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  • Lackland civilian wins DOD award

    Department of Defense officials named the 2003 Outstanding DOD Employee with a Disability Award during a recent ceremony in Bethesda, Md.Raymond Jenks, an instructional systems specialist with the 37th Training Support Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is the winner.“It really feels great

  • B-2 reaches full operational capability

    The B-2 Spirit reached full operational capability status, Lt. Gen. Bruce Carlson announced Dec. 17 during a ceremony here. The event was marked by the Spirit of Missouri's re-enactment of its first delivery here 10 years ago."The B-2 Spirit is combat-proven. It's now officially fully

  • AF names environmental winners

    The Air Force civil engineer announced the winners of the Gen. Thomas D. White Environmental Award for 2003.Nine of the winners are eligible for the secretary of defense environmental-security award and will go forward as the nominees.The 2003 winners are:-- Environmental Quality Award

  • SG prioritizes influenza vaccinations

    The Air Force is taking prudent steps to protect the health and safety of all its beneficiaries in light of the early onset of influenza.The nationwide increase of influenza cases and reports of severe complications, including deaths, has led to a higher demand for influenza vaccination than in

  • OSI investigation garners excellence award

    Detachment 102 of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations here has been awarded the President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency Investigative Excellence Award. The detachment won the award for its work on the case of the United States vs. Arguin. Investigators worked with U.S. General

  • Crowds gather for re-enactment

    More than 34,200 people stood in mud, the cold and rain, and under gray sky to witness the climax of a yearlong celebration.The event was not even something original or new, but something that had been done before -- exactly 100 years before.The crowd gathered to watch a re-enactment of Orville and

  • Roche visits RAF Mildenhall troops

    The secretary of the Air Force visited here Dec. 11 and 12 to say “thanks” to the men and women for their hard work during the past year.During his two-day trip, Dr. James G. Roche toured aircraft and units, received mission briefings and, most importantly, met with the airmen he specifically came

  • Four earn 2003 Sijan award

    Four airmen are being recognized with the service's 2003 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. The Sijan award annually recognizes senior and junior officer and enlisted airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities while assigned to organizations at the wing level or below.The 2003

  • Stars tour Iraq for holidays

    Airmen and soldiers crowded the only hangar here Dec. 17 in hopes of capturing a glimpse of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several entertainers who were traveling throughout Iraq.Gen. Richard Myers brought with him Academy Award winning actor and comedian Robin Williams, Olympic gold

  • C-17 debuts in exercise

    For the first time, the C-17 Globemaster III was included in a mission-employment exercise held here the first two weeks of December. The C-17 adds a greater air-mobility presence to the exercise, which allows combat air forces to get a better idea of how the airlifters are used, said Lt. Col. John

  • Tallil airmen donate clothes to Iraqis

    Airmen here have found a way to become involved with the local Iraqi community through a joint operation with the Army.As airmen leave the base after their tours of duty, many dispose of their civilian clothes. Officials here decided to collect the discarded clothes, clean them and give them to

  • AF identifies operational shortfalls

    Air Force officials released a list of operational shortfalls Dec. 17. The list came from a two-year analysis of current and future warfighting effects and capabilities, a process called a capabilities review and risk assessment.The assessment identified and prioritized critical operational

  • ‘Spirit of Freedom’ dedicated at AF museum

    U.S. Air Force Museum officials formally inducted a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber into the institution’s aircraft collection Dec. 16. The Air Force’s national museum is the first place to permanently exhibit the stealth bomber to the public.During the dedication ceremony, officials christened the

  • Air Force boxers qualify for Olympic trials

    Three Air Force boxers have qualified for the U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials during the 2003 Armed Forces Boxing Championship held at Camp Lejeune, N.C., from Dec. 7 to 12. -- Airman 1st Class Hector Ramos from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., won the 132-pound lightweight class. -- Airman James Johnson

  • Replacements sought for aging helicopters

    An aging fleet of combat search and rescue helicopters is leading Air Force officials on a quest for a new personnel recovery vehicle.The HH-60G Pave Hawks that comprise the CSAR helicopter fleet are 14 years old on average. The oldest are 23 years old and have surpassed the 7,000 flying-hour mark.

