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  • 'Wheel' saves lives in Afghanistan

    Days after deploying here, Tech. Sgt. Stephen Thackery saw first-hand the cost of the Taliban's war on the Afghan people, and responded as he was trained, by saving lives. The Hamilton, Va., native was on alert when the call came in to the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. A suicide bombing had

  • Wheelchair athletes participate in national veteran's competition

    William Ethridge won't stand up to greet people, he won't give up his seat for a lady and if someone drops something in front of him, he won't help pick it up. But he doesn't do these things because he's rude or indifferent; he just physically isn't able to. Mr. Ethridge is paralyzed from the waist

  • Wheelchair rugby makes debut for Warrior CARE Month

    Fifty-pound wheeled chariots made of steel, aluminum and over-sized wheels were the modes of battle Nov. 16 as teams of joint-service wounded, ill and injured kicked off a demonstration of wheelchair rugby.

  • Wheels up: Hill shop improves F-35 tire change process

    For years, the wheel shop at Hill Air Force Base has disassembled, inspected, repaired, built, and delivered reliable tires and wheels for F-16 Fighting Falcons. That reliability and 24-hour turnaround service will remain intact as the base's operational mission transitions to the F-35A Lightning

  • When all else fails, egress prevails

    The piercing sound of the terrain alert fills the cockpit. The engine has taken enemy fire, and despite the pilot’s attempts to regain control of the jet, it is on a downward spiral. At this stage, there is only one thing left to do. While the scenario may not be common here, the possibility of it

  • When calamities arise, AFPC stands ready to reply

    When natural disasters, emergencies or crisis situations overwhelm an Air Force base's communications capabilities, members of the Air Force Personnel Center here provide Airmen and their families instant toll-free accountability. Once activated, AFPC Operation Center-Personnel Readiness Cell

  • When lightning strikes

    A rare summer storm brews over tent city at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. Nearly 1,400 airmen are deployed to Incirlik in support of Operation Northern Watch. (Photo by Senior Airman Jimmy Harper)

  • When pigs fly... with ospreys

    What do you get when you cross an osprey with a warthog? For a zoologist, the question may seem preposterous. In Air Force terms, instead of an odd looking winged-swine hybrid, the result is immense firepower and unparalleled close-air support capability for the rapid infiltration and exfiltration

  • When responding to surveys, check to ensure they're official

    Airmen around the world are asked to respond to many surveys, some of which are official and legitimate. Others, however, are not official and Airmen should not respond to them. According to Renee Tealer, Air Force Survey Office, Air Force Personnel Center, Airmen typically get three types of

  • When severe winter weather threatens U.S. the Hurricane Hunters are there

    The Hurricane Hunters of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron here, recently deployed a WC-130J Hercules out over the Atlantic Ocean to gather weather data for winter storms "Lola” and “Juno", which are projected to ravage the East Coast throughout the next few days with nearly three feet of

  • Where there is a will to vote, there is a way

    Floating around the Earth 230 miles up, NASA Astronaut Leroy Chiao is not too far from the polls to stand up and be counted on Election Day.From the International Space Station, Mr. Chiao will cast his vote in the Nov. 2 national election. Mr Chiao said he is passionate about his civic duty and

  • Where there's smoke, there's training

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

  • White Hawk soars, becomes Air Force warrior

    During the month of November we take time to recognize the contributions made by Native Americans to our nation's defense. Less than one percent of Airmen claim to be of Native American ancestry. Senior Airman Shiloh White Hawk, who is deployed here from the 1st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Langley

  • White House breakfast honors American Indian servicemembers

    President Bush took honored those to whom the newest Smithsonian Institution museum is dedicated Sept. 23.He praised the contributions of American Indians, both military and civilian, from Sacagawea's presence with Lewis and Clark to the Code Talkers of World War II."The National Museum of the

  • White House Fellows Class Includes Current, Former Officers

    Six current or former military officers have been appointed to the 2012-2013 class of White House Fellows, the President's Commission on White House Fellowships announced Sept. 4 here.Then-President Lyndon B. Johnson created the White House Fellows Program in 1964 to give promising American leaders

  • White House Fellows Program seeks applicants

    Air Force officials are encouraging Airmen to apply for the White House Fellows Program. Applicants must obtain written endorsement and authorization from their commanders.Founded in 1964, the program is one of America's most prestigious for leadership and public service, officials said. It

  • White House Fellowship Program seeks applicants

    Interested Airmen may apply for the White House Fellowship Program that provides first-hand experience in how the government operates. The application deadline is Jan. 15. Up to 19 people are selected annually to work full-time for one year as special assistants to senior executives in cabinet-level

