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  • President extends stop loss claims deadline

    Airmen, veterans and their beneficiaries now have until Dec. 18 to apply for retroactive stop loss special pay.The new deadline is the second extension to the original Oct. 21 cutoff and comes as a result of a continuing resolution signed by the president Dec. 4.Airmen eligible for the benefit

  • President extends Thanksgiving wishes to Airman serving in Afghanistan

    An Air Force medic here received a personal telephone call from President Barack Obama on Thanksgiving Day.Senior Airman Ashley Jackson, a member of Provincial Reconstruction Team Kapisa, was chosen as one of 10 military members who spoke to the president while deployed abroad.Airman Jackson,

  • President hosts Pakistani, Afghan presidents

    The U.S. and free countries in the Middle East need to work together to stop the spread of terrorism and ensure a hopeful future for the region, President George W. Bush said here Sept. 27 before attending a dinner with the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The meeting with Afghan President

  • President intends to nominate Roche for Army post

    President George W. Bush announced May 7 his intention to nominate Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche to become the next secretary of the Army.Roche, who became secretary of the Air Force June 1, 2001, said he is deeply honored, adding that he will work hard to justify the nomination,

  • President issues Air Force birthday message

    I send greetings to all those celebrating the 64th birthday of the United States Air Force.As president, I have no greater honor than serving as commander in chief of the greatest force for peace and security the world has ever known. Performing their duties with impeccable gallantry and excellence,

  • President issues Armed Forces Day proclamation

    President Barack Obama signed and issued a proclamation May 14 designating May 16 as Armed Forces Day. Here is the presidential proclamation: On Armed Forces Day, 1961, President Kennedy connected civic engagement and our nation's security. He stated, "The strength of our armed forces rests not

  • President issues Military Spouse Appreciation Day proclamation

    President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation declaring May 7 as Military Spouse Appreciation Day.Here is the text of the president's proclamation:"When Americans answer the call to serve in our armed forces, a sacred trust is forged. Our men and women in uniform take on the duty of protecting us

  • President makes stop at Ramstein Air Base

    President Barack Obama passed through Ramstein Air Base on his way to spending some time with wounded warriors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany, June 5. The president's visit was his first to the hospital since coming into office. The visit to LRMC was closed to the public and media, as

  • President meets with Airmen, families during S.C. visit

    President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush visited Airmen and their families here during a trip to South Carolina on Oct. 10. "Team Charleston is humbled and thankful for the opportunity to once again host our commander in chief," said Col. John "Red" Millander, 437th Airlift Wing commander.

  • President monitors Hurricane Rita operations at Randolph

    President George W. Bush concluded an overnight visit here Sept. 25 where he received a briefing about the military’s role in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita.The president also attended chapel services with members of the Randolph congregation before leaving San Antonio for Baton Rouge, La., where

  • President nominates 1st female Air Force Academy superintendent

    The president of the United States nominated Maj. Gen. Michelle Johnson for the appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and for assignment to serve as Air Force Academy's 19th superintendent. If confirmed by the Senate, Johnson would become the first woman to hold the position.Currently

  • President nominates 20 Reserve officers for promotion

    President Barack Obama has nominated 20 officers for Reserve of the Air Force Appointment to major general and brigadier general. The nominations move to the Senate for confirmation. Nominated for promotion to major general are:Brig. Gen. William B. "Blaze" Binger, 10th Air Force commander, Naval

  • President nominates General Looney to head AETC

    President Bush has nominated Lt. Gen. William R. Looney III to be the next commander of Air Education and Training Command, Air Force officials announced Feb. 28.General Looney, who also is nominated for his fourth star, is the commander of the Aeronautical Systems Center here. Both nominations

  • President nominates next AF surgeon general

    President Barack Obama has nominated Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Charles Bruce Green to become the next Air Force surgeon general. General Green is currently the Air Force's deputy surgeon general, a position he has held since August 2006. Pending approval by the Senate, General Green would become the Air

  • President nominates woman Army general for fourth star

    President Bush nominated Army Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody for promotion June 23, which, pending Senate approval, would make her the first woman to be a four-star officer in U.S. history. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced the president's nomination of General Dunwoody as the commander of Army

  • President Obama announces return of the SAVE award

    President Barack Obama wants federal employees to submit their ideas for eliminating government waste and saving American taxpayers' money as part of the 2010 SAVE, or securing Americans' value and efficiency, award program. President Obama made the announcement in a video on the White House website