  • Readiness Challenge postponed

    Mission requirements have forced Air Force officials to again postpone Readiness Challenge VIII, the biennial multinational combat-support competition. No makeup date has been announced, but officials said they hope to resume competition in 2005. The competition was scheduled to return in 2004

  • KC-10 crew flies flag of hope

    A KC-10 Extender crew at a forward-deployed location carried a special message of hope and peace on their flight over Iraq on Dec. 9.As part of the project “Hands on America,” the crew displayed from their boom window an 86-by-76-inch American Flag hand-crafted by Iowa school students. In doing so,

  • Secretary discusses Air Guard’s future

    Bold innovation and seamless integration of active-duty and Air Reserve Component forces are vital to winning America’s future battles, the service’s top executive said.“The Air National Guard must remain ready, reliable and relevant … to meet the joint force’s needs in theater combat,” Secretary of

  • Firefighter challenge to air on ESPN

    Air Force and Department of Defense firefighters will get airtime this weekend as ESPN2 broadcasts the 12th annual Firefighter Challenge at 2 p.m. EST on Dec. 21.Twelve military teams participated in the Firefighter Challenge competition, joining almost 200 other fire departments from the United

  • Civilians will see increase in pay

    While a civil service pay bill awaits congressional action, Air Force civilian employees should see an average 2-percent increase in their January paychecks.Air Force Personnel Center officials here said a 2-percent increase for general schedule employees will go into effect automatically and that

  • Group explains re-employment rights

    Bobby Hollingsworth calls it “closing the loop.”He is the executive director of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, commonly referred to as ESGR. He is referring to how that organization is taking its message to members of the National Guard and other reservists,

  • Airman plays big role in B-2 legacy

    He is Whiteman 7. He is Spirit 36. He is “GQ.” He is the first Whiteman-trained B-2 Spirit instructor pilot. And now, he is the project officer for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Spirit of Missouri’s arrival here Dec. 17.Col. Scott Land, 509th Operations Group deputy commander,

  • Airmen react to Hussein’s capture

    There was cautious enthusiasm here the afternoon of Dec. 14 when rumors began floating that Saddam Hussein, the ace of spades in the “55 Most Wanted” deck of cards, might have been captured.For most people, the sound of gunfire outside the perimeter gate was nothing out of the ordinary, as

  • Fuels airmen keep aircraft fighting

    Working out of a tiny corner of a dilapidated, Soviet-built aircraft hangar here, four airmen work around the clock to do their part in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.They are the Air Force's petroleum, oil and lubricant specialists assigned to the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group.The POL

  • Airmen rescue shrimp boat crew

    Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing rescued two crewmembers of a sunken shrimping vessel Dec. 10.Wing officials sent two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters at 4:15 p.m. to the scene, about 30 miles off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Fla.The crew had been sailing toward Bermuda when their boat apparently

  • Air Force celebrates Centennial of Flight

    The U.S. Air Force is bringing aviators, aircraft and adventure to the First Flight Centennial Celebration here through Dec. 17.The celebration commemorates the past century of flight and looks to the next generation of aviators to further the Wright brothers' dream."The Centennial of Flight is as

  • Airmen ongoing an ‘Amazing Race’

    Many organizations here have active group fitness programs. Some airmen head to the fitness center to play volleyball, while others go there and do timed push-ups and sit-ups.Each month, Space and Missile Systems Center Detachment 11 and Electronic Systems Center Detachment 5 airmen come together

  • Airmen keep water flowing at Tallil

    When airmen here turn on a water faucet to brush their teeth or take a shower, they may not think about where the water comes from. But it takes six airmen working 12-hour shifts to keep the water flowing here around the clock.The pressure on them to keep water on tap is high because running

