HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Twenty-ton pit stop

    Staff Sgt. Mark Day changes the tire on a 20-ton dump truck at a forward-deployed location. Day is an equipment operator for the 819/219th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron and is deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Deb Alvarado)

  • Incirlik adopts the "Alley"

    More than 110 airmen here "adopted the Alley" Nov. 23 by volunteering to pick up trash along a stretch of road off base most frequented by people here.The project, sponsored by Incirlik's Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1660, was organized to thank Incirlik village merchants for the support

  • Medical offical issues notice on ephedra risks

    The Air Force's surgeon general has issued a notice to airmen on the potential risks associated with dietary supplements that contain ephedra, following the death of a young Air Force member in early November.Medical notices are released by clinical quality management division officials from the Air

  • Top chief sends Thanksgiving message

    The following is a Thanksgiving Day message to all airmen from Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray:"My wife, Sherry, and I are thankful for many blessings this season -- our children, our faith, our health -- but as we bow our heads to give thanks, it is you who often comes to our

  • Crews prove mettle as mother gives birth at home

    As the Anaheim Angels and San Francisco Giants battled during the third game of the World Series recently, an Eglin couple brought their own little angel into the world -- in the hallway of their on-base home.While Staff Sgt. Jim and Crystal Taylor were watching the game, Riley Dale, 8 pounds, 6

  • Enter the dragon

    Senior Airman David O'Connor, from the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here, inspects the inside of a U-2 Dragon Lady air intake. Intake inspections are just one of the safety inspections O'Connor and his fellow crew chiefs complete to keep the U-2 flying. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Tawny Halvorson)

  • Falcons fall 38-34 in final seconds

    The Air Force Academy Falcons came three yards and two kicks short of winning their final regular season game Nov. 23 against San Diego State University.Wind gusts of 11 to 18 mph played havoc with the kicking game, sending punts astray and contributing to a missed extra point and field goal. The

  • AF trumpeter giving Jay Leno 'double performance'

    Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Trimmins will showcase his talents for playing two trumpets simultaneously on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" airing Nov. 28. Trimmins is the superintendent of musical resources for the Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and the noncommissioned officer in charge of the

  • Rescue coordination center answers calls for help

    A private aircraft crashes and the pilot is injured. Unable to call for help, the pilot is still found and rescued. The rescue may be largely credited to members of the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center here.The AFRCC belongs to Air Combat Command's Air Operations Squadron."(The mission) is to

  • Typical day for 517th anything but ordinary

    It was another typical day for aircrew members of the 517th Airlift Squadron. But a typical day for a 517th "Firebird" is anything but ordinary.The day started in darkness as the aircrew entered their double doors. Patches of light on the flightline ramp surrounded the shadowy figures of parked

  • Keeping the 'Hercs' humming

    Airman 1st Class Lyle Sentman from the 374th Maintenance Squadron engine regional repair center, runs up a pair of C-130 Hercules engines during an operational check here. Sentman is looking for air, fuel and oil leaks during the inspection. The repair center handles all C-130 cargo aircraft

  • Airmen put a new roof over their heads

    Twenty-five "Project Orphanage" volunteers replaced a dilapidated ceramic tile roof with sheet metal recently on a covered outside play area for children at the Adana Orphanage here.The roof gives the 150 children at the orphanage a place to play during Turkey's upcoming rainy season and shade

  • Public Health keeps airmen out of 'Danger Zone'

    Each week, Tech. Sgt. Marlon Muthuveeran puts the food service operation at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing dining facility through a rigorous series of tests. He evaluates down to the minutest detail, everything from food storage temperatures to the concentration of the cleaning solution used to

  • Delta IV roars to successful first launch

    America's newest space launch vehicle got off to a rip-roaring start Nov. 20 with a lift-off that lit up the skies over Central Florida and beyond.The Delta IV blasted off at the top of the launch window at 5:39 p.m. EST. Approximately 37 minutes later, the satellite separated from the rocket and

  • Caring airmen help at 'Camp Collie'

