Airmen are being recognized with the service’s Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award:The Sijan award annually recognizes a senior and junior officer and a senior and junior enlisted person who demonstrates outstanding leadership abilities while assigned to organizations at the wing level or

  • More Airmen eligible for Air Force Recognition Ribbon

    More Airmen can wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon for winning service-level competitions and awards.A recent change to an Air Force instruction allows members of small teams participating in events such as security forces' Defender Challenge, Air Mobility Command Rodeo or the William Tell

  • U.S. military team arrives to assess disaster relief efforts

    About 30 members of the U.S. military arrived here Dec. 30 to help assess disaster relief assistance in the wake of tsunamis that struck south Asian countries.Airmen from the 613th Contingency Response Group at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and Marines from the III Marine Expeditionary Force in

  • Airmen keep air flow moving at Balad

    Whether it involves a strategic airlifter filled to capacity or an F-15E Strike Eagle transiting the area, maintainers here are working hard to keep the myriad aircraft supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom thundering high above.As cargo, people and operations here flow at a breakneck pace, and

  • Ops support center Airmen coordinate AF relief efforts

    Pacific Air Forces officials here activated the 24-hour PACAF Operations Support Center to coordinate Air Force-related relief efforts for the devastation caused by tsunamis that struck 12 countries following an earthquake Dec. 26. Center officials, who are working with Department of Defense and

  • Air Force team to aid Secret Service during inauguration

    When President Bush is inaugurated Jan. 20, an Air Force Communications Agency team will be there, and elsewhere, supporting the U.S. Secret Service.Agency officials started providing communications support for the 2004 presidential campaign two years ago. Since then, the 52 people of the Air Force

  • Airmen bringing tsunami-relief supplies to Thailand

    Airmen from Yokota Air Base, Japan, are among those bringing the first wave of relief for people on the coastlines of Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa. The area was devastated by a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake and equally powerful tsunamis.The Airmen and six C-130 Hercules aircraft are

  • Warming things up around Manas

    Everyone know that the song says, “Oh, the weather outside is frightful and the fire is so delightful,” but fires are not allowed in tents here; thankfully heaters are. The 10 Airmen assigned to the 376th Civil Engineer Squadron’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning shop work to keep that

  • EOD Airmen play key role in Balad mission

    When the command post announces “Attention on the net, this is Panther, alarm red is in effect,” Airmen here don their protective gear and take cover. The base is under attack.Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight work to quickly get the

  • PERSCO matches faces with spaces

    Before an air and space expeditionary force is deployed, AEF Center officials first source out requirements to major commands, which assign them to individual wings that fill them with Airmen.When that system has a hiccup, personnel support for contingency operations office Airmen at

  • Air Force women drop overtime contest to San Diego, 80-78

    Despite a late-game rally to force an extra period, the Air Force women’s basketball team was unable to pull out the overtime victory, falling to the Toreros of the University of San Diego, 80-78, Dec. 22.San Diego (5-5) jumped out to a 12-2 lead, hitting four consecutive three-pointers, and never

  • ‘Good thing’ when nothing happens

    When nothing happens, it is a good thing, said Capt. Mark Martin, 386th Expeditionary Security Forces chief of anti-terrorism and force protection at a forward-deployed location.Captain Martin is not referring to the day-to-day activities. Or rather, he is, in regards to base security.With more

  • Small miracle -- Dangerously premature baby defies odds

    The greatest miracles come in the smallest packages. Just ask Tinker’s Nash family. Genevieve Faith Nash, the fifth child and first daughter of Staff Sgt. Gary Nash and his wife, Kelley, will be 5 months old when she celebrates her first Christmas, but she was supposed to be just 6 weeks old.“She

  • Wrestlers grapple for troops in Iraq

    Thousands of servicemembers in Iraq got up close and personal with professional wrestlers from World Wrestling Entertainment, and the rest of the world will get a chance to watch.The entertainment group’s weekly “Smackdown” program will air Dec. 23 on UPN, featuring matches conducted Dec. 18 at Camp

  • Manpower creates spaces for faces

    As part of the air and space expeditionary force structure, nearly everyone will one day deploy, but who determines what deployment positions are needed?Deployed manpower specialists fill that vital need at bases worldwide. They help commanders determine what positions are needed, which can be

  • Blood transfer center essential to mission

    Six Airmen deployed to an air base here are the lifeline of Operation Iraqi Freedom -- literally and figuratively. For them, receiving, monitoring and shipping blood products is a sobering, but motivating responsibility.“People’s lives depend on the accuracy of our job performance,” said Staff Sgt.

