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  • Readiness troops break new ground at Iraqi base

    Setting up shop at Tallil Air Base, Iraq has the very first civil engineer readiness troops in-country working around the clock and setting milestones for their career field.Readiness teams employ the Air Force's full spectrum threat response plan to prepare the base for any attack or disaster, from

  • Mobile aeromedical staging facility cares for war's wounded

    Providing medical care to injured soldiers and airmen is the main job for 26 active duty and Reserve airmen of the 387th Air Expeditionary Group, deployed to a location in Southwest Asia.Comprising the Expeditionary Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility staff, the team members are a model of the

  • Bomber group heads home

    After dropping 3.2 million pounds of explosives and 9 million leaflets during 120 combat sorties, more than 1,000 airmen are packing up and going home from this forward-operating location. The redeployment of the 457th Air Expeditionary Group began April 24 with approximately a dozen B-52

  • NCO retraining programs begin

    The Air Force recently began the voluntary phase of its fiscal 2003 and 2004 noncommissioned officer retaining programs. The program is designed to help the Air Force balance its enlisted force by moving NCOs in specialties with surpluses to those with shortages, personnel officials said. It

  • Former POW recounts 67-month experience

    Even after 67 months as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, Col. George "Bud" Day could still recognize his wife Doris' footsteps as she walked up behind him at March Air Force Base, Calif., March 17, 1973.He said it was because of his lifelong faith in God and his deep-rooted love of country and

  • Air Force, Army coordinate fire

    Whether they are jumping out of aircraft or rolling in a convoy, one essential entity in any of the 82nd Airborne Division's operations carried out at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, is an Air Force Tactical Air Control Party.Without the TACP, soldiers would not have a team to arrange air cover

  • Feedback from survey to improve civilian leadership development

    A sampling of Air Force civilians in the grades of GS-12 through GS-15 have received and completed the civilian long-term training survey via e-mail in recent days.The 12-question survey, which is being distributed through April 25, is an opportunity for people to express their thoughts or concerns

  • Delivery for Baghdad

    Well aware of the threats on the ground around Baghdad, Iraq, a crew of six from the West Virginia Air National Guard loaded up their C-130 Hercules and headed for Iraq.The crew, who are deployed to a desert air base in Southwest Asia, said the mission was similar to the ones in the past but this

  • Total force team excels at bare base

    A total force team of active-duty, reserve and Guard airmen deployed to this austere deployed location have worked together to provide "amazing" support for Operation Iraqi Freedom, their commander said.The 485th Air Expeditionary Wing here is composed of active-duty F-15 Eagle fighters from Langley

  • Air Force names legal award winners

    Air Force office of the judge advocate general officials have named the winners of their 2002 annual awards. They are:-- Albert M. Kuhfeld Award for judge advocate of the year: Maj. James K. Floyd, Air Force Legal Services Agency, Bolling Air Force Base, D.C.-- Reginald C. Harmon Award for Air

  • Total force soars over Iraq

    Crewmembers from active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve joined forces in a KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling mission over Iraq on April 19.The crew consisted of the Wisconsin Air National Guard's Maj. Craig Campbell, active-duty pilot 1st Lt. Jacob Thornburg, and reservist Master

  • Officials announce Air Force fuels, supply awards

    Air Force officials recently announced the outstanding supply and fuels individual and unit awards for 2002.The individual supply winners are:-- Col. F. Badger Johnson III Senior Supply Manager of the Year: Lt. Col. Kenneth Hession from the 363rd Expeditionary Supply Squadron at Prince Sultan Air

  • U.S., Poland finalize deal on F-16s

    This month's signing of a military hardware deal with Poland is expected to kick off a long-term relationship between the United States and the former Warsaw Pact nation, according to Air Force officials.On April 18, Polish officials signed a deal to purchase 48 new F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft

  • New ID cards are secure, ready

    The high-tech identification common access card currently replacing the familiar green ID card worldwide is secure and proven in combat, despite some rumors to the contrary."Worries are unfounded" that the new ID cards are easily accessible to identity thieves or even hostile forces, said Chief

