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  • Vice president's wife visits military families at Nellis

    Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, visited Nellis Air Force Base Nov. 15 to learn about the family support programs available at the base.To gain a greater understanding of those support programs, Doctor Biden, who received her doctorate in education from the University of

  • Victim advocate lends a helping hand

    Staff Sgt. Joshua Greene, a 673rd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, has been a victim advocate for the past seven years, and although he hadn't put much thought into it when he signed up, the impact he has made on others has caused him to never look back.

  • Victim advocates support, assist survivors

    A group of Airman from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at an air base in Southwest Asia stood up and volunteered to be victim advocates as their part to prevent sexual assaults in the Air Force. Last year, Airmen throughout the Air Force reported more than 620 cases of sexual assault. There are two

  • 'Victim' gets a shower

    Airman 1st Class Jamie Kershaw, a firefighter here, sprays simulated victim Airman 1st Class Edgar Moso to decontaminate him during an accident-response exercise here Oct. 2. The exercise tested the 49th Fighter Wing's capability to respond to a major accident involving a hazardous-material spill.

  • Video clarifies officer promotion board procedures

    Personnel officials here will release an online video in early October offering Air Force officers a comprehensive look at the complete promotion selection board process. The officer promotion selection board video provides a look into how a selection board is conducted, from the date the board

  • Video competition at MyAirForceLife.com

    What does MyAirForceLife.com have in common with YouTube, the world's most popular online video community?  Like YouTube, MyAirForceLife.com accepts video clips, allowing the global community to watch, share and vote on videos online.What's different is visitors to MyAirForceLife.com have an

  • Video game prepares Airmen, families for emergencies

    True or False? Tornados always have a visible funnel extending to the ground. The answer to that question and more appear in the Air Force's newest training tool designed to prepare civilians, Airmen and their families for emergencies. The difference is this teaching instrument isn't a slideshow

  • Video raises suicide awareness

    Creators of a video filmed here are hoping it will educate, prevent and lower the risk of suicides across Air Combat Command as well as the rest of the Air Force.“Air Combat Command Off-Duty Survivor Stories: Suicide Choices; Terminal Consequences,” is the second in a series of videos by the 436th

  • Video teleconferencing connects military families

    Days away from home, eons away from loved ones ... at least that is how it feels to some when a military member is deployed. But new capabilities here can make the world a lot smaller for military families. Earlier this month, 10 Airmen from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron who are deployed to Iraq

  • Video: SecAF message to Airmen

    In this video, the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James, gives her first remarks as secretary of the Air Force about what Airmen and their families can expect from her in the future.

  • VIDOC: Worth a thousand words

    Pushy paparazzi, nosy TV reporters and supermodel photographers have nothing on a team of Airmen here. They take your picture, and they videotape you at work. They announce what you are doing to the masses, and they plaster you onto posters -- and most people do not even know they are there.They

  • Vietnam combat lessons apply today, Mullen says

    The military's top officer called on Vietnam veterans to stay connected with today's servicemembers, saying their lessons learned, especially with post-traumatic stress disorder, can help veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made

  • Vietnam Fighter Pilot Finally Comes Home

    Maj. James Blair White went missing in Southeast Asia on Nov. 24, 1969. He was finally laid to rest at West Point alongside of his mother, father and brother, June 19, 2018.

  • Vietnam military health, logistics reps visit Hickam

    Six delegates from the Vietnam military's health and general logistics fields met with U.S. Air Force officials here Nov. 10 during a 13th Air Force-hosted visit. The visit was designed to familiarize the Vietnamese delegates with how the U.S. military conducts surveillance, screening and testing of

  • Vietnam POW exhibit opens at Air Force museum

    Visitors can get a rare glimpse into the lives of prisoners of war through a dramatic new exhibit at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The exhibit, titled "Return with Honor: American Prisoners of War in Southeast Asia," located in the museum's Modern Flight Gallery, is now open to