  • Portal allows Airmen to chat with friends, family

    Airmen at home station or a deployed location can now send instant messages to their friends or loved ones whenever they have access to the Internet. The Air Force recently implemented the "Friends and Family Instant Messenger" program, available through the Air Force Portal. Now, besides using

  • ‘Mothership’ retires

    NASA's B-52B Stratofortress "mothership" air-launch aircraft has retired after nearly 50 years of dropping advanced research vehicles.Officials at the Air Force Flight Test Center and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Dryden Flight Research Center here held a retirement ceremony

  • Now showing: Dec. 20 edition of AFTV News

    This edition of Air Force Television News is a special program examining the past, present and future of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Air Force. The first of two holiday specials offered by Air Force Electronic News, the program is produced by Staff Sgt. Michael Noel.In the first segment of the

  • Surprise inspection nets weapons, alcohol, merchandise

    Officials here found unauthorized firearms and alcohol, military uniforms and other merchandise during a surprise inspection of areas inhabited by third-country workers and American contractors.“The sweep was the first of its kind and, because of its success, has set the precedence for future

  • Officials release Air National Guard F-16 accident report

    Pilot error, a poorly designed pilot-vehicle interface, and the lack of a published safety procedure were found as causes for 27 ammunition rounds being accidentally expended during a training mission at the Warren Grove Range, N.J., on Nov. 3 according to an accident report released Dec. 17. Some

  • Vipers on the prowl

    Viper Flight -- the group is as tough as the name suggests. Whether it is scoping out threats or chasing down the enemy, this security forces’ flight is the first line of defense protecting the base’s outer perimeter.The flight's 30 Airmen are a small, handpicked section of the 386th Expeditionary

  • Elmendorf squadron takes holiday cheer north

    As Santa Claus prepares for his big trip from the North Pole, he took some time out to make a special trip with the 517th Airlift Squadron "Firebirds" here to deliver Christmas presents and supplies to an Athabascan village in northern Alaska -- a tradition that's been around for 37 years.In 1967,

  • USO, NFL honor fallen Soldier

    The stars came out in the afternoon here Dec. 16 to honor a fallen Soldier. The groundbreaking ceremony for the Pat Tillman United Service Organizations Center featured military, sports and Hollywood icons. Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; John Elway, National Football

  • Airmen move crucial cargo for warfighters

    Airmen of the 437th Aerial Port Squadron here are packaging and delivering critical supplies, including vehicle armor, to American warfighters in Iraq.Charleston Air Force Base, the hub for shipping supplies supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom has seen a 71 percent increase in operations.Since Dec.

  • U.S. Air Force deploys C-130Js for first time

    The U.S. Air Force's C-130J Hercules -- the newest variant of the versatile C-130 aircraft -- deployed for the first time this month.The deployed force includes maintainers, operators and support Airmen from Rhode Island Air National Guard’s 143rd Airlift Squadron, Maryland ANG’s 135th AS, Air Force

  • Studying key to earning next stripe

    Enlisted promotion hopefuls will need to pull out their study materials as the next testing cycle is on the horizon. Testing for promotion to technical sergeant and master sergeant will be held throughout the Air Force Feb. 15 through March 31, and testing for staff sergeant will be held May 1

  • Increased C-130, C-17 flights relieve Army ground convoys

    Airmen are moving more cargo, including armored vehicles, repair parts and ammunition, to assist Soldiers in getting needed materiel to troops in the Iraq theater. “The Air Force is clearly focusing its efforts, helping the Army give the ground forces the opportunity to reduce the traffic on the

