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  • Roche submits resignation

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche announced his resignation Nov. 16."I'm honored to have served the president, the secretary of defense and the terrific Airmen I've come to know and love in the past few years as the secretary of the Air Force,” he said. “I've served with talented

  • Airman recalls convoy duty in Iraq

    Staff Sgt. Amelia Solomon did not spend her summer backpacking through Europe or sunbathing on the beaches of Cornwall with her 3-year-old daughter. Instead, she spent her summer in the dry, blistering heat of Iraq, wondering how many improvised explosive devices might be hidden on the trail in

  • Space assets critical to winning war on terrorism

    Space-based assets are proving critical to winning the war on terrorism, according to the commander of Air Force Space Command.“You cannot go to war and win without space,” Gen. Lance W. Lord said during a live appearance on “Fox and Friends” here Nov. 11.The command comprises about 40,000 space

  • Air Force seeks navigators

    Air Force officials are providing more opportunities to active-duty officers who want to become navigators.Officers who meet basic qualifications must submit their application package by Dec. 29 to be considered by the Feb. 8 to 10 undergraduate flying training selection board at the Air Force

  • New light-weight weapon joins Balad arsenal

    In an effort to keep pace with the ever-changing face of close quarters combat, F-16 Fighting Falcon crews here plan to use a new, lightweight satellite-guided munition soon.The GBU-38 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition is designed to reduce collateral damage, limit unintended casualties and

  • VIDOC: Worth a thousand words

    Pushy paparazzi, nosy TV reporters and supermodel photographers have nothing on a team of Airmen here. They take your picture, and they videotape you at work. They announce what you are doing to the masses, and they plaster you onto posters -- and most people do not even know they are there.They

  • Weapons directors provide situational awareness

    They came to William Tell to play a video game. But they are not playing Donkey Kong or the latest version of Halo. Instead, they are monitoring radar screens to make sure their pilots stay on track during the competition.William Tell is a competition which tests an aircrew's ability to perform

  • AF participates in Veterans Day tribute at Redskins' game

    Thousands of sports fans and patriots were entertained here Nov. 14 by the Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals football teams and the U.S. Air Force. The day's main attraction was the Redskins' battle against the Bengals, but as part of a tribute to American military veterans, the Air Force

  • Airman sets sights on shooting championship

    You are in the bathtub. You hear a sound. Suddenly you jump up and run to the nightstand. There you grab your pistol and immediately begin firing. Does this sound like a scene out of a crime drama, or a night at home gone very wrong? No. It is just another day at the range for Maj. Roger

  • Columbus goes ‘batty’

    The new neighbors here never come outside during the day. Rumors say they nibble on people’s necks and suck their blood, but some people know better.“It’s important for the base community to become educated about bats,” said Charlie Burgess, 17, the Boy Scout responsible for spearheading a project

  • New AMC delivery process speeds shipments to troops

    A new Air Mobility Command program, dubbed "Pure Pallet,” is simplifying and speeding up airlift shipments into the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.The program involves building and shipping individual aircraft pallets with cargo for a single customer, AMC officials said.Lt. Col. Steve

  • William Tell still anybody’s game

    “Not in our house” may have been the slogan chanted by the New York Yankees fans during game seven of the league championship series against the Boston Red Sox, but they obviously did not mean it as the Red Sox went on to become the World Champions of baseball.The Airmen from here, however, seem to

  • Ex-smoker encourages ‘smokeout’

    A 46-year-old health assistant technician decided to get a jump on the Nov. 18 Great American Smokeout when she took part in a tobacco cessation program. She said she went into the program expecting a challenge.A 30-year veteran of smoking, Debra Wolfe said she was watching a family tradition of

  • Weapons troops are not cowboys during Loadeo

    Despite what people may think, the Loadeo event does not feature an Airman wearing a cowboy hat, straddling an AIM-120 missile, ready for the ride of his life.Loadeo is the weapons-loading competition taking place here during the 2004 William Tell air-to-air weapons meet.“Loadeo is a competition

