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U.S. Air Force News

  • Andersen kids lead FitFactor in participation points

    A brother and sister team from Andersen hold the most participation points in FitFactor, the Air Force-wide youth fitness program. Fenton and Cierra Fitzgerald, the son and daughter of Master Sgts. Fenton and Kimberly Fitzgerald, accomplished the feat by working their way through three of the five

  • Defense review addresses uncertain, unpredictable world

    The Quadrennial Defense Review, to be delivered to Congress Feb. 6, will be dominated by two words: uncertainty and unpredictability, senior defense officials said Jan. 25. Congress mandates that the Department of Defense conduct the QDR every four years to ensure the armed forces have the right mix

  • Air Force ranks No. 1 for renewable energy use

    The Air Force purchased more renewable energy than any other member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s green power partnership last year, according to a report released Jan. 24 by the EPA. The partnership, which is sponsored by the EPA, consists of U.S. companies and organizations that

  • AMC Airmen deploying 'a little lighter'

    Air Mobility Command Airmen who deploy are traveling a little lighter -- nearly 90 pounds lighter -- thanks to the mobility bag pre-positioning initiative. The program, now in its second phase, will allow 5,000 Airmen -- about 1,000 from AMC -- to deploy without carrying the typical three mobility

  • CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 34 close-air-support missions Jan. 25 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Security forces work side by side with Soldiers in Iraq

    Imagine searching door to door with Soldiers, looking for insurgents, high-value targets and weapons caches in Iraq. Envision the nerve it takes to do the job after having another Airman in the area critically injured by an improvised explosive device, or IED, only two weeks after being assigned to

  • LEAD deadline fast approaching

    Airmen looking for opportunities to enter the commissioned officer ranks can apply for the 2006 Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development, or LEAD, program until Jan. 31. LEAD is a program that allows commanders to nominate highly qualified Airmen for direct entry to the Air Force Academy or

  • Air Guardsman soars into Super Bowl XL

    Bryce Fisher the “Guardsman” can earn a medal or a ribbon or receive a commander’s coin for a job well done. Now, Bryce Fisher the “football player” has a shot at a Super Bowl ring and a title his hometown has been waiting 30 years for. The Seahawks, the newly crowned National Football Conference

  • Three questions can make a difference: warning signs of stroke

    Nearly 20 years ago when Ida Glover asked her 40-year-old son a question and he couldn't respond, she thought he had suffered some type of nerve damage. Days later she discovered his prognosis was much worse. Doctors at the Medical Center of Central Georgia told Ms. Glover her son had experienced

  • CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 28 close-air-support missions Jan. 24 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Defense Department sets record with charitable giving

    The Defense Department raised a record-high $15.1 million in the 2005 Combined Federal Campaign, exceeding the department's goal by $2.3 million. DOD recognized its organizations for their fundraising efforts at the Combined Federal Campaign awards ceremony Jan. 25 at the Pentagon. "By all of these

  • Little Rock Airmen provide “beans and bullets” downrange, again

    A trip to the desert is nothing new for the 463rd Airlift Group here. On Jan. 20, 24 Airmen and two C-130 Hercules stepped up to deliver "beans and bullets" to the warfighter for more than 120 days. The experienced crew understands that airlift is important for reducing convoy operations in

  • Reserve command helps BRAC-affected personnel

    Air Force Reserve Command has created a new program to help Reservists and civilians navigate Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, changes. The programs include a BRAC guide, member-tracking codes, two clearing houses, e-mail boxes and an archive. All are designed to assist those affected by the

  • AFRL breakthrough furthers space optics

    Positioning three delicate, circular mirrors to one one-thousandth of the width of a human hair challenged scientists at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s space vehicles directorate here. But, not anymore. For five years they studied the deployable optical telescope, or DOT. The telescope

  • 'Smart' cable helps protect aircraft

    In December 2003 and January 2004, several Air Force aircraft took fire near Baghdad, Iraq, but the missile warning systems failed to indicate the attacks. Air Force officials looked to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to fix this problem. An airlift defensive systems “tiger team” was formed

  • Air Force casualties identified

    The Department of Defense today identified the two Airmen killed Jan. 22 supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Airmen were killed when their vehicle struck an improvised explosive device while conducting convoy escort duties near Taji, Iraq. They are: Tech. Sgt. Jason L. Norton, 32, of Miami,

