NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Air Combat Command welcomes new commander

    Gen. William M. Fraser III assumed command of Air Combat Command from Gen. John D.W. Corley in a change-of-command ceremony here Sept. 10. General Fraser comes to ACC from the Pentagon, where he served as vice chief of staff of the Air Force and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements

  • Maj. Gen. Hertog assumes command of 2nd Air Force

    When Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog assumed command of 2nd Air Force at Keesler Air Force Base Sept. 9 from Maj. Gen. Alfred Flowers, Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz called the two generals "two of the finest leaders the Air Force has known." "When I meet with Airmen, I always tell them 'you're the next great

  • U.S and Canada sign agreement on civil space cooperation

    NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Canadian Space Agency President Steve MacLean signed a framework agreement Wednesday for cooperative activities in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.  Canadian Ambassador to the United States Michael Wilson hosted the signing at the

  • Secretary Donley: Airmen vital to missions in Iraq, Afghanistan

    Airmen remain a vital part of the joint mission, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley observed during his recent visit to installations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The secretary used the opportunity to speak with Airmen and receive mission updates in Iraq and

  • Airmen demonstrate their importance to Afghanistan, joint operations

    Joint expeditionary tasked Airmen have two commanders, the Army one responsible for their day-to-day missions and the Air Force one responsible for their administrative and operational control; but they both sing the praises of their Airmen. According to Army Lt. Col. Matt Smith the task force

  • AFMC leaders continue to focus on nuclear sustainment

    Sustaining the Air Force nuclear arsenal was emphasized by the commander of Air Force Materiel Command as he led center and wing commanders along with AFMC headquarters senior staff through two days of in-depth discussions during the command's semi-annual senior leaders conference here Sept. 1 and

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a new vice chief, teamwork and diversity

    This edition of Today's Air Force features a new vice chief of staff of the Air Force who comes to the job during a time of transition and change,  a lesson in teamwork that proves vital in helping Airmen accomplish their mission, and the celebration of cultural diversity around the world.General

  • Jungle Shield exercise trains Airmen, federal agencies

    Airmen at Andersen Air Force Base and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, participated in an exercise Aug. 25 through 27 to test the Air Force's ability to protect U.S. air sovereignty in the Pacific region. The exercise, known as Jungle Shield, trains flying crews and ensures command and control requirements are

  • JAG Corps officials announce law school programs

    Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are being accepted from Jan. 1 to March 1, 2010. The FLEP, which is a paid legal studies program for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers, is an assignment action and participants receive full pay, allowances and

  • Elmendorf Airmen convicted, sentenced for UCMJ violations

    An Elmendorf Air Force Base Airman was sentenced to 12 months confinement, reduction in rank to E-1 and a bad-conduct discharge for using "an interactive computer service for carriage in interstate or foreign commerce, obscene, lewd, lascivious, or filthy pictures or other matter of indecent

  • Airmen help Iraqi army take control of base operations

    Operations continue as normal at Camp Ur. The focus remains the same: keep the base running and the mission on target. Iraqi army soldiers routinely work with their U.S. counterparts, but one important difference now is that the Iraqis have taken command of the controls."It's a historic time for

  • 13th Air Force officials welcome new commander

    Officials from 13th Air Force here welcomed their new commander in a change-of-command ceremony Sept. 2 at Hickam Air Force Base.Lt. Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle assumed command of 13th Air Force as Lt. Gen. Loyd S. "Chip" Utterback relinquished command and will retire from the Air Force after

  • Defense Department to start H1N1 flu vaccinations

    All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, and the vaccine will be available to all military family members who want it, a Defense Department health affairs official said Sept. 2 here. The H1N1 vaccination program will begin in early October, said Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Wayne

  • Afterburner retiree newsletter back after 3-year hiatus

    After a three-year hiatus, the hard-copy Afterburner retiree newsletter is back. Special funding was granted to provide news and information to retirees and surviving spouses. However, those with computer access are urged to forego a hard-copy version to save money. There are approximately 770,000

  • Air Force secretary praises Airmen, discusses ops with Bagram Airmen

    The secretary of the Air Force visited 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen Aug. 29 here during his second visit to Afghanistan in 10 months. Secretary Michael B. Donley spoke to approximately 300 Airmen at an Airmen's Call held on the steps of an old, Russian air traffic control tower, known as the

