AF launches cyberspace task force

Cyberspace. The word generally conjures up images of computers, wires, connections and hardware. But, for the Air Force, cyberspace is far more than that. “Cyberspace is a domain where the Air Force conducts operations," said Dr. Lani Kass, director of the Air Force Cyberspace Task Force. It is the

Overseas returnee, CONUS mandatory movers' assignment listing available

The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for Airmen returning from overseas and continental United States mandatory movers from August through October will be available April 11. Airmen can work through their military personnel flight or their commander's support staff to update their preferences. 

Deployed F-15s

Rising river

Air defense, flight restrictions discussed at conference

More effective, more efficient ADIZ and TFRs. That’s the message from Air Force pilots, battle commanders and air space controllers this week as Continental U.S. NORAD Region representatives reach out to the general aviation community attending the 2006 Sun ‘n Fun Fly-in here. Of specific interest

Space A allows dependent travel

U.S. European Command and U.S. Air Forces in Europe policy now allows permanent party and their family members -- regardless of command sponsorship -- to fly Space-Available travel.  For everyone stationed in Turkey, eligible family members can now come visit at a much lower cost by using

Ground combat skills prepare Airmen for base survival

As the desert sun beat down on the deployed Airmen, Staff Sgt. Stacy Miller crawled along the ground, digging her helmet and face into the sand as she pushed her body along the barren ground. At one point during the low-crawl, she actually tasted sand, grittiness and all. An information management

Defense leader thanks lawmakers for support of special ops

Ultimate victory in the "long war" requires the U.S. military to adopt more unconventional and indirect approaches in the way it fights, and the Defense Department is doing just that, the Pentagon's top special operations official told a Senate panel here April 5. In testimony prepared for delivery

CENTAF releases airpower summary report

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary report.In Iraq on April 5, U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornets provided close-air support to coalition troops who identified insurgents emplacing an improvised explosive device in the vicinity of Al Miqdadiyah. The F/A-18s successfully

Moseley: Air Force’s job won’t get easier

The Air Force chief of staff told visitors at Capitol Hill Club in the nation’s capital April 4 the service will face serious challenges in the coming years. However, Gen. T. Michael Moseley said the service will use all its capabilities to continue its joint warfighting efforts while going through

Shaw pilot located after crash

The pilot of the F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned here that crashed April 5 at around 5:40 p.m. was found by the U.S. Coast Guard about two hours later and taken to a nearby U.S. Navy ship for stabilization. Capt. Ted Shultz, assigned to the 55th Fighter Squadron here, was then transported via Coast

Guard fighter aircraft transition

GPS signal enhances navigation, timing

Warfighters now have a new way to receive Global Positioning System location and timing data -- online. The 2nd Space Operations Squadron here is delivering Zero Age of Data Navigation Message Replacements, or ZAOD NMR, on the Secure Internet Protocol Router Network. The first end user of this new

Sexual assault not just 'women's issue,' expert says

Sexual assault cannot be relegated to being regarded as a "women's issue," said Don McPherson, the keynote speaker at the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Awareness Month observance April 4. McPherson, the executive director of the Sports Leadership Institute at Adelphi University in New York, said

Lou Gehrig's disease forces Airman to retire

Tech. Sgt. Jason Whitman’s retirement ceremony March 29 was a lot like any other. He received a few gifts and mementos and shared the moments with a roomful of family and friends.But it was different. Sergeant Whitman was in a wheelchair, the atmosphere was somber and muffled crying could be heard

EOD destroys Russian bomb

Airmen destroyed a large Russian bomb here March 30. A 1,100-pound Russian penetrating bomb containing 167 pounds of explosives was recently found 200 feet from the runway by workers clearing mines around the airfield. “We blow UXOs in place when it is the safest option for the explosive ordnance