    People at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., are sharing humane instincts by helping abused dogs and cats following a horrid discovery Halloween night.That night on the U.S.-Canadian border, customs agents stopped a 40-foot semi-trailer coming into Montana from Alaska. The smell from the interior was

  • Medics demonstrate new decon system

    Staff Sgt. Denise Brown (from left), Senior Airman Jennifer Miranda and Senior Airman Kari England, members of the 325th Medical Group here, wash down a manikin to demonstrate the new in-place patient decontamination capability. The system is designed to rapidly decontaminate victims in the

  • Americans participate in Keen Sword 03 exercise

    U.S. Air Force, Japanese air self-defense force and maritime defense force helicopters rescued several downed airmen Nov. 14 as part of joint exercise Keen Sword 03. The 33rd Rescue Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, deployed two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters along with 39 airmen to participate in

  • That new car smell

    The 48th Fighter Wing here received the first two of 10 new F-15E Strike Eagles bought under contract from the Boeing Co. They are the first new F-15s the wing has received since 1996. The E-model has two Pratt and Whitney F100-P&W-229 engines, each generating 29,000 pounds of thrust. The

  • One man's ordeal brings focus to mission

    An Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crew evacuated a merchant mariner to a forward-deployed location for surgery after his leg was amputated in an accident while his ship was leaving port in the Arabian Gulf.George Benson, 2nd mate on the USN Watson, was transported to the port city's hospital after a

  • The flame game

    Air Force firefighters from the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron here extinguish flames that engulfed an aircraft after it "crashed" here during a combat readiness employment inspection. The firefighters practiced at their live-fire aircraft training facility on base. (Photo by Master Sgt. Val

  • Fairchild team supporting Southern Watch

    Senior Airman Brian Long signals Staff Sgt. Brian Porzuchowski in the tug as he prepares to connect the tow bar for the KC-135 Stratotanker to the hitch. Both airmen are deployed from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., and currently assigned to the 363rd Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron. The

  • Artist finds inspiration for artwork

    Master Sgt. Robert Marshall sees the world through an artistic lens that allows him to see humor in every situation and then recreate it on paper in cartoons and caricatures.During his off-duty time and an occasional lunch break, he draws a cartoon series called "Seven Deserts" for the base

  • Airmen showing they 'care'

    Learning to live in a deployed environment is a fact of life more and more military members are having to deal with as the United States pursues its global war on terrorism.There is no question that some deployed locations have more to offer than others, and members of the 363rd Air Expeditionary

  • Officials may change Air Force fitness program

    Air Force health officials are proposing a change to the service's fitness program to help airmen place a greater emphasis on their overall health and well-being.Many airmen incorrectly think that the Air Force fitness program is cycle ergometry, according to Maj. Lisa Schmidt, chief of health

  • Air Force program provides care for mildly ill children

    The Air Force has begun a six-month test of a new program to provide child care for mildly ill children who are unable to remain in regular, on-base facilities.The Mildly Ill Childcare Program is designed to reduce parents' overall costs for child care and the time they must be away from their jobs

  • Reserve commander praises troops, mission

    Awareness of, and appreciation for, the sacrifices of airmen and their civilian employers are the keys to success for the Air Force Reserve, its senior leader said."The point is to understand what they're doing for their country and the sacrifices they have to make in their personal lives and with

  • Falcons' winning ways are back

    The Air Force is back to its winning ways.After losing three straight games following a 6-0 start to the season, the Air Force Academy Falcons convincingly pushed their current win streak to two games with a 49-32 win over the Rebels of the University of Nevada-Las Vegas on Nov. 16. "I'm proud of

  • Dirty bird gets a bath

    Staff Sgt. Rick Casto guides a B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., into the wash rack at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The wash racks here recently received new foam sprayers that cut the washing time of a B-52 in half. Casto is a crew chief