  • Vietnam vet ensures others never forgotten

    As a young boy, Roberto Barrera remembers looking through stacks of pictures his father had taken while stationed in Italy as an Army infantry private during World War II. The images stirred his curiosity and interest in the military and, shortly after high school, he decided to enlist in the

  • Vietnam vet hears call of duty, heads to Afghanistan

    During a commander's call last year, Brig. Gen. Robert C. Nolan II, the Air Force Flight Test Center commander, asked Airmen who have been deployed to stand and be recognized for their service. He then asked those Airmen who have been deployed multiple times to raise their hands. Most of the Airmen

  • Vietnam veteran ensures every hero gets proper welcome

    It happened to Steve Cobb during his first tour in Vietnam with the 11th Light Infantry Brigade. He was wounded in combat -- four times."I got four Purple Hearts my first tour and zero my second," Mr. Cobb said. "I finally learned to duck." While learning to duck may have been an extremely

  • Vietnam veteran serves in Iraq

    Master Sgt. Terry Upchurch has a unique perspective serving in Iraq. He can compare his experiences here with those he had 35 years ago as an 18-year-old airman in Vietnam."I had been married only three months," said Upchurch, who is with the 506th Operations Support Squadron. "I was an air

  • Vietnam veteran tells today's Airmen 'stay focused'

    The knowledge and experience that Air Force retirees share with current Airmen can help develop careers. Retired Col. James Gilliland holds his audience in rapt attention while he tells stories of his progression as an RF-4C pilot and shares his experiences flying during the Vietnam War. With 30

  • Vietnam visit strengthens military ties

    The U.S. Pacific Command deputy commander met with military and civilian leaders in Vietnam recently, looking for opportunities to build upon a small yet developing relationship and to identify possible future military engagement activities. Lt. Gen. Daniel P. Leaf led a military delegation that

  • Vietnam wall speaks to both present and past

    At a time when wounds and memories of a long and bitterly protested war were still open and raw, when veterans were treated as villains instead of heroes, an Army veteran by the name of Jan Scruggs conceived the idea of building a memorial to honor those who served in Vietnam. Facing more opposition

  • Vietnam War disc jockey praises families of MIAs

    The man who became famous bellowing "Good morning, Vietnam!" to his military radio audience praised the families of servicemembers who are still listed as missing in action in Southeast Asia.In his opening remarks for the Defense Department's 2005 annual government briefing for Vietnam War-era

  • Vietnam War MIAs identified

    The remains of four servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam War have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors, defense officials announced Sept. 29.Three are airmen, and one is a Coast Guardsman. They are Staff Sgt. Elmer L. Holden from

  • Vietnam War missing in action Airman identified

    Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials announced Aug. 19 that the remains of a U.S. Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and are being returned to his family for burial with full military honors.Col. Gregg Hartness, of Dallas, will be buried in

  • Vietnam War missing in action Airman identified

    The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced May 20 that the remains of a U.S. Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.On Oct. 15, 1965, Maj. Robert Harry Schuler Jr., of Wellsburg, N.Y.,

  • Vietnam War pararescueman finally brought home

    Air Force pararescuemen were able to bring home one of their fallen comrades April 6 here.As the ceremonial caisson rolled to a stop in Arlington National Cemetery, Tech. Sgt. Allen Avery, an Air Force pararescueman who lost his life during combat operations in Vietnam, was escort to his final

  • Vietnam War pilot returns home

    The remains of U.S. Air Force pilot Col. Ernest Leo De Soto, who went missing during the Vietnam War, have finally come home.