  • President Obama calls firefighting Airmen heroes

    President Barack Obama released a statement today calling the Airmen battling wildfires in the Rocky Mountain region "heroes who deserve the appreciation of a grateful nation."The statement comes following a crash yesterday of a North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 as its crew was battling a

  • President Obama holds troop rally at Osan

    More than 1,500 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines from throughout South Korea heard President Barack Obama speak at a troop rally here Nov. 18.President Obama said he was visiting South Korea to reaffirm the enduring alliance between the U.S. and South Korean governments."This is an alliance

  • President Obama honors new citizen service members

    Twenty-five U.S. service members filed through the White House East Room today in dress uniforms, proudly displaying their service and sacrifices to America, and took their citizenship oath before their commander in chief.They were among more than 4,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who

  • President Obama pays surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan

    President Barack Obama paid a surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan March 28, delivering a message of praise to American servicemembers on behalf of the United States. Speaking at Bagram Airfield to an audience of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, President Obama said support for deployed

  • President Obama proclaims Cybersecurity Awareness Month

    Americans everywhere prosper because of the nation's digital infrastructure, and therefore all citizens must defend it, President Barack Obama said Oct. 4.October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and in a proclamation released, President Obama said all Americans must understand they have a

  • President Obama reaches out to veterans

    President Barack Obama said he wants to make sure veterans and current servicemembers who were involuntarily retained in the military under the so-called "Stop Loss" program get the retroactive pay they deserve."You served with honor," President Obama said. "You did your duty. And when your country

  • President Obama thanks troops, pledges support

    President Barack Obama thanked U.S. troops and pledged to provide the resources they need to accomplish their missions Jan. 28 in his first visit to the Pentagon as commander in chief.President Obama spoke to reporters here after meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Defense Secretary Robert M.

  • President Obama visits Buckley Air Force Base

    President Barack Obama was greeted by Col. Daniel Dant, 460th Space Wing commander, and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley here Jan. 26, amidst a flurry of media and wing members as he spoke on energy conservation and renewable energy.Buckley AFB is a fitting backdrop to the commander-in-chief's

  • President Obama visits wounded warriors

    The commander in chief focused his attention on wounded warriors during a June 5 visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. President Barack Obama paid bedside visits with U.S. and coalition servicemembers as well as joining an enthusiastic crowd of outpatients at the USO Warrior Center. Along the

  • President Obama visits wounded warriors at Ramstein

    Air Force One touched down at Ramstein Air Base bringing President Barack Obama, to meet with some of America's heroes March 29.After a week of traveling through Europe and stopping in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the president made a short trip to Germany to meet with wounded warriors from the Landstuhl

  • President Obama welcomes back, thanks federal workers

    President Barack Obama thanked federal employees for their service, sacrifices and dedication. In a White House speech Oct. 17 to mark the end of a government shutdown that sidelined hundreds of thousands of federal workers, the president said their service matters. "Thanks for your service," Obama

  • President Obama, President Medvedev sign new START treaty

    President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev signed a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty in Prague April 8, with both countries pledging to reduce their deployed, strategic nuclear weapons stockpiles. The so-called "New START" sets new limits on ready-to-use, long-range nuclear

  • President OKs independent panel to review academy

    President George W. Bush signed into law April 16 legislation establishing a panel to review allegations of sexual misconduct at the Air Force Academy.The independent panel's creation was part of the fiscal 2003 Supplemental Appropriations Act to Support Department of Defense Operations in Iraq,

  • President picks Army general to lead new command

    President Bush named Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward July 10 to help stand up U.S. Africa Command as its first commander.General Ward has served as deputy commander of U.S. European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, since May 2006. In that role, he has been responsible for the day-to-day activities for

  • President pledges support to veterans

    The administration is moving ahead with changes to the VA. Obama signed the Veterans Access Choice and Accountability Act, which provides money to hire staff and allows veterans who live more than 40 miles from VA care to see doctors outside the VA.