  • Kadena Airmen aid Philippine typhoon victims

    Airmen from Kadena Air Base, Japan, are helping the Philippines recover from the devastating effects of a series of typhoons that have left 1,400 dead or missing and displaced about 170,000 people.Several “super” typhoons hit the island nation in the past few weeks, devastating areas of Luzon, the

  • Guard works to balance state, federal missions

    Unlike their active and reserve counterparts, Army and Air National Guardsmen can be called on to serve two different masters: their state governors and their commander in chief.Serving as state militias, they are available at the bidding of their governors in the event of emergencies,

  • Thunderbirds release 2005 show schedule

    The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, announced its 2005 air show schedule. The team is scheduled to perform more than 70 public shows in 29 states, Canada and Central America. The 2005 schedule is as follows:March19 and 20 -- Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.April2 and

  • Resultant Fury successful thanks to ‘test’ Airmen

    Brig. Gen. Billy Mitchell would be proud.Airmen from the 53rd Wing here recently showcased airpower over the Pacific Ocean when Air Force and Navy aircraft targeted and destroyed moving maritime targets.More than 300 people participated in the demonstration, called Resultant Fury, including about 35

  • Recruiting focuses on select career fields

    The Air Force continues to recruit high quality people while using force-shaping efforts to keep people in critical career fields, the Air Force Recruiting Service commander said during a recent visit here. Brig. Gen. Robertus C.N. Remkes said the Air Force is striving to “balance the books” by

  • Stratotankers provide more than refueling capabilities

    The KC-135 Stratotankers of the 351st Air Refueling Squadron here have recently added aeromedical evacuation and airlift missions to their “been there, done that” list. Including medevac and airlift missions to the KC-135’s responsibilities helps leaders meet two of the Air Force’s primary missions:

  • JAG Corps offers accessions programs

    The Air Force's Judge Advocate General Corps gives company-grade officers two opportunities during January through March to join their ranks. The programs, the Funded Legal Education Program and the Excess Leave Program, allow active-duty officers to pursue law degrees without leaving the Air Force

  • Pests no match for ‘Bug Girl’

    Being a “Bug Girl” does not bother Senior Airman Amy Arriola, the lone pest controller at Camp Sather here.Even though she is far from both her tropical island home of Guam and her civilian job as a flight attendant, Airman Arriola said she is happy to lend a helping hand to her fellow Airmen and

  • Poor shooting grounds Falcons in loss to Boise State

    The Air Force Academy women’s basketball team found itself on the losing end of a 47-35 contest against Boise State University here Dec. 10. Both teams struggles offensively in the first half, shooting less than 27 percent from the field. Air Force (2-6) took the early 4-3 lead, but the Broncos

  • Combat personnelists get Airmen in, out of deployment

    They do not fly combat missions, build bombs or conduct perimeter patrols, but the PERSCO team here processes the documents that make it possible for pilots, ammo troops and security forces to do those things supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. From hail to farewell, a two-person Personnel

  • Air Force hockey team blanks American International, 2-0

    Peter Foster recorded his fifth shutout of the season to lead the Air Force Academy Falcons to a 2-0 win over American International College in a nonconference college hockey game here Dec. 11. The Falcons swept the two-game series and improved to 9-5-2 overall. AIC fell to 1-9-1. Air Force has

  • Communicators train to face enemies on digital battlefield

    In millions of real-world attacks each year, hackers from every corner of the Earth try to crack through computer network defenses. But in the Air Force Communications Agency’s simulator training exercises here, the attacks come from hackers a mere 30 feet away. The defenders are Airmen from network

  • Airborne Laser conducts extended flight test

    YAL-1A, the Airborne Laser aircraft, flew for 2 hours and 31 minutes here Dec. 9. The flight was part of a continuing series to re-establish airworthiness, a requirement since the aircraft has been out of service for almost two years for modifications and installation of the laser’s complex beam