  • Vietnam War rescue pilot goes on to command space shuttle

    African Americans blazed trails even beyond the stratosphere, as seen in the achievements of retired Col. Frederick D. Gregory, a former Air Force combat rescue pilot and NASA astronaut.After graduating from the Air Force Academy in 1964, Gregory entered pilot training and attended undergraduate

  • Vietnam War vet receives Bronze Star

    An Air Force retiree received a Bronze Star Medal with valor and a Purple Heart at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph's Taj Mahal Feb. 15, nearly 48 years after rescuing officers and protecting military resources during a deployment to Vietnam in 1965. Placido Salazar, who joined the Air Force in 1956,

  • Vietnam War veterans honored during ceremony at AF Memorial

    More than 100 service members, civilians and veterans braved the cold and icy weather to honor prisoners of war and those missing in action during the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War commemoration ceremony and wreath-laying March 2, at the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

  • Vietnamese boy finds success in AF blue

    Maj. Phuong Tran holds a deep appreciation for America.In 1975, at age 11, Major Tran, his family, and hundreds of other Vietnamese families fled Saigon, Vietnam, to escape communism.Although he knew nothing of the language or culture of the United States when he left his war-torn country, Major

  • Views from the fishbowl: getting to know the new AFMC commander

    When Bunch assumed command May 31, he began his seventh command tour in a career that spans multiple positions across the AFMC footprint. A graduate of the Air Force Test Pilot School, Bunch conducted developmental testing in the B-2 Spirit and B-52 Stratofortress at the Air Force Test Center early

  • Vigilance remains key to preventing terrorist activity

    Air Force members and their families are vital assets to law enforcement authorities who identify and assess potential threats in the area to help safeguard people and other resources."Vigilance at home is a phrase that's been used time and again since Sept. 11," said Special Agent Robert Hicks,

  • Vigilant Defense 24: Accept follow-on forces

    Combined flying training events are regularly scheduled training events designed to enhance the readiness of U.S. and South Korea forces and sustain capabilities, which strengthen the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

  • Vigilant Eagle board selects 82 command candidates

    The Space and Missile Vigilant Eagle Operations Squadron Commander Selection Board has selected 82 lieutenant colonels and lieutenant colonel-selects as command candidates for projected 2013 vacancies, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. Candidates will be matched to command vacancies at Air

  • Vigilant Eagle command selection board convenes in June

    The Space and Missile Vigilant Eagle operations squadron commander selection board will convene in June to select command candidates for projected 2013 vacancies, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. Statements of intent are due to the AFPC by May 18.Candidates will be matched to command

  • Vigilant Eagle continues closer U.S.-Russian cooperation

    Vigilant Eagle 13 kicked off today, with scenarios that present the United States, Canada and Russia with a common enemy: terrorist hijackers, Joseph Bonnet, director of joint training and exercises for NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, said during a telephone interview with American Forces Press

  • 'Vigilant Eagle' tests NORAD, Russian response

    An automated female voice commands over onboard speakers, "Traffic! Traffic! Descend! Descend!" as a North American Aerospace Defense Command F-22 Raptor approaches the right wing of the track of interest. Five minutes after take-off from Anchorage en route to the Far East, Fencing 1220, a

  • 'Vigilant Skies' brings ESC-infused NATO, Russian effort to fruition

    When NATO and Russian representatives wrapped up a joint international airspace demonstration June 10, it marked a great success for an effort Electronic Systems Center officials helped set in motion.Dubbed "Vigilant Skies 2011," the joint demonstration was sponsored by the NATO-Russia Council

  • Village of Hope lives up to its name

    Members of the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron, headquartered at Balad Air Base, Iraq, paid out nearly $10,000 to 120 students at the Red Horse Village of Hope March 13 here. The Village of Hope program is a test program that has many in the Department of Defense watching. Similar to a

  • Village of Hope training center graduates final class

    A program designed to help "Sons of Iraq" citizen security group members learn skills that will enable them to help Iraq move forward graduated its final class of 60 students here Sept. 25. "The Village of Hope was part of a civil service corps program that took Sons of Iraq members from checkpoints

  • Village resident receives volunteer award

    When people make it to 81 years, they may be tempted to take it easy. But for one resident of the Air Force Enlisted Village here, kicking back is the last thing she wants. Instead, Dian Haynes has made volunteerism her call to duty, and she recently was recognized by the Florida Association of

