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U.S. Air Force News

  • Dyess AFB model of energy conservation

    Dyess Air Force Base is going green. Take a tour of the base and it's easy to see how. In one building, water is pumped from a small pond, turned into ice and used to cool several dormitories; the landscaping is irrigated using effluent water purchased from the city of Abilene, Texas; and eight

  • DOD officials identify error in shipment to Taiwan

    The Department of Defense announced today that four non-nuclear ballistic missile nose-cone assembly components were mistakenly shipped to Taiwan in August 2006. Taiwanese authorities notified the U.S. they had received four nose-cones instead of the four helicopter batteries they initially ordered

  • Bagram Airman gives all for the families

    A Bagram Air Base Airman is making a difference for servicemembers and their families as she has one of the most difficult jobs in the area of responsibility.Senior Airman Sekina Moye, a services journeyman assigned to the 755th Air Expeditionary Group, is filling a six-month in-lieu-of tasking with

  • Tennis: Falcons fall to Stetson

    U.S. Air Force Academy women's tennis team fall to Stetson March 24 at the Mandy Stoll Tennis Center here. The Hatters swept the three doubles matches and won at the top four singles positions to seal the victory and the Falcons record fell to 4-13. Junior Meghan Kiser and freshman Sarah Cassman

  • Airmen train Iraqis to save lives

    Nine Iraqi firefighters graduated the Basic Firefighter Skills Course here as Airmen of the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Fire Department trained the newest graduates March 24 at Ali Base. The six-week course teaches students "the basics of fighting fires, search and rescue and lifesaving

  • Air Force wins 2-1 pitchers duel

    Alex Truesdale and Michael Ruvolo combined to hold Charleston Southern to six hits as Air Force won a 2-1 pitchers duel March 24at Buccaneer Field in Charleston, S.C. The Falcons are 8-12 on the season while the Buccaneers drop to 9-13. In his most impressive outing as a Falcon, Truesdale (1-5)

  • Wilford Hall opens new Air Force hyperbaric therapy facility

    The primary hyperbaric capability in the Air Force was relocated March 21 from Brooks City-Base, Texas, to the Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.Hyperbaric chambers are used to perform hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which supplies a surplus of oxygen to the tissues, helping

  • Determination, ingenuity prevail for Bagram Airmen

    When Airmen of the 819th RED HORSE Squadron here were faced with a $400,000 challenge in March, they used ingenuity to save the Air Force hundreds of thousands of dollars.A  water-well drilling rig was shipped from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in September 2007, but a series of incidents prevented

  • Hanscom unit preps new CAOC facility

    Members of the 652nd Electronic Systems Squadron here are preparing for the future home of the U.S. Air Force Central's Combined Air and Space Operations Center facility as construction continues in Southwest Asia. The Air and Space Operations Center Weapons System, officially referred to as the

  • SARC helps deployed servicemembers respond to crisis

    Air Force Sexual Assault Response Coordinators will be stressing education and awareness about sexual assault throughout the month of April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.Those deployed, with a three-drink-a-night limit on alcohol and General Order 1 applying to their interactions with

  • Lightweight litter system initiative yields promising results

    As initiatives go, this one for the Air Force Expeditionary Center's Air Mobility Battlelab may "litter"-ally save lives. AMB set out to prove the feasibility of using a lightweight, man-portable litter system that can be hand-carried by aeromedical evacuation, or AE, teams and used on Air Mobility

  • Air Force officials launch new mentoring program

    Officials from the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here and the U.S. Air Force Academy launched a new mentoring program when they signed a memorandum of agreement March 17 at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The agreement enables AFOTEC members to mentor Academy cadets

  • Women pilots: A weapon to be used

    "This is not a time when women should be patient. We are in a war and we need to fight it with all our ability and every weapon possible. Women pilots, in this particular case, are a weapon waiting to be used," said Eleanor Roosevelt, former first lady of the United States. These words, spoken in

  • Ramstein Airmen use AFSO 21 for performance reports

    Members of the 86th Airlift Wing recently found ways to reduce performance report processing time by more than 30 days using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century process preparation. A team composed of 19 members from the 86th AW, the 435th Mission Support Squadron Military Personnel

  • Kirkuk Airmen commemorate 5-year OIF anniversary

    Hundreds of Kirkuk Air Base Airmen commemorated the fifth year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom by honoring the 42 Airmen who gave their lives supporting the war on terrorism March 20 here. The ceremony included a 21-gun salute, a flag-folding ceremony performed by the base honor guard, and