  • Air Force offers ACP program in fiscal 2005

    Certain rated officers can request an aviator continuation pay bonus option under fiscal 2005 program guidelines.A five-year, fixed-length agreement option is available to eligible pilots, navigators and air battle managers.Other options have been offered in recent years, but were curtailed this

  • Air Force’s future ‘invented’ at research lab

    It still may be a little too soon for Star Trek’s “beam me up, Scotty” technology, but Air Force scientists and engineers are trying to narrow the gap between science fiction and science fact.The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, recently published the results

  • Reservists arrive in Uruguay for exercise

    A team of Air Force reservists from the 5th Special Operations Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., arrived here Nov. 9 for Unitas 2004, the largest and longest naval exercise in the Americas. Arriving aboard an MC-130P Combat Shadow, they are the Air Force’s first unit to participate in the

  • Air Force officials announce OTS selections

    More than 180 men and women from throughout America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for a commission, officials here announced Nov. 12.Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 205 applications as part of Officer Training School Selection

  • Airmen run fire department at forward operating base

    With safety at the forefront in everyone’s minds, having firefighters ready and standing by is important when an emergency happens on base.The fire department here is run by four Airmen from Manas Air Base, Kyrgyz Republic, who respond to emergencies. The types of emergencies the team is prepared to

  • Airman takes co-pilot's stick during in-flight emergency

    Like most passengers on a commercial airlines flight, Lt. Col. Scott Neumann probably expected a long, uneventful flight from Dulles International Airport in Washington to Los Angeles.Boy, was he wrong.The deputy commander for the 412th Operations Group at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., had just

  • Air Force aims for ‘weapons-grade’ vision

    In June, the Air Force vice chief of staff and surgeon general approved wavefront-guided LASIK surgery for aviators in aircraft flying at altitudes of less than 14,000 feet. WFG-LASIK is a new generation of laser eye surgery that maps subtle irregularities in the cornea before the procedure,

  • Air Force senior leaders visit Tallil Air Base

    According to the Air Force’s senior leaders, the Airmen serving in Southwest Asia today are exceeding expectations as they press forward in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.“We expect you to be great, but with all that we’ve seen firsthand, you’re even better than we expected,” said Chief Master

  • Airman killed in RPG attack in Iraq

    An Airman died Nov. 9 from injuries received when multiple rocket-propelled grenades struck his location in Mosul, Iraq, Department of Defense officials announced Nov. 10.Master Sgt. Steven E. Auchman, 37, of Waterloo, N.Y., was a radio maintainer working operational tactical support for an Army

  • Air Force shows off new ‘tent city’

    Airmen of the 435th Materiel Maintenance Squadron here showed off their newest asset, the “550 I” Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources base kit in Sanem, Luxembourg, on Nov. 9. The kit, known as “tent city,” is the first of its kind in the U.S. Air Force. It is staged there at the U.S. Air

  • Medevac crew devotes time to African orphanage

    Flying regular missions in and around Southwest Asia are normal responsibilities for an expeditionary medical evacuation crew, but it was a special mission undertaken by Capt. Karen Mensen and her crew that made all the difference in the lives of more than 30 children recently in a remote part of

  • Experience, fresh eyes ensure airfield security

    Airman Michael Roomsburg stopped the Humvee as Staff Sgt. Chad Marten called to notify the security forces command post that the Delta-5 external security response team was set to patrol outer perimeter road.“I’ll man the turret,” said Airman Roomsburg, an active-duty Airman deployed from Pope Air

  • Unmanned aircraft gain starring role in terror war

    Unmanned aerial vehicles are earning star status in the war on terrorism. They are becoming the most-requested capability among combatant commanders in Southwest Asia and use has increased fourfold in that theater during the last year alone, said the deputy director of the Pentagon's UAV planning

  • New veterans ID cards help battle identity theft

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have designed a new identity card for veterans that will safeguard confidential information while combating identity theft."The new identification card ensures veterans' personal information is protected," Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi said.