Academy cadets help Spangdahlem drill team hone sabers

Eleven U.S. Air Force Academy Saber Drill Team cadets were here this week to work with the 52nd Fighter Wing Honor Guard's Eifel Sabres drill team they helped train last year. The team is the only one in U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Since the team’s inception last April, they have performed for the

AF to release community assessment survey

Air Force leaders will launch the Community Assessment Survey in late April in an effort to better understand what issues people face at their individual installation. The survey is conducted every two to three years and this year will include both active duty and Reserve Airmen, their spouses, and

America pays tribute to 'Cap' Weinberger

Caspar W. Weinberger's definition of happiness was "service to a noble cause," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said at the former defense secretary's funeral April 4. Secretary Weinberger died in Maine on March 28 at age 88. He was buried April 4 at Arlington National Cemetery. He served as

Automated security system to go 'on duty' in Iraq -- again

One year after answering a call by the Marine Corps' that met an urgent need, the Force Protection Systems Squadron here is preparing to do it again. It is planning to deploy a Tactical Automated Security System, or TASS, to Al Taqaddum Air Base, Iraq."The Marine Corps came to us saying, 'We want to

Keeping fit, healthy the safe way

A common focus for men and women this time of year is getting ready for swimsuit season. Several magazines offer quick fixes, magic diets, miracle pills and more for people wanting to get slim. But, beware. “The safest way to lose weight is to eat a healthy diet and increase the amount of exercise

Under the scope

Preparing to deploy

Three Air Force members receive GEICO awards

The Government Employees Insurance Company selected two Airmen and one Air Force civilian as 2005 GEICO award winners.For 18 years, GEICO has recognized servicemembers from all branches of the service, including Guard and Reserve, for work in drug- and alcohol-abuse prevention, fire safety and

AFA selects services career field for annual award

The Air Force Association, or AFA, selected the “services” enlisted career field for its 2006 AFA Team of the Year Award. The following Airmen were named to the team: -- Staff Sgt. Heather Schaffer, Cheyenne Air National Guard, Wyo., representing the Air National Guard; -- Senior Airman John

CENTAF releases airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 52 close air-support-missions April 4 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

No cases of ID theft involve pay system

No cases of computer scamming or identity theft involving the Defense Department's computerized pay services system have been reported, a Defense Finance and Accounting Service spokeswoman said April 4. "There has not been any identity theft and/or 'phishing' scams with the 'myPay' site," DFAS

Association of Graduates names distinguished grads

The Air Force Academy’s Association of Graduates has named retired Generals Hansford T. Johnson, Class of 1959, and Michael E. Ryan, Class of 1965, as the 2006 recipients of the association’s Distinguished Graduate Award. The award honors academy graduates for a lifetime of service to the nation,

Provincial Reconstruction Team training

Wings-level landing might have saved C-5 crash survivors

A veteran C-5 Galaxy pilot said all 17 people survived the April 3 plane crash at Dover Air Force Base, Del., mainly because the pilot did his job. Col. Udo McGregor said the “100 percent reason” everyone aboard survived the crash was because the pilot did a wings-level landing. “The survivors are

C-5 crash doesn’t diminish historian’s view of aircraft

The C-5 Galaxy crash at Dover Air Force Base, Del., April 3 placed the aging aircraft in the spotlight once again. With no deaths reported, military officials are cleaning the crash site and are convening a board of officers to investigate the cause of the accident. But the crash does not tarnish

In Dad's arms

Secretary of state visits Iraq

Officials release C-5 crash survivor list

Air Force officials released the names of the 17 survivors of the C-5 Galaxy crash here April 3. Survivor names, base and medical conditions are as follows: Capt. Brian Lafreda, Dover, fair Lt. Col. Robert Moorman, Dover, fair Lt. Col. Harland Nelson, Dover, fair Master Sgt. Timothy Feiring, Dover,

Air Force releases 2006 posture statement

The Air Force released its “posture statement” detailing the service’s missions and priorities over the next year. The 52-page document’s introduction asks Airmen to look from their heritage to the horizon, taking lessons from the past and adapting them for the future. It also opens with a letter