  • Picking up the pieces

    Second Lt. Shawn Fontenot breaks down the wall of Jim and Joyce Boyd's garage during disaster cleanup here Nov. 16. The Boyd's home and business were destroyed by a tornado with winds in excess of 200 mph that struck the area Nov. 10. A state of emergency was declared in both Van Wert and Ottawa

  • Iraqi forces fire on aircraft

    Iraqi forces fired anti-aircraft artillery Nov. 17 and 18 at coalition airplanes enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq.Both attacks came from positions northeast of Mosul, defense officials said. In both instances, coalition aircraft responded by dropping precision-guided munitions on Iraqi

  • Vice chief of staff extends AEF office charter

    The vice chief of staff of the Air Force extended the charter of the office of the special assistant for air and space expeditionary forces through March 2004.In a Nov. 12 memo to commanders of all major commands, Gen. Robert H. Foglesong said the arrangements made in the secretary of the Air

  • Water world

    Staff Sgts. Marty Eberly (front) and William Speyrer direct the movement of the pipes on a fusion welding machine at a forward-deployed location in the Arabian Gulf region. The machine is used to connect water drainage pipes for a runway repair project. Both sergeants are assigned to the 819/219th

  • 17 receive high honors for heroism

    Seventeen members of the 66th and 58th Rescue Squadrons here were honored recently for their heroic actions and bravery in aerial flight while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.The Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the military's highest combat decorations, was awarded to: Maj. John Galik;

  • Air Force captures soccer gold medal

    The Air Force soccer team won close games over the Army team and the Marines to secure first place in the recent Armed Forces Services Soccer Championship."It (was) a long tournament," said Air Force head coach Orville Reid. "We had to play tough all six games to win."The Nov. 8 match-up against

  • Airman trades pastry chef's hat for boom

    Airman 1st Class Kai Bresser has a knack for collecting unusual job titles. Before he was a boom operator in the Air Force, he was a pastry chef.Boom operators, as they are commonly known, are in-flight refuelers aboard tanker aircraft. Bresser is currently serving with the 380th Air Expeditionary

  • Attack!

    Staff Sgt. Chris Lumb (left) and Senior Airman Cao Nguyen observe flightline activities during a combat employment readiness inspection here. The flightline came under "enemy attack" during the exercise, causing simulated injuries to some participants. Lumb is assigned to the base's 374th

  • Wilford Hall conducting DOD chronic pain study

    Wilford Hall Medical Center recently received a $2 million research grant to study the use of a pain rehabilitation program.The study is aimed at musculoskeletal system conditions, which are the leading cause of hospitalization and disability for the U.S. armed forces.The Department of Defense pays

  • Air Force releases UH-1N accident report

    The Air Force has determined pilot error caused the Aug. 8 UH-1N Huey accident near Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.During a hovering maneuver, an imbalance occurred on the throttles for the two engines and the main rotor lost speed. Two hours and 17 minutes after departing from Kirtland, the aircraft

  • Air Force's top chief discusses issues

    The most important thing any airman can do is "recognize that what you do is valuable to our nation's very existence and what we stand for," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray during his visit here Nov. 8."When I speak to young airmen, I let them know that their service is

  • Contact center adds new online service

    People can now get real-time help with personnel issues online, from anywhere in the world, thanks to new Web features offered by the Air Force Contact Center here.The online features let users view a database of frequently asked questions, chat live online with a customer service representative or

  • Contracting specialists keep mission going

    Does money make the world go around? Maybe the people who spend the money make the world go around. Some of those spenders buy everything the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing uses to carry out its mission."We provide purchasing support for the base, other locations in country and six locations further

  • Lessons of war drive Air Force doctrine

    The Air Force uses the lessons "learned from the blood, sweat, tears, and sometimes death of Americans in the skies" to prepare its doctrine, said Maj. Gen. Dave MacGhee, commander of the Air Force Doctrine Center at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.MacGhee visited here recently to discuss what Air Force

  • Incident underscores need for space access

    The Air Force's senior space official said a rocket test failure has sounded a warning and underscores the need to apply the resources necessary for assure access to space.Peter B. Teets, undersecretary of the Air Force and director of the National Reconnaissance Office, told members of the National

  • Eight bases add chiropractic services to medical facilities

    Eight Air Force medical treatment facilities added chiropractic medicine, and others will follow suit in the future.Chiropractic medicine became available to the Air Force in 1995, after Congress directed the Department of Defense to test the feasibility of providing that service at its facilities.