  • Marines storm Eglin for exercise

    Marines stormed the beaches of the Eglin Gulf Test Range here Dec. 12 for a weeklong training exercise. The exercise involves ships, a submarine, aircraft and about 1,600 troops from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit of Expeditionary Strike Group Two.The Air Armament Center's 46th Test Wing airmen

  • Officials prohibit war trophies

    Servicemembers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are prohibited from bringing back to the United States any items that were formerly in the possession of the enemy, officials said. With about 140,000 American servicemembers scheduled to rotate out of Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command

  • FEGLI rates rise for some

    Some Air Force people covered by Federal Employees Group Life Insurance will see an increase in premiums in January.Civilian employees in the Option B 70 to 80 or older age bands are slated for the increase the first full pay period of the new year, said Janet Thomas of the Air Force Personnel

  • Airmen control northern Iraq flights

    With equipment older than many of its users, air traffic control services here present some unique challenges for the 32 people keeping Air Force and Army aircraft operating safely.Adapting to the challenges, airmen working in the 506th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron are responsible for

  • General addresses supply-chain problems

    When boxes of bubble wrap, filing cabinets and DVDs show up among "Triple Nine" cargo -- a number that designates the Air Force's highest priority shipment that usually is assigned to military units in places like Iraq -- it tells Gen. John W. Handy there is a problem with the military's supply

  • Smithsonian opens new facility

    One of the most popular museums of the Smithsonian Institution here celebrated its expansion with a day honoring military aviation veterans.Military aviators from conflicts as far back as World War II were invited to the "Salute to Military Aviation Veterans" Dec. 9, at the National Air and Space

  • Thunderbirds release 2004 schedule

    The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, known as the Thunderbirds, announced its 2004 air show schedule. The team is scheduled to perform more than 65 shows in 22 states, Canada and Asia.The 2004 schedule is:March27 and 28 -- Punta Gorda, Fla.April3 and 4 -- Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.17 and

  • Cadet named academic all-American

    An academy senior has been named to the 2003 Academic All-American Men’s Soccer Team, a first in the 48-year history of men’s soccer here.Cadet 1st Class Casey Chronister, of Yakima, Wash., is a forward and team co-captain on the soccer team, is a second-team selection and has a 3.85 grade point

  • Air Force names athletes of the year

    The Air Force announced its 2003 Athletes of the Year on Dec. 3 at the annual Athletic Business Conference in Orlando, Fla.This year’s Athletes of the Year are Capt. Kevin Eastler, from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; and 1st Lt. Laura McDonald, from Randolph AFB, Texas.Eastler, the United States’

  • AFN broadcasts from Baghdad

    U.S. military broadcasters hit the airwaves in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 10 with the first manned American Forces Radio and Television Service broadcast from the country.American Forces Network-Iraq, features live shows, news, sports, weather and commentary 24 hours a day in Baghdad. By the end of

  • Airmen resume refurbishing tankers

    As the saying goes, it's what's on the inside that counts. That is the case for a 45-plus-year-old KC-135 Stratotanker that has recently gone through an interior sprucing-up, by airmen of the 92nd Maintenance Squadron’s equipment excellence shop here."These improvements are critical to our

  • C-130J squadron created

    The Air Force reactivated the 48th Airlift Squadron here Dec. 5, to establish the first active-duty C-130J Hercules training squadron in the Air Force.The reactivation of the 48th AS, the third flying unit attached to the 314th Airlift Wing here, will train crews in the newest generation of C-130s.

  • Lightless holiday tree honors missing

    Peggy Marish-Boos had been assigned here to the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office for two years when she finally asked, "Why don't we ever have a Christmas or holiday tree?""Somebody said the government doesn't provide funds for such frivolous things," said Marish-Boos, who then in 1998 was an

  • OSI team dedicated to safety, security

    From improving the quality of life to taking off and landing on the runway here, each and every unit assigned here has an important mission. The Air Force Office of Special Investigation Forward Operating Location 19 is no exception.The special agents here are dedicated to making the base a more

  • PFE changes with feedback

    Master sergeants and senior master sergeants studying for promotion in 2005 will have a combined study reference because of feedback to the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron here.The consolidation of the Promotion Fitness Examination Study Guide and Supervisory Examination Study Guide into

  • Airmen help improve C-130 night missions

    Air Force survival equipment technicians are helping make Pacific Air Force nighttime airlift operations safer by replacing the interior insulation on C-130 Hercules aircraft during an ongoing refurbishment program here. During night training, C-130 aircrews use Night Vision Imaging System

  • Deployed airmen plead guilty to thefts

    Two airmen pleaded guilty and were sentenced recently to bad conduct discharges, reductions in rank and confinement for a series of thefts that occurred here during a two-week period in October.Airman 1st Class Victor Adams Jr. and Airman Jamie Smith pleaded guilty to multiple counts of larceny and

  • Officials release F-16 accident report

    Air Force investigators have determined trapped external fuel because of an aircraft malfunction and the pilot’s failure to properly monitor his fuel status were the causes of an F-16 Fighting Falcon crash in Iraq on June 12.The aircraft was assigned to the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and

  • AFPC passwords reset online

    More than 500 people forget their passwords to the Air Force Personnel Center’s customer service Web applications every day. Many of them are unaware they can reset a password on their own online within seconds, officials said."Instead, hundreds of people call the technical assistance center

  • CSAF signs Air Force Basic Doctrine

    The service’s core document outlining the enduring basics of air and space power has been revised and hard copies will be in the hands of every officer and top-three noncommissioned officer by spring 2004.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper approved the latest revision to Air Force Doctrine

  • Air Force logistics moves into new century with ‘eLog21’

    With the creation of the Air Force Installations and Logistics Directorate of Innovation and Transformation, the Air Force is updating the way logistics processes work.“There are some things we are still doing that fit a Cold War scenario,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Zettler, Air Force deputy chief of

  • Civilian makes sculptures from recyclables

    Turning discarded aluminum soda cans, fabric, cardboard, plastic, glass, newspaper and wood into environmental art is a labor of love for Helen Walker.“Environmental art sculptures are very effective because they tell a story,” said the quality assurance evaluator for the 89th Civil Engineer

  • December issue of Airman available

    Learn where the Air Force is heading with the future of flight, take a look at airmen supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, and learn about a unique program creating elite canine airmen. These features and more highlight the December issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online at

  • EOD ensures runway safety

    Remnants from the 1991 Gulf War still reside here, and the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal team is ensuring those remnants are not able to put people in harm’s way.The EOD team is working to remove ordnance found in the vicinity of the runway that was

  • Simulator improves command post training

    A state-of-the-art simulator in the 334th Training Squadron here is giving command post apprentice course students vivid training, making them more mission-ready upon graduation.The new $500,000 simulator replaced a 20-year-old system that was losing its upgrade capability, said squadron

  • Putting the pieces together

    It is like putting together a puzzle; where does each piece fit? In the case of aircraft maintenance here, how can aircraft best fit on the ramp?"With limited space, it's almost like playing Tetris," said Maj. Stella Smith, Detachment 1 Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander. "With

  • 'Starr' helps NORAD track Santa

    A “Starr” in the east will help guide North American Aerospace Defense Command’s Santa-tracking tradition Dec. 24. The Starr is none other than former Beatle, Ringo Starr, who will be NORAD’S honorary Santa tracker for Christmas 2003.“Santa and I are personal friends,” Starr said from his home in

  • Training starts with aerospace physiology

    While being spun in a chair and parasailing hardly sound like intense pilot training exercises, they are several techniques aerospace physiology experts use to train Air Force pilots.Within the first eight and a half days of pilot training, students become familiar with air and ground survival

  • New schools, centers of excellence created

    Two new centers of excellence and two Air Force schools have been created, Air Mobility Warfare Center officials announced Nov. 25.The warfare center now will be home to the centers for agile-combat support and for air mobility as well as the U.S. Air Force Mobility Operations School and the U.S.

  • Military dogs help defend Iraq

    Hiding behind mounds of dirt or anything else his handler could find, Tino sat and waited for an intruder to breach the base’s fence on his random listening and observation post. Suddenly, the military working dog’s ears, eyes and nose zeroed in on two men as they entered the base’s perimeter. As

  • Now showing: Nov. 24 edition AFTV news

    The terrorist threat of urban warfare and how the Air Force is preparing for it, is highlighted in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Tech. Sgt. Pachari Lutke goes to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to report on training airmen are getting before deploying to places like Iraq and

  • ACSC launches force-development curriculum

    More than 500 majors attending Air Command and Staff College here are the first to experience a more robust and tougher curriculum. The changes, directed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper, prepare officers for operational career broadening and increase their knowledge of military

  • Chu calls authorization act 'transformational'

    The Defense Department's top personnel and readiness official called the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act "transformational" for its support of the department's aim to change to confront the threats of the future.President George W. Bush signed the act into law during a Pentagon

  • Cadet named Rhodes Scholar

    An academy senior added a Rhodes Scholarship to her growing list of accomplishments Nov. 22.Cadet 1st Class Delavane Diaz was one of 32 U.S. citizens who will take post-graduate degree courses at the University of Oxford, in Oxford, England. Diaz, who was also an Academic All-District Team

  • SG: Lessons learned in OEF help in Iraq

    Lessons learned in Operation Enduring Freedom have resulted in better patient care and better interoperability with other services during Operation Iraqi Freedom, said the Air Force surgeon general. He recently completed a 10-day tour visit to the OEF and OIF theaters.“We learned a large number of

  • SOCSOUTH moving to Homestead

    U.S. Special Operations Command officials announced that Special Operations Command, South will move from Roosevelt Roads Naval Base, Puerto Rico, to a new headquarters site at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., within a year.Gen. Bryan D. Brown, USSOCOM commander, made the decision the week of Nov.

  • Bush signs defense authorization act

    Calling it a landmark piece of legislation that sends the clear message that "Americans stand with the United States military," President George W. Bush signed the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act in a Pentagon ceremony here Nov. 24.A bipartisan group of legislators and Department of

  • Gunship crew earns MacKay trophy

    An AC-130H Spectre gunship crew from the 16th Special Operations Squadron here was awarded the Clarence MacKay Trophy recently for most meritorious flight of the year.The 14 airmen of “Grim 31” received the Air Force-level award for saving the lives of 82 U.S. soldiers and two HH-60 Pave Hawk

  • Falcons’ loss finishes season

    The San Diego State end zone was Falcon-free as the Aztecs dealt Air Force a 24-3 loss to end the Falcons’ football season Nov. 22.“It’s the first time since the 2001 opener that Air Force has been held without a touchdown,” said Tom Craft, San Diego State head coach. “We were glad that we were

  • Implant restores instructor’s hearing

    After serving 22 years on active duty, retired Maj. Robert Graves was stricken with sudden hearing loss in 1990."I woke up, and everyone sounded like they were a block away in a tunnel even though they were in the same room with me," he said.Stationed at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, at the time, he

  • Doctrine summit focuses on lessons learned

    Doctrine Summit IV gave Air Force leaders the chance to discuss lessons learned from recent and on-going operations and to assess practices for better educating, organizing, training and equipping the service to fight the next fight.The summit was held Nov. 17 and 18 at the Air Force Doctrine

  • New protection ahead in helmets, body armor

    New, reinforced helmets and body armor currently being fielded to the military represent just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what is on the drawing board for protecting warfighters of the future.The future fighting force will have far superior protective systems that provide enhanced

  • SecDef addresses military at Osan

    Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld spoke with nearly 1,000 airmen, soldiers, sailors, Marines and family members here Nov. 18 during a town hall meeting.“It’s a real privilege for me to be with those who are doing so much to keep the peace in such an important part of the world,” Rumsfeld

  • Twins help save girl's life

    Teamwork and the immediate actions of two 7-year old boys here helped save a girl's life recently. The twin brothers, Mark and Matthew Jordan, are second-graders at Cummings Elementary School and were playing at a playground when they noticed something out of the ordinary. A 7-year-old girl was