  • Security forces keep base secure

    At this forward-deployed Operation Iraqi Freedom location, two security forces airmen in an observation post keep a close watch on local shipping traffic with high-powered binoculars.At the search pit, military working dogs sniff through a vehicle before it is released to approach the entry control

  • JPRA helps return captives to normal life

    It's going to take more than returning Pfc. Jessica Lynch to the United States for her to get back to a normal life.Much the same could be said about the seven prisoners of war - her five unit comrades and two pilots - rescued April 13.After spending eight days in Iraqi captivity and a nearly equal

  • First impressions

    Tech. Sgt. Joseph Vest, a support airman for the 8th Fighter Squadron here, meets his 1-week-old son, Joseph Jr., for the first time after returning from a deployment. He was one of the airmen who returned April 17 after supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. About 300 people from Holloman AFB who

  • SARS has minor impact on upcoming exercises

    With major combat operations for Operation Iraqi Freedom wrapping up, airmen are watching the news closely for a potential new enemy -- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.Recent intense media coverage may make it seem as though the virus, known as SARS, is spreading uncontrollably. However, the

  • Air Force, Central Command set war trophy policy

    Servicemembers deployed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom may be tempted to bring home souvenirs of their war experience, but Air Force legal officials are urging them to think twice. Depending on the item, bringing home a "war trophy" could lead to court-martial, said Lt. Col. Karen L. Manos,

  • Some 'doctors' still make house calls

    Have mat, will travel.That is the newly adopted creed of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group's three-person physical therapy team at a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia. The 332nd EMDG is from the 10th Medical Group at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.Realizing that many of the pilots

  • Deployed chaplains: Faith on front lines

    Since the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Air Mobility Command chaplains have deployed alongside thousands of Air Force people.They offer spiritual and religious services and help increase the morale of these deployed warfighters, according to Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Gerald McManus, AMC's chaplain

  • Falcon phase crews push envelope

    For every 300 hours an F-16 Fighting Falcon spends in the air, it is required to go through an inspection.The F-16s at a forward-deployed location have been flying almost continuously since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, making these inspections, called phases, necessary more

  • Promotion study guides arrive in May

    The 2003 promotion fitness exam and supervisory examination study guides are expected at Air Force locations worldwide in May.Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron officials here said Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241, Volumes 1 and 2, Promotion Fitness Examination and U.S. Air Force Supervisory

  • On the cover

    Airman 1st Class Darnell Sharp provides cover fire during a security forces exercise here April 17. Sharp is assigned to the base's 39th Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Force photo by Airman Joseph Thompson)

  • Air component commander updates troops on Operation Iraqi Freedom

    Lt. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, the Operation Iraqi Freedom Combined Forces Air Component commander, visited this deployed location recently to update the troops on Operation Iraqi Freedom and to award a B-1B Lancer flight crew from the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing Distinguished Flying Crosses for

  • Boy Scout shows appreciation for deployed troops

    Patriotism and support for service members can even come from some of the country's youngest citizens.Corey Shoop, a member of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 43 in Carpentersville, Ill., recently made some members of the 40th Air Expeditionary Wing here, people whom he has never met before, part of

  • Airman killed in Iraq

    Department of Defense officials announced April 18 that Capt. Eric B. Das, 30, of Amarillo, Texas, was killed in action April 7 while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Das was assigned to the 333rd Fighter Squadron from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C.Das was the pilot of an F-15E Strike

  • Surgeon's skills stay sharp helping base

    The doctor and nurses, shrouded in gowns, gloves and facemasks, lay stainless-steel scalpels and clamps neatly on the plastic-covered tray next to the patient.One of the nurses squeezes around the operating stretcher to adjust the overhead lamps while the doctor picks up his tools and prepares to

  • U.S. war leader visits airmen

    The leader of U.S. Central Command stopped April 18 at a forward-deployed bomber location to show his appreciation for the job the airmen here have done.Army Gen. Tommy Franks gave a hearty "thanks" to more than 1,200 airmen who supported and flew 100-plus B-52 Stratofortress combat missions in