  • March 23 airpower summary: F-16s keep vigilant

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-31s and

  • 'Today's Air Force' features medical care downrange

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights critical medical care at Balad Air Base, Iraq. With the capability to position troops and distribute supplies during combat, the Air Force has another critical mobility facet, the transporting of medical professionals. See Air Force medical

  • March 22 airpower summary:F-15s suppress enemy fire

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the Interntional Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles conducted a show of force

  • March 21 airpower summary: A-10s deter enemy activities

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 21, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, French 2000 Mirages performed shows of force in order to

  • New Procedure introduced in Air Force podiatric surgery

    Medical specialists in the 59th Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Squadron at Wilford Hall Medical Center here are introducing a new procedure in the podiatric surgery department. The procedure, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT, is a form of treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis. Chronic

  • AF recruit drops 128 pounds to enlist

    Will Sims will enter basic training March 24 as one of the Air Force's newest recruits. It is a significant milestone in a wild journey that began more than a year ago, when this young man set forth to overcome an obstacle that might keep others with less determination and resolve out of the

  • DOD anti-tobacco campaign invades military markets

    The Department of Defense isn't just blowing smoke about its tobacco cessation campaign. "Quit Tobacco. Make Everyone Proud" is making its presence felt with enthusiastic marketing initiatives in 13 U.S. metropolitan markets containing 28 major military installations.The campaign positions military

  • Airmen minimize DOD weather-related losses

    The 26th Operational Weather Squadron here helped minimize Department of Defense losses during severe regional weather recently that resulted in more than 20 civilian deaths and power outages affecting millions. The 26th OWS, which provides Air Force and Army installations weather watches, warnings

  • WWII vets fly on 'Spirit of Go For Broke'

    After waiting for more than a year and a half from the christening of the seventh C-17 Globemaster III added to Hickam Air Force Base's fleet of eight, the men for whom it was named finally got their ride March 13 here. A group of 40 surviving veterans from the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team and

  • Experiment identifies timely solutions to warfighter

    Thanks to a strong effort from the Global Cyberspace Integration Center here, 11 Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment initiatives have been delivered to the warfighter during the past 12 months, and five more are projected to be fielded within the next four months. As the lead agency for JEFX, the

  • AMC commander reinforces need for new tanker

    While many are focused on the formal protest of the recent KC-45A contract award, the needs of the warfighter -- and the nation -- remain unchanged. The Air Force's nearly 50-year-old KC-135 Stratotanker must be replaced with a newer, more capable aircraft as soon as possible. "This is a matter of

  • March 20 airpower summary: KC-135s provide sortie support

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer, Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers and

  • NORAD to celebrate 50th Anniversary

    North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating a milestone this year, 50 years of a rich and colorful history between two countries that formally acknowledged a mutual commitment to defend their citizens from air attacks. Although NORAD originally stood up at Ent Air Force Base, Colo., on

  • Chaplain brings spiritual message to deployed Airmen

    The Air Force deputy chief of chaplains traveled to Southwest Asia in March to meet Airmen and to speak at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's annual National Prayer Breakfast. Chaplain (Brig. Gen.) Cecil R. Richardson was the guest speaker during the breakfast, delivering a message on the United

  • FAA lauds Air Force synthetic fuel team

    The Air Force team that developed a blend of petroleum and synthetic fuel for the B-52 Stratofortress received the Federal Aviation Administration's 2007 Excellence in Aviation Research Award at a ceremony March 14 in the Air Force Research Laboratory's Propulsion Directorate here.Barry Scott, the

  • Air Force to lead National Image Conference

    The Department of Defense named the Air Force as the lead service for this year's National Image Conference to be held April 14 to 18 at the South Point Hotel in Las Vegas. The conference theme, "From Heritage to New Horizons," will provide guidance and leadership to take Hispanic youth and

  • March 19 airpower summary: F-16s bomb enemy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles performed shows of force in

  • Air Force leaders, lawmakers discuss BRAC construction

    Air Force leaders met with members of House and Senate subcommittees in March here to discuss military construction, base realignment and closure and joint service basing issues. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Maj. Gen. Del Eulberg, the Air Force civil engineer, met with

  • AFPC general talks about women in the military

    When Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain joined the Air Force in 1977, she planned to serve four years and move on. Thirty years later, she is quick to identify what has kept her serving. "What kept me in the Air Force is the people," General McClain said. "Their professionalism and dedication has challenged me