  • White House honors Iraq veterans during dinner

    President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama hosted a White House tribute to Iraq War veterans and their families last night to honor them for their service, sacrifice and commitment to the nation.Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta,

  • White House launches SAVE Award competition

    The White House's fourth annual Securing Americans Value and Efficiency Award competition launched July 10 as part of the Obama administration's ongoing effort to modernize government.The SAVE Award will run July 10-24.In 2009, the president established the SAVE Award to seek cost-cutting ideas

  • White House official honors ANG unit with rare award

    One of President Barack Obama's top advisors praised the Kentucky Air National Guard for superior achievement March 18, calling the organization "second to none" during a ceremony honoring the 123rd Airlift Wing for winning a nearly unprecedented 15th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.Also recognized

  • White House officials condemn North Korean attack

    White House officials condemned the North Korean artillery attack against the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong Nov. 23."The United States strongly condemns this attack and calls on North Korea to halt its belligerent action and to fully abide by the terms of the Armistice Agreement," according to a

  • White House reverses policy on condolence letters

    President Barack Obama and Defense Department officials will send condolence letters to the families of service members who commit suicide in a war zone.The change is in keeping with administration efforts to remove the stigma of mental health treatment, an administration official said on

  • White House taps Robins for prestigious Circle Award

    Robins has won the 2009 White House Closing of the Circle Award for its efforts to promote environmental improvement efforts. Base officials were notified of the award May 4, said Mark Summers, chief of the compliance branch in the 78th Civil Engineering Group here. The award is in recognition of

  • White House unveils new approach to military family support

    White House officials have released a report that unveils a new, governmentwide approach to military family support and details a sweeping, interagency effort under way to strengthen families and enhance their well-being and quality of life.President Barack Obama announced the results of a nearly

  • White Room relocation a ‘success’

    The historic Complex 19 White Room here was successfully relocated to its new home in the outdoor Rocket Garden at the nearby Air Force Space and Missile Museum.The White Room is a 56-foot-tall, 46-ton structure that was used by Gemini astronauts during missions in the mid-1960s. The room, also

  • Whiteman AFB achieves environmental milestone

    With a stroke of a pen, another chapter in Whiteman Air Force Base's Cold War history was brought to a close June 19 in Kansas City. Air Force, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Missouri Department of Natural Resources officials signed a Long-Term Stewardship Agreement for the Missouri

  • Whiteman AFB commemorates 30-year anniversary of B-2 test flight

    For three decades, B-2 crews have participated in five major military operations and countless training engagements. The bomber has completed missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and, most recently, Libya. The B-2 was also the first aircraft over Afghanistan after the 9/11 attacks, for which

  • Whiteman AFB demonstrates readiness during Spirit Vigilance

    Spirit Vigilance is one of a series of routine exercises held by Air Force global strike bases across the enterprise that focus on the training and readiness of Airmen. These exercises are conducted to continuously evaluate and enhance U.S. deterrence capabilities.

  • Whiteman Air Force Base gains 2 units

    Air Force leaders continue to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise, adding two new Air Force Materiel Command units to the Whiteman community with a ceremony Oct. 25 at Whiteman AFB, Mo. The 498th Munitions Maintenance Group relocates from Kirtland AFB to Whiteman AFB, along with its new subordinate

  • Whiteman Airmen make first all-air Guard B-2 flight

    Airmen of the 131st Bomb Wing here completed the first B-2 Spirit sortie flown and launched by Missouri Air National Guard members June 18 at Whiteman Air Force Base. Col. Gregory Champagne, the 131st Fighter Wing vice commander, and Maj. David Thompson, a 131st FW pilot, were launched by Master

  • Whiteman Airmen prepare to redeploy back home

    Airmen here are preparing to redeploy to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., after completing more than 120 flights, or sorties, in three and a half months while supporting the continuous bomber presence here. "We have been here as part of the continuous bomber presence in support of Pacific Command's

  • Whiteman Airmen respond to Missouri building collapse

    Fire and rescue specialists from here responded Monday to a statewide request for mutual aid after a building collapsed in Clinton, a town about 28 miles south of here. Nine people were rescued but one died in the incident."We were there to assist state and local officials spearheading the rescue

  • Whiteman Airmen return from Guam

    More than 170 Airmen are home after a four-month deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. A contracted DC-10 aircraft carrying the returning Airmen touched down here Aug. 29 around 6:40 p.m. to an awaiting crowd of more than 250 family members, friends and co-workers. Senior Airman Thomas