  • Veterans send gifts to deployed Airmen

    Servicemembers and DOD civilians serving here began receiving military assistance communication kit packages Nov. 4.The MACK Packs were donated through a Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary VFW program called Operation Uplink. The packs contained a writing tablet, holiday cards with

  • PACAF’s team uses advantage during William Tell

    A pilot checks his radar and looks over his shoulder to see an enemy fighter at his 3 o’clock position. The infrared seeker on the air-to-air missile rotates to the right as the pilot moves his head. He lines up the enemy fighter with the crosshairs on his helmet-visor display and shoots. The

  • Airmen help Santa answer letters

    Air Force volunteers from the combat weather flight here will once again help Santa send out thousands of signed, North Pole-post marked letters to children worldwide.The Santa’s Mailbag program started 50 years ago by 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Airmen, and it has been carried on by those

  • Air Force leaders send Veterans Day message

    The following is a Veterans Day message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“Each year, America honors its veterans for the sacrifices and hard-fought successes of so many of its citizens -- those who have worn the uniform as Soldiers,

  • Reserve volunteers to see longer overseas tour lengths

    The leader of Air Force Reserve Command said Airmen volunteering for duty are leading his command’s ability to support the war effort; however, changes to the amount of time people will be asked to be overseas are on the horizon.Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, chief of the Air Force Reserve and AFRC

  • 50th anniversary of William Tell kicks off at Tyndall

    The U.S. Air Forces in Europe team jumped off to an early lead after officials kicked off William Tell 2004 here Nov. 8. The start marked the 50th anniversary of the Air Force air-to-air weapons meet.This year's meet has put to rest the longest gap in its history after an eight year hiatus because

  • Team deploys to recover damaged C-130 Hercules

    When an aircraft breaks while away from home station, emergency care is just a call away. In the case of a C-130 Hercules that was hit by enemy fire recently, that help came from maintenance recovery team Airmen at a forward-deployed location.“Anytime an aircraft breaks off-station, anywhere in the

  • Senior leaders discuss Air Force future

    The Air Force’s top three leaders stopped at this forward-deployed location Nov. 8 while on their tour through Southwest Asia. Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche, Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray met with Airmen of the 386th Air

  • Air Force honors spouses with pin

    Air Force officials have expanded the pin program to recognize and thank those who support the efforts of Airmen around the world by introducing the Air Force spouse pin. This pin joins the Air Force employer pin and parent pin as one of the service’s most visible public outreach programs.Peter B.

  • Paper LES program shredded to make way for digital delivery

    Airmen will get one less piece of mail now that the Defense Finance and Accounting Service stopped sending paper leave and earnings statements this month. Airmen will not go without the critical information the LES provides because it is now available via the service’s myPay Web site, said Colonel

  • Act increases bonuses, education benefits for reserve

    Increased education benefits and more flexibility in awarding bonuses are among the quality-of-life improvements targeting National Guard and Reserve servicemembers in the 2005 National Defense Authorization Act.The act also provides for changes in how guardsmen and reservists are mobilized and

  • Navy admiral commands NORAD, Northern Command

    Before a full house, Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating assumed command of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command from Gen. Ralph E. "Ed" Eberhart in ceremonies here Nov. 5. The former director of the Joint Staff is the first non-Air Force officer to command NORAD since its

  • Now showing: Nov. 8 edition of AFTV News

    Air Force operation of the large medical facility at Balad Air Base, Iraq, spotlights the Nov. 8 edition of Air Force Television News. Tech. Sgt. Joy Josephson spent a week at the hospital, chronicling the treatment of wounded servicemembers by Air Force medics. Tech. Sgt. Bill Scherer also

  • Air Force’s top leaders visit Southwest Asia

    The Air Force’s top civilian, officer and enlisted leaders visited more than 5,000 Airmen at this forward-deployed location Nov. 4 as they kicked off their swing through Southwest Asia.Sporting the Air Force’s new proposed utility uniform, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche, Chief of

  • Stratotanker crew comes to aid of F-16 pilot

    The Yogi Berra saying that “it ain't over ‘till it’s over” seems to be the most appropriate way to describe one particular flight over Iraq in October, when a KC-135 Stratotanker crew thought they had completed their mission and were returning to their forward-deployed base.“We had already secured

