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U.S. Air Force News

  • Port squadron moves OEF cargo, passengers

    Mission "No.1" for the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing is keeping supply lines moving within the Operation Enduring Freedom corridor. When viewing the action on the flightline at a forward-deployed location, it seems everything just happens according to some master plan.That is where the men and women

  • Portable armories make munitions conveniently available

    Two newly acquired portable armories on base are streamlining the weapons processes for Airmen in theater here. The new armories will allow the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron to roll up operations at one of their two armory locations and eventually combine their operations at a

  • Portable electronic power initiative energizes possibilities

    An Air Mobility Battlelab initiative could "energize" new possibilities for aeromedical evacuations in the future. Termed the Portable Electronic Power Supply for Aeromedical Evacuations, or PEPSAE, initiative, it addresses a problem of heavy and cumbersome avionic frequency converters used to power

  • Portable Manned Interactive Cockpit goes on the road

    One of 2016’s quick-kill innovation projects, the Portable Manned Interactive Cockpit, was deployed to Orlando, Florida, to participate in the Operation Blended Warrior event in December. This was the second year of a four-year event. Mark Louton, an Experimentation Center for Ideas/Technology

  • Portal allows Airmen to chat with friends, family

    Airmen at home station or a deployed location can now send instant messages to their friends or loved ones whenever they have access to the Internet. The Air Force recently implemented the "Friends and Family Instant Messenger" program, available through the Air Force Portal. Now, besides using

  • Portal helps vets, reserves, guardsmen land jobs

    Just in time for Veterans Day, a new, state-of-the-art Web portal is being rolled out tomorrow to help veterans -- as well as Reserve-component members, their families and wounded warriors -- land jobs with civilian employers who value their military experience.The user-friendly tools will enhance

  • Portal IM service allows Airmen, friends, family to connect

    Friends and family members can keep in touch with Airmen anywhere in the world through an instant messaging program available through the Air Force Portal. Every Airman is permitted up to five guest users through the Friends and Family Instant Messaging service, which works "24 hours a day, seven

  • Portal offers new secure network tool similar to Facebook

    Air Force Portal Web designers are keeping up with the Web 2.0 era by offering portal users a new means to engage in professional communications in a secure social media environment.After initial tests among some 7,000 users in the Air Force's logistics community, the portal's newly developed

  • Portal provides information, access, instant messaging

    Air Force senior leaders have asked that all airmen sign up for a new Web-based technology that promises to streamline access to information across the force -- the Air Force Portal.In a December information technology initiatives memo, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Chief of

  • Portal to AF past found at Frankfurt Airport

    Almost 13 years ago, members of the 626th Air Mobility Support Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, left their mark when they created and buried a time capsule. Today, Rhein-Main AB is closed and the Frankfurt Airport is undergoing construction for cargo buildings where the base's flightline

  • Portion size critical to losing weight

    The health and wellness center, or HAWC, here has now initiated a new program that emphasizes healthier eating habits and weight control called Portion Off the Pounds. The 10-week program offers weekly weigh-ins, nutrition education and an ongoing support group. "The concept of the class is to show

  • Portland reservists remember King 56 crew

    The Air Force Reserve has found a new home for a memorial created in honor of 10 former Portland reservists. Officials from the 939th Air Refueling Wing will re-dedicate the memorial in a ceremony Nov. 17 at Willamette National Cemetery. The black granite marble stone monument was dedicated to the

  • Portrait of General Jumper unveiled

    The painting of the Air Force's 17th chief of staff was unveiled at the Hall of Heroes in the Pentagon Oct. 16. The portrait of retired Gen. John P. Jumper was unveiled by Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff T. Michael Moseley. "I appreciate everyone coming out

  • Portrait preserves pilot's legacy

    Some see a handsome pilot gazing into the horizon. Others see a war hero, poised for combat. She sees her father, as strong and proud as she always remembered him. Although Carol Ready had seen the portrait on magazine covers, heritage posters and military advertisements throughout the years,

  • Portraits in Courage Airmen honored during concert

    The National Anthem, followed by an A-10 and F-16 flyover and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team, kicked off the Air Force’s final Heritage to Horizons summer concert at the Air Force Memorial Aug. 4, 2017. The theme for the special event was “Portraits in Courage.”