  • Virtual Wall allows public to reach out to Vietnam dead

    Each year, visitors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial here leave thousands of mementos at the base of the Wall. Since 1997, visitors to a non-profit Internet site have been doing the same, virtually.The Virtual Wall, at www.virtualwall.org, is run by volunteers whose only purpose is to provide an

  • Air Force investigates potential F/A-22 cost overrun

    Air Force officials announced Nov. 7 a potential cost overrun of up to $690 million in the engineering, manufacturing and development phase of the F/A-22 program.The potential overrun appears to be related to achieving cost and schedule in the developmental phase of the program, officials said. It

  • New history section debuts on Air Force Link

    Air Force Link, the official Web site of the U.S. Air Force, launched a new history and heritage section Nov. 8 to coincide with Veterans Day and the upcoming 100th anniversary of powered flight.The new section documents the achievements of airpower, starting from the early days of wooden-wing

  • Keeping a Thunderbolt thundering

    A crew chief inspects one of the two engines on an A-10 Thunderbolt II that has just returned from a close air support mission over Afghanistan. The A-10 is part of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry Morrison)

  • Making a difference through Habitat for Humanity

    People from the base chapel here are helping to make one part of the American dream a reality for a local family through lots of labor and a $37,000 donation to a Habitat for Humanity project.These non-profit construction projects put low-income families into quality family housing."Contributing

  • Total force, total commitment, total special operators

    A small group of Air Force special operators huddle together in a makeshift tent, miles away from anywhere on a map, planning the intense details of a mission.All the "usual" mission planners are there -- aircrew, intel, weather, special tactics and communications. The team works through the

  • Brothers take to the air in rare dogfight opportunity

    Two brothers, whose looks practically mirror each other as much as their Air Force careers do, got an opportunity to match their respective air-to-air combat skills in a competitive dogfight here Nov. 5.Capt. Gary Beene, a 58th Fighter Squadron pilot here, and his brother, Maj. Lane Beene, a pilot

  • Maintenance troops ensure Falcons are ready to strike

    Weapons loaders swarm beneath an F-16 Fighting Falcon, arming munitions before the fighter takes off on a sortie. The airmen are deployed with 125th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from the Oklahoma Air National Guard in Tulsa, in support of Operation Northern Watch. ONW has been enforcing the

  • Aerostat accident report released

    High winds, turbulence, and sharp object damage led to the March 30 breakaway of an Air Force surveillance aerostat from its tether near Rio Grande City, Texas, said a report released Nov. 6 by Air Combat Command.The aerostat drifted more than 300 miles before coming to a rest on private land near

  • Your eyes, ears essential to fight terrorism

    You're having a conversation with a group of people and you hear something that you perceive to be highly unusual or threatening or you see a car parked nearby that doesn't belong. You get the feeling that something isn't quite right.Don't hesitate to let security forces or Air Force Office of

  • Maintaining the Spirit

    Senior Airman Andrew Neitzert and Airman 1st Class Chad Dietz, both crew chiefs with the 509th Maintenance Squadron here, review aircraft forms during an operational contingency exercise Nov 5. The exercise tests the capabilities of the B-2 Spirit to deploy to an expeditionary airfield. (Photo by

  • Student exchange promotes good will, good friends

    Students from East Elementary School here and from Keimei Gakuen School, Akishima-shi, Tokyo, Japan, enjoy a day of festivities at Friendship Field during a cultural exchange program here recently. The students participated in various activities and games including Frisbee toss, sack races and

  • Chaplains minister to troops

    Father (Lt. Col.) Robert Keller, a chaplain from the 438th Air Expeditionary Group, conducts a service Nov. 3 at a forward deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The base chapel program provides various services to the base community throughout the week, including worship,