  • Whiteman Airmen support developing nations

    Members of the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron, along with members of the 729th Airlift Squadron, completed a humanitarian mission to Honduras, recently. The mission was part of the Denton Amendment. "The Denton Amendment provides humanitarian and civic assistance in conjunction with military

  • Whiteman Airmen test nuclear weapon mission

    Members of the 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron here took part in Combat Sledgehammer Aug. 17 as part of Air Combat Command's nuclear weapon system evaluation program. Combat Sledgehammer is conducted on Air Force bomber and fighter aircraft that are capable of carrying thermonuclear bombs and

  • Whiteman B-2s complete successful Andersen deployment

    After more than 140 sorties and 330 released weapons, B-2 Spirit aircraft, pilots, maintainers and support staff from the 509th Bomb Wing are returning home having completed another successful deployment here.Aircraft and Airmen from the 393rd and 13th Bomb Squadrons and 509th Maintenance Group at

  • Whiteman B-2s train in UK

    Two B-2 Spirits flew to the U.S. European Command area of operations June 8 to train and integrate with U.S. and allied military forces in the region.

  • Whiteman B-2s, Airmen maintain readiness in Guam

    About 225 Airmen and three B-2 Spirits from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam, Aug. 7 to conduct familiarization training activities in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

  • Whiteman home to Cold War reminder

    Whiteman is the only missile base that has a intercontinental ballistic missile launch control facility (known as Oscar-01) located on base. From 1963 to 1995, Whiteman was home to the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, which operated the Minuteman II ICBM weapon system. The wing consisted of the 508th,

  • Whiteman military working dog receives 1st national award

    The Exercise Tiger Foundation honored a 509th Security Forces Squadron canine handler and his dog during the 13th Annual National Adopt A Servicemen & Women Awards Banquet and ceremony in Columbia, Mo., recently.Staff Sgt. Alex Holloway, and Filo, a 6-year-old military working dog, were presented

  • Whiteman officials dedicate Child Development Center

    More than 150 base and community members paid tribute to the late Susie Skelton by dedicating the Whiteman Air Force Base Child Development Center in her honor March 15 here. The base Child Development Center, completed in 2007, provides specialized childcare provisions and development for infants,

  • Whiteman pilot reflects on 6,000 hours in the A-10

    Nearly three decades of flying and 11 combat deployments later, Lt. Col. John Marks, a pilot with the 303rd Fighter Squadron has achieved a milestone that equates to 250 days in the cockpit, which most fighter pilots will never reach and puts him among the highest time fighter pilots in the Air

  • Whiteman Reserve unit teams up with Spangdahlem pilots

    The Reserve's 442nd Fighter Wing is once again partnering with the 81st Fighter Squadron from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.Twenty pilots from the 81st FS, part of the 52nd FW, started flying with the 442nd FW at Whiteman AFB in February and will continue through the beginning of May.  "It's a

  • WHMC leaders participate in Valentines for Vets program

    Every year around Valentine's Day, military and civic leaders in South Texas set aside a special time to honor the service and sacrifice of hospitalized veterans by participating in the annual "Valentines for Vets" program at Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio. Participants

  • Who goes there?

    Airmen 1st Class Michael Pendleton and Sarah Harwood scan outside the base during a patrol of the perimeter on March 7. Both airmen are assigned to 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron at a deployed location in Southwest Asia. (Photo by Master Sgt. Terry L. Blevins)

  • Whole Airman Concept: Leadership development

    Airmen from the 821st Contingency Response Support Squadron are using the Whole Airman Concept to find innovative ways to incorporate leadership development into their everyday squadron routine.

  • Whole-base transfer completed at Carswell

    The Air Force recently completed a whole-base transfer of legacy Base Closure and Realignment property at the former Carswell Air Force Base here when the Army accepted ownership of 247 acres of property known as the weapons storage area.In the 1940s, the former Carswell AFB was used for training,

  • Who's calling?

    Not many people can say they received a phone call from the president of the United States on Christmas Eve. Tech. Sgt. Donald Pedro, an 821st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron fuels advisor, was honored to receive a phone call from his commander in chief, Barack Obama, to wish him a merry

  • Why does my kid’s school need to know we are military?

    Every year my kid’s school asks me – multiple times – if we are military. It doesn’t matter where we live, they always want to know … during registration, enrollment, and mid-semester! Why do they care? Why does it matter? Should I tell them? For the longest time, I answered “No,” because I figured

  • Why I serve: The Kalkbrenner family

    As of 2017, approximately two million people currently serve in the U.S. military with millions of veterans serving before them in the several hundred year history of the country’s armed forces. All of these service members chose to don their respective service’s uniform for varying reasons. Many

  • 'Why' Smart Ops 21?