  • Nine Airmen to represent AF at boxing championship

    After two weeks of intense training and one tournament, nine Airmen have been selected to represent the Air Force at the Armed Forces Boxing Championship at Ventura Naval Base, Calif., Feb. 6 to 11. The boxers are: -- 1st Lt. Rodney Ellison, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.; -- Senior Airman Celsa

  • CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 32 close-air-support missions Jan. 23 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • EOD working to protect others

    It takes a special person to deal with the stress of working with explosives. That pressure motivates the 34 Airmen assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal flight here and at five forward-operating bases. Staff Sgt. Micah Jobe, EOD team leader, is

  • Raptor completes operational refueling flight first

    Airmen from the 18th Air Refueling Squadron here took part in the first operational aerial refueling mission for the F-22A Raptor Jan. 21 in support of Operation Noble Eagle. The F-22A Raptor was declared operational by the Air Force Dec. 15. It is the newest fighter aircraft for the Air Force,

  • Firefighters do more than name implies

    The 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron Fire Prevention Flight does more than fight fires. "In addition to fire and medical calls we respond to hazardous materials, confined space and high angle rescue calls," said Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Raymond, 332nd ECES fire chief. The flight also

  • 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

  • Force-shaping officers can go into Reserve

    "One weekend a month, two weeks a year." This catch phrase has been repeated on television commercials over the years, but for those facing the Air Force's force-shaping initiative, it may soon become a reality. Joining the Reserve is one option open to those lieutenants affected by force shaping.

  • Airmen survive on island showcased in 'Survivor'

    Capt. Kristen Bakotic first learned about Palau while watching the two-hour finale of the reality television show “Survivor.” When she found out the Air Force was looking for enlisted people to volunteer for a six-month tour here, she checked to see if they needed an officer. The Air Force had in

  • Rocket journeys to edge of solar system

    The 45th Space Wing helped successfully launch the NASA Pluto New Horizons spacecraft on an Atlas V rocket here Jan. 19. The wing provided launch base support to Lockheed Martin and International Launch Services, who serve as the commercial spacecraft and booster vehicle provider to the National

  • CMSAF Murray visits Southern Command units

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray toured units throughout U.S. Southern Command Jan. 16 to 19 to express Air Force leaders’ appreciation for what Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and civilians within the command do every day. Chief Murray visited Airmen in Honduras, Ecuador,

  • F-22A Raptor flies first operational missions

    The F-22A Raptor showed another of its capabilities when it flew its first two operational sorties over the United States in support of Operation Noble Eagle Jan. 21 and 22. The Raptor mission came one week after the 27th Fighter Squadron -- the first unit to fly the jet -- converted to the Air

  • CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for Jan. 21 to 23. Coalition aircraft flew 32 close-air support missions Jan. 22 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and

  • Mountain Home maintainers keep Eagles, Falcons flying

    Behind every good jet is a good maintainer –- actually, make that several maintainers. More than 850 Airmen with the 366th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here serve as the first line of defense for maintenance on 73 jets, ensuring they’re safe, reliable and ready to fly when pilots need them. The

  • Vehicle management flight keeps Barksdale moving

    The responsibility for all government vehicles here falls to the 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle management flight. That accountability includes buying 25 vehicles a year and managing 894 vehicles, with an annual repair budget of $1.6 million. Master Sgt. Michael Boyles, vehicle

  • A-10 pilots, support personnel head to OEF

    More than 400 Airmen with the 355th Fighter Squadron and the 354th Maintenance Group and their A-10 Thunderbolt IIs recently left for a 120-day deployment. “I’m excited to go on this deployment,” said Capt. Darrell Walton, a pilot with the 355th. “With so much training space here in Alaska, I

  • Security forces squadron leads combat path

    In a vast wasteland of Third World countries paved with improvised explosive devices and teenagers armed with rocket-propelled grenades, you’ll find Airmen defending freedom. Airmen with the 366th Fighter Wing here are no strangers to combat operations, but one group shares this load more often. The

  • ACC chief visits with deployed Airmen

    The top Air Combat Command chief master sergeant recently toured units here to ensure Airmen were properly trained and equipped before deploying. Command Chief Master Sgt. David Popp said the No. 1 reason for his visit was ensuring that the Airmen deploying from ACC units are trained, equipped and