  • Villages receive emergency relief from Soldiers, Airmen

    In a 40-person, 16-vehicle convoy of Soldiers and Airmen from here traveled more than 30 miles southwest into the Afghan mountains, delivering humanitarian aid to two snowbound villages.Enough blankets, clothes, food and medicine were provided for 2,700 households, officials said. “Our mission was

  • Vince Vaughn, USO Bring 'Unfinished Business' to Edwards AFB

    Actor Vince Vaughn treated troops and their families to an advance screening of his upcoming film, "Unfinished Business," during a Feb. 28 USO visit to Edwards Air Force Base, California.During a DoD News telephone interview, Vaughn shared his inspiration for meeting service members and their

  • Vinyl treasure found on Wake Island

    In a tale straight from an adventure book, contractors here recently stumbled upon a vinyl record collection with an estimated value between $90,000 and $250,000. The 611th Air Support Group's Detachment 1 is now making a comprehensive effort to preserve the nearly 9,000 vintage vinyl records and

  • Viper Lance pilots trade rides

    Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here

  • Viper Patrol first layer of defense downrange

    Defenders of the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron stand ready to protect lives and secure the installation in a deployed environment by going outside the wire each day as part of Viper Patrol.

  • Vipers on the prowl

    Viper Flight -- the group is as tough as the name suggests. Whether it is scoping out threats or chasing down the enemy, this security forces’ flight is the first line of defense protecting the base’s outer perimeter.The flight's 30 Airmen are a small, handpicked section of the 386th Expeditionary

  • Vipers secure communication for DVs

    A top-level government official sends a Top Secret e-mail routed through numerous interconnected computer networks from 30,000 feet, confident as she does so that the message will reach its intended audience without interruption or risk. Every day, our nation's leaders transverse the globe to

  • Virginia Air Guard responds to Florida storms

    Nearly 50 Virginia Air National Guardsmen responded to hurricane relief efforts in Florida, making it the first time their unit has deployed to Florida for a natural disaster.The 203rd Red Horse Squadron from Virginia Beach deployed to assist in the clean-up efforts after Hurricane Frances and wound

  • Virginia Air Guard transitions to F-22 Raptor

    The Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing has become the first Air National Guard unit in the country to fly the F-22 Raptor.  The transition from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the F-22 took place June 20.More than 20 pilots in the wing are trained to fly the F-22 and a growing number of

  • Virginia Guard unit begins integrating with fighter wing

    He wears a battle dress uniform and looks just like any other maintainer working on a F-22 Raptor, but this Airman is very different from most others in the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here. He is paid by the hour, reports to a different supervisor and has a 70-mile commute to and from Richmond

  • 'Virtual Commissary' expands product selection

    The future is now at the Defense Commissary Agency. It’s not the “final frontier” by a long shot, but DeCA’s Virtual Commissary has been expanded to include 37 new item selections, including snack packs and special occasion baskets. This brings the total number of gift baskets on Virtual Commissary

  • Virtual commissary opens for business

    Defense Commissary Agency shoppers looking for a different kind of gift can let their fingers do the clicking at the new Virtual Commissary. Commissary officials said Virtual Commissary will open up new options of Internet shopping for authorized users. “We’re excited about DeCA’s first adventure

  • Virtual conference focuses on competition, resiliency

    In lieu of the normal in-person attendance, commanders, command chiefs and directors from across Pacific Air Forces connected virtually for the spring commander’s conference, including a China Symposium, operational plan tabletop exercise and resiliency discussion April 13 – 15.