  • Air Force officials work to resolve child-care issues

    The shortage of qualified child-care providers is a major concern for Air Force families, and the Air Force is working to resolve it, the chief of Airman and Family Services at the Pentagon said. While the Air Force offers Airmen quality, affordable child care at on-base facilities throughout the

  • B-1B achieves first supersonic flight using synthetic fuel

    A B-1B Lancer from the 9th Bomb Squadron here became the first Air Force aircraft to fly at supersonic speed using an alternate fuel March 19 in a flight over Texas and New Mexico. The fuel, a 50/50 blend of synthetic and petroleum gases, is being tested as part of an ongoing Air Force program to

  • Little, but strong: Burned Iraqi child overcomes odds

    Editor's Note: The names of the Iraqi mother and son in this article have been changed, at the mother's request, to protect their identities from terrorists who would harm them if it was known that the pair received help from American servicemembers and the U.S. government. A photo of an adorable

  • Officials provide Virtual Uniform Board update

    Air Force officials recently announced the new Virtual Uniform Board, which transforms the Air Force Uniform Board process by providing a streamlined tool for submitting recommendations to improve dress and personal appearance standards.Recommendations will be initiated in accordance with AFI

  • USNORTHCOM hosts hurricane preparation conference

    Heavy snow may have been falling outside, but the men and women gathered inside a conference room here in mid-March had another kind of severe weather on their minds. "Hurricanes are predictable; we know they're going to come," said Army Maj. Gen. William Ingram, the adjutant general of North

  • Airmen build legal complex at Camp Justice

    Approximately 50 Airmen deployed to support Joint Task Force Guantanamo in February to put the finishing touches on the Expeditionary Legal Complex construction projects at Camp Justice here. With a group of civil engineers including plumbers, carpenters, electricians, heavy equipment operators and

  • T-6A accident investigation complete

    Air Force officials have completed the investigation of the Nov. 28, 2007, T-6A Texan II mid-air collision near Gunshy Auxiliary Field, Miss., which resulted in the loss of both aircraft. The accident investigation board determined the cause of this mishap was a result of pilot error. A T-6A flown

  • Airmen ease Marines move to Afghanistan

    With last year's operations in Afghanistan among the highest since they began in 2001, Airmen here are acutely aware of the mission importance to refuel aircraft supporting those operations, as well as provide world-class service and care to transiting passengers, said Col. Harrison Smith, the

  • Airmen visit coffee company to learn AFSO 21

    A group of Air Force officers and senior NCOs from the Pentagon took a tour of a local coffee company here March 12 to learn about improvement efforts in a civilian company using similar tools to those used in Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century. Leaders of the Eight O' Clock Coffee

  • President's anniversary speech honors servicemembers

    The president of the United States honored servicemembers during a speech at the Pentagon March 19 to mark the five-year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "We removed a tyrant," said President George W. Bush, "liberated a country and rescued millions from unspeakable horrors. Some of those

  • March 18 airpower summary: B-1B deters enemies

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped a guided bomb unit-31

  • Pilot inducted into women's aviation hall of fame

    In the months since her last flight as the Thunderbirds No. 3 right wing pilot, Maj. Nicole Malachowski has had a hard time putting her accomplishment of being the first woman to fly on a U.S. military flight demonstration team into a proper perspective. At the San Diego Air & Space Museum March 14,

  • Airman's Roll Call highlights energy awareness

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on environmental and energy awareness and the necessity to create a culture of conservation. Surveys have shown Air Force leaders that most Airmen are aware of the issues facing today's environment, including pollution and increasing gas prices, but face the

  • Vice president visits troops at Balad

    Vice President Dick Cheney met and spoke to servicemembers fighting the war on terrorism from Balad Air Base and Logistics Support Area Anaconda March 18. Before addressing the base populace during a rally, the vice president sat down to breakfast with a select group of military members. "It was an

  • Researchers honored for work with self-healing plastics

    Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded scientists have been awarded several recent honors for their breakthrough research in self-healing plastics. Professors Dr. Scott White and Dr. Nancy Sottos, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, were recognized in January in the 2007

  • Medal of Honor recipients visit throughout AFCENT

    Manas Air Base Airmen, Soldiers and transitory personnel got a firsthand glimpse into history this week. Three Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War toured the base and spoke at several local engagements on their stop here before touring other locations in the U.S. Air Forces Central area