AF seeks balance in historical preservation with practicality

The Air Force has more than 4,500 historic properties that are listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. How the service inventories and sustains funds, and repairs and modernizes historic properties was the subject at testimony recently before the House Armed

Arresting system stops aircraft safely

An F-16 Fighting Falcon has an emergency braking system that can bring it to a stop called aircraft arresting systems. There are eight arresting systems here designed to safely bring an aircraft to a stop whenever a pilot feels it is unsafe to stop the aircraft on his or her own power, said Senior

Award winners save Air Force big bucks

Seven teams and two individuals recently received top honors for their resource-saving productivity improvements to the Air Force. The winners’ efforts resulted in more than $28.6 million in total tangible savings. The Air Force Productivity Excellence Award recognizes individual Airmen and small

Winter sports clinic opens for disabled vets

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson and former Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz opened the 20th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo., April 3, praising participants for their sacrifices and their focus on their abilities, not their

Doolittle Raid Web exclusive on Air Force Link

Just a few short months after a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Japanese at Pearl Harbor, a daring raid launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet changed the tone of the war. It set the U.S. and its allies on a course that would eventually lead to domination of the Pacific during World War

Servicemembers spin wheel on TV game show

It's Armed Forces Week on "Wheel of Fortune." Four Airmen are among the 15 servicemembers featured on one of the world's most popular television game shows in this week's competition. The episodes, taped in February in Culver City, Calif., are a way for the show to express its appreciation for the

Air Force Reserve goes Hollywood

Hundreds of cast, crew and extras from a proposed WB Network series converged here for a marathon day of filming March 27. They came here to work on the pilot episode of “Mercy Reef,” a science-fiction themed program that could appear on the network as early as this fall, according to Lisa Lewis,

Family advocacy nurtures, strengthens relationships

One out of three women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused during her lifetime, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Domestic abuse occurs worldwide. Despite the professional and upstanding reputation associated with today’s military, it is not

Shaw NCO awarded $10K for idea

A Shaw NCO is $10,000 richer thanks to a suggestion he made. He thought it would be more economical to stop replacing an $8,500 valve on the F-16 Fighting Falcon every time the $50 heat shield that covers the valve is damaged. The suggestion was submitted through the Air Force’s Innovative

Web site lets reservists correct duty history 'live'

Air Force Reserve members worldwide can now correct or change their duty history via the virtual Personnel Center Guard and Reserve, a customer-service Web portal operated by the Air Reserve Personnel Center. Previously, Airmen had to visit their local military personnel flight or call several

Convoy tactics

ACC takes combat search, rescue assets under wing

Air Combat Command took administrative control of select Air Force combat search and rescue assets from Air Force Special Operations Command April 3 as part of a realignment announced in February. The transfer ensures the Air Force core competency of combat search and rescue, or CSAR, is directly

CENTAF releases airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 58 close-air-support missions April 3 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

Family liaison officers help shoulder burdens

For some Airmen, going above and beyond is their call of duty. The Family Liaison Officer Program, or FLO, was designed to help the families of Airmen who have died or been injured. FLO Airmen, all of them senior NCOs or commissioned officers, assist families with everything from the small stuff --

17 Airmen survive Dover C-5 crash

The 17 Airmen aboard the C-5 Galaxy that crashed near Dover Air Force Base, Del., today all survived, a 436th Airlift Wing spokesman said. However, there is still no official word on the condition of the survivors, wing spokesman 1st Lt. Jamal Beck said. “We’re still gathering information,” he said.

