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  • B-24 pilot receives DFC, Air Medal

    A B-24 bomber pilot has finally received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal he earned in World War II. The presentation took place during a ceremony here recently that relived the perils airmen faced during the 1940s.Then a first lieutenant, Kenneth Kinsinger earned the Distinguished

  • PMEL professionals practice precision

    They diagnose, treat and cure. There is no room for error in their line of work, or it could cost someone his or her life.The professionals assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron’s precision measurement equipment laboratory are doctors for one of the Air Force’s most precious

  • Recruiting service unveils ‘shrink-wrapped’ buses

    Air Force Recruiting Service officials rolled out their latest advertising campaign to senior leaders Feb. 19: two very colorful buses.The vehicles are standard in every way, except they are covered with a shrink-wrap design rather than a traditional paint scheme. Each vehicle features the F/A-22

  • Air Force brings DFAS airmen back on base

    To improve its total-force personnel posture, the Air Force will move nearly 400 airmen assigned to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service back to base-level comptroller squadrons.Airmen working in Department of Defense billets like DFAS support the overall military mission, but do not directly

  • New civilian personnel system moves forward

    The Pentagon's personnel chief said he hopes to bring the first 300,000 civilian Defense Department employees under the new National Security Personnel System within the next six months.The system, authorized by the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, will introduce sweeping changes to

  • Barrier technicians ensure mission safety

    Their hard work and dedication is revealed in times of crisis, and throughout each flight mission, they are there.Mobile Aircraft Arresting System barrier technicians from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, are here for Cope India 04, the first bilateral dissimilar air combat exercise between the

  • Center steps up airlift support

    Strategic airlift directorate officials here are supporting an Air Mobility Command surge request with implications far beyond any in recent history.This strategic airlift surge, requiring both parts and aircraft, stems from an ongoing troop rotation touted as the largest swap out of U.S. forces

  • CAOC historians preserve past for the future

    Philosopher George Santayana once wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” With the volume of events from operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, someone has to decide what details from these operations are filed away for future leaders to draw upon years down

  • KC-135 team keeps fuel flowing down range

    One of the key missions of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing here is providing fuel to the fighters and bombers supporting coalition warfighters in Afghanistan.This means the KC-135 Stratotanker operators and maintainers from Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., and MacDill AFB, Fla., must keep their

  • Air Force Safety Center announces annual awards

    Air Force Safety Center officials recently named the Air Force Safety Award recipients for fiscal 2003.They are:-- Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award: Category I, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; Category II, U.S. Air Force Academy.-- Maj. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois Memorial Award: Air Mobility

  • Group turning crumbling symbol into a military airfield

    Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group civil engineers are turning what was once a crumbling symbol of oppression into a military airfield that supports operations aimed at eliminating terrorists.In 1955, the Soviet Union promised $100 million to Afghanistan. Part of that money was to

  • Deployed airmen represent honor, dignity

    The American flag waves in a light breeze, its bright colors standing out in stark contrast over the gray, cracked concrete of hardened, Soviet aircraft shelters that once represented a communist state. Below the flag, airmen wearing perfectly pressed desert camouflage uniforms stand at attention.

  • Sexual assault review panel visiting Sheppard

    A cross-functional review panel is examining reports of sexual assault by students at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas.Gen. Donald G. Cook, commander of Air Education and Training Command, selected Col. K.C. McClain, AETC deputy director of operations for technical training, to lead the panel's review

  • Reservists help clear Iraq streets, fields of bombs

    One wrong move could mean death for people who earn a living making bombs safe.Encountering weapons, explosive devices and booby traps is a daily activity for four explosive ordnance disposal technicians currently deployed to Iraq from the 917th Wing here."I put my life in the hands of my

  • Now showing: Feb. 17 edition of AFTV News

    The latest edition of Air Force Television News is devoted exclusively to the Air Force mission in Iraq. Tech. Sgt. Pachari Lutke and Staff Sgt. Leigh Bellinger spent about two weeks in the country working with various Air Force elements to tell “The Air Force Story in Iraq.”In this program,

  • Cope India 04 begins

    The first bilateral dissimilar air combat exercise between the U.S. Air Force and the Indian air force in more than 40 years began here Feb. 16. Approximately 150 airmen from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, are here for the exercise.Dissimilar AIR COMBAT TRAINING, otherwise known as DACT, is

  • Idea earns sergeant $10,000

    An noncommissioned officer assigned to the 4th Component Maintenance Squadron here earned $10,000 through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Tech Sgt. Scott Weimann used the IDEA program to propose a new method for replacing damaged electrical connectors on the F-15E