  • AF general thanks Coast Guard for continuous shuttle support

    The Air Forces Northern commander and overseer of the Joint Task Force-Space Transportation System visited the Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral, Fla., to express his thanks to the team for their continued support of the JTF-STS mission. "NASA's mission is one of international importance, and your

  • Air Guard's domestic ops experts to confer on top priorities

    Hundreds of Air National Guard officials will gather here Sept. 21 through 25 to plan for domestic and civil support operations at the ANG Domestic Operations Essential 10 Requirements Conference. The conference will join subject matter and planning experts in working groups to discuss and

  • Innovative Airmen make jobs, lives easier

    Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing have applied the axiom "work smarter, not harder" to come up with solutions on the job that are saving manpower, time and money here in Southwest Asia. Examples of innovation are not limited to just one group. Each of the four groups assigned to the 379th

  • 'Today's Air Force' features chief of staff first-year reflections

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the chief of staff of the Air Force reflects on his first year on the job, the Global Positioning System gets a high tech upgrade, and Airmen turn to a new program in Iraq to get help dealing with combat stress.Major changes have taken place across the Air

  • Base of preference requests can now be initiated online through vMPF

    Air Force Personnel Center officials have revamped the Voluntary Assignments Base of Preference Program to allow eligible enlisted members to initiate BOP requests online. Air Force members from the rank of E-8 and below can now apply for permanent change of station BOP, in-place BOP, or both

  • AFCENT commander, command chief visit JBB

    Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the new U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, and AFCENT Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff visited Joint Balad Base Aug. 25 to survey various missions and address some of the Airmen he now commands. During his visit, General Hostage met with Army officials from the

  • Officials outline adoption process for military working dogs

    Military working dogs have come a long way since the days of ancient Persia and Assyria, where they donned armor, spiked collars and warned of impending attack or charged on the enemy's cavalry. Modern battlefield and customs conditions bring forth complex and ever-changing challenges, and as such,

  • New vice chief of staff takes office

    Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler is the new vice chief of staff of the Air Force, succeeding Gen. William M. Fraser III who held the position since October 2008. General Chandler comes to the Pentagon after two years of service as commander of Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S.

  • Contractor, U.S. Attorney agree on $15 million fraud suit settlement

    Earlier this month, the United States Attorney and Dynamics Research Corporation, known as DRC, corporate officials reached a settlement agreement in a False Claims Act suit filed by government officials recently. DRC, an advisory and assistance services government contractor supporting the Air

  • AMC wing hits high marks for nuclear surety

    Air Mobility Command Airmen showed strong support for "reinvigorating the Air Force nuclear enterprise" through a command-level no-notice inspection recently. From Aug. 17 to 24, the AMC Inspector General officials completed a no-notice Limited Nuclear Surety Inspection, or LNSI, of the 62nd Airlift

  • Secretary Donley visits deployed servicemembers

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley met with deployed servicemembers Aug. 26 at an air base in Southwest Asia and visited base facilities there during a brief stop on his tour of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.He began his visit by making a presentation of six battle streamers

  • Air Force earns 6 campaign streamers

    A new chapter of military history was recognized here, Aug. 26, as the Secretary of  the Air Force added six campaign streamers to accompany the Air Force colors. The new streamers were presented by the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, and received by Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, U.S. Air Forces

  • Air Forces Africa commander visits Kenyan air force

    Air Forces Africa officials arrived in Kenya Aug. 21 for the latest in a series of engagements between U.S. and Kenyan forces. AFAFRICA, also known as 17th Air Force, is the air component for U.S. Africa Command. AFAFRICA Commander Maj. Gen. Ronald R. Ladnier led the visit, which came in the wake of

  • New munitions units advance nuclear weapons center role

    With the activation and assumption of command for the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Aug. 18, Air Force officials significantly advanced one of their top goals: reinvigorating the service's nuclear enterprise. The maintenance group was the last of four similar

  • New ergonomic seats installed in E-3 fleet

    For operators occupying the 19 control stations aboard E-3 Sentrys, 12-to-14-hour missions will become a bit more comfortable after new ergonomically designed seats are installed on the U.S. fleet. This Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft is the first of five legacy platforms to receive the

  • Business board calls for changes to personnel system

    In its final report, a Defense Business Board task group has recommended a "reconstruction" of the National Security Personnel System. Former Deputy Defense Secretary Rudy DeLeon chaired the group. Defense Department officials will use the board's recommendations as they ponder the system's future.