  • 'Portraits in Courage' Vol. V highlights Air Force heroes

    The latest "Portraits in Courage" released Dec. 10 highlights 18 Airmen who demonstrated bravery and heroism in the crucible of war as they repelled air and ground enemy fire, led convoys through perilous terrain and assisted injured comrades.The stories describe ordinary Americans who accomplished

  • 'Portraits in Courage' Vol. VI: Core values, real time

    Directing heat, jumping into raging waters, triaging under fire, powering relief efforts, or using a camera to alter outcomes; these are the actions taken by some of the 18 Airmen featured in the latest series of Portraits in Courage.Volume VI tells the stories of heroes and game changers; the

  • Position coaching staff for Air Force football now complete

    Air Force head football coach Troy Calhoun completed his position coaching staff Jan. 17 with the hiring of Clay Hendrix and the retention of Ron Burton. Hendrix will coach the offensive line while Burton will remain as the defensive line coach.Hendrix comes to Air Force after completing 19 seasons

  • Position-vacancy promotions change for Reservists

    Air Force Reserve Command is changing the way it determines the number of early officer promotions, known as position-vacancy promotions. “Starting with the February Air Force Reserve major promotion selection board, we will link position-vacancy promotion quotas to mandatory promotion board

  • Positive outlook makes any job satisfying

    It is a subject that makes most people uncomfortable. Faces grimace, noses wrinkle and even the strongest of stomachs can easily weaken at its mere suggestion. But to Tech. Sgt. Randall Lovett, it is really nothing new. It is simply another day at the office.With meticulous organization and a

  • Possible F-16 buy highlights Iraq's progress

    Iraq's potential purchase of 18 U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons is an encouraging development that benefits both nations, the senior U.S. Air Force component commander in Iraq said Sept 14."I do not have any word yet that a letter of offer and acceptance is signed, but as you probably know, we did have a

  • Possible SARS cases at Hill; patients recovered

    Test results April 21 identified two probable cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome here, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two retired Air Force officers, who recently returned to Utah from a trip to Asia, have now recovered from the symptoms. However, officials from

  • Possible SARS cases at Hill; patients recovered

    Test results April 21 identified two probable cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome here, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Two retired Air Force officers, who recently returned to Utah from a trip to Asia, have now recovered from the symptoms.However, officials from

  • Post 9/11: This isn't your father's National Guard

    Since the attacks of 9/11, the National Guard has had to make some of the most dramatic changes in its 373-year history, a senior National Guard leader said in a recent interview. "We have evolved and we have changed," said Maj. Gen. William H. Etter, the acting director of domestic operations at

  • Post commemorates 99th anniversary of first military flight

    A vintage Stearman PT-17 and a Fairchild PTY-26 flew at approximately 11 a.m. March 2 under a clear blue sky over the grounds of Fort Sam Houston commemorating the 99th anniversary of the first military flight made by then 1st Lt. Benjamin Foulois. Sponsored by the Stinsons Flight No. 2, Order of

  • Post office delivers piece of home

    In a three-word phrase, Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks summarized what could make or break a good day for airmen deployed to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing -- "You've got mail."Postal clerks of the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron ensure everyone assigned to the wing and its tenant units are

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits key to recruiting and retention

    Proposed changes to the Post-9/11 GI Bill would improve military readiness, a senior Pentagon official said July 21 at a Capitol Hill hearing.Robert E. Clark, assistant director for accessions policy in the office of the defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness, also said education

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill guidance sent to Airmen

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here provided updates to the field recently on the Air Force implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The updates, effective Aug. 1, include guidance on how eligible Airmen can choose to transfer part or all of their educational benefits to family members

  • Postal agency sets overseas holiday mailing dates, policies

    The dates for mailing items to and from overseas locations in time for the holidays are fast approaching, and officials at the Military Postal Service Agency here have suggestions for ensuring packages and letters arrive on time. "If packages are mailed earlier, it may be possible to use

  • Postal Service offers first-time military discount

    Planning to send a care package to a military service member serving abroad? Send it after March 3 to take advantage of a new flat-rate box from the Postal Service that is 50 percent larger and delivered for $10.95 to an APO/FPO address -- $2 less than for domestic destinations. "This is the first

  • Postal Service reissues Purple Heart stamp

    A new version of a postage stamp commemorating the Purple Heart and all those who have earned it was issued in a ceremony here May 26. At the ceremony, two veterans of the war in Iraq were awarded Purple Hearts by R. James Nicholson, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "(The Purple Heart) celebrates the

  • Postal Service sets holiday mail deadline

    The recommended mailing deadline for sending economy-priced holiday packages to servicemembers in Afghanistan, Iraq and other places around the world is Nov. 12, officials at the U.S. Postal Service said."Shipping holiday packages early helps ensure that they arrive in time for the holidays," said