  • Sign me up

    Maj. Gen. Mike McMahan, Air Force Personnel Center commander, approves the first bonus applications Nov. 1 under the expanded aviator continuation pay program. For the first time, some air battle managers and navigators are eligible for up to $15,000 per year if they sign an agreement to continue

  • Alaskan civil engineers build super structure

    A team from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron here deployed recently to the Indian Mountain Long Range Radar Station to construct a 2,500 square foot Super K-Span storage facility.Indian Mountain is one of 18 remote Alaskan radar sites and is located several hundred miles west and slightly north of

  • C-5 fleet safer with anti-collision upgrade

    Maintenance people installed a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, or TCAS, on final operational C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft Oct. 31, according to program officials here.The system, part of an overall upgrade program designed to keep the transport giant flying until 2040, will reduce the

  • T-38C fleet undergoes propulsion upgrades

    Air Education and Training Command's first T-38C Talon with modified ejectors, engines and inlets will be delivered to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., the week of Nov. 4th by pilots from the 415th Flight Test Flight here.Following on the heels of the recent avionics upgrade program, these new upgrades,

  • New Information Management Tool software now available

    A new software tool designed to improve the efficiency of the Air Force information system is now available across the service.The new Information Management Tool viewer software from PureEdge Solutions Inc. is a replacement to the long-used FormFlow form filler software and is available from local

  • Keen eye leads to safety of 1,200 F-16s

    An astute observation by a noncommissioned officer here has resulted in widespread changes to maintenance requirements affecting more than 1,200 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.While performing inspections on an F-16, Tech. Sgt. Jason Anderson, a 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron nondestructive

  • NASA develops new tool to improve accident investigations

    Scientists and engineers investigating accidents are working much more effectively and efficiently, thanks to a new software tool developed by NASA called the InvestigationOrganizer.Developed at NASA Ames Research Center here, InvestigationOrganizer is a Web-based tool that provides information

  • Civilian health benefits program open season starting soon

    Air Force civilian employees will have the opportunity to review and update their health care plan during the Federal Employees Health Benefits program open season Nov. 11 to Dec. 9.Program changes could affect more than 7,000 employees since 11 health plan carriers are dropping out of the FEHB and

  • Hosing 'er down

    Senior Airman Ryan Fletcher, a crew chief with the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, hoses down an F-16's main landing gear wheel wells as part of routine maintenance. His aircraft is currently flying sorties in support of Operation Northern Watch. (Photo byAirman 1st Class Isaac G. L. Freeman)

  • Hercules at sunset

    The sun slides behind the mountains at a forward operating location as a C-130 Hercules rests after a long day. This C-130 from Pope Air Force Base, N.C., is currently assigned to the 320th Air Expeditionary Wing. (Photo by Master Sgt. Thomas Meneguin)

  • Quarterly overseas assignment listing available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for overseas assignments for the July to September 2003 cycle will be available Nov. 4.Individuals need to work through their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Nov. 21. Airmen will be notified of their selection by Dec. 9, said

  • New dormitory standard means bigger rooms

    Air Force officials have developed a new dormitory standard designed to enhance the standard of living for residents of Air Force dormitories worldwide.Construction on the four-plus-one style of dormitory could begin as early as this year. This style has four airmen sharing a common living area,

  • Air Force selects newest chiefs

    The Air Force recently selected 561 senior master sergeants for promotion to the service's highest enlisted rank as part of the 02E9 promotion board.The Air Force will release the promotion list the first duty hour Nov. 6 (Nov. 7 for those units across the international date line.) The complete

  • Falcons fall to CSU, 31-12

    Two drive-killing fumbles and a stingy Colorado State University defense handed the Air Force Academy its third loss of the football season Oct. 31.This is the third consecutive loss for the Falcons, who started the season with six consecutive and decisive wins before losing to Notre Dame, Wyoming