  • Predator is headache for enemy

    One of the most formidable aircraft in the Operation Iraqi Freedom arsenal does not even carry a pilot. Appearing almost toy-like at a mere 27 feet long, the RQ-1/MQ-1 Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle that remains a huge headache for enemy forces.Operated remotely by a pilot and sensor

  • Time-sensitive targeting adds combat flexibility

    An infusion of human decision making and 21st century technology has resulted in a system that has helped U.S. forces and their coalition partners dominate the battlefield in Iraq.Known as time-sensitive targeting -- TST for short -- this rapid response system is building a new level of flexibility

  • Nighthawks return home

    Five F-117 Nighthawks touched down here April 16 after supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.The tremendous support of the base and Alamogordo community provided the returning airmen with an outstanding homecoming, said Lt. Col. J.L. Briggs, an F-117 pilot returning from his

  • Tanker pilots fly with a little more in common

    Flying missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom has truly been an experience for Capt. Joel Higley and 1st Lt. Matt Mierek, 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron pilots deployed here from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.When they initially met back at their home station, they found they had a little

  • Aerial-refueling team awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses

    While conducting air-refueling operations above Iraq on April 7, a four-person crew took their KC-135 further into harm's way to help airmen in trouble.They were recognized for their actions by Lt. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Combined Forces Air Component commander, who flew in to Camp Oasis on April

  • The last goodbye

    Betty Lenzi, the mother of Maj. Gregory L. Stone, touches her son's casket before his burial at Arlington National Cemetery on April 17. Stone was the first Air Force casualty of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was assigned to the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by

  • Joint effort stands up Iraqi air base

    The Army said it was "austere." The Air Force called it "downright primitive."Regardless of the description, commanders on both sides agree the effort to turn an Iraqi air base into a coalition operations hub has been one of the finest examples of teamwork seem so far during Operation Iraqi

  • Lynch asks public to redirect gifts

    Pfc. Jessica Lynch, the former Iraqi prisoner of war now receiving treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here, has asked the public to send cards and letters in lieu of gifts and flowers.In a statement released by the medical center, Lynch said the outpouring of gifts from well-wishers around

  • Airman sent home to donate bone marrow

    While the war is waged and aircraft launch in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, another kind of mission is taking place ... a potentially life saving mission.Col. Erik Hearon, the regional air movement and control center director, jumped aboard an Air Mobility Command aircraft recently in hopes of

  • Bound for glory

    A Malmstrom missile maintenance team removes the upper section of an ICBM at a Montana missile site. The missile section was picked at random for a "glory trip," a test launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in August. The launch allows Malmstrom and Vandenberg officials to gather data on

  • JSTARS team always training for battle

    As military action continues in Iraq, coalition ground troops are in many ways counting on their guardian angels to guide the way.Those guardians, crewmembers from the 116th Air Control Wing here, are always ready. They are armed with the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System.Tech Sgt.

  • Officials announce 2002 operations awards

    Air Force officials announced the winners of the 2002 Air Force Airfield Operations Awards on April 14.The unit award winners are:-- Airfield Operations Flight Complex of the Year -- 51st Operations Support Squadron, Osan Air Base, South Korea.-- D. Ray Hardin Air Traffic Control Facility of the

  • 2002 contracting award winners announced

    Air Force officials will honor recipients of 2002 contracting awards in an April 22 ceremony at the Pentagon.The recipients of this year's awards are:-- Supervisory category: Lt. Col. Vincent J. Feck, 31st Contracting Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy.-- Non-supervisory category: Master Sgt.