  • Postal service sets holiday mailing guidelines

    As the holidays approach and people start thinking about what they are going to send loved ones and friends serving overseas, there are a few dates to keep in mind. "The earliest deadline is for troops that are serving in the Iraq [and] Afghanistan area," Al DeSarro said, spokesman for the western

  • Postal service unveiling stamp at museum

    U.S. Postal Service officials announced Jan. 24 that the U.S. Air Force Museum here will be the venue for a ceremonial first-day issue of the 100th Anniversary of Powered Flight Commemorative Stamp.Dayton Postmaster David Ashworth revealed the museum as the location for a May 22 unveiling ceremony

  • Postal workers deliver pieces of home through mail

    One of the nice things about deploying is the outpouring of support given by family, friends and even strangers from back home through care packages and letters. However, without the people who run the post offices on base, none of those well-wishes would get through to boost morale. "We provide all

  • Post-combat coping methods vary, troops say

    Methods of coping with combat and its aftereffects vary as greatly as the effects themselves, six warriors participating in a conference panel here said. Officials at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury hosted the "Warrior Resilience Conference:

  • Post-deployment assessment improves health care

    The Air Force surgeon general is meeting the health challenges of airmen returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom with a more vigorous, face-to-face approach.Health-care providers have expanded and improved existing procedures by combining a larger database of existing health information about airmen,

  • Post-deployment program shows early promise

    Although in its fledgling stages, a program designed to accurately identify post deployment physical and mental health issues has already produced promising results, a senior Defense Department official said Feb. 27.“The post deployment health reassessment is a way to show servicemembers we care

  • Post-disaster energy conservation continues with program at Yokota

    Energy conservation measures here recently increased with the start of the No Heat, No Cool program that began April 18. Members of the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron began shutting off the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in facilities and residential housing buildings as part of a

  • Posthumous citizenships include family benefits

    The U.S. government historically has granted posthumous citizenship to non-U.S. citizen servicemembers killed in the line of duty during wartime.Thanks to a close working relationship between officials at the Defense Department and the Department of Homeland Security, this process is now on the fast

  • Post-Katrina relief operations bolster community recovery

    Keesler is at the tip of the sword in the battle to restore the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. After the storm devastated the base and surrounding communities, Keesler's training mission was broadened to include humanitarian relief operations under the direction of the

  • Post-Katrina relief operations bolster community recovery

    Keesler is at the forefront of the battle to restore the Mississippi Gulf Coast of Hurricane Katrina’s wake. After the storm devastated the base and surrounding communities Aug. 29, Keesler’s training mission temporarily stopped as it recovered and began humanitarian relief operations, or HUMRO. The

  • Postmark commemorates Air Force Reserve anniversary

    The U.S. Postal Service is helping the Air Force Reserve celebrate its 60th anniversary with a commemorative pictorial cancellation that went into circulation April 14. A pictorial cancellation is a unique postmark offered by the Postal Service for special events. Maj. Todd Copley of the 94th

  • Postmark honors Air Force's 60th birthday

    The U.S. Postal Service and the 94th Airlift Wing will honor the Air Force's 60th anniversary with a commemorative pictorial cancellation here Sept. 18. These kinds of postmarks are unique and commemorate a special event, which are rare and often sought after by stamp collectors and others

  • Postured to help: 3rd Air Force ready

    Third Air Force officials have developed a new, quick-response humanitarian assistance capability to support the European theater, and Nov. 5, they launched a 36-hour Humanitarian Relief Operation 9-1-1 exercise to test it. The exercise scenario challenged the ability of Airmen at Ramstein to

  • Posturing plan to produce more capable Air Force

    The major worldwide troop movement unveiled Aug. 16 by the president will result in a service that is better able to meet the needs of warfighting commanders, Air Force planning officials at the Pentagon said.While most of the 70,000 servicemembers who return from overseas to the United States will

  • Potential closure of Manas Air Base won't disrupt operations

    Senior U.S. officials hope to continue operations at Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, but would use other means to support troops in Afghanistan if the Kyrgyz government goes through with plans to close it, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Feb. 4. Neither the State Department nor the Defense

  • Potential Olympians to compete in tournament at Lackland

    Some of the world's best military basketball players are converging on Lackland Air Force Base for the International Military Sports Council Basketball Tournament April 7 through April 22. Military teams from Greece, Italy, Korea, Canada, Latvia and Lithuania will join the United States team in an

  • Potential recruits list critical to 'all-recruited' force

    The term "all-volunteer force" is a misnomer, a senior Defense Department personnel official said here June 23.In truth, the U.S. military is an "all-recruited force," and its success depends on recruiters having access to potential recruits, said Dr. David S. C. Chu, undersecretary for personnel

  • POTUS congratulates Air Force’s newest members at Daytona 500

    The mass enlistment took place on stage in the center of the track. Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, Air Education and Training Command commander, conducted the oath to the Air Force’s newest members. Moments later, the group moved to a private gathering where the president gave a brief speech before the race.