  • Virtual enlisted promotion release proving successful

    Since its introduction in November, the new virtual enlisted promotion release system has received positive reviews from the field.  And, while it may be a bit of a culture shock for some, the new system provides several benefits for Airmen of all grades. "The new process resolved several challenges

  • Virtual fitness kiosks set up at 66 locations

    To help improve total force fitness levels, the Air Force is installing "Fitness on Request" kiosks at 66 locations by the end of September, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.Part of the Operational Fitness Program, the kiosks are available to all Airmen, including retirees and family

  • Virtual Flag exercise hosted at Pentagon

    The Air Force's C4ISR Visualization Center at the Pentagon, along with the 705th Combat Training Squadron from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., hosted a simulation exercise March 7 to help joint tactical air controllers experience the challenges of calling in air strikes to enemy targets

  • Virtual 'heavies' key to Northern Edge simulations

    The days of deploying an E-3 Sentry and other command and control aircraft to military exercises may soon be a rarity. With a large crew and an aging airframe, airborne warning and control systems, or AWACS, are expensive to deploy for a two-week training opportunity. But thanks to powerful computer

  • Virtual high school opens 'doors' to learning

    The Defense Department's newest high school is devoid of walls or windows, but yet has opened its "doors" this year to students throughout the world. The DOD Education Activity's virtual high school is an accredited distance learning program for military students, whether they're geographically

  • Virtual inprocessing simplifies civilian PCS

    Revisions in the civilian permanent-change-of-station orders process at the Air Force Personnel Center are intended to save time and money, and reduce errors for hiring officials, relocating employees and personnelists, officials said.The new civilian PCS process is conducted virtually through the

  • Virtual MPF adds new self-service program for assignments

    A new self-service assignments application launching Feb. 19 will eliminate a visit to the military personnel flight/element, saving Airmen both time and effort as part of the continuing initiatives of the Air Force's Personnel Services Delivery Transformation. Using the Expanded Permissive

  • Virtual orientation prepares new leaders for success

    The event, held for the first time ever in a completely online format, included briefings on AFMC and subordinate center missions, panel discussions, mentorship sessions and workshops on topics ranging from leadership expectations to information on legal, financial and support programs and

  • Virtual reality prepares students for parachuting

    When you are plunging toward earth at speeds as fast as 20 feet per second there is not a lot of time to think about your next course of action. Dave Dawson makes sure his students don’t have to.As the 19th Air Refueling Group’s aircrew continuation training specialist, he uses a device called the

  • Virtual reality project could improve UAS operations

    An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-managed team here is building a virtual reality environment for the battlespace initiative to maximize the potential of unmanned aircraft systems. The team is applying advanced physical and eye-tracking systems and voice interfaces, said Dr. James Oliver,

  • 'Virtual Schoolhouse' becoming wave of future

    Using information technology to provide formal, long-term training is allowing military members and civilian employees to further their education with the click of a mouse while saving the Air Force money in the process.Air Force Institute of Technology's Virtual Schoolhouse provides people an

  • Virtual spouse support group holds conference at Fort Bragg

    Anticipatory grief, reintegration and relocation are terms that often resonate with military spouses. As servicemembers are fighting on the front lines, spouses at home are forming the support networks that are keeping families strong. This sacrifice and shared understanding was the focus of the

  • Virtual technology enhances training for aircrews

    Survival, evasion, resistance and escape instructors at the 15th Operational Support Squadron are now using virtual technology to train aircrews in parachute hanging harness training. Most of today's aircrews are familiar with flight simulators. They are accepted as standard and are essential tools

  • Virtual tour guides newest addition to airforce.com

    The Air Force's official recruiting Web site, airforce.com, unveiled its latest innovation March 22 with the introduction of virtual tour guides on the site's home page. The tour guides are realistic video clips of active-duty Airmen who introduce the site's main features to web users. One of six

  • Virtual training for real-world missions

    A $1.5 million virtual training environment housed in a hangar at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center here offers security forces personnel and other Airmen realistic fire team convoy training. Much like an IMAX, a 280-degree screen brings to life real-world scenarios designed to put a

  • Virtual training platform maintains, improves military surgeons' skills

    It is vital for medical Airmen to continuously maintain and improve their skills. To access more training opportunities, military surgeons are looking to virtual training platforms. The Air Force is working with sister services to study a virtual training platform called Crowd-Sourced Assessment of

