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  • Reservists support Operation Deep Freeze

    Reservists from the 445th Airlift Wing here headed to Antarctica on Sept. 26 in a C-141 Starlifter supporting Operation Deep Freeze.Aircrew members will move passengers and cargo for the National Science Foundation's research facilities in Antarctica. This mission is the second of three phases to

  • New R&R leave program set

    Servicemembers and Defense Department civilians on 12-month orders in Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom now have a rest and recuperation leave program. The program allows them to take up to 15 days, excluding travel time, to visit family or friends in the United States or Europe.David S.C.

  • White Room relocation a ‘success’

    The historic Complex 19 White Room here was successfully relocated to its new home in the outdoor Rocket Garden at the nearby Air Force Space and Missile Museum.The White Room is a 56-foot-tall, 46-ton structure that was used by Gemini astronauts during missions in the mid-1960s. The room, also

  • Elmendorf opens multiplatform center

    On Sept. 24, the 3rd Wing officially opened the Air Force’s first multiplatform mission training center that uses advanced technology to maximize operational effectiveness and combat capability. The center will house multiple weapon systems simulators -- built and operated by multiple contractors

  • Sensor shop ensures successful U-2 missions

    For most people, taking a photo is as simple as pointing and shooting. However, for a U-2 pilot flying at more than 70,000 feet, taking a picture requires a high-tech camera and a dedicated organization to ensure it works properly.It is the primary job of the 9th Maintenance Squadron avionics

  • DOD investigating Air Force translator

    The Defense Department is continuing its investigations into two cases associated with the confinement facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in which an Air Force translator is charged with espionage and an Army chaplain is being held pending charges.Raul Duany, spokesman for U.S. Southern Command, said

  • JAG duty goes beyond portrayals

    People who base their perception of military lawyers on the television show "JAG" most likely think those in the judge advocate general profession are pilots, traveling from courtroom to courtroom in high performance military aircraft. They may also believe military legal professionals have the

  • DUI offenders relate experiences

    A Tyndall senior airman was leaving a Panama City restaurant parking lot when the tires of his sport utility vehicle squealed, gaining the attention of a city police officer nearby.As far as the airman was concerned, he had only consumed what he felt was a minimal amount of beer. He was startled to

  • Recruiting service names Blue Suit winners

    The Air Force Recruiting Service recently recognized the fiscal 2003 winners of Operation Blue Suite XXV. The program recognizes the Air Force's top recruiters worldwide."This is the first time I've received a Blue Suit award," said Tech. Sgt. Scott J. Wealton, from the 368th Recruiting Squadron in

  • October issue of Citizen Airman available

    Although thousands of Air Force reservists are still actively involved in supporting operations worldwide, Air Force Reserve Command officials are busy gathering lessons learned from current and recent operations.Read about the command’s effort to examine its performance in the October issue of

  • Parents have power over what children eat

    Health and wellness center officials here are offering nutrition tips for parents in response to studies that show a growing number of overweight children in America.According to a study by the American Dietetic Association Foundation, parents have more potential to influence their children's

  • New Air Force guidance issued for frocking

    The Air Force has issued new guidance on frocking, the practice of pinning on a higher rank after selection for that grade but before the actual promotion date.One of the changes is delegation of the approval/disapproval authority to the Air Force Personnel Center commander for frocking to major and

  • Fabrication flight ensuring mission success

    “Find it, fix it, paint it, make it, repack it.”This is the motto of the 48th Equipment Maintenance Squadron’s fabrication flight as they work around the clock at their four facilities to keep the F-15C Eagles and F-15E Strike Eagles here mission-ready.“Basically, our flight touches virtually all

  • Panel releases academy report

    The blue-ribbon panel investigating sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy reported Sept. 22 that failures in leadership led to 142 reported cases of sexual abuse in the past 10 years.“We found a deep chasm in leadership during the most critical time in the academy’s history -- one that extended