  • Pounds takes 2nd at U.S. track, field championships

    With a javelin throw of 183 feet, 9 inches, a recent U.S. Air Force Academy graduate concluded her collegiate career with a second-place showing at the U.S. Track and Field Championships June 23 in Indianapolis. Finishing second out of 17 athletes, Dana Pounds posted the best throw by a collegiate

  • Pounds wins second NCAA javelin title

    Saving the best for last and using a final throw of 190 feet, 3 inches, recent Air Force Academy graduate Dana Pounds successfully defended her javelin title at the NCAA Track and Field Championships here on June 9. Defeating the runner-up by nearly 12 feet, the Lexington, Ky., native claimed her

  • POV shipping program undergoes changes

    The Department of Defense’s privately owned vehicle shipping program will undergo several changes starting May 1. Several vehicle processing centers will relocate.

  • POW recalls mission that led to capture 50 years ago

    On Oct. 25, 1967, now retired Lt. Col. Richard Smith and his wingmen had orders to bomb the Paul Doumer Bridge in North Vietnam; the bridge was a mile long and one of the most heavily defended positions in Southeast Asia.

  • POW receives medal seven decades later

    For a former U.S. Army Air Force veteran, a seven-decade long wait ended when Col. James C. Hodges, the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and 87th Air Base Wing commander here, presented the former prisoner of war the POW Medal for services during World War II, Jan. 27, 2014, in the presence of

  • POW tells story of survival

    When you first meet him, you would probably think he is just another veteran with an incredibly humorous attitude. However, after a few moments of talking and getting to know him, you find out there is much more to him than meets the eye.While he is funny and charismatic, Retired Air Force Lt. Col.

  • POW to personal triumph

    Many people might associate the phrase 'prisoner of war' with service men and women, but a POW can also include non-combatants such as women and children. George "Julie" Kubat, an Air Force spouse and a member of the Fairchild Air Force Base family for roughly 40 years, had a different childhood

  • POW visits Pentagon tribute section, reminisces about hard times

    Retired Col. Leon Ellis was a prisoner of war for 1,955 days during the Vietnam War. During a July 16 visit to the Pentagon, he and his family stopped by the Air Force POW tribute section. Ellis said some painful memories flooded back about his time as a POW as he viewed the paintings.

  • POW/MIA day provides time to reflect, thank

    “However long it takes, wherever it takes us, whatever the cost.”Those words reflect the pledge of the more than 600 people who work every day to locate and identify 88,000 American servicemembers still missing from World War II through today.They are also apt words to describe the theme of the

  • POW/MIA Day set for Sept. 15

    Sept. 15 is designated as National POW/MIA Recognition Day for 2006. The observance, established in 1979, was held on different days until the standard practice of celebrating it the third Friday of September was enacted in 1986. The focus of the day is to remember those who sacrificed so much and

  • POW/MIA Day: Remembering those who are not home

    Retired Lt. Col. John Yuill looks forward to National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day every year. Not because he longs to relive his time in a Vietnamese prison camp, but because he understands how important it is to remember those who have still not made it home. "I love this

  • POW/MIA Recognition Day reaffirms commitment

    As Americans pause to observe POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 15, teams of military and civilian experts will be excavating sites in Europe, South Korea, Solomon Islands, Alaska and Hawaii, looking for remains to help identify servicemembers still missing from past wars. Teams from the Joint POW/MIA

  • 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

  • POW/MIA: 1,482 Airmen still missing

    Nearly 1,500 Airmen are still missing and unaccounted for from various conflicts and there are more than 83,000 Americans still unaccounted for across the Defense Department.Every year the nation pauses on the third Friday of September to remember the sacrifices and service of prisoners of war,

  • Powell predicts better day ahead for Iraq

    With Iraq's day of liberation drawing near, U.S. officials are hard at work on plans for an interim authority, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said today."We want an interim authority that is representative of all the groups who have an interest in the future of Iraq," Powell told reporters at

  • Powell thanks Spain for political, material support in Iraq

    Secretary of State Colin Powell today thanked one of America's staunchest allies for their support before and during the war in Iraq."I hope that the Spanish people will understand that their government and their leader was on the right side of history in this matter," Powell said in a joint media

  • Power lifting through faith, strength

    Staff Sgt. Ashley Bryant, a Tulsa, Oklahoma-native, broke the women's national bench press record with a 231.1 pound lift during a weight-lifting competition in Illinois while home on leave.