  • AFMC pilot initiative aids test, operational worlds

    An Air Force Materiel Command initiative to trade more than 20 unfilled military pilot positions for civilian personnel funding may bring more experience to the test world while putting more pilots in operational aircraft.The trade allows AFMC officials to hire civilian test pilots, primarily

  • Fuels flight powers Tallil

    In late March, they were some of the first Air Force airmen on the ground here and were instrumental in the air war effort against Saddam Hussein’s army, increasing the loiter time of A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft by providing the planes additional fuel.Almost a year later and with the

  • New visitor control bolsters base’s force protection

    The task for terrorists intent on attacking coalition forces here just got a lot more difficult Feb. 12 with the opening of the new visitor control center.The $1.3 million effort was the culmination of months of planning and construction.“In every aspect {including} the physical layout, the

  • Two Air Force reserve units earn DOD awards

    The top family readiness programs in the reserve component for 2003 were honored Feb. 13 during the Defense Department's annual awards ceremony in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.Master of ceremonies Marine Lt. Col. Ian Ferguson, of DOD's reserve affairs office, said the DOD Reserve Family Readiness

  • AFMC correcting capability shortfalls

    The commander of Air Force Materiel Command outlined the findings of the latest Capabilities Review and Risk Assessment at the 2004 Air Force Association Warfare Symposium in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Feb. 12.Gen. Gregory Martin explained how Air Force leaders meet to take a look at capabilities

  • Combat dentists keep troops’ teeth healthy

    The familiar high-pitch sound of a drill floats out from behind the curtain. Bits and pieces of decayed tooth are chipped away as the drill bores deeper and deeper. A cavity or other tooth emergency is never fun, but for soldiers and airmen in Iraq, help is just a dental visit away.The staff at

  • CSAF seeks improvements in warfighting

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper outlined new ways to make 21st century airmen faster, more efficient warfighters.General Jumper spoke at the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air Warfare Symposium in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Feb. 12.The general’s key point in addressing future capabilities

  • 'Transformation Flight Plan’ gives airmen roadmap to future

    Air Staff officials have put the finishing touches on the “Transformation Flight Plan,” which spells out the future direction of the Air Force.The TFP, a 176-page document, can be accessed through a link on the Air Force’s Internet home page at www.af.mil or on the office of force transformation Web

  • Air Force ready for 2005 BRAC

    The Department of Defense published in the Federal Register on Feb. 12 the criteria that will be used in selecting installations for the 2005 round of base realignment and closure. Air Force Director of Installations, Environment and Logistics Nelson F. Gibbs spoke that same morning to the House

  • Secretary reveals future systems at AFA symposium

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche revealed a list of new focus areas, as well as planned changes to existing systems and proposals for new aircraft that could significantly increase the service’s lethality and effectiveness.The secretary laid out plans to improve special operations,

  • Eglin people deliver valentines to veterans

    Valentine’s Day came early for more than 200 local veterans.The veterans were recipients of “Valentines for Vets,” thanks to a program that was initiated by former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ronald Fogleman, as an offshoot from the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, fittingly Feb. 8

  • ARC team offers link home, comfort

    There is a one-stop shop here that offers books to read, candy to eat, videos to watch and a shoulder to lean on during times of trouble. More than 1,000 books line the tent shelves, dozens of videos sit beneath a videocassette recorder and television, candy and snacks fill plastic containers, and a

  • Air Force NASCAR revs up for new season

    The Air Force will be represented in NASCAR’s biggest event when the 2004 Nextel Cup season kicks off at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Feb. 15. With some of the fastest 2004 preseason track test speeds, the Air Force-sponsored Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 NASCAR team is focused on

  • Squadron cleans bomb dump, makes area safe

    Munitions airmen are generally proud to tell people they work in the “bomb dump,” the endearing term often used to describe a base’s munitions storage area. An exception, however, might be when the dump is, well, a dump.Upon surveying the weapons storage area upon their arrival here in November,

  • Patriot Express missions diverted to support redeployments

    Air Mobility Command officials have temporarily cancelled several Patriot Express missions between the United States and Europe to use those aircraft to fill requirements for the massive Southwest Asia rotation of forces. AMC is supporting the movement of 250,000 troops in 60 days, a feat military

  • Stretching program loosens up work force

    Robins workers will soon be loose and ready for whatever may come along thanks to a new stretch and flex program. The program provides a five- to six-minute series of stretching exercises before beginning work shifts and throughout the day as needed.The program's activities focus on musculoskeletal