  • Air Force makes a stable move

    It is the only one of its kind left, a physical testament to sacrifices made by the greatest generation of our nation. It is a piece of history forever linking future generations of Americans to an era unlike any other in history. It is a priceless artifact of World War II.It is a horse stable.“It

  • Maintainers make ‘maintenance magic’

    Working behind the scenes, a small group of Airmen here toil around the clock to ensure that the base’s flying mission is accomplished.They are the maintainers of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron maintenance flight. “We know what we are here to do -- maintain our aircraft,” said Capt. Chuck

  • Test acceleration expedites fielding warning system

    Engineers here cut the test time for a crucial missile warning system from months to weeks, speeding the operational debut of the system on C-17 Globemaster IIIs.Changes to the system, which warns of an approaching missile and automatically fires flares to confuse the missile’s guidance system, were

  • Soldiers deploy to Lackland for quick-reaction exercise

    Best known for its one-of-a-kind role as the source of Air Force basic training, this base in the heart of Texas welcomed Soldiers for training of a more advanced sort -- defending high-value government facilities from terrorist attacks.A U.S. Northern Command quick reaction force, made up of more

  • Third generation aviator continues the tradition

    “These things we do, that others may live” is the motto of the 36th Rescue Flight here and the inspiration for one Airman’s pride.Capt. Sean Boldt’s passion for helicopters and their mission started at a young age through the work of his father, an Army helicopter pilot. He said some of his

  • Weapon systems video vital to wartime mission

    Amid the hustle and bustle of people walking to and from intelligence briefings in the fighter operations building at a forward-deployed location, Airman 1st Class Michael Edwards sits quietly behind a computer monitor and watches videos, and nobody minds.Airman Edwards’ deployed duties have taken

  • Five Airmen receive Silver Stars

    Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche presented five Airmen here Silver Stars on Dec. 9 for their handling of close-air support missions during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.“(We) are extremely proud of all of you and of all the battle-fit Airmen in the 18th Air Support Operations

  • Ugandans get air power lesson

    The U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander addressed the first class of Ugandan Senior Command and Staff College attendees here Dec. 2 during the course’s air power week. As the guest lecturer, Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong talked about issues ranging from air and space power to leadership and how the

  • Yokota isochronal Airmen keep Pacific fleet healthy

    Mechanics here are essential to sustaining the health and safety of Pacific Air Force’s fleet of C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft.“Aircraft periodic inspection and replacement of worn parts are important in keeping minor problems from becoming critical safety issues,” said Senior Master Sgt. Earl

  • Airmen add ‘information armor’ to Iraq convoys

    When a convoy heads out on the roads of Iraq, it can be a life or death mission. Faced with violent threats from insurgents, the troops are armed and ready. But in this hostile environment, a “protective posture” requires more than mere Kevlar. Airmen of the 90th Information Operations Squadron

  • Hornets swarm Osan

    A nest of Hornets has invaded the sky here and local aircrews say they could not be more excited.A joint training mission is under way. Sailors are flying F/A-18 Hornets and EA-6B Prowlers with the Airmen in A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 25th Fighter Squadron and F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 36th

  • TSP begins catch-up contributions enrollment for 2005

    Air Force Personnel Center's benefits and entitlements service team automated systems will be available for 2005 Thrift Savings Plan catch-up contribution enrollments beginning Dec. 12."TSP catch-up contributions are additional tax-deferred contributions, separate from (regular) contributions," said

  • Falcon hoopsters fall to Illinois State, 89-70

    Despite turning in its highest-scoring half of the season to start the game, the Air Force Academy women’s basketball team suffered a second-half offensive breakdown as it lost, 89-70, to Illinois State University here Dec. 7.The Falcons started out hot, hitting seven of their first nine shots to

  • Officials release academy sexual-assault IG reports

    Defense Department and Air Force officials released findings of two inspector general investigation reports on sexual assault at the U.S. Air Force Academy.The findings were presented at a Pentagon press briefing Dec. 7 by the deputy undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, Dr. David

  • Controllers use "giant voice" to keep Airmen informed

    Packed into a small, windowless container like sardines in a can, the Airmen who run the command post at Camp Sather here are always in the know, and they do not mind letting everyone know it in a very loud voice. The eight controllers make their point by transmitting crucial safety and security