  • Collaboration key to success in cyber operations

    The Air Force Information Technology Conference opened Aug. 24 in Montgomery, Ala., with keynote addresses from the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Air Force chief of staff and the CEO of McAfee, Inc. Collaboration emerged as a key theme in the opening day of the conference, which is now in

  • 3rd Bombardment Group reunites at Elmendorf

    Several members of the 3rd Bombardment Group reunited here Aug. 12 through 16 to honor an important chapter in the 3rd Wing's history.The 3rd BG, which was also known as the 3rd Attack Group, was stationed in Australia during World War II and is today's 3rd Wing. The members who reunited here were

  • Hanscom Airmen train with Massachusetts state troopers

    Hanscom Air Force Base security forces Airmen received specialized tactical training as part of an ongoing partnership with the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations team in early August. The training, which took place in base dormitories, offered instruction on handling

  • Guardsmen deliver medical care to Guatemala

    About 40 medical personnel from the Arkansas Air National Guard are here performing a humanitarian medical readiness exercise as part of their annual training requirement. The medical team -- made up of general physicians, pediatricians, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, nurses and medical

  • Chief of staff visits Beale

    Deployment lengths, force-shaping efforts and emerging unmanned aircraft missions were some of the topics on the minds of Beale Airmen during the visit by the Air Force chief of staff here Aug. 21. In his first visit to Beale since becoming the Air Force's top officer just over a year ago, Gen.

  • Leaders issue joint message, define cyber mission

    In a joint Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff focus on the alignment of the service's cyberspace mission."Without question, cyberspace is vital to today's fight and to the future U.S. military advantage over our adversaries," said Air Force Secretary

  • Civilians can now apply for new professional development program

    Air Force civilian employees can now apply for a new professional development opportunity with applications due to Air Force Personnel Center officials by Sept. 4. The Civilian Acculturation Leadership Training program provides a unique in-residence experience at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.,

  • Academy rated best in west by U.S. News & World Report

    The U.S. Air Force Academy was named the best baccalaureate college in the west for the third year in a row and received high rankings in engineering in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" 2010 rankings. U.S. News evaluated universities which offer only undergraduate degrees, and

  • Shaw Airmen train with South Carolina Civil Air Patrol

    Shaw Air Force Base Airmen joined volunteers of the South Carolina wing of the Civil Air Patrol in Exercise Fertile Keynote Aug. 11 here. The training exercise occurs five to six times per month and gives 20th Fighter Wing alert Airmen experience with different scenarios, said Maj. Benjamin Price,

  • 5 NATO countries take part in jump week

    Five NATO countries including Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States participated in airborne jump operations during International Jump Week Aug. 9 thru 14. Parachuting out of the back of a C-130 Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron here, more than 250 paratroopers guided

  • Guard chief encourages 'continual support' of families

    The state's are doing a great job of supporting the National Guard and its families, but it takes continuous support to make sure no one falls through the cracks, the National Guard's top military officer said Aug. 18 here. "If there is an area that we have to concentrate on, to continue to focus

  • Four USSTRATCOM units win prestigious awards

    Four units of U.S. Strategic Command have been selected to receive the Omaha Trophy for 2008 in their respective categories.  The trophy is presented annually to USSTRATCOM units demonstrating the highest performance standards. Selection for each of the four award categories is based on formal

  • General North assumes command of Pacific Air Forces

    The command of Pacific Air Forces, celebrating 65 years of providing American airpower in the Pacific this month, was passed from Gen. Howie Chandler to Gen. Gary North during a ceremony here Aug. 19 on Freedom Tower Mall. General North assumed command here after completing more than three years of

  • AMC commander receives Order of the Sword

    Arriving at the Scott Club in a horse-drawn carriage while a bagpipe melody filled the air, the commander of Air Mobility Command and his wife became a part of military history Aug. 14 here. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte and Chris Lichte received the carriage ride under security forces escort as the start

  • Air Force Secretary to speak at C2ISR symposium

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley will be the dinner guest speaker at the C2ISR Symposium and Technology Exposition, joining a number of presenters for the event. The symposium will be held Sept. 28 through 30 at the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Conn. The secretary will speak

  • 24th Air Force activated, 2 units realign in joint ceremony

    Air Force officials here activated the newest numbered Air Force and realigned two units under its command in a joint ceremony here Aug. 18. The 24th Air Force activation under Air Force Space Command is a major milestone in the combination of space and cyberspace operations within one command. Gen.