  • When all else fails, egress prevails

    The piercing sound of the terrain alert fills the cockpit. The engine has taken enemy fire, and despite the pilot’s attempts to regain control of the jet, it is on a downward spiral. At this stage, there is only one thing left to do. While the scenario may not be common here, the possibility of it

  • CSAF reconfirms service’s commitment to close-air support

    The Air Force is committed to upgrading close-air support for ground troops, the service’s senior officer said.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper met with the Senate Armed Services Committee on Feb. 10, as part of the 2005 Defense Authorization hearing series.“We are configuring our Air

  • General Jumper releases Sight Picture covering character

    In his Sight Picture released Feb. 11, the Air Force chief of staff emphasizes character as the foundation of Air Force core values and accomplishing the mission.“We have a responsibility to ourselves, the Air Force, and our nation to maintain a team of unquestionable character,” wrote Gen. John P.

  • Chaplain assistants more than just bodyguards

    During deployments, chaplains are called upon to provide spiritual services and be available for those who need to talk about their problems and concerns. But even chaplains need support to accomplish their mission.This is where the chaplain assistants come in. They take care of office functions

  • Wrestler's eyes fixed on Athens

    Sitting in a quiet corner of the wrestling room at the Olympic Training Center, Jacob Hey stares into the bright yellow color of the floor mats mentally preparing himself to conquer his next obstacle.A year after successful reconstructive shoulder surgery, the Greco-Roman wrestler is back to 100

  • Soldiers experience Air Force military education

    The Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Gunter Annex here has some new faces among its students: those of Army soldiers.The Army is back after pulling its students out of other service senior NCO academies in 1998 to teach them exclusively at the Army Senior NCO Academy in Fort

  • Ogden center delivers first Falcon STAR F-16

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

  • Hill equipment investigates whale geometry

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

  • Flying Old Glory for a grateful nation

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

  • Command post stays vigilant during darkest hours

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

  • Doors open for active duty to join Air Force Reserve

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

  • Next Aerospace Vehicle Test Course launches

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

  • Five airmen represent Air Force on ‘Family Feud’

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

  • Antenna shop technicians make waves

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

  • Special operators recount Iraq missions

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

  • Air Force, FAA continue air traffic control modernization efforts

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

  • C-130s modernized with new avionics

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

  • International student training requests increase

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

  • Combat Flightline keeps C-130s flying

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

  • Silently surveying surroundings

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

  • Donations arrive in Iraq, Afghanistan

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

  • IDEA brings Davis-Monthan man $10,000

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

  • Airman shares patriotism with thousands

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

  • Civil engineers putting shivers aside

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

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

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

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

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

  • Medical care at 15,000 feet

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

  • DOD has civilian buyout, retirement authority

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

  • Fleet Viability Board provides longevity assessment

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

  • Squadron supports 'Freedom Hangar' mission

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

  • Team reviewing academy’s athletic department

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

  • February issue of Airman available

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

  • Air Force boxer takes national crown

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

  • Multimedia shop keeps focus

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

  • Civil engineers’ work noticed every day

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

  • Proposed budget shows AF path

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

  • Oversight office changes name

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

  • Air Force redesigns Web site

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

  • Japanese forces arrive to help

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

  • Winter record set at Grand Forks

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

  • USTRANSCOM tackles rotations

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

  • Squadron part of rovers' success

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

  • AF medical facilities win awards

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

  • TO management becoming easier

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

  • Commander selections get boost

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

  • Guard legal team working hard

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

  • Reservist selected for NASA crew

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

  • Challenger crew memorialized on Mars

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

  • February issue of Citizen Airman available

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

  • Airmen test skills on Korean peninsula

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

  • Soldiers leaving AF gates

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

  • New software eases workload

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

  • Targeting pods bolster F-16 training

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

  • Firefighters keep flames at bay

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

  • Exercise tests shuttle rescue capabilities

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

  • Escorts keep base safe

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

  • Tallil NCO makes history

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

  • ‘Spiderman’ joins OEF

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

  • Air Force saves native remains

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

  • Changes in law environmental friendly

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

  • How to spend a million

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

  • Dedicated airmen fix, manage base vehicles

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

  • AF creates personnel system team

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

  • Battlefield calls go through MacDill

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

  • ‘Legend’ goes home after six months

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

  • Mentoring Month brings out role models

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

  • Air Force artist shows work

    At work, Master Sgt. Jeffery Kunkle is the quality assurance inspector for the 725th Air Mobility Squadron here. To friends and family, he is an aspiring artist. Sergeant Kunkle has been drawing since he was 8 years old, and recently showed his work at Peña Chuscho, a local art gallery located in