Nuclear Weapons Center the right organization at the right time

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the Nuclear Weapons Center has been activated.” With that announcement March 31, Kirtland Air Force Base took another important step in its long history as a center of nuclear activity. In a ceremony replete with military tradition, Col. Gregory Foraker, formerly the director

Provincial reconstruction teams training for Afghanistan

Department of Defense teams created and designed to help with the reconstruction, security and governing of Afghanistan are training here before deploying for 365 days. Twelve provincial reconstruction teams, or PRTs, have been training here since January. The PRTs are from the Air Force, Army and

Engineers juggle needs, wants with reality

The wing headquarters building here and the security forces buildings on either side of it are the kind of structures that make an engineer tip his head and rub his chin. With oddly sloping roofs and walls, these buildings seem to waste space. A peek inside a renovated building proves that the

Defense Department Celebrates 'Month of the Military Child'

The Defense Department has long understood the value of caring for and celebrating children of servicemembers. April is designated as the Month of the Military Child, underscoring the important role military children play in the armed forces community. The Month of the Military Child is a time to

DOD program keeps employers, reservists on track

A Department of Defense program is easing the transition from business suit to battle dress uniform and back again for Reserve and Guard members serving throughout the world. The national committee for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR, is a nationwide network of nearly 4,200

Training scenarios abound during Atlantic Strike III

Slowly walking through a quiet, deserted city, hearing nothing but your thoughts, you take a long, deep breath. Then, chaos suddenly breaks loose. An explosion throws you to the ground. The smell of smoke rushes through your nose and dust and sand cut through your skin. You immediately look for your

Airmen volunteers help improve medical facilities in Kyrgyzstan

Airmen are working to improve the lives of patients at two Bishkek medical facilities. Last week, volunteers from the Manas Air Base Outreach Society, or MABOS, visited patients in a children’s heart ward and a burn unit in medical centers in Bishkek. They delivered donated medical supplies, linen,

Exercise Bushwhacker

An A-10 Thunderbolt II from the 354th Fighter Squadron flies in support of Exercise Bushwhacker 06-02 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on Saturday, April 1, 2006. The operational readiness exercise helps ensure Airmen are ready to deploy. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Alesia Goosic)

Tour of Kyrgyz base marks milestone

Air Force leaders from Manas Air Base toured a Republic of Kyrgyzstan air base March 28 following an invitation by the Ministry of Defense here. The tour of Frunze Air Base No. 1 here marked a milestone in U.S. and Kyrgyz Air Force relations, and is a key element in the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing

Air Force innovators unite at "Knowledge Area" website

Innovation communities within the Air Force now have an online forum to learn, collaborate and collect ideas relative to their daily needs. The new "Innovation and Technology Knowledge Management" site will be available April 15 via the Air Force Portal and is part of the "Air Force Knowledge Now"

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for April 1 to 3. In Afghanistan April 2, an Air Force B-52 Stratofortress provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Oruzgan. The B-52 successfully dropped GBU-31 precision-guided JDAMs

Memorial held for Airman killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom

More than 300 people attended a memorial ceremony April 1 for the first Airman from Sather Air Base killed in combat while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Tech. Sgt. Walter Moss, 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight technician, was killed in an explosion

Child development organization aids military children, families

Recognizing that children of servicemembers often face challenges that other children do not, the nonprofit child development organization "Zero To Three" launched a special project geared specifically toward military families. "Supporting military children is an essential element of supporting

SkyTote to demonstrate high-speed flight with vertical takeoff

Air Force Research Laboratory scientists are working on a novel unmanned air vehicle called SkyTote that will take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but also transition into horizontal flight like a conventional aircraft. SkyTote's primary mission is to deliver a payload to a specific point

New center provides single contact for mobility air forces

Air Mobility Command moved toward a supply process transformation March 29 when the Regional Supply Squadron here was re-designated as the Mobility Logistics Support Center. The center will provide mobility air forces with one stop for ordering, shipping and tracking supplies to troops worldwide.