  • Airmen integral part of unmanned aerial system milestones

    The Global Hawk unmanned aerial system recently reached its 10 year and 20,000 flight hour milestones. More than 15,000 of those hours and most of those years have been amassed in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to

  • Whiteman officials dedicate Child Development Center

    More than 150 base and community members paid tribute to the late Susie Skelton by dedicating the Whiteman Air Force Base Child Development Center in her honor March 15 here. The base Child Development Center, completed in 2007, provides specialized childcare provisions and development for infants,

  • AF officials implement AFMC's civilian orientation course

    When Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley recently sought a way to provide initial training to new Air Force civilians, Gen. Bruce Carlson, the commander of Air Force Materiel Command, offered AFMC's existing, extensive training course created for that reason. As a result, the Air Force

  • Military Channel films at Langley for upcoming episode

    The Discovery Military Channel filmed an episode March 11 at Langley Air Force Base, Va. The episode, which is part of the series "Showdown: Air Combat," will focus on the F-22 Raptor and its capabilities. The 10-segment series will highlight different military aircraft, and is scheduled to premiere

  • CENTAF now AFCENT with redesignation

    On January 1, 1983, United States Central Command Air Forces was activated as the air component of the United States Central Command. Twenty-five years later, in a ceremony here March 3, 2008, it took on a new name, United States Air Forces Central, and an enhanced way of employing forces in war.

  • Member of famed 'Doolittle Raiders' dies

    Retired Staff Sgt. Jacob DeShazer, 95, one of the famed "Doolittle Raiders," who helped boost American morale in the early days of World War II with a surprise air attack on Japan, died March 15.Born Nov. 15, 1912, in Salem, Ore., Sergeant DeShazer graduated from Madras High School in 1931. He

  • The ABCs of filling an Air Force civilian job

    Most civilian jobs in the Air Force begin with a request for personnel action, or RPA. They end with an entry on duty, or EOD, date. During the past 12 months, the entire process has taken an average of 136 days from the initial completion of the RPA to a person arriving for duty. Control of the

  • Cape Canaveral Airmen launch Delta II rocket

    Air Force officials here successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II booster carrying the sixth modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite into space at 2:10 a.m. EDT March 15 from Space Launch Complex 17A here. The satellite will join the constellation of on-orbit satellites

  • Iraqi air force attains tenfold increase in sorties

    Iraq's air force, with help from a U.S. transition team, attained a tenfold increase in its number of weekly sorties and doubled the size of its fleet over the past year, a military official said today. Maj. Gen. Robert R. Allardice, commander of the Coalition Air Force Transition Team, said the

  • Hockey: Falcons advance to NCAA tourney with AHA crown

    Josh Frider's goal 56 seconds into the second overtime lifted the U.S. Air Force Academy to a 5-4 win over Mercyhurst College in the championship game of the Atlantic Hockey Association Tournament March 16 at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. With the win, the Air Force (21-11-6) won its second

  • Conference addresses air, ground synchronization issues

    More than 100 coalition members met March 3 to 5 at Al-Faw Palace in Baghdad to discuss ways to better synchronize airpower with future ground operations across Iraq. Dubbed simply the Air Synchronization Conference, the meeting brought together ground operators and planners from the Army-led

  • Baseball: Academy takes series over South Dakota State

    Chay Derbigny went four-for-five with three runs including the game-winning RBI as the U.S. Air Force Academy baseball team rallied from 5-1 and 8-7 deficits for an 11-8 win over South Dakota State March 16 at Hobbs Field in Pueblo. The Falcons won their first series of the season and improved to

  • Tennis: Air Force shuts out Dayton

    The U.S. Air Force Academy men's tennis team won its second consecutive match by shutting out the University of Dayton 7-0 March 16 here. The Falcons improved to 9-6 this season with the victory. For the third straight match, the Air Force captured the Nos. 1 and 3 doubles matches. Sophomore Brett

  • Gymnastics: Falcons defeat Alaska Anchorage

    Highlighted by two event victories from junior Abigail Rogers, the U.S. Air Force Academy women's gymnastics team claimed the for its second victory of the season with a 190.975 to 190.250 win over the University of Alaska Anchorage March 16 here. Improving their season-high mark by more than six

  • Village of Hope lives up to its name

    Members of the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron, headquartered at Balad Air Base, Iraq, paid out nearly $10,000 to 120 students at the Red Horse Village of Hope March 13 here. The Village of Hope program is a test program that has many in the Department of Defense watching. Similar to a