  • Power of AF families

    Despite their distinguished status as the wives of Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody, Betty Welsh and Athena Cody casually fit in the circle of chatting coffee-drinking ladies like they've been here their entire life. Maybe it

  • Power of the press

    Senior Airman Kirbie Delmo adjusts a radial drill press to align holes on manufacturing plates for an F-16 Fighting Falcon flap. Delmo is an aircraft metal technologies specialist with the 388th Equipment Maintenance Squadron. Workers in the aircraft metal technologies section manufacture, rework

  • Power of Total Force recruiting

    As Air Force Recruiting Service embarked on a Total Force Recruiting enterprise, a handful of Air Force Reserve Airmen began to matriculate here in early 2019, working side by side with their active-duty counterparts.

  • Power outages across Gulf Coast

    The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was captured by an Air Force meteorological satellite from the Air Force Weather agency here as it flew over the southeastern United States.The image taken Aug. 30 shows the widespread power outages across the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the area.

  • Power pro creates energy to sustain base operations

    One office here works behind the scenes day and night to harvest an under-appreciated necessity everyone needs to do their job -- electricity. Every time a person here flips a light switch, turns on a computer, gets a cold drink out of the refrigerator or relaxes in air conditioning, he or she can

  • Power production farm keeps OEF base running

    Just like a body needs food, a forward-deployed unit needs power.Without them, neither will survive.The 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer power production farm at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, ensures the base's electrical needs are kept well-fed."We produce every bit of power used by the military

  • Power pros critical to mission

    Eighteen Airmen ensure there is no peace here, because silence at Balad Air Base would mean chaos.The power production team's work is audible and emitted by the drone of 200 Air Force generators fueled by 7,000 gallons of fuel a day and immeasurable amounts of sweat and work hours. "I'm not going to

  • Power pros vital to Iraqi rescue missions

    Imagine a work day without electricity; not being able to send emails or use radars; living in a tent with no heat or air conditioning. Luckily, this isn’t a reality for most bases, thanks largely to the Airmen who maintain the electrical systems. At forward-deployed locations such as Al Asad Air

  • Power pros 'wire' Wake Island

    The damage assessment crews that deployed here from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii eat a hot meal every night. They use laptop computers to compile data and generate reports, and sometimes, at the end of a particularly long day, they watch a DVD movie on a small television screen before going to bed.

  • Powered flight returns to Air Force Academy

    Air Education and Training Command officials currently are testing a program designed to return powered flight to the Air Force Academy's curriculum. Called "Jump Start," the test marks the beginning for a program meant to enhance the Academy's focus on airmanship in its curriculum. Traditionally,

  • Powering awareness saves money

    Each October, the Air Force focuses its energy on saving energy."Our theme for Energy Awareness Month this year is 'Power the Force - Fuel the Fight,'" said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz in an energy awareness message to the

  • Powering the flightline

    People use electricity every day, whether by turning on a light switch or vacuuming the carpet and in the Air Force, some of the energy used every day powers a multimillion dollar flightline and ensuring the mission is accomplished.

  • Powerlifting duo competes, wins big

    Co-workers occasionally find common interests between them. For two Airmen at Scott Air Force Base that turned into powerlifting competitions.

  • POW's legacy helps nephew in leadership roles

    Military tradition runs deep in some families, with generation after generation raising their right hand and swearing to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. One family however, has continued to put its mark on military service even after inconceivable anguish struck during the

  • Practice keeps investigative skills sharp

    Practicing skills and maintaining job proficiency are key factors in accomplishing the mission on a day-to-day basis. Recently a member of the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here was able to practice and demonstrate fingerprinting skills in a mock crime scene scenario. According to

  • Practice makes perfect for flamenco-dancing Airman

    When an Airman here leaves work, she does not go home and sit in front of the television. She gets her second wind and dashes off to flamenco dance classes.After a full day as an administrative Airman for the 66th Mission Support Squadron, Airman 1st Class Jackqueline Raastad heads to a dance