  • Aid on the way

    Airmen deployed to Camp Sarafovo, Bulgaria, load humanitarian cargo onto pallets April 15. The cargo will be loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III and delivered to the people of Iraq. The airmen are assigned to the 409th Air Expeditionary Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Dave Ahlschwede)

  • C-130 crews keep the supplies coming

    When coalition air forces erupted in battle full force, it was business as usual for Master Sgt. John Spillane and fellow aircrew members of the 320th Air Expeditionary Squadron.As a C-130 Hercules loadmaster for the 320th AES, he and fellow cargo aircrews were busy setting the stage before the

  • Plotting the course

    Senior Airman Michael D. Vuyancih plots traffic-control points on a base map during a security forces exercise here. Vuyancih is with the 39th Security Forces Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Joseph Thompson)

  • Officials warn of flea, tick collar dangers

    Pentagon officials are, once again, advising servicemembers that flea and tick collars work great on pets, but not on humans.And officials at the Armed Forces Pest Management Board said good-intentioned citizens and family members should not include the collars in care packages to troops.Responding

  • Kirtland Guard, active duty work together in Bulgaria

    Supporting air-refueling operations for aircraft striking targets in Iraq has found Kirtland active-duty and Air National Guard airmen working together at Camp Sarafovo, Bulgaria.Security forces airmen from the New Mexico Air National Guard's 150th Fighter Wing and support people from the 377th

  • Airlift takes toll on Bashur Airfield

    The landing of many heavy cargo aircraft at Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq, has forced the closure of 2,000 feet of runway that cracked under the constant strain.That still leaves a 5,000-foot runway, more than enough for C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft to continue the airlift

  • Airmen stay busy despite end of major hostilities in Iraq

    Even though hostilities in Iraq appear to be winding down, airmen who fly combat missions over that war-torn nation say their job is not finished yet."We still have pockets of resistance in various areas, and until we have complete control we need to have air power up there supporting the ground

  • Rock merchants lighten up tense times

    When aircraft fly into Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq, some aircrews jump out of their plane to pick up a quick souvenir -- a rock or two.A trio of airmen who work on the flightline saw one too many of the flightsuit-wearing warriors taking little chunks of what they consider their hard-earned

  • Trip changes airman's view of Iraq

    For a combat cameraman from upstate New York, a six-hour ride from Kirkuk to Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq, was an eye-opening experience he will not forget.Trained to look for and document with his camera those moments that tell a story, Tech. Sgt. Steve Faulisi said he put away his camera and

  • Air Force announces productivity excellence awards

    Five Air Force teams and three people recently received top honors for their money-saving improvements to the Air Force.The Air Force Productivity Excellence Award recognizes Air Force airmen, civilians and small groups who have made substantial improvements in productivity. The winners' efforts

  • Bashur Airfield on roll; future still not set

    After two weeks of living on the edge of the noisy flightline, the airmen at Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq, moved their camp to higher ground.But the move -- 100 yards farther away from the airstrip - does not mean the 86th Expeditionary Contingency Response Group is planting roots at this

  • War sharpens air traffic control mission's focus

    Operation Iraqi Freedom is providing students attending the Air Force's only air traffic control school real-world examples of how their training will be used after graduation.The air traffic control school here trains about 1,000 airmen and international students each year, including new airmen,

  • AGE keeps maintainers in business

    They are the veins and arteries that carry the lifeblood to hundreds of workers keeping the coalition bombing effort pumping on time.The maintainers and bomb loaders depend on the airmen of the aerospace ground equipment shop to keep the flightline moving. Because of them, the heart of the mission

  • Support network available for families of deployed airmen

    For many years, families of active and reserve component airmen, along with Air Force civilian employees, have had to deal with the stresses associated with deployments and remote tours.However, families no longer have to endure these separations alone, according to Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Tester,

  • Moody AFB attorneys support 'Operation I Do'

    Dressed to the nines in his best desert camouflage uniform and surrounded by his security forces family, a nervous but calm deployed senior airman took part in "Operation I Do."Even though they were separated physically, Senior Airman James Evans and his fiance, Andrea, were reunited via fax and

  • Reservists provide medical care on POW's return flight

    Seven Air Force reservists provided medical care aboard the C-17 Globemaster III flight that brought Army Pfc. Jessica Lynch and 45 other patients to the United States on April 12.The crew consisted of five airmen from Wright-Patterson's 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, one from McChord AFB,