  • Training prepares security forces Airmen for deployment

    Airmen of the 482nd Security Forces Squadron held a tactical training exercise here Dec. 5. The purpose of the exercise was to prepare them for a variety of possible scenarios if and when they deploy.Convoy missions and urban operations are among the most common challenges for security forces

  • Officials announce F-16 accident investigation findings

    Air Force officials announced investigation findings of a May 19 F-16 Fighting Falcon crash on the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona. The pilot, Singaporean air force 2nd Lt. Kwang Han Loo, was killed in the crash. He was assigned to the 425th Fighter Squadron, a foreign military training squadron,

  • Deadline extended for space, missile retraining applications

    The deadline for officers to apply for retraining into the space and missile career field has been extended to Jan. 3.The career field needs an additional 30-40 people. Interested officers must first contact their assignment team to determine if they can be released from their current career field.

  • Cook still going strong after 50-plus years of service

    Before most people get out of bed in the morning, Minnie Jones is already elbow-deep in flour, faced with the daunting task of feeding thousands of employees here a hot breakfast and lunch.It is a feat she has accomplished for more than 50 years as one of two cooks in the base restaurant. And at

  • Amputee pilot back in the cockpit

    Most people would have thought Lt. Col. Andrew Lourake would never see the inside of an Air Force cockpit again, at least not as a pilot.The colonel was injured in a motorcycle accident in the fall of 1998. Infection following surgery to repair a broken bone left him with few choices but to have

  • Soldiers, Airmen train together for urban warfare

    Combat in urban environments, such as that recently conducted in Fallujah, Iraq, is becoming more commonplace, said defense officials. Providing protection to ground forces in such close quarters is a challenge for Soldiers and Airmen alike.During an exercise here, Soldiers from the 172nd Stryker

  • Reservist returns POW/MIA bracelet worn in remembrance

    A reservist here who pledged to keep the memory of a fallen Airman alive for almost 20 years has returned the Vietnam warrior’s POW/MIA bracelet to his family after he was finally laid to rest.Master Sgt. Sheila Couzins, an intelligence analyst in the 445th Operations Support Squadron, purchased a

  • Now showing: Dec. 6 edition of AFTV News

    Two inspirational stories headline the latest edition of Air Force Television News. In the first, Staff Sgt. John Anderson profiles the story of Lt. Col. Andrew Lourake, a pilot whose flying career seemed doomed after his leg was amputated. Instead, through hard work and rehabilitation, Colonel

  • Air Force hoopsters fall short against Utah State

    Despite a furious rally in the final four and a half minutes of the game, the Air Force Academy women’s basketball team fell to Utah State University, 72-68, here Dec. 4. The loss drops the Falcons to 2-4 overall, while the Aggies improve to 3-2.After a free throw at the 4:22 mark in the second

  • Fighter pilot film about teamwork, thrill of flight

    Civilians and Airmen alike can get breathtaking insight into parts of the Air Force they may not have seen before. The IMAX film "Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag," premiered Dec. 2 at the National Air and Space Museum here. Filmgoers got an inside look at one of the Air Force's largest training

  • Aerial porters firing on all cylinders in Iraq

    The airlift mission that moves cargo in and out of Iraq is complicated, like a machine with many moving parts. When all of the airlift parts are working together, America's warfighters are supplied with everything from beans to bullets.One of the most important parts of the airlift machine is the

  • Murray calls people Air Force's greatest resource

    Readiness and taking care of one another are two of the Air Force’s top priorities, said the Air Force’s top enlisted leader here Dec. 1.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray said it all comes down to people being the Air Force’s greatest resource.“We are absolutely proud of what our

  • Medics, aircrews work together to save lives

    The cold, metal interior of a loud, rumbling C-130 Hercules, accompanied by the smell of jet fuel and the sight of red tracer rounds in the distance, may not seem like the ideal environment to treat patients. However, for those providing medical care to those who need it quickly, there is really no