  • President praises troops during Independence Day event

    Military service members attending the White House Independence Day celebration represent the latest in a long line of heroes who have served the U.S. with honor and sacrificed much to protect the freedoms all Americans enjoy, President Barack Obama said here July 4."I cannot think of anybody I

  • President praises troops on front lines of terror war

    There's no doubt of victory in the terror war -- not just because the United States is committed to seeing it through, but also because of the quality of the troops carrying it out, President George W. Bush told the Reserve Officers Association here Sept. 29. "We can have confidence in the outcome

  • President presents posthumous Medal of Honor to hero's sons

    President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to the family of an Air Force chief master sergeant killed in action 42 years ago in Laos during a ceremony Sept. 21. "Today, we present the Medal of Honor to an American who displayed such gallantry more than four decades

  • President presents trophy to academy team

    President Bush presented the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to senior cadets of the Air Force Academy football team during a May 16 ceremony in the White House.The trophy is presented annually to the service academy football team that bests its academy rivals in collegiate football. The Air Force

  • President proclaims military spouse appreciation day

    President Barack Obama has declared May 6 Military Spouse Appreciation Day. In his proclamation issued May 5, the president said: "Military spouses serve as steady and supportive partners to the heroes in uniform who protect and defend our great Nation every day. Across America and around the world,

  • President proclaims November as Military Family Month

    President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating November as Military Family Month.Here is the text of the president's proclamation:We owe each day of security and freedom that we enjoy to the members of our armed forces and their families. Behind our brave service men and women, there are

  • President proclaims November is Military Family Month

    President Barack Obama pledged his support of military members and their families and said Americans have a "solemn obligation" to preserve their well-being in his proclamation declaring November as Military Family Month. The proclamation reads: "No one pays a higher price for our freedom than

  • President promises conditions-based Afghanistan transition

    Any changes in U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan when security responsibility starts to transfer to the Afghans in July 2011 will be considered in light of the situation on the ground at that time, President Barack Obama said Dec. 10 in Oslo, Norway. With Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg

  • President rallies crowd in July 4 address

    People here have been crucial to victories in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to President George W. Bush during a July 4 address. And their work “has given America the finest Air Force in history,” he said.Kicking off Independence Day activities, Bush addressed nearly 20,000 people who weathered

  • President recommends $5.062 billion for AF Reserve in fiscal 2013

    Under the Fiscal 2013 President's Budget Request announced Feb. 13, Air Force Reserve Command is slated to receive an annual operating budget of $5.062 billion starting in October.The fiscal 2013 budget includes $1.885 billion for military personnel, $3.166 billion for operations and maintenance to

  • President reflects on 9/11 at Worldwide Troop Talk

    On the 14th anniversary of 9/11, President Barack Obama, in gratitude for military members who’ve served after the nation’s darkest day, helmed a global, multimedia, Worldwide Troop Talk live from Defense Media Activity studios here.

  • President remembers deployed troops at tree-lighting ceremony

    President George W. Bush remembered America's deployed servicemembers he said are "serving the cause of peace" during the Dec. 1 Christmas Pageant of Peace and lighting of the national Christmas tree here. "We ask for God to watch over our men and women in uniform who are serving overseas," the

  • President salutes former prisoners of war

    President Barack Obama issued a proclamation April 9 marking Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, noting that American prisoners of war exemplify the courage and sacrifice that defines the nation's men and women in uniform. "These brave warriors have paid a massive share of the costs of freedom,

  • President salutes wounded Airman at medical center groundbreaking

    A scar peeked out from beneath the navy blue beret Staff Sgt. Scott Lilley borrowed to wear July 3 during a groundbreaking ceremony for the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center here. "Luckily we have the same size head," said the cap's owner, Staff Sgt. Michael Barczik of Andrews Air Force

  • President selects Academy's next dean of faculty

    The president of the United States has nominated Col. Andrew Armacost to the U.S. Senate for promotion to the rank of brigadier general and to become the next dean of the faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy.Armacost will assume his new duties and rank later this year. Armacost moves to the dean's

  • President sends birthday message to Airmen

    The following message was sent by President Barack Obama to the men and women of the U.S. Air Force:I send greetings to all those celebrating the 63rd birthday of the United States Air Force. As men and women of the greatest air power the world has ever known, you follow in the footsteps of fellow

  • President sends holiday message

    The following is a message from President George W. Bush:"On behalf of a grateful nation, Laura and I send our best wishes for the holidays. "In this season of giving, we remember our duty to others, and we see that sense of duty fulfilled in the men and women who wear our nation's uniform. Our

  • President signed improvements to Post-9/11 GI Bill

    To bring the educational benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill closer to more veterans and service members, President Obama signed legislation Jan. 4 that streamlines the 18 month-old education program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs."Since the first GI Bill in 1944, this unique

  • President signs 2007 Defense Authorization Act

    The fiscal 2007 National Defense Authorization Act provides more than $530 billion to maintain the military in the shape it must be to win the war on terrorism.President Bush signed the bill, officially called the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007, during a small