    Why do we do the things we do, the way we do them in the Air Force? “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it,” is a common reply. While tradition is important to the existence of an organization, the growth required to propel an organization forward doesn’t happen without honestly applying the

  • Widow receives husband's World War II medal

    In a ceremony that took almost 66 years to happen, Mrs. Doris Norred, widow of Army Air Corps veteran, Capt. William Norred, received her husband's Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor April 13 for his actions during World War II.   Captain Norred was honored in a ceremony at the Butler County

  • Widows help college students understand aging

    The two ladies share lunch almost every Friday. They talk and eat, but mostly they laugh.At first glance, they seem very different. More than 50 years separate them in age. One is in the camouflage uniform of an Airman, the other uses a cane because of hip and knee surgeries. But these two have

  • Wife helps identify drug problem

    “No matter what kind of person you are, drugs will ruin you,” said an obviously uneasy, 21-year-old Airman Basic Michael Dancer as he nervously turned the wedding band on his finger.Wearing a blue correctional custody jump suit, Airman Michael spoke from experience. Though he was not caught driving

  • Wife of Air Guard Airman selected as Military Spouse of 2013

    The wife of an Air National Guard Airman who created support groups for military families and businesses has been selected as the 2013 Military Spouse of the Year.Alicia Hinds-Ward, the spouse of Tech. Sgt. Edwinston J. Ward of the 113th fighter wing at Joint Base Andrews, Md., was chosen among more

  • Wife turned over to U.S. marshals

    An Air Force wife has been turned over to U.S. marshals and returned to the United States following the death of her husband.Latasha Lorraine Arnt was turned over to the custody of two U.S. marshals here June 1. She had been detained on base since May 27 in connection with the death of her husband,

  • Wife's song provides encouragement to spouse, others during separation

    Heather Wagner watched intently as the dramatic scene played out on her television screen.A Soldier was deploying. And there by the departure gate, his wife and children hugged and kissed their goodbyes as tears cascaded down their faces. As Heather's gaze drifted from the television to her husband,

  • Wild Blue Country headed yonder

    Ten of the 74 academy bandsmen are traveling to the Middle East in June to provide entertainment support.Wild Blue Country, the country music group, will spend much of June and July traveling to forward operating bases that have never had live entertainment. They are the first musicians from the

  • Wilderness Challenge set for October

    The Mid-Atlantic Region Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department is conducting the third annual “Wilderness Challenge” outdoor extreme-sports match Oct. 2 to 4 in Fayetteville, W.V.The annual event is set to take place with the Appalachian Mountains and the Gauley River as the backdrop for more

  • Wildfire command post stands up at March

    The U.S. Army North Command set up an operational command post Oct. 24 here to provide command and control for all Department of Defense forces who are scheduled to arrive in the area to combat the southern California wildfires that have devastated the state. March Air Reserve Base has been

  • Wildfire stops moves to Air Force Academy

    Air Force officials have temporarily halted permanent change of station moves and most temporary duty assignments to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., as Air Force members join the fight to extinguish the 29-square mile Waldo Canyon wildfire burning northwest of the

  • Wildfire support continues

    Airmen from three wings flew missions from Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif., Oct. 29 to help fight the California wildfires. C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with modular airborne firefighting systems have flown more than 24 sorties and dropped more than 64,000 gallons of retardant

  • Wildland fire fight presents operational, personal challenges

    The flightline here roared to life June 26 as the engines of four C-130 Hercules cranked up to begin day two of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting missions in Colorado. The scene was reminiscent of a NASCAR pit with aircraft landing and refueling quickly before taking flight. Tuesday began the first

  • Wildlife conservation a priority for remote Air Force base

    Ascension Auxiliary Airfield, a small base belonging to a detachment of Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing here, is constantly facing invasion. But the invaders aren't foreign soldiers coming to claim the island for their own. Instead, they are green, scaly creatures from the sea. And, every

  • Wildlife monitors help protect endangered species

    As night turns into dawn, a man's shadow rises on a rugged desert butte. His gaze slices through the morning light looking for his target. It is hard to hunt down the fastest land animal in North America, but he is good at stalking this elusive ghost of the Arizona desert. But, Erik Stenehjem is not

  • Wilford Hall Airmen aid Hurricane Ike evacuees

    Approximately 100 medics from Lackland Air Force Base worked around the clock Sept. 12 through 14 to assist with Hurricane Ike evacuees from the Gulf Coast region who arrived at Port San Antonio. Wilford Hall Medical Center members assigned to the 59th Medical Wing staff helped move 137