  • Air Force names best commander, spouse team

    The Air Force’s best wing commander and spouse team was recently named by Air Force Personnel Center officials at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.The 2003 recipients of the General and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley award are Col. William A. Chambers, 11th Wing commander here, and his spouse, Bonnie.“My

  • Secretary lauds resourceful approach

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche used the Air Force Association’s technology symposium Sept. 17 as a forum to praise Air Force ingenuity.Roche compared today’s leaders with those of the Army Air Corps, saying that integrating people and systems in new and innovative ways guarantees a

  • Department seeks former POWs

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials want former prisoners of war who are not using VA benefits to contact the department to find out if they may be eligible for disability compensation and other services.More than 23,000 former prisoners of war already receive compensation from the VA. This

  • Generals visit reservists in Iraq

    To learn firsthand the issues facing deployed members of Air Force Reserve Command, three Air Force Reserve generals traveled to several overseas locations Sept. 9 to 19.Making the trip were Maj. Gen. John J. Batbie Jr., AFRC vice commander; Maj. Gen. James Bankers, 22nd Air Force commander; and

  • AF announces team-excellence awards

    Air Force officials announced the five teams selected for the 2003 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award on Sept. 16 during the Air Force Association convention in Washington, D.C.A total of 15 teams were nominated for this year’s award, which recognizes outstanding team performance and promotes

  • Junior ROTC seeks teachers

    The Air Force needs more military retirees to take on teaching roles in high-school classrooms as the service expands its Junior ROTC program. The 744 units in high schools worldwide offer many opportunities for qualified, eligible applicants, said Jo Alice Talley, Junior ROTC instructor management

  • Airman convicted at Osan

    An airman here was found guilty during a court-martial recently.Staff Sgt. Sasanna Galitzen, of the 51st Comptroller Squadron, was sentenced to 11 months confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, reduction to airman basic and a bad conduct discharge.Galitzen was convicted of making false

  • AF Climate Survey launches Oct. 1

    Air Force leaders at all levels want to know, “How is my organization doing?” The 2003 Air Force Climate Survey begins Oct. 1 to answer this question with the help of Air Force people.Their participation in the survey is critical, said senior leaders.“Leadership must be made aware of what’s really

  • Lab earns DOD modeling, simulation award

    Showcasing better and more effective ways to train, warfighter training research division experts here captured top honors in the Defense Department's 2003 Modeling and Simulation Award training category.The training systems technology team earned the award that recognizes units, organizational

  • Airman helps 'at risk' children

    While many take a permissive temporary-duty assignment to go house hunting prior to a move, Senior Airman Dan Magas went home to do another kind of hunting. Magas, a security controller with the 65th Security Forces Squadron here, helped about 70 children in the Pennsylvania State Police’s Camp

  • Bases provide hurricane refuge

    Nearly 180 aircraft worth billions of dollars have safely taken refuge at four Air Force Materiel Command installations, moving away from Hurricane Isabel's wrath.The aircraft moved as part of previously-agreed-to contingency plans between the impacted base and the evacuation point, according to

  • B-2 exercises 'spirit' through deployment

    B-2 Spirit bomber crews and support teams are in Guam to participate in Coronet Dragon 49, an exercise to test their deployment capabilities and the ability to fly and fight from a forward location. The exercise sent airmen from the 325th Bomb Squadron and 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base,

  • CAP helps Air Force face Isabel

    As Hurricane Isabel makes landfall on the Eastern seaboard, Civil Air Patrol officials are helping the Air Force manage storm-related operations.The CAP is the all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, located at Langley Air Force Base, Va., has moved its

  • Deployed medics provide care to locals

    Airmen deployed from the 86th Medical Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, are treating villagers in nearby Sartichala and Ponichala who have eye problems.The treatments were part of a humanitarian civic assistance program that the 86th MDG staff conducted at clinics in each village during a

  • Jumper addresses global chiefs

    The Air Force’s top uniformed leader addressed more than 90 air chiefs from around the globe Sept. 16 as part of the Air Force Association's Airpower Symposium. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper's comments covered a broad range of topics, including the making of today's heroes, the