AFMC civilian course gains other commands' interest

Representatives from three commands plan to meet with Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command professional development staff here in May to discuss adapting the AFMC Orientation Course for their commands. Leadership from the three commands, Air Mobility Command, Air Education and Training Command

Phoenix Raven course

Personnel Services Delivery System initiative begins

The Air Force Contact Center’s Web-based services and contact center officially began taking calls after a ceremony at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The center is part of a new initiative called Personnel Services Delivery Transformation, or PSD, which uses

Air Force expects to choose tanker contractor by mid-2007

The Air Force hopes to have a contractor selected for a KC-135 Stratotanker replacement by mid-2007. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told members of the aerospace industry March 30 the service is hoping to make a source selection for the KC-135 aircraft by the middle of 2007. The Air

Lackland NCO Academy renamed to honor CMSAF Gaylor

The NCO academy here recently took on a new moniker. From now on, the Air Force will recognize the tenant unit in Bldg. 10634 as the Robert D. Gaylor NCO Academy to honor the former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. "Since his retirement in 1979, Chief Gaylor has dedicated his personal time to

Response teams prepare for chemical, nuclear threats

In an abandoned building on the outskirts of town, a lab sits fully stocked and prepared to produce chemical weapons of mass destruction. A tip leads the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to the location. Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear defense teams suit up and prepare to raid the

SECAF testifies on future budget concerns

The Secretary of the Air Force explained the Air Force priorities that drive the fiscal 2007 budget request to members of the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee on defense March 29. Secretary Michael W. Wynne told the committee there are three crucial areas of concern for the Air Force --

Atlantic Strike III provides realistic deployment training

Hundreds of troops from all branches of the military gathered March 27 to 31 at Avon Park, Fla., to train and prepare joint air and ground troops for future deployments. Atlantic Strike II provided realistic deployment preparation to more than 250 servicemembers. The training allowed servicemembers

Ramstein airlift mission at full speed

This airlift hub is now the main “pit stop” on the United States-to-Iraq supply route because of its high-tech facilities and ability to fix aircraft. That makes Ramstein not only the “gateway to Europe,” but also the “gateway to U.S. Central Command,” said Col. Jeff Derrick, commander of the 723rd

Airmen receive trophies for maintenance excellence

Two Airmen earned trophies and praise here for their abilities to keep Air Force aircraft flying and munitions ready for the mission.Maj. Matthew Gamblin and Master Sgt. Edwin Lambert were both honored with the 2005 General Lew Allen Jr. Trophy with a presentation at the Pentagon by Chief of Staff

Exchanging with pilots from 'down under'

The mission of U.S. Air Force’s refueling aircraft is to carry out global air refueling, airlift and humanitarian assignments. That mission is not only accomplished by U.S. pilots. Foreign exchange pilots from Australia assigned to Fairchild help their U.S. counterparts achieve that mission. The

Spring break all about 'service before self'

“Service Before Self,” one of the Air Force’s core values, is on the minds of 135 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets who are working during their alternative spring break in areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The project is part of the Cadet Service Learning program which centers on community

Results are in: Airmen voice opinions in 2005 climate survey

More than half of all Airmen participated in the 2005 chief of staff organization climate survey, which allows participants to voice their opinions on issues affecting them and their jobs. Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley released the results of the survey to all the major

Program helps strike balance between work, play

Whether stationed in remote Minot Air Force Base, N.D., or at bustling Keesler AFB, Miss., more Airman around the world are learning the advantages of the Air Force arts and crafts program. From photography to fixing a car, Airmen can turn to arts and crafts to help build a better quality of life

Mechanics work to keep vehicles in motion

Airmen from various bases are deployed here to do one of many, behind-the-scene jobs in the Air Force. It’s one that Airmen may take for granted until their cargo loader breaks or their government vehicle doesn’t start in the morning. It’s the job of being a multipurpose vehicle mechanic. For the 16