  • Extreme sports

    Senior Airman Ian Garcia takes a break at Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq. Garcia is part of a six-man explosive ordnance disposal team at the base. He said he put up the sign next to a mud hole because he was tired of seeing people walk by frowning, and he wanted them to smile. Garcia is

  • Air Force begins re-deploying some forces

    The Air Force has started re-deploying some its assets supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, according to defense officials.The return of B-2 Spirit, F-117 Nighthawk and some F-15 Eagle aircraft has already begun, the officials said. It is all part of a process to re-deploy forces no longer required

  • Coalition command post: coordination keeps aircraft, info flowing

    Flexibility is the key to airpower, but a lot of coordination and some planning are the keys to a successful integration of coalition partners in wartime. Such is the case for the 401st Air Expeditionary Wing command post, temporarily located at a Royal Air Force base in the eastern

  • Care packages raise morale at deployed location

    When you're deployed in the middle of nowhere, there are few things that can brighten your day like receiving a care package. After being deployed for more than two weeks, members of the 86th Expeditionary Contingency Response Group received a bundle of care packages from home April 12."Getting a

  • Air Force band members become 'warehouse warriors'

    Six Air Force band members traded their musical instruments for power tools recently as they competed in an episode of "Warehouse Warriors."Warehouse Warriors is a DIY (Do It Yourself) network television show that pits two teams against one another in a race against the clock to see who can complete

  • Dust, noise, heat not beating down Bashur airmen

    As airmen continue to unload cargo around the clock in the blazing sun, dust and noise at Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq, others ensure they stay healthy.A team of bioenvironmental engineers and public health troops look out for their welfare, preventing the things that could make them sick or

  • Motorcycle safety leaves no margin for error

    In December, a young airman was visiting his family for the holidays. After dinner and a movie with his mother, he told her he was going for a ride on his motorcycle. That was the last time she saw her son alive.He was 10 minutes from home when he lost control of his bike and was killed instantly.

  • Spitting incident reminds airmen to stay safe

    The wife of a military member here received an unexpected message recently from an anti-war protester.Jessica Resendez, who was wearing a sweatsuit printed with an Air Force emblem, was walking through a shopping center parking lot when a woman grabbed her sleeve and asked her if she was in the

  • Commander recounts historic Iraq C-17 airdrop

    It was by any measure a landmark moment for airlift operations and the C-17 Globemaster III. The nighttime airdrop last month of 1,000 "Sky Soldiers" from the 173rd Airborne Brigade behind enemy lines into northern Iraq was the largest combat airdrop since the invasion of Panama in December 1989

  • Bashur airmen toughing it out

    If they did not know before, the more than 200 airmen who run Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq now know what it is like living in austere conditions.Because if it was not for the cargo that transport aircraft drop off day and night, there would not be much here to write home about.The only claim to

  • B-52 Litening II pod used in combat

    For the first time in combat history, a B-52 Stratofortress used a Litening II targeting pod to strike targets at an airfield in northern Iraq on April 11, according to officials at the U.S. Central Command's combined air operations center.Using the Litening II system,a crew of reservists from the

  • Standing guard

    Tech. Sgt. Ken Joy stands guard as firefighters pump water from a stream near Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq. Joy and fellow security forces troops assigned to the 86th Expeditionary Contingency Response Group patrol the base perimeter, provide airfield protection and escort all airmen who leave

  • Airlift into Iraq shows no sign of slowing

    The airlift armada flying into Bashur Airfield in northern Iraq for the past two weeks has dropped off more than 10 million pounds of cargo bound for coalition forces.More than 170 C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules flights have brought in the cargo. The planes land day and night and the

  • Iraqi regime disintegration continues

    Signs of the disintegration of Saddam Hussein's regime abound in Iraq, U.S. Central Command officials said in a briefing in Qatar today.Pockets of regime resistance remain, but CENTCOM intelligence reports regime leadership and control systems have been broken, said Army Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks.