  • Barksdale lends helping hand in filming movie

    Barksdale Airmen helped movie crews film “The Guardian” here Jan. 12 and 13. Although originally slated to shoot in New Orleans, the devastation of Hurricane Katrina quickly changed the movie’s plans. “We were planning on making the movie in New Orleans. Obviously, Katrina hit, and we had to move

  • Total force meets at Fort Dix for conference

    More than 20 senior officers from the air mobility total force met to improve practices during a director of mobility forces conference at the Air Mobility Warfare Center here Jan. 18 to 19. The conference was an opportunity for leaders in the mobility world to enhance practices in current

  • Leasing option increases Air Force land value

    Underutilized Air Force land does not need to sit idle any longer. The Air Force Real Property Agency converts underutilized land and infrastructure into real value for the Air Force, installations and communities through the enhanced use leasing option, officials said. "Enhanced use leasing is a

  • Security forces transformation to affect total force

    As the Air Force continues to adapt for the future, changes to the security forces career field will affect the total force. Brig. Gen. Robert Holmes, director of security forces and force protection, calls these transformations a “refocus” on how his people train and fight. “We’re not in the Cold

  • Team provides free clinic care to Palau islanders

    A physician assistant recently arrived here to provide free health care to islanders who cannot afford local hospital fees. Being the only health care provider on the largest Palau island, is a challenge that Capt. Dan Calderon is excited to undertake. “When I first heard about this (three-month

  • Guam Guard works side-by-side with active-duty counterparts

    Maria Ronquillo is known as one of the nicest and most caring teachers on Guam. As a teacher consultant for a high school here, she frequently visits students to make sure they have good grades and make progress in their classes. But you don’t want to see this friendly islander make a “house call”

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 50 close-air support missions Jan. 19 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Tips offered for tax season

    Tax season has once again arrived, and military personnel should know several things to make their returns easier and more beneficial, a military official said here yesterday. One of the most notable changes to the tax code this year is the addition of provisions for victims of hurricanes Katrina,

  • Air Force takes delivery of first production Global Hawks

    The first of two production Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles began flying missions in support of the global war on terrorism within hours of arriving in theater earlier this month. The aircraft -- managed by the Aeronautical Systems Center's Global Hawk Systems Group here -- are part of the 12th

  • 5+1+1 equals U.S. air superiority

    Five + one + one = the ability to direct the command and control of U.S. and coalition air power across the globe. “It also equals seven of course. That's the number of ‘Falconer’ air and space operations centers, and Falconer support centers, how online with common capabilities,” said Lt. Col. Rob

  • Where there's smoke, there's training

    Being caught in a burning building would be terrifying. It’s not an experience most people would welcome. And yet for some, it is. For two brave souls with the 506th Expeditionary Medical Services Squadron, the opportunity to don a full protective suit and go into the smoke simulation burn trainer

  • Beale squadron welcomes Brown Bag University

    The Air Force provides opportunities and financial support for school, both personal and professional. Many bases also offer on-base programs so Airmen don’t have to commute to a local college. For the first time at Beale AFB, a school is now coming right to a squadron. “The concept of Brown Bag

  • JSTARS adds blue force tracking capability

    The ability to distinguish between friend and foe, a concept known as blue force tracking, is critical to conducting effective network-focused military operations. The Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems Group made its first steps toward that goal by installing a system called Force XXI

  • Wilford Hall becomes Air Force's cytology center

    New technology has made it possible for the Air Force’s seven cytology centers to be consolidated into one. Since Wilford Hall Medical Center’s cytology department is already the busiest center, performing 32 percent of all Air Force pap smears, it was recommended that the consolidation be handled

  • Airmen train on latest technology

    A shadowy silhouette is seen through dust clouds, brush and trees. There’s neither enough sun nor moonlight to distinguish the surroundings. The atmosphere is unfamiliar, uncomfortable, dangerous and unpredictable. You know your enemy is watching your every move. Relief is found in a locked and

  • Start date for new personnel system pushed back three months

    Defense officials have scaled back the initial group of civilian employees to fall under the new National Security Personnel System to 11,000 from a previously scheduled 60,000, officials announced Jan. 17. The implementation date was also changed from Feb. 1 to April 30. Personnel officials have