  • JAG visits to ensure consistency across deployed legal operations

    Maj. Gen. Charles J. Dunlap Jr., the Air Force deputy judge advocate general, visited the 386th Air Expeditionary wing here Aug. 18 and began an eight-day Article Six visit to various deployed locations throughout the area of operations. The designation of the visit refers to Article Six of the

  • USCENTCOM commander visits Manas

    Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. Central Command commander, visited personnel here Aug. 16. During his visit, General Petraeus briefed servicemembers and coalition forces deployed to the Transit Center as well as talked about the roles they play, serving as the gateway for personnel transiting in and

  • New recruits enlist at Chicago Air and Water Show

    Following a full-throttle aerial display by Air Combat Command's F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team, 50 young men and women were sworn in to the United States Air Force Aug. 15 during the 51st Annual Chicago Air and Water Show. "Today has been crazy... I'm beyond excited," said Michael Leonard, 20, from

  • Historical exhibit showcases 'Father of the Air Force'

    When faculty and students enter the Academy's Arnold Hall they now get a closer look at the Father of the United States Air Force. An exhibit honoring Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold that has been in the works for three years has come to fruition. According to Paul Martin, a museum specialist who serves as

  • Logistics leaders address Air Force future

    A summer lecture series devoted to logistics brought past and present air logistics center leaders together here recently for a panel discussion and question and answer period. Hosted by the Logistics Officer Association's Crossroads Chapter, the "Logistics over Lunch" attracted approximately 70

  • Lonely Eagles ceremony recognizes fallen Tuskegee Airmen

    Beside a folded flag, a single flame burned atop the table of honor before dozens who gathered to honor fallen Tuskegee Airmen in a ceremony here Aug. 7. Part of the 38th Annual Tuskegee Airmen Inc., convention, the Lonely Eagles Ceremony memorialized air, ground and operations crew from the

  • National Guard officials work toward continuous improvement

    National Guard officials have implemented a new program designed to streamline operations and in the end cut costs and improve efficiency in day-to-day activities.The Continuous Process Initiative, or CPI, combines the Army's Lean Six Sigma program and the Air Force's Smart Operations for the 21st

  • Military members, families keys to year of success

    After a year in the job, the Air Force chief of staff said he is still impressed with the contributions of Airmen of every specialty, stateside and overseas."It's still stunning to see what our Airmen are doing," Gen. Norton Schwartz said.  "There is work to do. There are challenges to face. But

  • CMSAF visits expeditionary center

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy took stock of the people and the mission of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center during a visit here July 29. Joint Base personnel gathered in the expeditionary center's auditorium for an "All Call" town hall-style gathering. Chief Roy answered a

  • Chief says Guard cannot go back to strategic reserve

    The National Guard cannot go back to the days of the strategic reserve, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told conferees in Rochester, Minn., on Aug. 9. "We must maintain the level of efficiency and effectiveness that has been achieved today," said Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National

  • U.S., Vietnam host Asia-Pacific military nursing symposium

    The United States and Vietnam co-hosted more than 200 nurses from 14 countries during the 3rd Annual Asia-Pacific Military Nursing Symposium in Hanoi, Vietnam Aug 3 through 7. The five-day conference, hosted by officials from the U.S. Pacific Command and the Vietnam People's Army, focused on nursing

  • Air Force employee serves more than half a century

     When a 19-year-old Army recruit left New York City for Fort Dix, N.J., in 1944, he never imagined that 65 years later he would still be serving with the military. Anthony Duno had no idea where his Army service would lead him or how long it would last, but the humbling experience of growing up

  • Convention showcases unmanned capabilities

    Senior defense officials are getting a glimpse of the latest in unmanned systems technologies, which many concede is the way of the future for the U.S. military, in August here.More than 5,000 people from 30 countries took part in the exhibition of robots and unmanned systems capabilities at the