  • Ammo Airmen help put steel on target

    Listen closely around the desert flightline at this deployed location and you will eventually hear the scream of an eagle or falcon flying overhead. These birds of prey are Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons racing off to support the war on terrorism. Helping ground forces

  • Falcon hoopsters knock off Pilots, 68-61

    On the strength of hot first-half shooting and strong all-around play, the visiting Air Force women’s basketball team dealt the University of Portland a 68-61 loss Dec. 2. With the victory, the Falcons moved to 2-3 on the season and captured their first road victory since 2002. The Pilots fell to

  • Operation Dear Abby uses e-mail

    In 1967, a servicemember wrote advice columnist "Dear Abby" requesting "just a letter from home" for deployed troops serving during the Vietnam War.The famous columnist, known by her pseudonym, Abigail Van Buren, responded, and the Operation Dear Abby mail program was born. Through the ensuing

  • New satellite terminal provides real-time intelligence

    A new satellite communications system is now operational that will help provide warfighters timely intelligence from U-2 Dragon Lady reconnaissance flights.Officials with the 480th Intelligence Wing here brought the Transportable Medium Earth Terminal II satellite communications system online Nov.

  • Yokota fuels specialists support global missions

    Fuels specialists from the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron here provide a vital service for Air Force defense and humanitarian missions worldwide. “Providing fuel, oil and lubricants is one of the most important logistic factors that influence strategic and tactical planning in today’s military,”

  • Officials announce Future Total Force initiatives

    Air Force officials plan to tap into the inherent strength and experience of all three Air Force components to increase overall combat capability.They announced six test initiatives Dec. 1 that fall under the Future Total Force plan that puts Airmen from active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force

  • Armed forces honor longtime Air Force volunteer

    The military services have chosen a longtime Air Force volunteer from Arizona as this year's recipient of the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award.Dorothy Hunt Finley is a leading member of the Davis-Monthan 50, an organization dedicated to supporting Airmen and

  • ‘Cable Dawgs’ keep Kirkuk connected

    Many people take for granted the luxury of having a dial tone when they pick up the phone, and e-mail when they turn on their computer, but there is a special group of Airmen working behind the scenes here to make it happen.The “Cable Dawgs,” as Airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Communications

  • Tower dedication honors two Airmen killed in combat

    It was predicted there would not be a dry eye in the house. As the guests gathered to honor two fallen heroes, that prediction came true.Family members and tactical air control party Airmen honored fellow tactical controllers Staff Sgt. Jacob Frazier and Airman 1st Class Raymond Losano during a

  • Strike Eagles support ‘guys on the ground’

    While originally designed as a fighter-bomber, the F-15E Strike Eagle took on a new mission during the past three years. Today, it is almost strictly used for close-air support, giving troops on the ground added air protection and precise target elimination, officials said.“Three years ago no one

  • Be prepared for flu season

    Colder temperatures signal the start of the flu season, which runs primarily between December and April. With a nationwide shortage of vaccine this year, health officials say it is important to know the symptoms of this contagious respiratory illness, and what to do if a person is infected.The flu

  • Airmen fly Iraqi baby home

    A 14-month-old Iraqi girl left for Iraq on a C-141 Starlifter recently after receiving about six months of medical treatment at Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Fatemah Khalil Hassan and her mother, Beyda’a Amir Abdul Jabar, were flown to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, before heading back to

  • Air Guard retraces first flight to South Pole

    Their route was the same, but the crew of Skier 94 did not expect any of the hat tossing and hurrahs that greeted Navy Rear Adm. Richard E. Byrd and his flight crew 75 years ago.That is the difference between being the first plane ever to reach the South Pole and the fourth plane of the day.The

  • ‘Lean’ team lauded for manufacturing-technology advances

    The sixth annual Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement Award was presented Nov. 30 at the Defense Manufacturing Conference in Las Vegas.John B. Todaro, director of the Department of Defense's technology transition office, presented the award to the Air Force's lean depot repair initiative.