  • ROBE upgrade sets KC-135 on forefront of battle communications

    A KC-135 Stratotanker here was fitted with upgraded communications equipment recently which will revolutionize battle space and the way the United States and its allies fight wars. After 18 months on the drawing board, the Roll-On Beyond Line-of-Sight Enhancement Spiral 2 program, ROBE, has been

  • Airman 'slugs' his way through D.C. assignment

    Rush-hour traffic in the national capital region can be frustrating. To fend off the bumper-to-bumper blues, several servicemembers and civilians have taken to "slugging" -- the nickname given to instant carpooling here. To use the high occupancy vehicle lanes on many of the highways here, drivers

  • Airmen teach islanders construction skills

    Members of the all-Air Force civic action team working here are not content with just building construction projects -- they want to teach Palauan how to do it. Eleven islanders are employed under the team’s apprenticeship-training program. Each works with a team member for training in the Airman’s

  • Joint patrol helps keep Kunsan Airmen safe

    The 8th Security Forces Squadron Town Patrol, together with elements of the Korean National Police, or KNP, are conducting patrols of Kunsan City areas popular with base members. They actively patrol restricted areas and popular destinations of Kunsan City, said Master Sgt. Aaron Hascher, 8th SFS

  • Reservists attend first safeguard training exercise

    While many Airmen were glued to the tube watching the NFL playoffs, the 939th Air Refueling Wing went to training camp to learn how to better survive and operate in a war, contingency or emergency. The 43 Reservists went to the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center at Camp Douglas, Wis., to

  • CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released its daily airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 50 close-air-support missions Jan. 18 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and

  • Infrastructure team makes the 'POInT'

    A group of Air Force civil engineers huddle in front of a large wall map at the back of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), 1st Brigade Combat Team’s headquarters here. The red and green lines that meander from dot to dot across the large white map command their attention. They are the Power

  • Balad add-on armor shop comes to a close

    After the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a need for extra armor on convoy vehicles arose. Insurgents were killing Airmen and Soldiers through roadside improvised explosive devices. Airmen here have been protecting convoys and the people who ride in them since then by installing extra armor to

  • Last WC-130H departs Keesler

    The last of a generation of aircraft lifted gently off the runway here Jan. 12. “This is the end of an era. For years the H model performed magnificently meeting the needs of the weather mission; however, it is time to move on,” said Brig. Gen. Rich Moss, commander of the 403rd Wing. “The increased

  • Air Force announces selections to captain

    The Air Force has selected 1,027 first lieutenants for promotion to captain, with a selection rate of 98.28 percent. The list of selectees is posted on the Air Force Personnel Center's officer promotions homepage at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/offprom. The calendar year 05C Captain Selection Process

  • F-15 painters using new environmentally safer fluids

    Aircraft painters can breathe a little easier thanks to the development of a new material used for stripping and painting F-15 Eagles. The Air Force is continuing its path toward environmentally friendly mission execution. A partnership with the University of Missouri-Rolla; Air Force Research Lab,

  • Air Force to replace combat search and rescue helicopters

    Air Force combat search and rescue teams will use a new helicopter -- the now under development CSAR-X -- to help recover downed pilots around 2012. The new helicopter will replace 101 HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters Air Force combat search and rescue teams now use. The Air Force expects to begin

  • Alaska Airmen operate out of Guam

    The 168th Air Refueling Wing was the first Air National Guard tanker unit deployed to Guam after Sept. 11, 2001. Five years later, the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Airmen are back on the island with their KC-135 Stratotankers as part of a theatre support package for U.S. Pacific Command flying

  • CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released its daily airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air-support missions Jan. 17 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and

  • Flight showcases future Weapon Data Link Network

    Two-way communications with a weapon after it's released from an aircraft is at the forefront of all new weapons technology, and standards for it has become a priority. Such standards were successfully implemented and demonstrated during a recent series of flight demonstrations here for the Weapon

  • Trainees learn attention to detail through 'warrior' mindset

    You won't find today's basic trainees hunched over brown T-shirts, tugging at them with tweezers to make perfect 6-inch squares. Instead, you will soon find Airmen who have mastered the M-16 rifle, can identify its components, field-strip and clean it, and reassemble it without the slightest

  • Air Force bowls over competition

    The Air Force swept the individual and team efforts in the Armed Forces Bowling Championships at the National Bowling Stadium here Jan. 11. Kristen Elmore of Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany, and Martin Bedford of Hill Air Force Base, Utah, won the women's and men's divisions, respectively. Elmore