  • Air Force leaders premiere new uniform

    When Air Force leaders arrived at this forward-deployed location Nov. 4, they wore the latest proposed replacement for the battle dress uniform.“I was surprised to see them wearing the newer version of the uniform,” said Master Sgt. Sharon Kegler, a first sergeant deployed from McGuire Air Force

  • Camp Zama Airmen provide vital communications link

    A small group of Airmen at this Army installation provides vital worldwide communications links for the Department of Defense and its allies in the Pacific region. The technicians assigned to Operating Location C of the 374th Communications Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, handle area, regional,

  • Military family support professionals gather

    Directors of family support centers from across the Air Force gathered nearby in Landsdowne, Va., to discuss how to better serve Airmen and their loved ones. The weeklong conference, Strengthening the Home Front, focused on two areas: integrating the Air Force One Source program into base

  • Defense act affects Guard, Reserve medical benefits

    The 2005 National Defense Authorization Act contains new medical benefits for activated reservists and guardsmen, and extends some other benefits that had been enacted temporarily.Medical benefits for guardsmen and reservists who are called to active duty change significantly under provisions in

  • Airmen return from Darfur mission

    Two C-130 Hercules and about 100 Airmen returned here Nov. 5 after completing a two-week airlift mission moving African Union troops into the Darfur region of Sudan.During the mission, the Airmen moved 47 Nigerian and 238 Rwandan soldiers, and more than 118,000 pounds of cargo. The last mission was

  • Air Force aircraft join Fallujah offensive

    U.S. Air Force aircraft launched precision munitions to destroy preplanned targets here Nov. 4.As part of Multinational Force-Iraq, the Airmen joined coalition partners and U.S. Marines in the offensive.Shortly after midnight, an Air Force aircraft supported a Marine element and struck a preplanned

  • Officials investigate training incident

    Air Force officials are investigating a weapons incident that took place during a nighttime training mission in the Warren Grove Range airspace in New Jersey on Nov. 3.An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon expended an undetermined number of 20 mm ammunition rounds, officials said.The aircraft is

  • Air Force selects 566 new chief master sergeants

    Air Force officials recently selected 566 senior master sergeants for promotion to the service's highest enlisted rank as part of the 2004 chief master sergeant evaluation board. They will release the promotion list Nov. 10 at 8 a.m. CST. The complete list of selectees will be posted Nov. 12 on the

  • Multinational exercise begins in South Atlantic

    The Atlantic phase of Unitas, the largest and longest-held naval exercise in the Americas, began here Nov. 3. This two-week exercise incorporates for the first time a U.S. Air Force unit that joins ships, aircraft and submarines from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and the United States.The 5th

  • Deployed Airmen getting new physical training uniform first

    When the Air Force chief of staff announced a new fitness standard in July 2003, he promised Airmen a new physical training uniform in which to prepare. That new uniform is now ready, and Airmen serving in Southwest Asia will be the first to get them, said Senior Master Sgt. Jacqueline Dean, the Air

  • Third DOS rollback takes effect

    As a part of force shaping, Air Force personnel officials have implemented a third enlisted date of separation rollback.The program “rolls back” the date of separation of enlisted Airmen with specific re-enlistment eligibility codes, or assignment availability codes. These Airmen will have less

  • Airmen may wear medals while awaiting system updates

    Air Force officials want to assure Airmen that wearing eligible decorations is authorized, even if they are not currently reflected in the military personnel data system.The affected decorations include the Korean Defense Service Medal, Gallant Unit Citation/Meritorious Unit Award, Global War on

  • Gary Sinise visits Luke, performs for troops

    Best known for his “Forrest Gump” character, Gary Sinise and his band named for the character, the Lt. Dan Band, came here to perform for servicemembers and their families.Mr. Sinise has been involved with veteran's groups for 20 years and has been performing with the United Service Organizations

  • New York Airmen provide medical equipment for refugees

    Thousands of Nicaraguans needing treatment received help from New York guardsmen when the Airmen gathered to sort through a hospital full of dusty medical equipment.Sister Deb, or Debbie Blow, executive director of the North Country Mission of Hope in Plattsburgh, N.Y., has an ongoing mission to

  • Airmen visit Rwanda genocide memorial

    On Oct. 30 a C-130 Hercules sat unceremoniously on the tarmac of Kigali International Airport here, waiting for the arrival of Rwandan troops.For the American Airmen here, the mission was clear: deliver Rwandan troops and equipment to Al-Fashir, Sudan, where they would join other African Union

  • Airman plays roadie for rock ‘n’ roll legends

    The arena lights dimmed and thousands of fans cheered as the stage lights came to life revealing rock ‘n’ roll legends Eddie and Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and Sammy Hagar.While Eddie played his guitar, Staff Sgt. Scott Viers stood in the second row enjoying the fruits of his labor.Sergeant

  • General Jumper discusses transformation

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper addressed thousands of troops as the final keynote speaker at the Airlift/Tanker Association Symposium here Oct. 30.The general spoke on how far the Air Force has evolved in recent years and what he sees for the future.“We, as Airmen, face what can only

  • Leaders unveil updated utility uniform colors, pattern

    Responding to Airmen’s feedback, Air Force leaders unveiled an alternative utility uniform color scheme and pattern Nov. 2 as part of the ongoing wear-test that was announced in August 2003.Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper and Chief Master

  • Task forces enhance global mobility support

    Air Mobility Command’s expeditionary mobility task forces, now a year old, were highlighted during the 2004 Airlift/Tanker Association Convention here Oct. 29.Brig. Gen. Bobby J. Wilkes, commander of the 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., described the units as

  • Scientists identify remains of six Air Force MIAs

    The remains of six Airmen missing in action from the Vietnam War have been identified and are being buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Nov. 5 with full military honors.They are: Cols. Theodore Kryszak of Buffalo, N.Y., and Harding Smith of Los Gatos, Calif.; Lt. Col. Russell Martin of

  • Officials select officers for developmental education

    Boards here selected more than 300 company-grade officers from 14 career fields to attend developmental education programs beginning in the summer, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced Nov. 1.The development team special program selection and Air Force Institute of Technology boards

  • Defense Act increases pay, provides benefits

    P resident Bush signed the $420.6 billion National Defense Authorization Act on Oct. 28.This makes up 19.9 percent of the total fiscal 2005 federal budget and 3.6 percent of the gross domestic product. Last year, the percentages were 20.2 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively.The authorization act

  • CMSAF addresses top issues

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray addressed hundreds of troops attending the 2004 Airlift/Tanker Association Symposium on Oct. 29, an event he has been unable to attend in years past.Chief Murray gave his insight on three main topics he said he feels are the backbone of the

  • Air Force musicians join AEF rotations

    Air Force bandsmen rarely play to boisterous crowds of 2,000 people dancing, singing and stage-diving, but at one deployed location in Southwest Asia, that is what happened. The show was among several in the Middle East as part of the Air Force Band of Mid-America’s tour during its first air and

  • Guardsmen making K-2 connections

    The C-130 Hercules aircrew from Saint Joseph, Mo., was told the night before that its mission tasking, called a frag (fragmentary order), was to fly supplies from Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, Uzbekistan, known as K-2, to Fire Base Salerno, Afghanistan.It was going to be a quick offload for the Missouri

  • 'Newslink' provides news from across Iraq

    Airmen deployed to Iraq, and their family and friends back home, now have an updated resource to help them stay current on Air Force news throughout the country.Iraq Newslink is a Web site built specifically to tell stories of deployed Airmen.The site, located at www.afnews.af.mil/iraq/index.htm, is

  • Tricare benefits improved significantly for reservists

    The National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2005 significantly improves the overall health benefits available to guardsmen, reservists and their families. It also makes permanent several of the Tricare benefits authorized “temporarily” under defense legislation, while extending secretarial

  • Hurlburt Airmen can dine ‘n’ dash

    Airmen here can literally dine and dash -- to the gym, that is -- after the opening of a combined dining facility and fitness center. “Customers love it because it just makes sense,” said Nate Harris, Riptide fitness center manager here. “They like to work out upstairs, then go downstairs to