  • Wilford Hall becomes Air Force's cytology center

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

  • Wilford Hall chosen for national study

    The vascular surgery service at Wilford Hall Medical Center has been chosen to participate in a national trial looking at the effectiveness of stent graft treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms versus standard open repair. The trial has been named PIVOTAL, which stands for the Positive Impact of

  • 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

  • Wilford Hall conducts study to reduce premature births

    A research program is under way at Wilford Hall Medical Center to test the effectiveness of an investigational drug to reduce preterm delivery in women.Lt. Col. (Dr.) Andrea Shields, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at the 59th Maternal/Child Care Squadron, along with investigators from eight

  • Wilford Hall doctor voted top volunteer teacher

    The director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Wilford Hall Medical Center here has been recognized as the top volunteer clinical teacher by students at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences School of Medicine. Maj. (Dr.) David Rice was selected by the USU Class of 2008 as this

  • Wilford Hall doctors bring eye care to Panama patients

    Members of the 59th Surgical Specialties Squadron Ophthalmology Flight at Wilford Hall Medical Center here participated in a humanitarian mission to provide eye surgery and exams for Panamanian patients May 9 to 22 at the La Regional Hospital in La Chorrera, Panama. The hospital is located

  • Wilford Hall doctors perform lifesaving procedure on newborn

    A medical team at Wilford Hall Medical Center here recently performed a lifesaving procedure on a newborn infant that is unique to Air Force medicine. Alexander Gardner, son of Natascha Gardner and Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Gardner of the 23rd Armored Calvary Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, was born

  • Wilford Hall doctors place third in nation

    The internal medicine residents at Wilford Hall Medical Center here know their stuff.The National Board of Medical Examiners recently notified officials at the Air Force's medical flagship that their residents placed third out of 398 programs nationwide on their Medical Resident in Training

  • Wilford Hall ECMO team helps save baby

    A crew of Air Force and civilian medical specialists flew to Honolulu July 21 to transport a 12-day-old baby girl to Rady Children's Hospital in California for advanced medical care. The 11-member critical care air transport team, which included a neonatal critical care physician, neonatology

  • Wilford Hall holds dedication ceremony for C-9 Nightingale

    Active duty and retired military medical personnel gathered here Aug. 31 to dedicate the C-9 Nightingale static display. Nicknamed the "Cadillac of Medevac" and the "Workhorse" for aeromedical evacuation, it provided service not only to the military, but also to the Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Wilford Hall hosts graduate medical education course

    A course for medical educators provided by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences was held Sept. 24 to Oct. 2 at Wilford Hall Medical Center here. The course, designed to train military medical education program directors, was chaired by retired Army Col. (Dr.) Louis Pangaro, who

  • Wilford Hall hosts multi-service ultrasound course

    Providers from across the U.S. attended a joint-service ultrasound course at Wilford Hall Medical Center here April 14 and 15.The course's formal title, "Current Concepts in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2011," was offered to 45 Air Force, Army and Navy medical personnel."Similar courses have been

  • Wilford Hall is 'baby-friendly hospital'

    Wilford Hall Medical Center has been designated a "Baby-Friendly Hospital" through the Texas Department of State Health Services' Texas Ten Step facility program.The announcement coincided with World Breastfeeding Week 2010 Aug. 1 through Aug. 7. The Texas Hospital Association and the Texas

  • Wilford Hall Medical Center: 50 years of medical excellence

    Hospital officials and guests commemorated Wilford Hall Medical Center for 50 years as the Air Force's medical flagship in a ceremony here Nov. 16 that marked medical excellence from 1957-2007.Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, commander of the 59th Medical Wing, led the ceremony to celebrate the

  • Wilford Hall medics depart for Iraq

    More than 60 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Medical Center departed here Jan. 9 in support of the war on terrorism. The deployment sends mobilizing medical Airmen to the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq, to relieve wing members already there. Wing officials

  • Wilford Hall nurse missing

    First Lt. Nonnie Dotson, a clinical nurse in the 759th Surgical Operations Squadron at Wilford Hall Medical Center, was reported missing Nov. 20 by relatives in Colorado. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department is conducting an investigation into her disappearance.Lieutenant Dotson has been

  • Wilford Hall officials to participate in smoking cessation study

    Air Force smokers who want to kick the habit may benefit from a smoking cessation study and program that will be conducted from Wilford Hall Medical Center here. The National Institutes of Health recently awarded a $3.6 million grant to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis to