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  • 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

  • Boxers fight toward armed forces competition

    The last time the Air Force boxing team won the armed forces title only two of this year’s 31 training camp attendees had even been born. That 1975 championship squad was the last first-place finish Air Force enjoyed before the Army’s dynasty captured 26 of the next 28 inter-service crowns.For the

  • Survey helps turn things around

    Great deeds can be built on small gestures. And with a good plan, it is possible to turn a unit around on a dime.When Vicki Preacher came here in July 2001 to fill the top post in the environmental management directorate, she found problems with morale spilled onto the mission.“There was

  • Airmen say ‘I do’ in Black Hawk

    Two airmen said "I do" above Iraqi soil in an Army UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter here Nov. 6.Airmen 1st Class Vernon Millican and Toni Chapman, both of the deployed security forces contingent here, pledged to spend the rest of their lives together before God and four of their friends during the

  • Air Force crushes Army, 31-3

    Three Marchello Graddy fumble recoveries and three Joey Ashcroft field goals helped lead the Air Force Academy Falcons to its seventh victory of the season, beating the Army team 31-3.“It’s a win we desperately needed. We hadn’t won a game in 28 days,” said Fisher DeBerry, Falcons head coach. “The

  • Multiple factors cause T-1 accident

    Air Force officials completed their investigation of the Aug. 16 incident involving a T-1A Jayhawk. The aircraft from Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, departed the runway during a landing rollout at Keesler AFB, Miss., and sustained an estimated $2.5 million in structural damage.Accident

  • Team helps get news to America

    Senior coalition leaders in Iraq are about to increase their ability to keep America informed.Two state-of-the-art ultracompact satellite terminals -- along with a two-person team to set them up and get them working -- are on their way to Iraq. Starting in late November, the satellites will beam

  • Guardsmen begin Christmas season

    Santa’s C-130H turboprop Hercules sleigh delivered toys, clothing, books, school supplies and water to nearby Shishmaref on Nov. 6 to kick off the Christmas season. For the children and families of the remote island community, it was a special treat they looked forward to, officials said.“We’re

  • Bush thanks servicemembers in Iraq

    President George W. Bush sent the following message via the American Forces Radio and Television Service on Nov. 5:"It is my great privilege to speak to the men and women of the United States military in Iraq, and to thank you for your remarkable service to our country. You're serving far from

  • Reserve forces management reviewed

    Recruiting and retention has "held up nicely despite stress on the force as a whole," said David Chu to members of the House Armed Services Committee here Nov. 5. He is the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. A survey of active and reserve forces, which is done every four months,

  • Cadets, officers discuss ethics

    With a laminated copy of the Honor Code on each table, 30 cadets spent several hours near here Nov. 3 listening to real-life ethical situations. Then they chose how they would respond as part of the academy’s character enrichment seminar.Cadets attend the mandatory character and leadership

  • Mandatory new form key to guiding officers’ careers

    Force development becomes more tangible for all officers, lieutenant colonel and below, who face assignments next year as they must complete an online Officer Development Plan, which is replacing the old preference worksheet.A "transitional" version of the form will be available on the Air Force

  • Subsidy will lower child-care rates

    A new Air Force Services family member program initiative will change how some family child-care rates are set.The family child-care subsidy program will help working parents find high-quality and affordable child care, said Kim Jackson, Air Force family member programs specialist.Parents seeking

  • AF tests facilities for radium on 6 bases

    Initial test results at facilities on six Air Force bases indicate employees are not at immediate risk from the residual radioactive material left over from old luminous paints. The paints were used at the bases more than 60 years ago. The initial tests results are from buildings here; the former

  • Airmen arrive for AEF Silver

    About 20 airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., arrived here on a C-130 Hercules as part of Air and Space Expeditionary Force Silver. They are assigned to the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. The 354th EFS will replace the 81st EFS from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as AEF Silver

  • Top soldier advocates AF relationship

    The relationship of the Army to the airlift and tanker community is one of the “most important relationships that we have,” said the Army chief of staff during the 35th Airlift/Tanker Association convention here.In the convention’s closing address Nov. 1, Army Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker discussed

  • Civilian health-care premiums increasing

    Air Force civilian health-care plan premiums are expected to increase an average of more than 10 percent in January. That means employees with 'self-only' coverage will pay about $5 more per pay period and those with 'family coverage' will pay $11.95 more.Employees will have the opportunity to

  • Airmen bring fallen firefighter home

    Two of the pallbearers who carried the casket bearing the body of California firefighter Steven Rucker had fought alongside him as he defended a house from the Cedar Fire. Another two had served as his captains in the Novato Calif. Fire Protection District where he worked. The pallbearers brought

  • AF facilitates media trip to Iraq

    In an unprecedented move, the Air Force facilitated a trip into Iraq for Arab media representatives from Great Britain recently. Four Arab journalists were met in Kuwait by two Air Force public affairs escorts and flown by a C-130 Hercules to Basra and Baghdad, then back to Kuwait.The journalists

  • CSAF: The time for air mobility is now

    In a major speech to the Airlift/Tanker Association convention here Oct. 31, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said air mobility is coming into its own.“The time for air mobility is now,” Jumper said. “It’s here, and it’s time to take it to the next level.”Jumper was one of the main

  • U.S., Australian airmen defend base

    They come from different countries, wear different uniforms and have different accents, but they do have similarities -- they work relentlessly day and night on the same team defending the air base here.Airmen of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and the Royal Australian Air Force

  • Automatic continuation rules change

    Regular and Air Force Reserve captains on the active-duty list who are not selected for promotion to major two or more times should not count on automatic continuation said personnel officials.The new policy will affect captains meeting the Dec. 8 major promotion board.Only a limited number of

  • Falcons fall in triple overtime

    A quarterback’s slip on the turf and a tight end’s first career pass led to the Air Force Academy’s third loss of the season, as the University of Utah edged the Falcons 45-43 in triple overtime Nov. 1.Entering the third overtime period, the Falcons held the ball first. Driving down to the 4-yard

  • Fly Away teams provide remote security

    A C-130 Hercules crew landing at a classified location does not find many, if any, familiar faces when they step off their aircraft. Airfield officials seem polite and perhaps even friendly, but the ring of local security workers outside the airplane is more interested in the Hercules and its crew

  • Airman witnesses deadly attack

    A scheduling mistake that stranded an Air Force photographer overnight in the Al Rasheed Hotel lobby in Baghdad made him an eyewitness to the rocket attack that killed one soldier and injured 15 others Oct. 26.Airman 1st Class Brian Ferguson, from the 447th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, was

  • Roche opens airlift, tanker convention

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche opened this year’s Airlift/Tanker Association national convention here with one main purpose in mind.“I especially wanted to attend to say thank you to the air mobility team … for your contributions to our war on terrorism and for the vital mission you

  • Turbine blade caused June F-16 crash

    Air Force officials determined a manufacturing defect of a turbine blade caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon to crash June 10 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.In the recently released accident-investigation report, the board determined the crash was caused by a manufacturing defect in Blade 1 of the 4th

  • Fire blamed for Altus C-17 mishap

    A fire on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., caused a flight to be aborted and the plane to be evacuated during a mishap June 25.An Air Force investigation team determined a fire in the vicinity of the No. 1 engine started when a hose burst, allowing hydraulic fluid to

  • Air Force details force development

    A newly formed council will oversee the Air Force’s initiative to develop people with the enduring skills and occupational competencies necessary to meet future air and space mission challenges.Force-development council officials will provide Air Force-level guidance for regulatory policies, program

  • Four wings help fight wildfires

    Pilots flying eight Air Force C-130 Hercules cargo airplanes have dropped 129,600 gallons of retardant on the Simi Fire in Southern California during 48 sorties and 32 flying hours as of Oct. 29.The aircraft are equipped with the modular airborne firefighting system. The system is a self-contained,

  • Air Force role in Basra is different

    For anyone flying into Basra International Airport, the feeling certainly must be different than flying into Baghdad International.First of all, anyone stepping off the plane is immediately greeted by British Royal Air Force airmen, which is certainly different than Baghdad. Additionally, the area

  • New DOD mortuary opens at Dover

    Military officials opened a new $30 million mortuary at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Oct. 27. The Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, which replaced a 48-year-old facility, is the Defense Department's only stateside mortuary.Since 1955, the remains of more than 50,000 servicemembers

  • Remains repatriated from North Korea

    Remains believed to be those of eight American soldiers missing in action from the Korean War were recovered by two teams of U.S. specialists and repatriated to U.S. control in ceremonies at Yokota Air Base, Japan, on Oct. 28.The joint-remains recovery work is the result of July negotiations with

  • Wildfire support continues

    Airmen from three wings flew missions from Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif., Oct. 29 to help fight the California wildfires. C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with modular airborne firefighting systems have flown more than 24 sorties and dropped more than 64,000 gallons of retardant

  • Pilot’s final flight a ‘family affair’

    After flying more than 8,700 hours in Air Force planes, an Arkansas Air National Guard C-130 Hercules pilot flew the most memorable two hours of his entire 34-year career Oct. 28.Lt. Col. Larry Hill, a 154th Training Squadron pilot, said his last two hours of flying were the best because he was

  • Airmen dispose of enemy ordnance

    Crawling over more than a ton of explosives the way a child would go over a jungle gym requires a little something special, but it is just another day for explosive ordnance disposal airmen here.The 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s EOD flight airmen have recovered and blown up about 1.5

  • Airmen win 2003 Armed Forces Marathon

    The Air Force team won the 2003 Armed Forces Marathon, conducted as part of the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington on Oct. 26.Maj. Mark Cucuzzella finished first for the Air Force with a time of 2 hours, 33 minutes and 37 seconds. He finished 11th overall among more than 18,000 runners in this

  • American forces join Qatari basketball league

    Varsity basketball and history are in the making here, and the host nation’s king may be the reason why.The newly formed American Forces basketball team, made up of servicemembers in the area, will play a Qatari army team in the nation’s capital city, Doha on Nov. 9. The game will mark the first

  • Quality of life improving at Kirkuk

    Airmen supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom here will leave their dusty tents for the last time when new modular dormitories open.The dorms, scheduled to open Dec. 1, will house up to 1,664 airmen in 13 buildings with six to eight people to a room.The construction project is moving rapidly, said Lt.

  • Latest enlisted AFIT nominations due

    Air Force Institute of Technology officials are again offering noncommissioned officers the opportunity to pursue an advanced science, engineering or management degree at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.Eight NCOs from around the Air Force will be selected in early 2004 to attend the

  • Teams getting civilians hired faster

    It has been taking up to 200 days to get some vacant Air Force civilian jobs filled, and senior leaders have said those long delays have to stop.Three process-improvement teams researched ways to reduce the total time a job request is in the system, and the administrative-handling time spent on

  • Airmen help fight California wildfires

    Airmen are helping combat the wildfires raging in California, officials said Oct. 28.Two C-130 Hercules equipped with modular airborne firefighting systems began operations Oct. 27, and more will follow. The system is a self-contained, 3,000-gallon aerial fluid dispersal system that fits in the

  • Deployable civilians provide expertise

    When their units are called to deploy, they line up for their smallpox and anthrax shots, they pack camouflage uniforms and dog tags, they get weapons training, and brush up on their self-aid and buddy-care skills. But these warriors are not airmen -- at least not in the traditional sense.They are

  • Falconer major player in Red Flag

    The airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s Falconer Air Operations Center are here integrating their craft with pilots and controllers who fly the missions over the “enemy” during Red Flag.The center is comprised of 100 airmen, mostly from the 32nd Air Operations Group at Ramstein Air Base,

  • Airmen keep theater mail flowing

    Eighteen airmen, most wearing two or three stripes, spend several hours a day in a sun-baked warehouse just off the tarmac here. They are touching the lives of each deployed servicemember and civilian in Iraq.“We’re responsible for all mail, in and out,” said Tech. Sgt. Darrin Robertson, mail

  • Now showing: Oct. 27 edition of AFTV News

    The work of airmen preparing Tallil Air Base, Iraq, to become a major supply link with the United States highlights the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Staff Sgt. John Somheil reports on major construction at the base by the new Air Force landlord.President George W. Bush uses a trip

  • POW/MIA talks end in Bangkok

    The four nations involved in accounting for Americans missing in action from the Vietnam War ended a meeting in Bangkok on Oct. 24.The senior-level talks were held by officials from the United States, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. They exchanged ideas, experiences and techniques that have been

  • Desert Hawk helps protect Tallil

    Not every unmanned aerial vehicle in the sky here is a Predator.The 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron is using its “Desert Hawk” UAV here, providing an extra set of eyes in the sky for looking for potential terrorists and criminals.“Desert Hawk allows us to interdict our adversaries

  • EOD eliminates ‘explosive’ problems

    Some might call a bomb squad living in a bunker ironic; the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal flight airmen here call it practical.The EOD airmen are on alert 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and respond to an average of 25 to 30 calls each week.“By living

  • Airmen complete Bagram runway

    With help from the Army and coalition nations, airmen poured the final load of concrete for the new $2.3 million runway here Oct. 24 after nearly six months of construction. During this period, civil engineer airmen and soldiers worked on one 90-foot-wide strip, while aircraft landed and took off on

  • Airmen keep things moving in Manas

    A few hundred kilometers north of Afghanistan, in the small country of Kyrgyzstan, is Manas Air Base. Here, airmen are doing their part to ensure coalition servicemembers can maintain the fight on the frontlines of the war on terrorism.Airmen of the 376th Expeditionary Air Wing work 24-hour

  • Titan II blasts its way into history

    As the final Titan II rocket streaked skyward from here Oct. 18, it left in its wake a 40-year history that included a transformation from intercontinental ballistic missile to space booster.The two-stage, liquid-propelled, silo-based Titan II was developed for the United States' budding ICBM

  • Wargame offers insight into future

    An Air Force-sponsored wargame promises to be not only leaner than similar events in the past, but more dynamic and efficient as well.The 2004 Future Capabilities Game is scheduled for Jan. 11 to 16 at the Air Force Wargaming Institute at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. It will test four future Air

  • Malmstrom remembers Cuban missile crisis

    Forty-one years ago, people here played a role in one of the most dangerous events of the Cold War. For 14 days during October 1962, the world held its breath as President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev tried to reach a compromise and avoid nuclear war. In May 1962, Khrushchev,

  • AF skeet team earns world championship

    For the fourth time in five years, the Air Force’s skeet team proved they are the best in the military during the 2003 World Skeet Championship held here Oct. 10 to 18.The Air Force has not enjoyed this much success since the late 1980s, according to Tom Clayton, from Charleston Air Force Base,

  • Robins C-141 maintenance era ends

    Thirty years of C-141 Starlifter programmed depot maintenance ended here Oct. 16 as the final aircraft left the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center. Starlifters are headed for retirement in 2006.Ending Starlifter depot-maintenance comes now because the work is scheduled on a five-year rotation,

  • Inaugural Eagle Flag concludes

    In 10 days, Air Force expeditionary combat-support people opened and established a new air base here during the Air Force's newest flag-level exercise, Eagle Flag. The inaugural exercise ended Oct. 22. Eagle Flag challenged airmen to open and establish a bare base for any mission or aircraft type,

  • Airmen give supplies to Iraqi school

    The children laughed and smiled as Master Sgt. Robert Frank distributed educational supplies at Al Ilaf school here.Frank smiled, too. But his trip to Iraq had a very serious intent -- help give the Iraqis a solid foundation on which to build their free and independent future.“One of these kids,

  • Moseley discusses reconstitution

    Department of Defense leaders met with the House Armed Services Committee subcommittee on readiness Oct. 21 to discuss force reconstitution. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley told committee members that reconstitution is one of the Air Force's top concerns."Our No. 1 task is to

  • Cadre makes Eagle Flag come alive

    Eagle Flag brings together expeditionary combat-support people, role players, observers and exercise controllers to create one of the most dynamic exercises in the Air Force, officials said. Eagle Flag, which ran for the first time Oct. 13 to 22, is the Air Force’s newest flag-level exercise. It is

  • Air Force launches fellowship program

    The Air Force is teaming up with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as part of the Air Force National Laboratory Technical Fellowship Program.Brig. Gen. Robert L. Smolen will sign a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies Oct. 30 in Livermore, Calif. He is the director of nuclear

  • Global Hawk completes test flight

    The U.S. Air Force’s Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle completed the first of five planned technical flight tests here Oct. 21. The three weeks of tests are scheduled to demonstrate interoperability between U.S. Air Force and German Ministry of Defense unmanned aerial vehicle systems. The Global

  • Final Titan II launches

    The Air Force's 13th and final Titan II rocket launched a Defense Meteorological Satellite Program payload from here Oct. 18 at 9:17 a.m. The launch took place following two recent delays. The mission was delayed Oct. 15 when an air-conditioning duct became detached from the booster's payload

  • Airmen deploy for fuel-spill-response exercise

    Airmen from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron deployed recently to a remote radar site 250 miles northwest of here for an annual three-day fuel-spill-response exercise.The airmen tested their skills at the Tatalina Long Range Radar Site, one of the 18 remote radar sites that make up the Alaska Radar

  • Red Tail Express makes final delivery

    Trucks. Lots of trucks. Trucks with aircraft parts, refrigerators, wall lockers, office desks, computer equipment, construction vehicles -- some even hauling other trucks, along with hundreds of other odds and ends. All these items are loaded and strapped onto 18-wheelers and flatbed trailers,

  • Medics enter long-term partnership

    Helping get a medical clinic off the ground in this war-torn country is one thing, but three medics from the 447th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron are taking their relationship with this village to an unexpected level.Capt. (Dr.) Jeff Skinner, Senior Master Sgt. Tommie Tracey and Senior Airman Matt

  • Air Force medics treat Iraqis

    A three-member medical team from the 101st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron here recently helped treat more than 60 Iraqi citizens during a medical and humanitarian assistance mission.Capt. Jeff Skinner, Senior Master Sgt. Tommie Tracey and Senior Airman Matthew Read provided their assistance when

  • Honor Guard recruits airmen

    Air Force Honor Guard officials are always looking for motivated and dedicated airmen and noncommissioned officers for what they call the world's best job.Located here, the 250-person unit seeks airmen E-4 through E-7 for their experience, said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Buckley, the Air Force Honor

  • Airmen keep Baghdad online

    Their jobs may not be highly visible, such as flying or launching aircraft, or get them media attention by standing guard under the blazing Iraqi sun.They do, however, have an important job within the 447th Air Expeditionary Group.“They” are members of the 447th Expeditionary Communication

  • AFIT honors 2003 distinguished alumni

    The Air Force Institute of Technology honored two 2003 distinguished alumni here Oct. 16. Retired Gen. Lawrence A. Skantze and Retired Lt. Gen. Richard K. Saxer were selected for their pioneering roles in science, engineering and education.“The title of ‘distinguished alumnus’ is the highest honor

  • DOE dominates Defender Challenger

    Air Force and British security forces teams already have their targets picked out for next year’s Defender Challenge competition: The men in black from the Department of Energy. The DOE federal agents may be a tough target to hit, based on the dominance of their 10-man team at Defender Challenge

  • CSU grounds Falcons, 30-20

    The pros and the nation were watching as the Colorado State University Rams grounded the Air Force Academy Falcons on Oct. 16, 30-20.The nationally-televised game featured 994 yards of offense. Air Force pounded out 276 of its 430 total yards on the ground, but Falcons quarterback Chance Harridge

  • Ellsworth K-9 team finishes fourth in nation

    The top military working dog team in the nation has been marking its territory atop the national rankings since the Ellsworth team formed more than two years ago. The team finished in fourth place at the U.S. Police Canine National Field Trials in Atlantic City, N.J., on Oct. 5 to10 For the second

  • Eagle Flag's importance stressed

    The Air Force’s top two leaders got a first-hand look Oct. 15 at the service’s newest flag-level exercise, Eagle Flag. They also talked about what they want every airman to know about the exercise.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper

  • Workshops help parents with school transfers

    "If you'd been here two weeks earlier, we could have gotten this taken care of, and your child would be graduating with the rest of the class."That is one of the last things military parents want to hear a counselor say when their children transfer from one school to another around the globe,

  • Airman honors Army friend

    Tech. Sgt. Robert Moore wanted to do something for the friend he had made and lost while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. So he got permission to name an airport fuel storage facility after Army Sgt. Roger Rowe, an Army transportation specialist killed by a sniper July 9.Moore, a fuels

  • Critical-care teams quick to respond

    Critical care air transport teams, charged with moving the seriously wounded or ill, have a job similar to firefighters.“Our gear is packed, ready and positioned near aircraft loading points. We can be airborne in minutes and fly anywhere in the area needed,” said Maj. William H. Cody. He is a

  • AF bands appear on ‘Warehouse Warriors’

    Bandsmen from Air Mobility Command bases will take center stage Oct. 21, when their “Battle of the Bands” episode of “Warehouse Warriors” airs on the DIY Network.The U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America here, and the U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West, from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., each sent

  • Falconer will control Red Flag sky

    America’s ability to dominate air and space during war is being tested Oct. 19 to 31. About 90 airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s 32nd Air Operations Group will descend on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., to participate in Red Flag 2003.The airmen comprise what is called a Falconer Air Operations

  • Airman boosts host-nation relations

    During the pre-dawn hours of Oct. 11, Jackal Two, a 380th Air Expeditionary Wing security forces patrol, noticed a vibratory roller -- better known as a steamroller -- with its headlights on, parked outside the perimeter of the base fence. The night-shift patrol feared the worst at this undisclosed

  • Tops in Blue entertains Bagram troops

    The Air Force’s Tops in Blue team contributed to the war on terrorism when they performed for more than 800 soldiers, airmen and coalition partners here Oct. 11. This year’s tour celebrates 50 years of performances around the world.Known as the Air Force’s “expeditionary entertainers,” Tops in Blue

  • Global Hawk arrives in Germany

    The Air Force’s Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle landed in Germany for the first time Oct. 15 from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It touched down at 4:05 a.m. at the German navy’s Nordholz Air Base near Cuxhaven.Its arrival marked the beginning of a three-week system deployment running through

  • TSP open season begins

    Civilian and military employees can sign up for, or change, their Thrift Savings Plan contribution amounts during the "open season" Oct. 15 to Dec. 31."TSP is an easy, long-term retirement savings plan, that everyone should consider," said Senior Master Sgt. Felipe Ortiz, superintendent of the Air

  • Dyess B-1s surge to 114 flights in 68 hours

    During a "surge" in flying here that ended Oct. 9, 7th Bomb Wing crews pushed their B-1 Lancers to a record-breaking 114 flights in 68 hours resulting in 321 simulated bombing runs on targets. The crews began Operation Iron Thunder on Oct. 7, flying sorties around the clock until late in the night

  • Aircraft pull raises CFC nearly $5,000

    Twenty-four teams pulled their way to nearly $5,000 in Combined Federal Campaign donations here recently during the U.S. Air Force Museum's fifth annual aircraft pull.People joined 15- to 20-member teams, each contributing $200 team entry fees to CFC, to see who could drag a 60,000-pound F-111F

  • NORAD monitors U.S. sky to protect homeland

    On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, the staff at the North American Aerospace Defense Command was poised to identify a missile test or space launch anywhere in the world, or to tell exactly how many items of "space junk" were circling the globe.What they did not know was that four commercial

  • IDEA will save Air Force $5.7 million

    A Tinker man’s idea to have depot-level maintenance on air traffic control radars performed on-site will save the Air Force more than $5 million and earned him $10,000 through the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program.Instead of having the vital airport surveillance radar systems

  • HVAC/R -- Al Udeid’s thermostat

    How fast can your day go from good to bad, from comfortable to hot?Give up? Fifty-nine minutes. That is how long it would take.Without air conditioning inside a tent, the temperature can increase by more than 35 degrees in less than an hour. Without the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and

  • First Eagle Flag exercise begins

    More than 150 expeditionary combat-support leaders from around the Air Force arrived here Oct. 13 for the inaugural Eagle Flag, the Air Force’s newest flag-level exercise. The goal of the exercise is to test the ability of the participants to open and establish an air base to an initial operating

  • Airmen keep warfighters connected

    In a country that seems to be stuck in the first century, the world’s most powerful and advanced air force operates every day among the blowing dust and dried mud huts of Afghanistan. The average family here lacks a computer, phone, electricity and even running water. But inside the wire here, a

  • LASIK available for airmen

    The Air Force’s “warfighter” corneal refractive surgery program expanded its services to include Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK, for qualified people at its centers.Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force vice chief of staff, approved a memorandum written by Lt. Gen. George “Peach”