  • Civilian health-care ‘open season’ offers 18 new plans

    Office of Personnel Management officials announced new health-care options that may provide better financial opportunities for employees.Eighteen new high-deductible health plans will be offered by the federal employees’ health benefits program for 2005. The new health plans, when used with a health

  • British team shoots to top at Defender Challenge 2004

    An eight-person British team took home the top award at the worldwide security forces competition Defender Challenge 2004 held here Oct. 22 to 28.The Royal Air Force Regiment took first in the grueling fitness challenge event and third in the Sadler Cup tactical exercise. These wins earned them the

  • Airmen roll past 1 million convoy miles

    The convoy escorts of the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron rolled over an impressive milestone recently when its Airmen passed 1 million miles driven for missions throughout Iraq.“From my standpoint, it’s a tremendous milestone,” said Col. Eric Pohland, 732nd Expeditionary Mission

  • 2004 Airlift/Tanker Association convention convenes

    Signifying the tremendous role that reserve forces play in the air mobility mission, the leaders of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve kicked off the 2004 Airlift/Tanker Association Convention here Oct. 29. Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, ANG director, and his reserve component colleague,

  • General Myers praises troops, addresses concerns

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers addressed this year’s Airlift/Tanker Association convention here Oct. 29 with one main goal in mind.“I wanted to look you in the eye and tell you how important you are to this great country of ours. You are our future,” he said.

  • New CMSAF insignia debuts Nov. 1

    A new chief master sergeant of the Air Force insignia debuts Nov. 1, and stands out as a highly distinguished symbol representative of all Airmen, officials said.The new insignia contains the Great Seal of the United States of America and two stars in the upper blue field. The chevrons and the

  • Air Force institute honors researchers

    Air Force Institute for National Security Studies officials honored two researchers Oct. 26 at their annual conference here.Majs. William Casebeer and Troy Thomas received the Maj. Gen. Robert E. Linhard Award in recognition of their research titled: “Violent Systems: Defeating Terrorists,

  • AEF Center commander explains longer cycle

    The effect of the expanded air and space expeditionary force tour lengths on troop morale was addressed here by the general in charge of the deployment schedule.Brig. Gen. Steven Hoog, AEF Center commander, explained how the recent extension to four-month deployments is working out.“Airmen have

  • CMSAF addresses fitness, training

    Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray spoke to a crowd of nearly 400 Airmen at an enlisted seminar here Oct. 22.He discussed issues facing the Air Force, and fielded questions and concerns from those in attendance. He started by asking how many in the audience had heard of Airman

  • Overseas assignment listing available Nov. 2

    The Overseas Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing showing requirements for July through September will be available Nov. 2.Airmen need to work through their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Nov. 18. They will be notified of their selection by mid-December, Air Force

  • Domestic violence offenders: the rest of the story

    Domestic violence is a problem nationwide, and the military is not exempt. However, Department of Defense officials have made a substantial commitment of resources over the past two decades to address domestic violence in the military.Domestic violence happens in military families of all ranks and

  • Airmen begin airlift mission to Sudan

    An Air Force C-130 Hercules left Abuja, Nigeria, on Oct. 28 with about 40 Nigerian troops and 3,000 pounds of equipment bound for El-Fashir airstrip in Sudan’s Darfur region.This marked the beginning of the airlift mission of African Union protection forces to the troubled area, they said.More than

  • Airmen offer stand down for homeless veterans

    Few people can forget there are thousands of Americans fighting in war zones to preserve America’s freedom; but are those who fought for this country decades ago and are now homeless still remembered?McConnell Airmen joined with people from the Department of Veterans Affairs and the nearby Wichita

  • Airmen prepare for humanitarian relief efforts

    More than 120 active-duty and Reserve Airmen from the 322nd Air Expeditionary Group arrived here Oct. 23 and 24 to set up airlift operations for the African Union. Within 48 hours, the Airmen established lodging, food service, communications, transportation, maintenance and public affairs. They

  • Leaders call for evaluation of suicide prevention efforts

    Air Force senior leaders are calling for commanders to conduct full reviews of suicide prevention efforts and to ensure that all Airmen are aware of resources such as life skills and other support agencies to address the service’s highest suicide rate in nine years.As of Oct. 27, 46 active-duty