  • Reservists rescue troops during combat operations

    By the time U.S. forces rolled into downtown Baghdad, Iraq, deployed Air Force reservists from the 920th Rescue Wing had saved the lives of at least 10 American troops.According to Col. Tim Tarchick, 920th RQW commander, members of the wing were involved in at least four combat search and rescue

  • Former CMSAFs continue serving airmen

    Eight former chief master sergeants of the Air Force met with the man who currently holds the position and other senior leaders during a conference at the Pentagon on April 8 and 9.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray said the two days provided many opportunities for the group to

  • 484th AEW brings airpower to battlefield

    It is the largest and most diverse Air Force unit supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, yet few people know it exists, according to 484th Air Expeditionary Wing officials.Behind the scenes, the 484 AEW works quietly, providing combat enabling, contingency response, terminal attack and combat weather

  • Airmen help injured soldier

    Airmen recently helped a seriously injured soldier who was wounded in an ambush in southern Afghanistan.The same ambush killed two servicemembers. Army Sgt. Orlando Morales, 33, a native of Manati, Puerto Rico, and Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jacob L. Frazier, 24, of St. Charles, Ill., were the

  • Airfield management providing clear runway

    An increased operations tempo means busier traffic on the runways used by the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location. But thanks to the 380th Operations Support Squadron's airfield management team, the airfield environment remains clear and safe for base people.Only two months

  • Airman participates in 'Jocks-to-GIs' program

    A personnel specialist deployed to the 444th Air Expeditionary Group at a forward-deployed location is one of the nation's first servicemembers to participate in ESPN's "Jock-to-GIs Direct" e-mail pen pal program.Staff Sgt. Marty Markos, from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, was selected by

  • 2 airmen missing after F-15E goes down in Iraq

    Two coalition airmen are missing after their F-15E Strike Eagle went down in Iraq, officials announced April 8.The aircraft went down on April 7 at approximately 7:30 p.m. EDT, but the announcement was withheld for security reasons, according to U.S. Central Command officials.The pilot, weapon

  • Initial enlistment bonus program on track

    New recruits are now getting signing bonuses within days instead of months thanks to a completely revamped process, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here."It's a tremendous success story," said Master Sgt. Robert Tullgren, superintendent of the center's enlisted accessions and

  • Airman pulls man from burning building

    When fire roared through an off-base house here, the actions of a 1st Special Operations Squadron pilot saved a 94-year-old man's life.Capt. Tom Geiser was on a cordless phone late April 2 outside his house about three kilometers from Kadena Air Base."I saw smoke rising from a house about 50 yards

  • Air Force announces transportation awards

    Air Force officials recently announced the winners of the 2002 U.S. Air Force Transportation Awards.Unit winners include:-- Vehicle maintenance unit: 52nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.-- Vehicle operations unit: 86th LRS, Ramstein AB, Germany.-- Combat readiness

  • Air Force announces logistics plans awards

    Air Force officials recently announced the winners of the 2002 U.S. Air Force Logistics Plans Awards.Award winners include:-- Command senior manager: Maj. Christopher D. Long, 609th Air Support Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.-- Command manager: Capt. Gail Sledge, 8th Air Force, Barksdale

  • Scrubbing pads join cluster bombs in crucial fight

    To the arsenal of Air Force cluster bombs, joint direct-attack munitions and Maverick missiles, add scrubbing pads, towels and pressure washers.Without them, B-52 Stratofortress maintainers could not keep the forward-deployed location's hulking, aged aircraft clean and flying coalition bombing

  • CENTAF command chief addresses issues

    As Air Force operations continue in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the service's senior enlisted member in Southwest Asia says the exact future of operations has yet to be determined."The war isn't over," said Chief Master Sgt. Mack Williams, U.S. Central Command Air Forces command chief master

  • Thrift Savings Plan open season begins April 15

    Civilian and military employees can sign up for or change Thrift Savings Plan accounts during "open season" from April 15 to June 30."TSP is an easy, long-term retirement savings plan that everyone should consider," said Maj. Alessandra Stokstad, chief of the Air Force Personnel Center's contact