  • Airmen help Soldiers keep OIF supplies rolling

    By moving nearly 1.3 million pounds of cargo in one day recently, Balad-based Airmen assigned to the Arrival/Departure Air Cargo Group are breaking new ground for cargo movement supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.The Airmen are part of Detachment 2632 of the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness

  • Airman, dog provide security for Afghanistan

    In August, Staff Sgt. David Yepsen had to do everything all Airmen do when they deploy, from updating training to getting medically cleared. He also had one more thing to worry about -- his military working dog deploying alongside him.Sergeant Yepsen and his dog, Dax, from the 43rd Security Forces

  • Fuels Airmen ‘top off’ mission

    A key part of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing’s mission is providing aerial refueling capabilities for the war on terrorism. For tankers, or any other aircraft, to get off the ground, they rely on the Air Force’s expeditionary fuel distribution center at a forward-deployed location.The 380th

  • Volunteers play key role in OIF medical mission

    Providing medical care for the wounded warriors of Operation Iraqi Freedom means long days and nights for Airmen assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group here. But because more than 150 volunteers regularly give their off-duty time to lend a hand, the medics are getting some relief.The

  • Afghanistan-based Airmen revive adopt-a-village program

    Afghan children and adults swarmed Airmen bearing gifts recently, marking the revival of Bagram Air Base’s adopt-a-village program.To create more room for the almost daily arrival of clothing, toy and school supply donations from people worldwide, the program restarted with three distribution

  • New EEO process optimizes complaint resolution

    Air Force officials recently implemented a more streamlined process to help civilians resolve discrimination issues in their workplace.The new process, called the “compressed orderly rapid equitable” process, became available to civilians Oct. 1. The process is expected to greatly expedite

  • Code Talker describes military experience

    The pride in Teddy Draper’s voice is evident as he talks about events that helped America win the war in the Pacific 62 years ago.Mr. Draper, who was born on a Navajo Indian reservation in Canyon Del Muerto, Ariz., was one of the Marine Corps Code Talkers who mystified the Japanese forces as the

  • Falcons win hockey tournament

    Peter Foster recorded his fourth shutout of the season, and Brian Gineo netted the Falcon's only goal as the Air Force Academy beat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the championship game of the 54th annual Bank of America/Rensselaer Holiday Tournament here Nov. 27.Foster, the national leader with

  • Four Air Force wrestlers reach Oklahoma Open finals

    Four Falcons reached the finals in their respective weight classes to lead the Air Force Academy wrestling team Nov. 27 at the Oklahoma Open here. The tournament featured wrestlers from top-ranked Oklahoma State University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Missouri and the University

  • Air Force women lose in basketball to Albany, 86-65

    Unable to regroup from a 19-point halftime deficit, the Air Force Academy women’s basketball team fell to the State University of New York at Albany team, 86-65, on Nov. 27 in the consolation game of the Northern Arizona Thanksgiving Tournament here.A day after going 0-15 from beyond the arc, the

  • Base chef performs culinary magic

    He is a magician of sorts. However, he waves a spatula instead of a wand and uses a frying pan instead of a top hat, along with a little culinary artistry to craft eggs, bacon, sausage and hash brown potatoes into cuisine for hungry dining facility patrons here. Francis L. Aragon, food service

  • Four-legged sentinels key to force protection

    Dogs are rarely permitted anywhere these days. Whether it is the grocery store or a crowded rock concert, dogs are often turned away at the door. However, at a forward-deployed location here, the dogs have free reign and an important job to do.From detecting explosives to searching buildings and

  • DOD to use 'forward-deployed active-layered defense' to protect country

    The Department of Defense's new strategy for helping protect the nation is to have a "forward-deployed active-layered defense," said the man who helped craft the plan.Paul McHale, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, said his agency "firmly believes" the nation's defense begins

  • AGE of excellence

    Empty closets and pantries are often considered signs of scarcity and tough times. But when Tech. Sgt. Timothy Haun opens the “hold bin,” a pantry that used to be full of manila envelopes and boxes, he sees mostly empty space, and he is happy about it.The manila envelopes and boxes contained pieces