  • New civilian personnel system brings sweeping changes

    The new human resource system known as the National Security Personnel System is scheduled to start for an initial 100,000 Department of Defense employees in the summer of 2005, Roger M. Blanchard said here Oct 25. He is the Air Force assistant deputy chief of staff for personnel Air Force

  • AF rugby team wins armed forces championship

    The Air Force rugby team swept the competition during the 2004 Armed Forces Rugby Championships held Oct. 18 to 22 at Camp Lejeune, N.C.The teams played each other in a single round-robin competition with the top two teams competing against each other for the championship.During the first day, Air

  • New office focusing on improving joint operations

    While U.S. military forces deployed to the Middle East continue operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaders at home are applying lessons learned from the campaigns to improve joint operations between the Air Force and Army.The first of nearly 20 Air Force and Army initiatives toward improving joint

  • Airmen take part in Operation Pencil Box

    About 20 Airmen from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing were greeted with smiles, cheers and the classic thumbs-up sign as they delivered school supplies and toys to a nearby elementary school Oct. 23 as part of Operation Pencil Box.More than 150 Iraqi children welcomed the group as they went from

  • Sibling reunion ‘sweet’ for Air Force reservist

    Family reunions may seem sappy to some, but for maple syrup farming siblings deployed to Afghanistan, such meetings are truly sweet.Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Jo Allen, a reservist deployed to nearby Bagram Air Base from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., and U.S. Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer Tim Gaby,

  • Deploying troops getting priority for laser eye surgery

    Many people choose laser eye surgery because they think it will make them more attractive or save them from having to grapple to find their glasses.But for an increasing number of servicemembers, laser eye surgery is not a cosmetic or convenience issue. It is about saving lives on the

  • Guard chaplains minister to wounded troops

    There was no doubt in anyone's mind, including his wife's and his father's, that Arkansas Army National Guard Spc. Ronald Baker was going to die. All that kept the man from Cabot, Ark., alive at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany was a life support system and his wife's concern for his

  • Airmen run in Army ‘10-miler’

    More than 100 Airmen took part in the second annual Logistics Support Area Anaconda 10-Miler road race held here Oct. 24.Overall the group was just a small part of the more than 1,300 Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Department of Defense civilians who competed in the event. Participants entered as

  • Officials: BRAC 2005 to support defense transformation

    The 2005 base realignment and closure initiative will be different from previous rounds in that it will directly contribute to the Department of Defense's transformation efforts, a top official said here Oct. 25.BRACs conducted between 1988 and 1995 closed 97 military bases and realigned 57, said

  • Now showing: Oct. 25 edition of AFTV News

    The continuing cleanup and relief support given victims of four Florida hurricanes highlights the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Staff Sgt. Kevin Nichols reports from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., the staging point for tons of supplies and materials on their way to Florida and

  • Four of a kind makes ‘six-pack’ for Edwards family

    As parents prepare to pick costumes for their children this Halloween, the Kearl family here will pick out six -- two for 3-year-olds Tanner and Hunter and four for 1-year-old quadruplets Cassie, Nathan, Jayson and Bryan.The Kearl family was stationed at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., when

  • AWACS tests new identification system

    Years of preparation paid off for the Airborne Warning and Control Systems Program Office during the test of a capability which will reduce the possibility of friendly-fire accidents.The test, held recently at the Navy test range at Patuxent River, Md., examined a new AWACS Identification Friend or

  • ‘Quiet Professionals’ praised by AFSOC commander

    The leader of the “Quiet Professionals” had plenty to say about the contributions Air Force Special Operations Command’s nearly 20,000 Airmen have made to the war on terrorism.“The men and women we have in our command are awesome, and it shows,” said Lt. Gen. Michael W. Wooley, AFSOC

  • New system tracks parts data

    Technicians in the avionics and instruments division now have a faster way to get the parts they need. The Lean Depot Management System tracks data on parts, and technicians, engineers and managers said they are noticing several benefits.The system can determine if a part is available and if so,