  • Think of safety first

    Keeping Airmen here safe is not a task taken lightly by the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s ground safety office. "Our job is to prevent the loss of life or damage to government equipment," said Tech. Sgt. Clyde Lathon, 332nd AEW ground safety manager. "We are the Air Force equivalent to the

  • Guam-based conservation helps save endangered species

    Conservation efforts here are protecting endangered species and allowing for the re-introduction of two bird types. Andersen Air Force Base has a national wildlife refuge covered by a limestone forest, a sensitive island ecosystem that supports native fauna and flora, including threatened and

  • Airmen extend knowledge and manpower to island of Palau

    For only the second time since the mid-1970s, the civic action team program in Palau is composed entirely of Airmen from around the world. Thirteen Airmen are living and working on the island made famous a year and a half ago on the reality television series “Survivor.” But the Airmen aren’t here

  • Andersen AFB: growing to meet its mission

    The eyes of U.S. military leaders are once again focused here to provide peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. “The strategic importance of Andersen is rejuvenating,” said Col. Michael Boera, the 36th Expeditionary Air Wing commander. “No longer is Andersen the sleepy hollow it’s been

  • Civil engineers plan for the future

    Expansion plans here have civil engineers drawing up blueprints for construction projects for next year, the next five years, even the next decade. “We’re planning for the future so that 50 years from now people will be glad we designed everything right the first time,” said Lt. Col. Marvin Smith,

  • Kadena pilot in good condition

    An F-15 Eagle from the 44th Fighter Squadron here crashed at approximately 10 a.m. today during an air-to-air training mission. The location of the crash site was at an area known as W-173, an over-water training zone about 65 miles (55 nautical miles) northeast of here. The fighter jet was part of

  • 'Air and Space Power Journal' winter edition available

    The College for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education at Air University has published and distributed the Winter 2005 edition of the Air Force's professional journal, "Air and Space Power Journal." Published here, the Air and Space Power Journal serves as an open forum for the presentation and

  • AMC completes KC-135 accident investigation board

    Air Mobility Command has released the results of its investigation into the May 15, 2005, mishap involving a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, Wis. An accident investigation board, convened by AMC, concluded the cause of the accident was unforeseen,

  • CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the combined airpower summary report for Jan. 13 to 17. Coalition aircraft flew 50 close-air support missions Jan. 16 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction

  • New C-17 Globemaster III honors President Reagan

    Former first lady Nancy Reagan today helped dedicate the Air Force’s newest C-17 Globemaster III to honor her late husband, former President Ronald Reagan. The Spirit of Ronald Reagan is assigned to Air Force Reserve Command’s 452nd Air Mobility Wing here. It is the first Reserve unit to fly its own

  • Rex the Dog finds new home

    A 21st Security Forces Squadron Airman is the first military working dog handler allowed to adopt her K-9 partner from active duty. Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana, a military working dog handler, has been waiting since August for the official word after she requested to adopt her K-9, Rex. The two were

  • Langley celebrates Raptor's initial operational capability

    The 1st Fighter Wing held a ceremony here today to celebrate the F-22A Raptor's initial operational capability. The event comes after the 27th Fighter Squadron was officially declared IOC on Dec. 15 by Gen. Ronald E. Keys, commander of Air Combat Command. The IOC declaration proves the F-22A is

  • Service demographics offer snapshot of force

    The Air Force Personnel Center here recently published its quarterly demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force, as of Dec. 31. More information can be found at online at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/demographics. Statistics rounded to the nearest tenth.

  • Medevac flight keeps warfighters in the fight

    Moving the wounded, sick or injured to where they can receive the right level of care is the focus of a group of medical specialists deployed here supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. From coordinating airlift to providing medical care while in flight, Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary

  • Improved armored vests reflect changing enemy tactics

    U.S. military members serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous areas will soon receive revamped armored vests that provide more side protection, senior officials said here today. The vest changes are designed to prove effective in protecting servicemembers from shrapnel fragments, especially

  • SERE instructor takes training to a new level

    As nightfall approaches, the temperature drops to single digits. The layers of clothing that seemed more than adequate earlier, now offer little protection from the bone-chilling breeze and icy ground. But, that is the least of the survivors’ concerns. “They’re not just surviving,” Tech Sgt. Micheal