  • Horsing around

    Tech. Sgt. John Gurnsey (left) and Staff Sgt. Scott Vandersloot check the diameter of a chute used to pour concrete. The sergeants are assigned to the 819th/219th Red Horse Squadron at a forward-deployed location where they are building a secure compartmental information facility. Red Horse

  • Catching a ride

    A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster III here Oct. 31 by U.S. Army 236th Medical Company (Air Ambulance) soldiers from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Germany. The soldiers are deploying to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, in support of Operation Joint Guardian, a NATO

  • November issue of Airman available online

    Airmen fighting terrorism, a family of 11 living in base housing, and airmen supporting space shuttle launches highlight the November issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online.In this month's issue:A strong Japan means a stable Pacific region for the United States, and the Air

  • Training to live

    Chief Master Sgt. Danny Corprew, wearing a chemical warfare ensemble, prepares a bed for simulated casualties during an exercise here. The training ensures hospital workers can sustain, survive and perform their mission in a conventional, nuclear, biological and chemical combat environment.

  • Predator reaches milestone

    The Air Force's RQ-1A Predator unmanned aerial vehicle achieved 50,000 flight hours during an operational sortie Oct. 26 at a forward-deployment location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Production of the next generation of Predators, dubbed the Predator B (MQ-9), begins soon. Predator B

  • A 'boo-tiful' tent

    Senior Airman Hypatia Johnson (left) and Staff Sgt. Kristi Lawrence make their way through spider webbing to view the rest of a haunted "tent" at a forward-deployed location Halloween night. The tent mates from the 380th Expeditionary Communication Squadron decked their sleeping facility out in

  • Weather flight keeps 'em flying

    There may be rain today and heat tomorrow, or snow today and dusty winds tomorrow. These are some of the conditions the nine-member Air Force weather flight must contend with at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.Everyone needs to know what the weather is going to do, from the A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots

  • Beauty and the buff

    Senior Master Sgt. Mark Bernard polishes the C-135E Speckled Trout aircraft before it departs from here Oct. 25 on an executive airlift mission to the Pacific. The white-and-silver Speckled Trout is used primarily for avionics flight testing, but its secondary mission is transporting Air Force

  • Air Force teams competing in firefighting championship

    About 56 Air Force firefighters from nine bases are here Oct. 29 to Nov. 2 for anything but a vacation. The firefighters are participating in the 11th annual Firefighter Combat Challenge world championship, billed as "the toughest two minutes in sports.""By the time they get to the finish line most

  • Toil the soil

    Master Sgt. Robert Nightingale separates sieves of soil for weighing to ensure the proper percentage of material in each sieve meets construction specifications at a forward-deployed location. Nightingale, deployed from Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., is assigned to the 819/219th Expeditionary Red

  • Coalition aircraft drop munitions on Iraq

    Coalition aircraft enforcing the northern no-fly zone over Iraq dropped precision-guided munitions Oct. 30 on elements of Saddam Hussein's air defense system.The coalition aircraft attacked after Iraqi anti-aircraft artillery fired on them. All coalition aircraft returned to base safely.Combined

  • Officials release Predator accident report

    Air Force investigators have determined that human error caused an Air Force RQ-1 Predator aircraft crash May 17 near a forward-operating location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.According to an Air Combat Command accident investigation report released Oct. 30, the incorrect assembly of the

  • Artistic expression

    Airman 1st Class Justin Gimbel paints a mural on the outside of his unit's office at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Another mural by him is in the foreground. An aerospace ground equipment engineer with the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Gimbel is deployed to Al Udeid AB from Grand

  • Eagles and sparrows

    Capt. Andy Hamann (foreground) and Capt. Brian Swyt of the 95th Fighter Squadron simultaneously fire AIM-7 Sparrow missiles at a target drone during a recent air-to-air-weapons evaluation flight over the Gulf of Mexico. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike Ammons)

  • Feed the falcon

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot takes on fuel from a 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron KC-10 Extender. The squadron is assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia supporting operations Southern Watch and Enduring Freedom. The 908th EARS is

  • Dog helps keep flightline safe

    The 314th Operations Support Squadron has a new tool to keep the flightline here safe, and he works for mere kibble.Since Oct. 1, military working dog Colin, a 2-year-old border collie, has patrolled the perimeter fence to deter deer, birds and other wildlife from crossing into the runway

  • 'King' visits Seymour Johnson sergeant

    Richard "The King" Petty paid a visit here Oct. 23 to meet and have lunch with the winner of the "Win the King" contest.Tech. Sgt. Stephen Peterson, noncommissioned officer in charge of the base chapel, won a visit from Petty to his house, lunch with the driver, race tickets and gifts from Petty

  • Montana wing heading home

    Capt. Jason Green, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot from the Montana Air National Guard's 120th Fighter Wing in Great Falls, puts on his helmet before flying a mission supporting Operation Southern Watch. The wing leaves Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, this week after being deployed as part of

  • Predator crashes in Nevada

    An RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the side of a mountain in the Nevada Test and Training Range near Indian Springs, Nev., at approximately 8:30 a.m. Oct 25.The Predator, from the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, was flying a training mission when the incident occurred. There were

  • Academy mascot vying for national title

    He doesn't have the pageantry of the Indian on the horse with the flaming spear, the "homeyness" of that dog from Tennessee, or the in-your-face attitude of that "other" bird in South Florida.He lacks the tradition of the guy in the leprechaun suit, the ability to pull a wagon like that Oklahoma

  • Crew chief finds couple in C-130 engine

    Tech. Sgt. J.D. Nix is as country as a split-rail fence along a dirt road. So when the C-130 Hercules crew chief deployed here from Yokota Air Base, Japan, went toe-to-toe with a pair of birds, his animal instinct prevailed.Two bright green parakeets decided the engine intake on Nix's No. 3 engine

  • The 'ol plane and chain

    Aeronautical Systems Center Command Chief Master Sgt. Fest Miles (right) and his command staff teammates strain to pull a 60,000-pound fighter jet the farthest in 45 seconds during the U.S. Air Force Museum's 4th Annual Aircraft Pull. Approximately 600 base and community members took part in the

  • Two Air Force civilians win highest honor

    Two Air Force civilians received the Department of Defense's highest civilian service award here Oct. 22, also notable because both are below grade GS-15.While the Distinguished Civilian Service Award could be given to a DOD civilian of any grade, this was the first time anyone below GS-15 has

  • Domestic violence includes more than physical abuse

    Bumps and bruises, black eyes, broken bones, bloody noses and battered dreams. People might think this is a list of makeup requirements for a horror flick or injuries from a rough hockey game.Unfortunately, it is not. It is a short list of things describing somebody's family life.One in four

  • Air Force seeks improved retention through GI Bill test program

    The Air Force will soon begin testing a retention tool designed to help some servicemembers provide for their family's education.As part of the Montgomery GI Bill Transferability Test Program, members working in selected critical career fields will be able to transfer a portion of their MGIB

  • Georgia on their minds

    Capt. Brian, from the 6th Special Operations Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., preflights the main rotor system of a UH-1H Iroquois here, demonstrating to Georgian pilots how U.S. Air Force pilots perform the task. The Georgia Train and Equip Program has entered its third phase where the Georgian

  • Alaskan wing deploys to Singapore

    A 3rd Wing contingent here deployed to the Republic of Singapore Oct. 23 to take on that nation's air force in an annual air-to-air combat exercise.About 100 people, mostly from the 12th Fighter Squadron, and six F-15 Eagles are participating in exercise Commando Sling 2003.The exercise allows

  • Port squadron moves OEF cargo, passengers

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

  • Warren airman earns $10K for idea

    A little bit of epoxy sealed Tech. Sgt. Toby Taylor's chances for $10,000.Taylor, training noncommissioned officer in charge of the 90th Maintenance Operations Squadron electrical-mechanical technician team, was recently presented with a $10,000 check from the Air Force Innovative Development