  • Air Force officials to close force shaping programs

    Since the Air Force is on track to meet end strength goals for fiscal 2008, force shaping programs are being closed for the remainder of the year. March 31 is the last day Air Force officials will accept fiscal 2008 Voluntary Separation Pay program applications. All eligible officers interested in

  • C-130 aircrews, Army riggers reach airdrop record

    February marked an airdrop record for the C-130 Hercules of the 774th Air Expeditionary Squadron, but not without the support of the Army's 11th Quartermaster Rigger Detachment and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force riggers here. The joint team delivered approximately 1 million pounds of

  • UAVs aid force protection efforts

    RQ-11 Raven unmanned aerial vehicles may be easily mistaken for an unorthodox version of a model airplane, but Airmen here use the UAV to secure the base and surrounding neighborhoods. Weighing in at less than 5 pounds, the Raven is operated from the ground via a remote control unit that can send

  • 'Today's Air Force' features security forces

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights security forces and their responsibilities to ensure the safety of weapons, property and people from hostile forces. Deployed security forces Airmen not only spend time enforcing the law, but also mentoring their Southwest Asia counterparts in

  • March 16 airpower summary: A-10s destroy enemy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and a B-1B Lancer dropped

  • Identity of fallen pilot released

    An Air Force student pilot, 2nd Lt. David J. Mitchell, 26, from Amherst, Ohio, and assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron here, was killed March 14 when his F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft crashed in a remote area three miles south of Alamo Lake, Ariz. Lieutenant Mitchell was on a two-ship student

  • March 15 airpower summary: C-17s support, move warfighters

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

  • March 14 airpower summary: F-16s continue shows of force

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped guided bomb

  • March 13 airpower summary: C-130s give Herculean effort

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped a guided bomb

  • F-16 crashes south of Alamo Lake, Ariz.

    An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron here crashed about 12:00 p.m. today south of Alamo Lake, Ariz. At the time of the accident, the F-16 was on an air-to-air student training mission. One pilot was on board. The status of the pilot is unknown at this time. A board

  • Global support center officially stands up March 28

    Less than a year after standing up, the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center (Provisional) will lose its "Provisional" designation during the unit's formal standup March 28 at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command, will officiate at the ceremony.

  • Joint basing plan takes shape

    Joint basing is a reality, it's happening in San Antonio, and it will effectively support the city's military communities here. That is the message from local military leaders as they move toward consolidating support operations at three San Antonio installations as mandated by the 2005 Base Closure

  • New Web app makes assignment system easier to use

    Active duty Air Force members -- officers and enlisted -- who log on to the Air Force Personnel Center's Assignment Management System will find a new Web application that makes navigation faster and easier. "It's all part of AFPC's on-going effort to increase service to our customers," said Master

  • AFMC command chief emphasizes understanding one's role

    The stigma that Airmen assigned to Air Force Materiel Command are not part of the war on terrorism fight is one the command's top enlisted member is working to correct. "There are segments of people -- ranging from enlisted members within AFMC to those in other Air Force major commands -- who equate

  • 'Hoop dreams' come true for Airman

    For the fourth year in a row a Reserve Command member has been tapped to play on the All Air Force basketball team. Capt. Kurtis Darden, the only reservist on the team, will play in the Armed Forces Basketball Tournament to be held March 23 to 28 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. "This year I'm

  • General Lorenz gets fourth star, to command AETC

    The U.S. Senate has confirmed Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz for appointment to the grade of general and assignment as commander of Air Education and Training Command.General Lorenz, currently the commander of Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., will replace Gen. William R. Looney III, who

  • Team effort keeps Balad water supply safe

    For Airmen stationed at Balad Air Base and Soldiers at the co-located Logistics Support Area Anaconda, staying hydrated is crucial in the desert heat of Iraq.In order to keep hydrated, servicemembers here need to have the confidence the water available to them is safe, so the water undergoes

  • Officials detail scope, units of AFCYBER command

    The work of building Air Force Cyber Command continues with officials releasing details of what the scope of the command will look like and how it will function in lieu of having a permanent base named for its headquarters location. "We are aggressively moving forward with plans for having initial

  • Top leaders testify on '09 budget

    The Air Force's top two leaders testified before the House and Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittees on Defense during hearings about the fiscal 2009 budget March 11 and 12. While the main topic of discussion among congressmen and senators remained the KC-45A contract award, Secretary of

  • C-130J tailor-made for mission over Afghanistan

    A 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J Hercules aircrew operating out of Southwest Asia dropped leaflets over Afghanistan encouraging its citizens to reject violence and embrace their government as part of an integrated operation with NATO's International Security Assistance Force March 6.