  • Air Force officials welcome new surgeon general

    The Air Force's 20th surgeon general took office during a Pentagon ceremony presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Aug. 12 here. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green was the Air Force's deputy surgeon general since August 2006, and he replaced Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush,

  • Inaugural Academy UAS class pins on wings

    Members of the first class of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Unmanned Aircraft System and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Education Program received their UAS wings Aug. 11 during a ceremony here.The class included four hand-picked cadre, all second degrees, with the remainder third

  • AFSO 21 senior leader course aims to improve future processes

    An Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century senior leader course took place here Aug. 3 and 4 to help leaders from across Wright-Patterson Air Force Base continue improving processes in the future. The two-day course aimed at colonels, GS-15s and chief master sergeants was kicked off by Maj.

  • Pararescuemen train at Joint Base Balad

    "Is she alive?""Copy. Still alive."The pararescuemen loaded their patient onto a litter and carried her off to the safety of an awaiting vehicle. But the mission wasn't over. This mission never really ends. Pararescuemen played out this scene during a crisis-action scenario Aug. 2 at Joint Balad

  • General stresses safety to Airmen

    As iron sharpens iron, we will all make one another more focused when it comes to safety, said the Air National Guard's senior officer here Aug. 4 during a safety summit. Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, kicked off the summit that included guest speakers from the

  • Technology convergence could prevent war, futurist says

    The convergence of "exponentially advancing technologies" will form a "super-intelligence" so formidable that it could avert war, according to one of the world's leading futurists. Dr. James Canton, CEO and chairman of the Institute for Global Futures, a San Francisco-based think tank, is author of

  • 'Top Guns' receive awards at Tuskegee Airmen convention

    The National Tuskegee Airman Inc. president presented members of the historically-acclaimed 332nd Fighter Group awards during the 38th annual convention Aug. 6 through 9 here. The honoring ceremony marked the 60th anniversary of the original "Top Guns" who claimed victory in the 1949 National

  • Exercise tests joint cargo operations

    Airmen and Soldiers assigned to U.S. Transportation Command's Joint Task Force-Port Opening are participating in Eagle Flag 2009, an Air Expeditionary Center-sponsored exercise here where they are being evaluated on their ability to establish and operate a port of debarkation and cargo distribution

  • 379th AEW commander addresses bloggers' roundtable

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander spoke with online journalists during a Department of Defense Bloggers' Roundtable Aug. 5 from Southwest Asia. Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson, spoke to journalists about how the men and women of the 379th AEW meet the ever-changing needs of the Combined Forces

  • Air Force Global Strike Command activated

    Air Force officials stood up a new major command to oversee all of its nuclear forces in an activation ceremony Aug. 7 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Global Strike Command will provide combat ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of

  • Air Force Global Strike Command will stress nuclear mission

    A key step in reinvigorating the Air Force's nuclear deterrence mission will be made Aug. 7 with the activation of the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will bring together the Air Force bomber force and

  • Weather fails to dampen Air Force-NASCAR relationship at Pocono

    The Air Force and NASCAR have long enjoyed a proud relationship that continues to grow with each race. That relationship was very much in evidence at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. Thousands of race fans flooded the track grounds Aug. 1 to watch their favorite drivers complete practice runs

  • New leaders take command of redesignated AFCENT, 9th Air Force

    New leaders took command during the 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central change of command and redesignation ceremony Aug. 5 at Shaw Air Force Base.Lt. Gen. Gary North relinquished command of 9th Air Force/AFCENT, then the two units were redesignated into two separate commands.Army Gen. David

  • Obama: VA outreach aims at seamless transition

    The days of Department of Veterans Affairs officials waiting passively for veterans leaving the military to come amd seek benefits and services are over, President Barack Obama told military reporters Aug. 4 here. Today's VA is reaching out, while servicemembers are still in uniform, to make sure

  • Command chief master sergeant screening board convenes

    The command chief master sergeant screening board for calendar year 2009 recently selected 200 candidates out of a field of 740 eligible chief master sergeants to fill 80 expected requirements. A significant change in this year's selection process was the "all-in" concept approved by the Air Force

  • Operation Allied Force comes alive through 'Tanker Living Legends' series

    Four veterans of NATO's 78-day air war, Operation Allied Force in 1999, recalled their experiences through the "Tanker Living Legends" speaker series July 30 at the Global Reach Planning Center at Scott Air Force Base. Among the "living legends" who spoke included Lt. Gen. Vern M. "Rusty" Findley

  • Historic first step taken to join bases in San Antonio

    A milestone in San Antonio's long military history happened here July 31 as Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz , commander of Air Education and Training Command, officiated the activation ceremony for the 502nd Air Base Wing with Brig. Gen. Leonard A. "Len" Patrick taking command. "Today's activation of the

  • Sheppard, AF officials retire workhorse of pilot training

    More than 50 years of dependable service is a lot to ask, especially from a tool used to train thousands of people in a critical and sometimes dangerous business. But as men and women in the U.S. Air Force said farewell to the T-37 Tweet July 31, they did so knowing they got all they asked for and

  • F-16s scramble to unresponsive pilot over West Virginia

    Officials from the 601st Air and Space Operations Center here responded to a call from Federal Aviation Administration officials at approximately 8 p.m. Eastern time July 30 when radio calls to a civilian pilot went unanswered. F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots flying under the command and control of

  • Goodfellow veteran relives experience for Airmen

    Five years ago a rocket attack in Iraq left a former 17th Security Forces Squadron defender without legs and a right arm. Brian Kolfage Jr., a retired senior airman, shared his story in Airman magazine, numerous newspapers, online magazines, patriotic Web sites and medical magazines. He was also in

  • Special Ops Command opens new headquarters

    Special Operations Command Central officials opened a new home with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new building July 29 here. The headquarters will allow SOCCENT members to better accomplish its mission of exercising operational control of more than 7,000 special operations servicemembers in

  • Uncertainty about military suicides frustrates services

    The most frustrating part about suicide prevention is the uncertainty about what causes troops to take their lives, top military leaders said here July 29. This near-unanimous chorus was sounded on Capitol Hill when the second-ranking military officers of each service testified about military mental

  • Airmen save Iraqi girl's life after IED blast

    Security forces Airmen, emergency medics and hospital staff here saved an Iraqi girl after an improvised explosive device detonated at her feet in July near Joint Base Balad. The girl and her family had just attended a Joint Base Balad-sponsored clothing-and-toys distribution for local children at

  • H1N1 cases identified at Hurlburt

    Four Hurlburt Field Airmen have tested positive for the H1N1 virus in July and 59 others currently have symptoms consistent with the H1N1 virus. Most of the illnesses are clustered within one work center and a few are roommates with members who are from that work center. All are recuperating well,

  • General says Air Guard facing recapitalization issues

    One of the biggest challenges facing the Air National Guard today is replacing its fleet of aircraft that are approaching the end of their service lives, a senior Air National Guard official said July 29. "A big problem we have in the Air National Guard is figuring out how to recapitalize our aging

  • Air Force team to assess Iraqi air defense needs

    Air Force officials are sending an assessment team to Iraq to look at how the Iraqi military can field an air defense once American forces leave in 2011. The team is expected in the country shortly, said Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, during a roundtable July 28

  • Lackland officer wins Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award

    The operating room flight commander at the 59th Surgical Operations Squadron here recently was selected the 2009 recipient of the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Military Award at the field grade officer category by the Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated. Lt. Col. Jacqueline Mudd will be presented with the

  • 12 nations activate groundbreaking Heavy Airlift Wing

    Senior diplomatic and defense officials representing 12 nations as well as NATO witnessed July 27 the official activation of a first-of-its-kind multinational strategic airlift unit at Pápa Air Base, Hungary. "I want to extend my thanks to all of the nations that chose to participate in SAC," said

  • Gold Bar Recruiter program returns

    Eighteen second lieutenants completed the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Gold Bar Recruiter program first annual training course here July 23. This is the first group of lieutenants to go through the 10-day Gold Bar training course since the program was converted to a contract in 2002,

  • Photo essay: Airborne training!

    The 342nd Training Squadron here conducted joint competency airborne training with an aircrew from the Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 at Joint Reserve Base/Naval Station Fort Worth, Texas. The jumpers were survival, evasion, resistance and escape, or SERE, specialists, Marines,

  • Unmanned aircraft take on increased importance

    The U.S. military's expanded overseas use of unmanned aircraft highlights the increased importance of such aerial platforms to current and future military operations, senior Air Force officers said here July 23. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan announced July 23 will serve as a template for