  • B-2 drops 80 test JDAMs

    A B-2 Spirit bomber here released 80 inert joint direct attack munitions Sept. 10 for the first time, clearing the way for warfighters to attack that many individual targets on a single bomb run.After an 11-sortie buildup toward qualifying the B-2 for the maximum munitions load, B-2 global power

  • Fuels branch airmen repair tanks, increase storage

    With a little bit of ingenuity and hard work, airmen in the 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels branch here were able to salvage enemy assets and use them to their advantage.The airmen recently repaired eight underground fuel tanks to increase the branch's capability to store JP-8

  • KC-135 brakes changing to carbon

    Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker brake systems will go from metal to lighter, longer-lasting carbon now that service officials approved an initiative proposed here, that will save millions in tax payer dollars.Dubbed the “largest improved item replacement program in Air Force history,” the new

  • OTS selection board results released

    Air Force officials are giving 13 enlisted airmen the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars by choosing them to attend Officer Training School, officials announced Sept. 16.Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 307 applications as part of OTS Selection Board 0308, which met here

  • Outstanding airmen honored

    The Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2003 received a ceremonial tribute Sept. 15 at the Air Force Association convention here.Each year, the AFA honors the 12 airmen at its annual convention in Washington, D.C. The program was initiated at the organization’s 10th annual national

  • Squadron wins DOD maintenance award

    The 74th Fighter Squadron here has been named winner of the 2003 Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award in the small category.The A-10 Thunderbolt II unit was the only Air Force winner out of six units in the small, medium and large categories.The selection panel looked at mission accomplishments,

  • U.S., Dutch pilots train together

    Boom operator Airman Charles Converse noted something different about the Dutch F-16 that slowly moved into place for a quick gas-and-go high above Afghanistan on Sept. 11. The pilot was proudly displaying the Stars and Stripes above the windscreen in his cockpit. The Dutch had not only put a flag

  • AWACS airmen get noise-reduction headsets

    Interior aircraft noise has been a longtime problem when it comes to aircrews communicating with each other and protecting themselves from hearing loss. This is certainly true for aircrews who work aboard the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. The persistent noise the aircrews

  • Some AEF airmen will deploy longer

    Air Force officials have determined that some airmen in Air and Space Expeditionary Force Blue will remain deployed longer than the scheduled 120 days.Blue is the first of two transitional AEFs designed to bring the schedule back to a normal rotation. Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom

  • Dawn patrol flies in for rendezvous

    A trio of Fokker Dr. I triplanes approached the field from the north, emerging over a tree line as they began a measured descent. Their engines punctuated the air with a reverberating roar as the warbirds passed over the field and climbed to a higher altitude once again.For thousands of observers

  • AF wins softball championship

    The Air Force team won the 2003 Armed Forces Women’s Softball Championship held here Sept. 8 to 10. “Our goal was not to go undefeated; it was to win the gold,” said Air Force head coach Master Sgt. William Hardy, from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. This is exactly what happened. The Army team

  • Roche receives Order of the Sword

    Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche was inducted into the Order of the Sword during a ceremony here Sept. 13.Roche became the eighth Air Force-level inductee into the order, and the second secretary, since the "Royal Order of the Sword" ceremony was revised, updated and adopted by Air

  • Airmen clean up Iraqi weapon stockpile

    Airmen rattle windows for about 12 miles here as they detonate stockpiles of Iraqi weapons twice a week.“Everybody on base and in town knows what that sound is. It’s the death of tyranny and the birth of freedom,” said Col. Jim Callahan, 506th Air Expeditionary Group commander.Coalition explosive

  • 2003 AFA convention opens

    The 2003 Air Force Association convention began Sept. 15 including a gathering of more than 90 global air chiefs from around the world.Honor guardsmen posted flags from each nation represented at the convention, visually reinforcing the global nature of the annual gathering. The Global Air Chiefs