Hiker finds F-16 rack

Wake up and smell the coffee at Rickenbacker’s

Guests at the Westward Inn at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., now wake up to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the smells of bacon, egg and cheese breakfast burritos -- because of Rickenbacker’s in the lobby of the new lodging facility. Rickenbacker’s, a contemporary espresso coffee quick

Air Force finds cost savings for Raptor with multi-year purchasing

The Air Force believes it can save nearly $500 million by going to multi-year procurement with the next 60 F-22A Raptor aircraft. The Air Force has asked Congress to approve multi-year funding for the remaining 60 Raptors it plans to purchase over the next three fiscal years. Multi-year funding

Deployed emergency responders

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 58 close-air-support missions for Operation Iraqi Freedom March 30. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities, and operations to deter and disrupt

Air Force, Army to purchase small cargo aircraft

By 2010, both the Army and the Air Force may be flying the same aircraft  to provide airlift inside places like Afghanistan and Iraq. The Secretary of Defense has given approval for the Army and the Air Force to work together to purchase those aircraft. The Army has been calling it a "Future Cargo

New civilian personnel system to mean slight pay hike for most

Most of the first 11,000 Defense Department civilian employees to convert to the new civilian personnel system in April will receive a pay increase, an official said today. About 85 percent of people will see an initial bump in pay when they are enrolled in the new National Security Personnel

Silver Flag prepares Airmen to deploy

Airmen throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe recently learned skills and received training across the spectrum of predeployment, deployment and post-deployment in a bare-base environment during Exercise Silver Flag. Silver Flag prepares USAFE’s combat support troops for real-world deployments through

AFPC contact center to open

The Air Force Personnel Center’s Web-based services and contact center, known as Personnel Services Delivery Transformation, will officially open it doors March 31. The new initiative means Airmen will be able to conduct routine personnel transactions via the Web that are currently worked through

Alaskan team thaws in Honduras

Imagine you’re a penguin, living happily in minus 40-degree temperatures. Suddenly you’re thrust into the tropical climate of a parrot, where anything below 80 degrees is considered cool. That shock to the system is essentially what happened to 17 Airmen from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron at

Deployed Airmen move troops in, out of theater

When traveling throughout the area of responsibility, accountability is key. Ensuring that servicemembers get where they need to go safely is the responsibility of Airmen here. As one of the main staging points for servicemembers traveling in and out of theater, It’s not unusual to see more than a

Putting the 'battle' in battlefield Airman

Airman killed in Iraq

An Airman was killed in Iraq today when an improvised explosive device exploded near Baghdad, Department of Defense officials said.The Airman was assigned to 447th Air Expeditionary Group.  The Airman's name is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification. (Courtesy of Department of Defense)

Enlisted retraining centralized

The active duty retraining program is going virtual, and applications will be processed by the Air Force Contact Center beginning March 31 as part of the first phase of the Personnel Services Delivery Transformation. Airmen interested in voluntary retraining as well as those identified for

Tower maintenance

Combat arms training

Global Hawk 'sets sail' from Edwards

A Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle known as N-1 took off from Edwards' main runway March 27 on a one-way mission to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The N-1, an RQ-4A Global Hawk -- one of two acquired by the U.S. Navy through the Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration Program -- is the first of

USAFE reaching out to establish security ties

Airmen and their counterparts from other countries meeting to discuss ways to fix runways may not impact the war on terror like an airstrike against al Qaeda forces. But these face-to-face meetings could one day lead to a security accord that could help combat terrorism, said Mike McMullan, chief of

Airmen work smarter, not harder with Smart Ops 21

For some Airmen, Air Force Smart Ops 21 is a term just being introduced into the field, but for the 52nd Maintenance Group, it is quickly becoming the standard way of doing business. Smart Ops 21 focuses on grouping things together, like tools and engine parts, to eliminate wasted motion and effort,

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close air support to coalition troops in contact with enemy forces near Asadabad, Afghanistan, March 29. The A-10s fired 244 cannon rounds and successfully expended one 500-pound