  • Cope North trains airmen in Guam

    Air Force fighter aircraft mechanics and Japanese air self-defense force members are participating in exercise Cope North 04-1 here, to enhance the execution of air operations defending Japan. This year, more than 100 airmen from Kadena Air Base, Japan, have been sharing techniques and experiences

  • Officials focus on ‘art-of-war’ decisions

    A new capability demonstrated by Electronic Systems Center officials here drives right to the heart of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen John P. Jumper’s quest for “machine-to-machine” automation of command and control.Known as Synchronized Air Power Management, this process gets air battle managers out

  • Seasons greetings host has AF background

    The emcee for a whirlwind musical and comedy show making six stops in Europe carries with her three decades of Air Force family life and the want to give back to her country.Mary Therese Tebbe is the hostess for the Air Force Reserve's Operation Seasons Greetings program. It includes combined Air

  • Space-acquisitions policy changes

    Air Force leaders announced a change in space-acquisition policy at a Senate Armed Services subcommittee meeting Nov. 18.Undersecretary of the Air Force Peter B. Teets and Lt. Gen. Brian Arnold, Space and Missile Systems Center commander, testified before members of the strategic forces

  • Motorglider lands with ‘wheels up’

    An Air Force Academy TG-14 motorglider landed with its landing gear up at Peterson Air Force, Colo., on Nov. 19. Two officers were on board. Neither was injured.The officers were flying the motorglider on a training mission. The TG-14 Super Ximango has two seats and is used for introductory

  • Working group releases museum report

    Independent working group officials, tasked to review the Air Force Museum's operational procedures, released their findings Nov. 18. The working group was assembled after museum artifacts turned up lost or missing.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche chartered the working group Sept. 15

  • Rescue center helps save pilot

    A Coast Guard pilot is alive thanks to quick action from Pacific Rescue Coordination Center workers on Nov. 16, officials said. Lt. Cmdr. William Spears, who was en route to Oakland, Calif., from Honolulu, crashed his single-engine Canard Pusher aircraft into the ocean Nov. 14, following an

  • Two programs help officers join JAG Corps

    Company grade officers who want to join forces with the Air Force's Judge Advocate General Corps will have a chance from January to March.Two programs, the Funded Legal Education Program and the Excess Leave Program, allow active-duty officers to pursue law degrees without ever leaving the Air

  • Personal beacon used in first rescue

    A Cleveland man was rescued Nov. 14 through the help of a personal locator beacon and efforts of Air Force Rescue Coordination Center officials here. The rescue marks the first such use of personal locator beacons in the contiguous United States.Carl Skalak was in the Adirondack Mountains of

  • Changes making civilian jobs easier to fill

    Internal and external job seekers will find some differences when applying for an Air Force nonbargaining career-program position."These changes reflect our effort to improve service, timeliness and quality of candidates referred for (job) vacancies," said Isabel Herrera, personnel management

  • 'One click, one call' customer service arrives for pay, personnel issues

    A one-stop customer service phone number and Web page are up and running, linking several call centers and online resources Air Force people use when managing personnel and pay information.A single phone number and a companion Web site now make it easier for Air Force active-duty and reserve

  • Lobos take bite out of Falcons bowl chances

    The University of New Mexico Lobos took a 24-12 bite out of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s bowl aspirations with a dominating win at Lobo Stadium on Nov. 15.“They certainly made the plays, their team deserved to win, and they were the better football team today,” said Fisher DeBerry, Falcons head

  • Coalition health care a combined effort

    The mission of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing here is to project combat airpower in the U.S. Central Command area of operations. But that mission is not possible without a fit, healthy team of international coalition members operating as a cohesive team. Medics from the 376th Expeditionary

  • Iron Hammer continues pounding

    Air Force and Army aircraft reportedly pounded insurgent staging and operating facilities and killed seven people preparing an attack on U.S. forces during the second night of Operation Iron Hammer in Iraq.U.S. Central Command officials reported Nov. 14 that F-16 Fighting Falcons overnight destroyed