  • Airmen conduct multinational MRE study

    Frog legs versus Pad Thai fried noodles? Country Captain Chicken versus veal parmigiana? There is a culinary war of nutrition being waged in Afghanistan as a flight doctor and a pilot with the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group conduct a study of meals ready to eat from at least 13 different

  • Now showing: Sept. 15 edition of AFTV News

    The contribution airmen make at the detainee center in U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is chronicled in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Tech. Sgt. Pachari Lutke has an exclusive look at how airmen are helping guard the hundreds of detainees being held at the center as part of

  • Eielson forces respond to base fire

    Firefighters and security forces here contained a fire in base housing Sept. 7 at around 6 p.m.The heating unit of an empty waterbed in the bedroom ignited the fire, according to officials.“The fire crews did an awesome job. It was a textbook operation,” said Master Sgt. Shawn Ricchuito, 354th

  • KC-135s stay perfect during 17-day hot streak

    Really good or just lucky – which describes the 376th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron?From Aug. 25 to Sept. 10, all of the KC-135 Stratotankers here were ready, willing and able to get the job done in the sky over Afghanistan.The mission-capable rate target for Air Mobility Command

  • No plans to extend Guard, Reserve

    Air Force officials do not plan to extend the involuntary deployment of Reserve and Air National Guard airmen to Iraq.About 4,700 ANG and Reserve airmen are deployed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. According to a senior Air Force official, about 12,000 deployed Air Reserve Component airmen have

  • Myers sends AF birthday message

    The following is a message from Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:“The 18th of September this year marks the 56th birthday of the U.S. Air Force -- an important milestone on both the paths of aviation history and the defense of our Nation. This year is also the centennial

  • AF offers multilingual thank you

    Airmen whose parents speak languages other than English can now order Air Force Parent Pins with accompanying cards translated into one of 100 languages.The new Your Guardians of Freedom initiative is an extension of the Parent-Pin program called “E Pluribus Unum.” The Latin term comes from the

  • Unique treatment helps injured airman

    In an instant, Staff Sgt. Hector Barrios’ life came crashing down like a ton of bricks.Barrios, assigned to the 96th Security Forces working dog section here, deployed to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. While on gate-guard duty July 15, he removed a wire

  • Pilot flies third consecutive 9-11 sortie

    Where were you on 9-11? This is a question almost every American has asked or been asked since that tragic day. Lt. Col. Murf Clark, 22nd Expeditionary Aerial Refueling Squadron commander, has given the same answer to that question for three consecutive years – flying.Clark, a KC-135 Stratotanker

  • Airman rings ‘Bell of Remembrance’

    One of the Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year helped the U.S. Senate pay tribute to the victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks on America.Senior Master Sgt. Thomas McConnell represented the Air Force in a ceremony Sept. 11 to introduce the Senate Resolution of Remembrance. McConnell is an

  • Leaders recognize 56 years of Air Force

    The U.S. Air Force celebrates its 56th year Sept. 18. In recognition of this, the following is a message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“In 56 years, the U.S. Air Force has earned its wings as the world’s greatest air and space

  • Airmen remember pain of Sept. 11

    Time is said to heal all wounds, but how much time heals emptiness left behind when more than 3,000 lives are instantaneously and mercilessly cut short? Two years have passed since Sept. 11, yet servicemembers here, like all Americans, continue to sort through the pain of personal and symbolic

  • Pentagon renovations continue

    Reflective arrows sit at crawl-level, about a foot up from the floor, hugging the lightly colored walls. Sparkling floors lead to escalators, elevators and well-lit hallways. Renovations, completed nearly a year ago, still give the Pentagon's Wedge 1 a fresh look. Yet, for all its newness, this

  • Rocket blasts off from Florida

    A Titan IV B rocket successfully launched from here Sept. 9. The rocket carried a National Reconnaissance Office payload into orbit. The classified payload will help enhance national security for the United States and support deployed forces, according to 45th Space Wing officials.The mission had

  • Airmen set up staging facility in Bulgaria

    Airmen from the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron set up an active mobile aeromedical staging facility here for Exercise Cooperative Key 2003.The squadron is one of four in the Air Force capable of the task.“Some of us have prior real-world (staging facility) experience in (operations) Enduring

  • Miss America contestants visit Andrews

    As part of their tribute to America’s armed forces, Miss America 2003 and the 51 women competing for her crown came here Sept. 5 to join airmen for breakfast at the Andrews Officers’ Club.The airmen ate with the contestant from each of their states.The contestants signed autographs and had their

  • Kunsan F-16 crashes; pilot safe

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot ejected safely before his aircraft crashed into the Yellow Sea about 56 miles southwest of here at 10:05 a.m. Sept. 9. The pilot, Capt. Kevin Dydyk, was rescued by South Korean airmen in an HH-47 helicopter. Dydyk arrived here at noon and was reported in good condition

  • Retired colonel reflects on 9-11

    Col. Diana Fleek sat alone on the Pentagon parade field among hundreds of gray metal chairs left empty by people who had just attended the Oct. 11, 2001, one-month anniversary of the terrorist attack on the nation.At the time, Fleek said she was pondering the evil of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks

  • Deployed aircraft given ISO inspection

    Maintainers recently completed a comprehensive inspection of a deployed aircraft here for the first time when a Kentucky Air National Guard C-130 Hercules underwent a complete isochronal inspection.Isochronal inspections examine numerous essential aircraft systems like propulsion and hydraulics,

  • Canine defenders keep warfighters safe

    A 12-inch-long mortar round lay partly hidden in the overgrowth near a checkpoint at Baghdad International Airport. It was found and safely destroyed thanks to the keen senses of a four-legged member of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.Rudy, one of several military working dogs

  • Falcons sneak past Wildcats, 22-21

    Nate Allen’s electrifying 79-yard interception return for a touchdown sparked the Air Force Academy Falcons to a fourth-quarter come-from-behind victory, 22-21, over the Northwestern Wildcats. “That (score) gave our football team a new life; it gave us a belief,” said Fisher DeBerry, the Falcons

  • Life ‘booms’ for KC-10 airman

    At midnight, Airman 1st Class Katherine Monke looked out over Afghanistan from here KC-10 Extender. She said one of the best things about her job was just sitting up in the cockpit. “I think to myself, ‘I wonder what my friends back home are doing?’ Then I look down and realize I am flying over

  • Leaders issue Patriot Day message

    The following is a Patriot Day message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“The second anniversary of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, provides us all an opportunity to remember those murdered in New York, at the Pentagon and in

  • Airmen arrive in Poland for air meet

    U.S. pilots and maintainers arrived here Sept. 4 for an operation placing them with, and pitting them against, the world’s foremost fighter aircraft. NATO Air Meet 2003, a major recurring exercise, kicked off live-flying exercises Sept. 5 and runs through Sept. 19 here and at Powidz Air Base,

  • Turkish native enlists, returns home

    An airman here has known what he wanted to do ever since he was a small boy growing up in a middle-class neighborhood near Balgat Air Base in Ankara, Turkey.Staff Sgt. Erim Celik, a contract specialist assigned to the 39th Contracting Squadron, wanted to live the American dream. There was only one

  • MRE menu debuts new items

    Servicemembers in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere will soon have several new MRE options to choose from for their deployed-dining pleasure.The newest meals, ready-to-eat, feature three new entrée items: pot roast with vegetables, barbecue pork ribs and vegetable manicotti. The menu also includes

  • Deployed airmen get break on loans

    Servicemembers who have been deployed or mobilized are not required to make student loan payments during their absences.Federal regulations require lenders to postpone the student loan program payments of active-duty servicemembers. This applies to people of the National Guard and Ready Reserves

  • Committee debates tanker lease plan

    Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee do not question the Air Force’s need for new tankers, only how the service plans to get them.Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche met with the committee Sept. 4. He outlined the importance of immediately upgrading the service’s aging aerial refueling

  • Airmen join nations in exercise

    More than 70 airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases arrived here Sept. 1 for Exercise Cooperative Key 2003. They joined servicemembers from eight NATO nations and 12 partner nations.According to officials here, the goal of the exercise is to enhance the interoperability of NATO and partner

  • Romanian pilot calls Pope home

    In 1991, 13-year-old Nick Radoescu took his first trip away from home. That morning, he helped his mother pack the suitcases they would carry to the airport. He was excited because this would be his first trip to another country. He was even more excited because his family would now have

  • Airmen donate items to Bulgarian children

    Airmen of the 86th Contingency Response Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, donated van-loads of clothing, toys, games and books to school children here Sept 2.They brought the donated goods with them as they deployed to participate in the NATO Partnership for Peace exercise, Cooperative Key

  • Space-A changes affect Europe

    Regular space-available travel from Lajes to Italy and Spain will end Oct. 1, while a new stop finds its way onto the weekly channel route. Although the weekly "Patriot Express" L-1011 will no longer stop at Aviano Air Base, Italy, the aircraft will land at Rhein Main AB, Germany, beginning with the

  • Airmen train with soldiers in Hawaii

    The Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing added close-air support to its annual combat training here this summer with help from the Army’s 25th Infantry Division.A week of training, called Sentry Strike, was held with the Army’s forward-air controllers. Each year, the wing’s airmen deploy

  • Officials announce OTS selections

    Air Force officials are giving 11 enlisted airmen the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars by choosing them to attend Officer Training School, officials announced Sept. 3. Air Force Recruiting Service officials conducted OTS Selection Board 0307, which met here. The board considered 206

  • Roche testifies on tanker lease

    Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche testified before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation on Sept. 3 to answer questions about the 2004 Air Force Tanker Lease Proposal.The final defense committee hearing will be held Sept. 4, in the Senate Armed Services Committee.

  • Murray discusses issues at Minot

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray discussed current issues with airmen here during a visit Aug. 28 to 30.Topics included the test utility uniform, the Dorms-4-Airmen Program, the new fitness standards, air and space expeditionary force rotations, and retention and recruiting

  • Airmen patrol enemy’s side of wire

    In a hot and dusty Afghani valley, there is land scarred with land mines and tied down with concertina wire fences separating American heroes from terrorists. The environment alone is hostile, featuring sweltering summers and bone-chilling winters. The habitat is a haven for venomous creatures and

  • Troops head out to record holiday greetings

    Broadcasters from the Army and Air Force Hometown News Service will begin collecting holiday greetings from troops overseas Sept. 8.Three teams of military broadcasters are expected to return here with more than 13,000 individual messages to be sent to local television and radio stations in the

  • Airmen supporting JTF in Cuba

    A handful of airmen are among those supporting Joint Task Force-Guantanamo charged with supporting the detainee mission here. More than 2,000 soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and airmen are supporting the war on terrorism by providing humane treatment and care to approximately 660

  • Lieutenant leaves Iraq, now calls U.S. home

    For one Air Force lieutenant, March 19 was not just the night coalition forces began attacking Iraqi targets, it was also the day war broke out in his former homeland.Known only as Mohammed for security reasons, the lieutenant is an Arabic linguist deployed here as part of Joint Task

  • Airmen attend Army weather course

    Several experienced Air Force forecasters completed a pilot version of a new course designed to help airmen provide weather support for Army operations.The first official staff weather officer course is scheduled for October. Its instructors teach Air Force weather specialists some of the Army’s

  • Now showing: Sept. 1 edition of AFTV News

    How the transformation of the Air Force will affect Air Mobility Command is spotlighted in the latest edition of Air Force Television News. In a special Eye on the Air Force, Staff Sgt. Joe Wallace goes to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., to examine what role AMC will play in the transformation

  • Tallil’s Predators on patrol in Iraq

    Information. Today, it may be the world’s hottest commodity. It is often the key to success in all walks of life: sports, business and definitely, in the military. The MQ/RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle has been providing information to the military since the beginning of Operation Iraqi

  • 'Hunters' fly with hurricanes

    As the midway point of hurricane season approaches, the 53rd Reconnaissance Squadron "Hurricane Hunters" here remain vigilant about tropical-weather threats.The Hurricane Hunters are part of Air Force Reserve Command’s 403rd Wing here. They are the only Department of Defense organization still

  • Letters, small packages move quicker

    The U.S. Postal Service and the Military Postal Service Agency process about two million pounds of mail a week for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Of those, some items make it to the recipient faster than others, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Lomax, agency chief of plans and policy.Depending on where

  • Group reviewing museum procedures

    Air Force officials announced Aug. 28 that a group will assess the operational policies and procedures used by the U.S. Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The group will report findings to both Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Museum Director Charles D.

  • Airmen help donations reach Afghanistan

    A small contingent of airmen escorted a convoy of Kazak army trucks here from the border of Kazakhstan Aug. 27. They brought supplies for the developing Afghan national army.The convoy, consisting of 10 large cargo trucks, carried winter clothing, blankets and other field supplies donated by the

  • Base is first to test alternative fuel cell

    A new fuel cell is giving airmen here a sneak peek at the Defense Department's proposed plan for using hydrogen as an alternative fuel source. The test unit installed here is the fifth in the Department of Defense and the first to be evaluated on an Air Force base, officials said.Thirty military

  • Jumper talks uniforms, ops, tankers

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper talked to airmen here about upcoming changes in the Air Force during a visit to the base Aug. 22.He shared his thoughts on the new fitness program, the new uniform, deployment issues and the acquisition of new tankers.All of these changes were brought on by

  • Recruiting, retention outlook good

    Despite predictions to the contrary, Americans are continuing to volunteer for the military, and those already in are re-enlisting at a vigorous rate.Early in the war on terrorism, many critics predicted the United States would have to return to the draft to man the forces. But in this 30th year of

  • Fitness experts: Start training now

    Air Force fitness experts say airmen must begin preparations now if they want to pass the new fitness evaluations in January. "They need to start training today for year-round fitness to meet mission readiness. They must include running, push-ups and crunches into their program," said Sylvia Goff,

  • Contractor to control air traffic at Bagram

    The base here is scheduled to be the first of four supporting Operation Enduring Freedom to replace Air Force air traffic controllers and airfield managers with contracted civilians. The transition is expected by the end of September.“We expect a seamless transition with no interruption to air

  • Airmen keep Bagram protected

    Firemen always have had a lot of responsibility resting on their shoulders, from the proverbial rescue of a kitten stuck in a tree to selflessly entering towering infernos to rescue those inside. The Air Force firefighters of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group here say they are aware of this

  • Airmen open hearts, planes for Thai orphans

    Guy Ratchaporn had never been on an airplane before. The 6 year old never dreamed he would sit in the pilot’s seat of an MC-130 Combat Shadow until the 353rd Special Operations Group airmen from Kadena Air Base, Japan, opened their airplane and their hearts to children of Thailand’s Ban Jang Jai

  • Americans officially end era at PSAB

    U.S. officials transferred control of portions of Prince Sultan Air Base to Saudi officials at a ceremony Aug. 26. The ceremony also marked the inactivation of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing."We came here under difficult circumstances following the Khobar Towers bombing (at Dhahran Air Base),”

  • Former TAC commander dead at 76

    The general who led Tactical Air Command for more than six years died Aug. 26 in Las Vegas at the age of 76.Retired Gen. Wilbur L. “Bill” Creech, TAC commander from May 1, 1978, to Dec. 31, 1984, is survived by his wife Caroline A. Creech.Creech was a command pilot who flew more than 40 fighter,

  • Airmen play in national exercise

    Operations, logistics and medical experts here continue to assist state and federal agencies in a simulated nation-wide battle against the pneumonic plague, wildfires and bad weather, which began Aug. 18.The exercise, Determined Promise ‘03, was designed to test U.S. Northern Command’s