  • F-16 pylons receive upgrade

    Wiring for pylons on F-16 Fighting Falcons are being upgraded by the 309th Commodities Maintenance Squadron at Ogden Air Logistics Center here, enabling the jets to handle 21st century smart munitions. The cables that deliver the pilot's commands to the munitions must be more complex as weapon

  • Airman killed in aircraft crash

    An Air Force officer was among four killed Jan. 10 in the crash of a T-39 Sabreliner training aircraft in Walker County, Ga. First Lt. Jason Davis, 28, was a student navigator with Training Squadron 86 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. He entered the Air Force on Nov. 14, 2001. The others killed

  • B-1B Lancers rotate into Andersen

    B-1B Lancers from the 34th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D, have deployed here. The rotation was seamless for the 34th BS because they traded the rotation with another Ellsworth squadron, which left its bombers behind for them to use. “The support we’ve received from Andersen has been

  • Air Force looks to be best in acquisition

    The Air Force hopes to be the model within the Department of Defense for how best to procure goods and acquire weapons systems. "Five years from now, (we want) people to consider the Air Force the premier acquisition service in the DOD ... that we are heads and shoulders above everybody else in how

  • SECAF celebrates welcome to the blue

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne was “welcomed into blue” during a ceremony here today. He was received by a hundreds of Airmen, the Air Force Honor Guard and Air Force Band. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, chief of staff of the Air Force, presided over the event and told everyone present it was

  • CENTAF commander visits deployed Airmen, Sailors on last trip to Afghanistan

    As part of his final trip to Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces visited deployed Airmen and Sailors here Jan. 10 to 11. During a troop call, Lt. Gen. Walter E. Buchanan III addressed Airmen and Sailors who are deployed to Bagram as part of Air and Space Expeditionary Force

  • 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

  • Accident report: B-1B fire caused by brake

    Leaking hydraulic fluid and sparks from its wheel being gouged caused a fire in a B-1B Lancer's right main landing gear as it touched down on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, after a mission Sept. 15, said Air Force investigators. The aircraft, assigned to the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force

  • 45 selected for test pilot training

    Forty-five pilots have been selected for the Air Force test-pilot program by a selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center. Most of those selected will attend the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. One will attend the U.S. Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air support missions Jan. 11 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Health and wellness centers help some keep resolutions

    Health and wellness centers Air Force-wide can help smokers kick their habit. Smoking cessation programs are offered for active duty personnel, retirees and Reservists. At the center here, the six-session program is combined with drug and patch therapy, psychological tips and physiological

  • Give and take, teach and learn -- building an Iraqi Air Force

    Reality is often at odds with expectations when Airmen deploy. This difference can be extreme when the mission is to provide military training to a recent enemy. But several Airmen near the end of six-month deployments as advisory support team instructors say they would rather stay here than go home

  • Air Force announces medical, dental officer promotions

    The Air Force has selected 67 lieutenant colonels, 173 majors and 308 captains in the medical and dental corps for promotion. The list of promotion selects is posted on the Air Force Personnel Center's officer promotions homepage at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/offprom. The board considered 1,310

  • Battlestar Galactica docks for sneak-peek at Columbus

    The Sci-Fi Channel’s mantra -- “Fuel the Imagination” -- was the theme of the night as Battlestar Galactica television series fans invaded the Columbus Club for a celebrity-style sneak preview. The Season 2 premiere episode of Battlestar Galactica was shown a day early -- Jan. 5 --to approximately

  • CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's daily airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions Jan. 10 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and

  • Improved earpieces reaching Falcon pilots

    F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots here will soon start using an earpiece that will afford better hearing protection and an improved mission focus. The 4th Fighter Squadron's "Fighting Fuujins" will receive the new attenuating custom communication earpiece system this month. The earpiece was developed at

  • AF selects four Airmen to vie for GEICO awards

    The Air Force selected four Airmen to compete for the 2005 Government Employee Insurance Company Military Service awards. The Airmen are now authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon and will compete against the nominees selected by the other military services. -- Staff Sgt. Lindsay J.

  • F-16 receives special care at Hill

    Specialists at the Ogden Air Logistics Center’s, 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron used their unique equipment and skills to repair a damaged F-16 Fighting Falcon. The squadron's role was pivotal since it is the only active-duty maintenance unit capable of making such repairs, said 1st Lt.