  • Deployed airmen help Kyrgyz children

    A small group of security forces airmen here made a large impact on the lives of a group of ailing, special needs and underprivileged children from a local orphanage Nov. 8 as part of an ongoing humanitarian effort.The group of 10 airmen, predominantly from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., used

  • AF sponsors Busch Series race car

    The next generation of the Wood Brothers racing team dynasty is “Crossing into the Blue” driving a specially painted Ford Taurus prominently featuring the Air Force logo and colors. Coming on the heels of his recent NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at Martinsville, Va., Jon Wood is making his 2003

  • Tae Bo creator helps open fitness center

    Pounding music, NBA-style introductions and cheers of more than 500 people accompanied the base’s 18-person fitness team as they ran onto the new basketball court Nov. 7 to workout with Billy Blanks, the creator of Tae Bo.The mix of military and civilians, spouses, children and friends turned out

  • Chaplain recalls journey from communism

    They would have arrested and interrogated him if he were not so sick.The Communist Party in Poland had heard enough of Father Stanislaw Pieczara’s Masses on Dec. 14, 1981. Just one day before, Soviet Union-based marital law locked the nation down. Pieczara prepared what he called a “joyful” Mass

  • Work on 'LANs' proves airworthy

    A C-135C Speckled Trout crew recently tested an airborne local-area-network system designed to provide global broadband communications via satellite.A year in the making, the flight test launched a six-month initiative to prove this commercial off-the-shelf system can provide high-speed Internet,

  • Retired CMSAF shares lessons with airmen

    The fifth chief master sergeant of the Air Force, Robert Gaylor, retired from the Air Force 24 years ago, but he is still on a mission for bluesuiters.He said he spoke to about 500 people here recently with one goal in mind -- that the audience left feeling it was time well spent.“I think most of

  • First C-5 arrives at Balad

    The first C-5 Galaxy arrived here Nov. 12, from Dover Air Force Base, Del., increasing the Air Force presence at the Army's Logistical Support Area. A 14-person crew and about 21 truckloads of war materiel were on board the aircraft."This event is a significant milestone in support of the global

  • Tax relief aids military, families

    Legislation signed by President George W. Bush on Nov. 11 increases the death gratuity payment to $12,000 and provides that the full payment is tax-free.That portion of the Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 is retroactive to Sept. 10, 2001, to provide for servicemembers who died in the

  • City-base concept still progressing

    What used to be Brooks Air Force Base here is through its first year of morphing into a technology and business park via a unique partnership between the Air Force and San Antonio.Now known as Brooks City-Base, the technology park has sparked interest from numerous companies and organizations

  • Bucs show support for Guard, Reserve

    The NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers joined a cadre of Fortune 500 companies and thousands of America's employers Nov. 11 to show support for U.S. servicemembers.John Lynch, Buccaneers' safety, along with several local businessmen signed the Statements of Support for the National Guard and Reserve at the

  • First C-5 Galaxy aircraft retires

    The first C-5 Galaxy to be retired from the Air Force inventory was delivered Nov. 4 to the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.Maintainers here prepared the Lackland AFB, Texas-based aircraft for long-term storage. The gigantic C-5 is an outsized

  • Rumsfeld: 'Success' is exit strategy

    With "success" as the exit strategy, the numbers of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq in the meantime "will depend on the security situation on the ground," the Defense Department's top civilian said here Nov. 10.Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld added that American troop strength in Iraq also

  • Injured Iraqi child flown to America

    A C-130 Hercules crew from here flew a critically wounded Iraqi child on the first leg of an aeromedical evacuation mission to the United States on Nov. 8.The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing crew’s mission was to help save the child’s life, officials said.Nine-year-old Saleh Kahlaf was critically

  • Global Hawk returns from Germany

    The Air Force’s Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle has returned home from a successful three-week deployment to Germany, according to program officials.Landing at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Nov. 7, after a 21.6 hour transatlantic flight, the vehicle