  • President signs 2010 Defense budget into law

    Defense officials are hailing passage of the fiscal 2010 budget that funds military programs and wartime operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and provides a military pay raise. President Barack Obama signed the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act into law Dec. 19 after the Senate approved it

  • President signs bill authorizing changes to TSP for civilians

    On June 22, President Obama signed into law the Thrift Savings Plan Enhancement Act of 2009 as part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Public Law 111-31). One of the provisions of the new law eliminates the waiting period of appropriated fund civilian employees covered under

  • President signs bill, aids military spouses

    The President signed a bill Nov. 11 to help ease the strain on military families who frequently travel from state to state and country to country.President Barack Obama signed the bill, known as the 'Military Spouses Residency Relief Act,' as an amendment to the 2003 Servicemembers Civil Relief

  • President signs CAP medal into law

    President Barack Obama today signed into law S. 309, the bill awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to Civil Air Patrol for its service during World War II.

  • President signs continuing resolution extension

    President Barack Obama signed legislation March 2 that will keep the government funded and running through March 18.The new continuing resolution cuts $4 billion from the previous continuing resolution funding. None of the $4 billion is taken from Defense Department programs. Extending the

  • President signs Defense Authorization Act

    President Barack Obama signed the fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act during a ceremony at the White House Oct. 28. President Obama hailed the act, which contains $680.2 billion in military budget authority, as transformational legislation that targets wasteful defense spending. The

  • President signs 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' repeal act into Law

    President Barack Obama signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 into law in a ceremony at the Department of the Interior Dec. 22.Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said defense officials will immediately proceed with the planning necessary to "carry out this change carefully and

  • President surveys Oklahoma tornado damage

    President Barack Obama landed here on his way to Moore, Okla. to survey the tornado devastation and meet with victims and first responders May 26.The president shook hands and spoke with Tinker AFB employees' families and first responders on the flightline here before traveling to Moore. The

  • President thanks troops, urges Americans to thank them too

    President Bush expressed his gratitude June 28 to the nation's servicemembers and their families, and urged Americans to take time on Independence Day to make their own gesture of thanks.President Bush spoke at Fort Bragg, N.C., in a nationally televised address."To the Soldiers in this hall and our

  • President thanks veterans for service during inaugural ball

    President Bush and first lady Laura Bush were greeted with resounding cheers as they made the first stop of their whirlwind tour of inaugural galas here Jan. 20. At the "Salute to Heroes" inaugural ball, hundreds of veterans from across the country, along with their wives and families, greeted the

  • President throws pitch, greets children at Nationals game

    President Barack Obama threw the ceremonial opening pitch April 15 at the Washington Nationals' home opener here, which also featured a special event in honor of Month of the Military Child.As President Obama left the field, he shook the hands of nine military children, chosen to join the Nationals'

  • President to meet with defense secretary, joint chiefs

    Iraq and Afghanistan likely will be among the discussion topics when President Barack Obama makes his first visit to the Pentagon this afternoon to meet with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a senior Defense Department official said here Jan. 28. "This meeting is part

  • President to meet with senior enlisted advisers

    President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet Jan. 30 with the U.S. military's senior enlisted advisers at the White House, a senior Defense Department official said. The armed services' enlisted advisers are the senior noncommissioned officers for the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The

  • President Trump visits Luke AFB

    President Donald J. Trump visited Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 19, to discuss military weapons and technology capabilities and learn about the 56th Fighter Wing’s pilot training mission.

  • President visits Charleston, addresses military members

    President George W. Bush visited servicemembers and talked about the war on terrorism July 24 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. The president toured a C-17 Globemaster III, observed Airmen loading pallets on a plane in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, gave a speech, and had

  • President visits Eielson

    President George W. Bush visited Eielson Air Force Base Aug. 4 to address base Airmen and the Soldiers of Fort Wainwright. His visit to Alaska was the first stop in an eight-day tour to Asia as the president meets foreign heads of state and will be on hand for the opening ceremonies at the Olympic

  • President visits Elmendorf Airmen

    President Barack Obama visited Elmendorf Air Force Base and spoke to more than 1,500 servicemembers and civilians Nov. 12 here.The president stopped at the base during his first visit to Alaska as is on his way to Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore on a multiday trip."Until today I had visited

  • President visits Phoenix, meets Luke Airmen

    Fifty-one Airmen from Luke Air Force Base met President Barack Obama at the 110th Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention Aug. 17 in Phoenix. The base received an invitation from VFW officials for 50 Airmen to attend the opening session of the convention, as well as to hear the keynote speaker,

  • President visits troops, North Korea

    Reliving the historic moment, Trump addressed troops charged with maintaining stability in the region from all joint services under U.S. Forces Korea at Osan Air Base.