  • Virtual villains ruin accounts, credit ratings

    Crooks made off with an estimated $5 billion from individuals whose identities were stolen last year. In what is becoming America's fastest growing type of robbery, identity theft involves a shrewd charade instead of a hold-up at gun point, and military members increasingly are becoming the targets

  • 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

  • Virtual warehouse for foreign military sales sets record

    With one month still remaining in fiscal 2007, the Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution Services program is approaching the $16 million mark, shattering the previous record for annual sales. Managed by the Air Force Security Assistance Center here, Worldwide Warehouse Redistribution Services, or WWRS,

  • Virtual weapons give realistic training at Emerald Warrior

    The first integration of live and virtual net-centric weapons in special operations forces occurred as part of Emerald Warrior 07 on Oct. 25. Airmen participating in the exercise benefit from the simulation technology, which lets them experience near-realistic combat training. In the last few years,

  • Virtual weapons provide real training for security forces

    Security forces personnel here are aiming to use "virtual bullets" to help Airmen hit the target on the first shot. The "bullets" are actually beams of light fired from a weapon that is identical in almost every way to those used in the field. The weapons -- rifles, pistols or light machine guns --

  • Virtual wingman makes smart choices easy

    Air Education and Training Command unveiled a new website accessible by smart phones and tablets that is designed to provide resiliency and safety information to Airmen. The website was shown at the Air Force Community Action Information Board meeting March 29.Among the highlights of the website are

  • 'Virtual world' helps with post-traumatic stress

    Defense Department officials are using virtual-world interactivity to educate and help warfighters and others who are reluctant to seek more direct care to deal with post-traumatic stress, said an official at the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, also known as "T2."During a recent

  • Virtual world prepares mobility Airmen for real mission

    Airmen preparing for the worldwide mobility mission of the 621st Contingency Response Wing here now have a powerful new training tool. A state-of-the-art virtual firearms training simulator with a 300-degree field of view is now being operated by members of the 819th Global Support Squadron to

  • Virtual, augmented reality may hold key to future Air Force training

    A demonstration of how virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) can benefit Air Force training processes took place Jan. 8.The demonstration was geared toward Airmen within the aircraft armament systems and munition systems, and gave a glimpse of how VR/AR applications can aid in providing an

  • Virtualized servers saving time, money and power

    'The server is down' are four words you never want to hear at work, especially in Iraq. Global Cyberspace Integration Center Airmen have teamed with Multi-National Corps-Iraq communications people to evaluate server usage and provide methods of improvement to eliminate this problem, specifically

  • Visionary doctor helps hundreds of Iraqis

    A single doctor, a retired Air Force colonel, arrived here without much fanfare May 18 and left four days later. He left in his wake improved sight for many Iraqis and priceless training for Nasiriyah General Hospital physicians in Nasiriyah, Iraq. He traveled with a few bags and a 50-pound box

  • Visionary receives namesake award for women's leadership

    The Air Force announced the creation of the Brig. Gen. Wilma Vaught Visionary Leadership Award to honor the accomplishments of female Airmen as a part of the 2012 Joint Women's Leadership Symposium here March 5. Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, military deputy of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of

  • 'Visions of Valor' portraits honor heroes

    "Visions of Valor" are on display at the U.S. Air Force Academy as a collection of black-and-white portrait photographs of 140 Medal of Honor recipients was presented by TriWest Health Alliance officials April 3 at the McDermott Library here. David McIntrye, the TriWest chief executive officer,

  • Visit commemorates communications pioneer

    Air Force Network Integration Center officials welcomed the family and friends of Lt. Gen. Harold W. Grant here March 28 to learn more about the late general's legacy and see firsthand the building named in his honor. Grant is recognized as a communications pioneer who avidly worked to ensure Air

  • Visitation searchers balance efficiency, safety, humane treatment in Iraq

    Airman 1st Class Alberto Lopez knew the guy was hiding something. He could feel it. The detainee was giving off "the vibe" that three months of working the visitation center at the theater internment facility here had taught him to detect. The Altus, Okla., native continued to search in the