  • Airpower's advantages unlocked via sound strategy, paper says

    American leaders should worry less about which armed service is preeminent and more about their severe strategy deficit, according to a new research paper written by Dr. Colin S. Gray. No single service will dominate all future conflicts, writes Doctor Gray, a well-respected author of 22 books on

  • Space Command hall of fame inductee honored

    The Navy rejected him for far-sighted vision he "might" develop later in life. So he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree on D-Day, June 6, 1944. By 1946 he was selected to serve in the super secret Manhattan Engineer District -- the

  • Balad Airmen teach contractors lifesaving skills

    When it comes to rescuing someone trapped in a vehicle, using the "jaws of life" can mean the difference between life and death -- but only if the tool is used properly. Members of the Balad Air Base Fire Department recently led refresher training sessions for U.S. government contracted personnel

  • Dutch air chief predicts continued cooperation

    His air force has a history of training pilots in the United States that dates back to 1941. It's a long relationship Lt. Gen. Hans de Jong would like to continue. General de Jong, commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, said he expects his country to not only maintain its aircrew training

  • AF leaders focus on the future during CORONA South

    "Securing the Future" was the central theme of this year's CORONA South, held at Bolling Air Force Base here. The discussion and debate among the Air Force's senior leaders focused on preparing the Air Force to meet tomorrow's challenges as well as the potential need to restructure the force to

  • RC-135 surpasses 50,000 flying-hour mark

    A 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron RC-135 Rivet Joint surpassed the 50,000 flight-hour mark during a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom March 12. RC-135 Tail No. 132 boasts an impressive resume of tours over the years including Vietnam, operations Southern and Northern Watch to

  • Services tests 'pallet to palate' philosophy

    From "pallet to palate" is the philosophy behind an 18th Services Squadron capability tested during the Pacific Air Forces Operational Readiness Inspection held March 9 to 15 here. Wherever Airmen deploy, the single pallet expeditionary kitchen, or SPEK, can go with them to provide support. "The

  • Airmen complete first Air Advisor Course

    The first class of Airmen headed to Iraq and Afghanistan to train foreign military members on Airmanship graduated here March 7. A total of 59 Airmen completed the course, developed to prepare instructors to train Iraqi and Afghan airmen to re-establish their national air forces. The U.S. Air Force

  • Rwandan Defense Force air traffic controllers visit Ramstein

    Ramstein Air Base officials recently hosted four air traffic controllers from the Rwandan Defense Force, giving them a first-hand look at how the U.S. Air Force takes care of business on the airfield. The Rwandans visited the 86th Operations Support Squadron Airfield Operations Flight and the 1st

  • March 12 airpower summary: C-130s support coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer, an F-15E Strike Eagle and an

  • Instinctive action by Bagram Airman prevents catastrophe

    An Airman's quick action following an explosion of a jet fuel starter Feb. 26 that sent shrapnel across the Bagram Air Base flightline averted a possible explosion of an F-15E Strike Eagle.Staff Sgt. Jonathan Billie was working on the flightline near a fellow Airman prepping an F-15E when the small

  • Vandenberg Airmen launch Atlas V rocket

    Vandenberg Air Force Base Airmen successfully launched a Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 at 3:01 a.m. PDT March 13 here. The launch was the product of the combined efforts of officials from the 30th Space Wing, the National Reconnaissance

  • Ramstein team gives planners Eagle Vision

    The availability of accurate imagery is critical when planning an operational mission. The responsibility to provide this vital information to those mission planners resides in the capable hands of eight members of an Air Force team here dubbed, "Eagle Vision-1." The vision for the program came

  • Alaskan villages benefit from joint military medical outreach

    Mixed teams of Army, Navy and Air Force health-care providers are spent a week treating hundreds of medically-underserved people as part of Operation Arctic Care 2008 in six remote villages in March in Alaska. Residents of Karluk, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, Port Lions, Akhiok and Larsen Bay invited the

  • Fighters respond to Temporary Flight Restriction violation

    Two F-16 Fighting Falcons and a Coast Guard helicopter under the direction of North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepted a small Cessna aircraft flying through the Temporary Flight Restriction zone March 12 over the National Capitol Region. The civilian aircraft entered the TFR from the