  • President, deployed Airman talk football on Thanksgiving

    “One hundred and twenty years ago, in the midst of a great and terrible civil conflict, President Lincoln formally proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving to remind those ‘insensible to the ever watchful providence of almighty God’ of this nation’s bounty and greatness. Several days after the

  • President, first lady visit Langley AFB

    President Barack Obama made an official visit here Oct. 19 to speak to service members and invited guests to show his support for the American military, and address how he hopes to put more money in the pockets of working men and women. The visit was on the third day of Obama's American Jobs Act bus

  • President, military leaders dedicate Air Force Memorial

    On behalf of a grateful nation, the president of the United States accepted the Air Force Memorial in a dedication ceremony here attended by military leaders of the past and present, political and business representatives and thousands of ordinary citizens and Airmen alike. "A Soldier can walk the

  • President, senior leaders pay tribute to fallen

    President Barack Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and other senior leaders paid tribute to 30 fallen heroes here during a dignified transfer Aug. 9. The Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen were killed in action Saturday when the Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter went down in Afghanistan Aug. 6. Aboard

  • President, VA Secretary pledge support for Veterans

    President Barack Obama commemorated Veterans Day today here at Arlington National Cemetery, calling the holiday a reminder of the nation’s “sacred obligation” to those who have “fought for our freedom and stood sentry for our security” throughout America’s history.

  • Presidential award recognizes best installations

    Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, as one of the five winners of the 2010 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence April 9 here. The Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the outstanding and

  • Presidential honor bestowed on AF officer

    When the President of the United States travels, stateside or abroad, there is an advance team who arrives weeks ahead to handle airport logistics. These team members, or agents, volunteer for the job and are the “best of the best” at what they do. That is why Maj. Francisco "Cisco" Leach, the 25th

  • Presidential letters processed quicker

    Airmen and civilian employees can now get presidential retirement letters processed more quickly through an information manager in the legislative liaison office at the Pentagon.People serving more than 30 years on active duty, as civilian employees, or a combination of both, can request a

  • Presidential Rank Awards presented to senior AF civilians

    Air Force officials recognized the career achievements of 20 senior civilians April 14 during the annual Presidential Rank Awards Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. "Our distinguished winners are products of a lifetime of dedication to their trade (and) the Air Force," said Secretary of the

  • Presidential Thank You

    President George W. Bush personally thanks Airman of the Texas Air National Guard 149th Fighter Wing and the 59th Medical Wing for their volunteer efforts in processing over 700 evacuees displaced due to Hurricane Gustav Sept.1 at Port San Antonio, Texas.

  • President's anniversary speech honors servicemembers

    The president of the United States honored servicemembers during a speech at the Pentagon March 19 to mark the five-year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "We removed a tyrant," said President George W. Bush, "liberated a country and rescued millions from unspeakable horrors. Some of those

  • President's budget proposal includes 2.9 percent pay raise for troops

    President Barack Obama's fiscal 2010 budget proposal includes a 2.9 percent pay increase for U.S. servicemembers. The figure is lower than pay raises requested the past two years, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Feb. 26. But he noted that Congress has a precedent of increasing the amount

  • President's defense budget submission delayed

    President Barack Obama's 2010 defense budget request will be delayed, possibly until April, White House and Defense Department officials said. The president's annual budget request usually is submitted to Congress the first Monday in February. However, with only a week in office, the new

  • President's plan likely to affect 2013 defense budget

    President Barack Obama's effort to seek additional savings within the Defense Department likely will affect the department's fiscal 2013 budget, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said April 13.The president announced that he plans to work with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm.

  • Press briefing on ongoing Air Force investigation

    Senior Air Force officials will brief the press at 2:30 p.m. EST today in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973). Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, will provide an update on the status of Air Force investigations into allegations of

  • Press secretary reaffirms department's sequestration position

     Pentagon Press Secretary George Little reaffirmed Nov. 16 the Defense Department's position that devastating effects would result if pending defense spending cuts are doubled.Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has laid out the consequences to the department if the Joint Select Committee on Deficit

  • Pressure sensitive paint could save millions of dollars

    The Arnold Engineering Development Center has reached a milestone with its pressure sensitive paint system. A recent demonstration test was conducted on the F-35 Lighting II joint strike fighter model installed in the center's 16-foot transonic wind tunnel. PSP applied to a joint strike fighter