  • Pit stop

    Staff Sgt. Randy Simmons and Senior Airmen Benjamin David, Steven Campos and Matthew Easton push a new B-52 Stratofortress tire toward its mount April 7 at a forward-deployed location. Two or three of the 500-pound tires get changed each day at this base. The process takes about 20 minutes for

  • ONW fighters say final goodbye to Incirlik

    The last Operation Northern Watch mission flew March 17, but the end of the operation was not obvious until the last fighter aircraft roared out of here April 7.The last fighter planes, eight F-16CJ Fighting Falcons from the 55th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., left for home and did

  • Team helps troops travel on stomachs

    Underscoring the value of a well-fed force, Napoleon once asserted, "An army travels on its stomach."Despite a rapid and massive buildup for Operation Iraqi Freedom, the 386th Expeditionary Services Squadron's food services team didn't flinch at the task of feeding thousands of coalition bellies for

  • Transient-alert team keeps flightline running

    The flightline is a busy place and no one knows that better than the people who keep it all running smoothly at one forward-deployed location.The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's transient alert team has aircraft crew chiefs who ensure all the transient aircraft -- aircraft that do not belong to the

  • Assignment keeps recruiter, recruitee together

    When Airman 1st Class Natasha Butler reported for duty to the 463rd Airlift Group at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., in September 2000, she felt like she was coming home again.Not only was she from Little Rock, but her recruiter, Master Sgt. Lorenzo, was assigned to the same unit and she had

  • Night check

    Capt. Steven, a B-52 Stratofortress pilot from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., checks his night-vision equipment at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is deployed with the 457th Air Expeditionary Group. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Stacia M. Willis)

  • Personnel data system upgrade smooth, uneventful

    One week before the end of March, in the middle of a war, the military personnel data system underwent a major database upgrade -- and nobody noticed."After some of the things we've gone through that made MilPDS almost a four-letter word throughout the Air Force, this is an important

  • Dover team serves to honor fallen heroes

    With the arrival of remains from Operation Iraqi Freedom, the honor guard is performing more than its usual duties.Besides providing military funeral honors, honor guard airmen, working with the 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard), bring the remains to the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs

  • JAG discusses rules of combat

    When Americans go to war, they are armed with more than the best weapons and training the nation has to offer -- they are equipped with the "rule of law."According to the Air Force's senior lawyer, the United States fights wars differently from other nations."The Constitution governs everything we

  • Guard, Reserve airmen testify about effects of mobilization

    Members of Congress turned to a panel of noncommissioned officers April 3 to determine the price military reservists are paying to help defend the nation.Two members of the Air National Guard and an Air Force reservist were on the multi-service panel that told members of the House Armed Services

  • Agreement establishes Fighter Associate Program

    Air Force Reserve Command and Air Combat Command have joined forces to begin the Fighter Associate Program.Gen. Hal M. Hornburg, ACC commander, and Lt. Gen. James E. Sherrard III, AFRC commander, signed a memorandum of agreement that took effect April 2.The Fighter Associate Program is designed to

  • Forces join together to fuel the coalition

    The U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force have joined forces at an RAF base in the Eastern Mediterranean to set up a refueling mission.A refueling system was needed that was more efficient than refueling aircraft by fuel trucks, according to RAF Warrant Officer 2nd Class Paul

  • Aviano volunteers make deployment transit experience memorable

    Luke-warm coffee and a plate of stale cookies while waiting to move forward are deployment facts of life, right up there with tent living and a quarter-mile hike to the bathroom.Thanks to a program named Operation Yellow Ribbon, individuals passing through here are treated to something a little out

  • Team's efforts help warplanes go farther

    What do a maintenance scheduler, an information management specialist and an F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief have in common?Normally, not a whole lot. But at a desert air base, they are all part of a 16-person team sent from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., that augments the 363rd Expeditionary