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U.S. Air Force News

  • Yokota shouldering runway taxi project

    A $300,000 project is underway here to make long-term fixes to the pavement on the flightline's northwest shoulder and taxiway. The construction started April 16 and its estimated completion date is June 15. In addition to preventing foreign-object damage, or FOD, these repairs save money, according

  • Yokota students continue orphanage bond

    Students from Yokota East Elementary School here experienced the joys of giving, sharing and making friends when they visited an orphanage in suburban Tokyo on March 1.During the visit, the sounds of American and Japanese children playing and laughing filled the cramped two-story Aiji-no-ie (House

  • Yokota students show precision, dedication

    "Squad, halt!" The uniformed members in polished dress shoes marching in formation with shined-brown rifle stocks parading in a small gym come to a stomping halt. The nine young men and women stand at a position of attention. These young men and women aren't servicemembers -- they're high school

  • Yokota teachers improving reading programs

    Yokota AB's West Elementary school is improving education for military children by instituting a new workshop to improve reading. The new reading workshop was created by five first grade teachers at the school hoping to improve reading writing and comprehension skills for first grade students. "We

  • Yokota tests non-combatant evacuation operations

    A C-130 Hercules filled with non-combatant evacuation role-players from Kunsan Air Base, Korea arrived at the flight line March 6 to participate in the Yokota Air Base's operational readiness inspection. The passengers were acting as non-combatants for the purpose of the exercise scenario. There are

  • Yokota trespassers caught, detained, released

    Two trespassers were caught on Yokota Air Base, detained and after further investigation, released in January here. The trespassers, tanukis or Japanese raccoon dogs, were captured by the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron Entomology Flight Airmen on Yokota Jan. 6 and taken to Tama Hills Recreation Area

  • Yokota youths graduate safe and sound

    Many parents at Yokota Air Base slept soundly last week knowing their high school graduates were in good hands graduation night.Project Graduation is an all-night party sponsored by many schools throughout the United States and at military bases overseas to keep students safe and apart from alcohol

  • Yokota, Japanese firefighters dowse base fire

    Yokota Air Base and Japanese firefighters fought a blaze at the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Japan about 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 here, and there were no reports of any injuries. Five fire engines, two ladder trucks and a command vehicle from local fire departments as well as 38 firefighters

  • Yokota, Kadena leaders join for smart operations course

    Airmen from both Yokota and Kadena air bases came together as part of an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century senior leader's course Sept. 20 and 21AFSO21 is a standardized approach by which Airmen break down a day-to-day process into individual steps to determine more efficient ways of

  • Yokota, Misawa commanders stop incoming PCS moves

    Permanent-change-of-station moves to Yokota and Misawa air bases are currently delayed in the aftermath of an earthquake and tsunami that caused catastrophic damage to locations throughout the country.Wing commanders at both bases have issued stop-movement directives that affect military PCS moves,

  • Yokota's Hazmat team gears up for training

    A hazardous material response exercise here April 30 provided refresher training for some firefighters, while providing the setting for several others to earn a national certification. The exercise scenario involved a simulated rail car with a leak in the valve head on top of it. The exercise was a

  • Yokota's pest control

    The role of entomology Airmen is far reaching; from performing disease vector surveillance to providing pest control services for insects and wildlife at Yokota Air Base, these Airmen utilize both preventative and immediate response maintenance practices to ensure that facilities remain pest free.

  • Young Airman excels, learns at Wake Island

    Super Typhoon Ioke left Wake Island in shambles. The Category 5 storm raged through the atoll Aug. 31, demolishing buildings and tossing around anything that wasn't bolted down -- and many things that were. Assessing the damage includes some repair work, and it's a mission that calls for the most

  • Young Airman prepares for his first deployment

    Eighteen years old and fresh out of high school, he may not have many years under his flak vest but he made a choice few make ... to serve and defend his country. Airman Samuel Martinek, part of the 35th Security Forces Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, is preparing for his upcoming deployment.

  • Young Airmen protect base, people

    Cops. They are everywhere -- on the flightline, on the roadways, at the entry control points, in the search pits. They work the beat on base and beyond -- and take their role supporting the war on terrorism seriously.“The most important thing we must (do) is to remain focused,” said Master Sgt.

  • Young girl's love of flying leads to history-making missions in space

    As a young child, Eileen Collins loved to sit with her dad in the family car and watch airplanes take off and land. The roar of the powerful engines and the grace of the aircraft as they seemed to float in the air always held excitement and enchantment for the young daughter of Irish immigrants.That

  • Young Iraqi burn victim progressing well

    Since 3-year-old Al Amreeki left Balad Air Base, Iraq, with more than 45 percent of his body burned from a stove fire at his home, he has come a long way due to treatment from Airmen and medics throughout the world.The young boy's uncle brought him to the Air Force Theater Hospital in Iraq Jan. 25,

  • Young Iraqis arrive at Ramstein

    Eighteen Iraqi children are now receiving long-awaited medical care from the state of Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, thanks to the help of the U. S. Air Force.The children, ages 6 months to 16 years, arrived here Oct. 6 on a C-141 Starlifter from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J., out of Baghdad International

  • Young man's dream tour causes 'ripple effect'

    When a rock hits the calm surface of a pond, ripples form and travel outward in expanding circles. The story begins with a 14 year old and his dream -- a goal of overcoming his health problems and flying for the Air Force. The boy, Ryan Penne of Chico, Calif., stepped into dreamland last year at

  • Young people capable of much responsibility

    With historical aircraft flying overhead, and the newly dedicated Air Force Memorial nearby, one World War II veteran said that no matter how irresponsible young people today may sometimes seem, it has been shown they can step up and shoulder a burden much greater than themselves. Russell Neatrour,

  • Young pilot sets Air Force standard

    When Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said "every Airman is an innovator" he was talking about Airmen like Capt. Kyle Alderman. What was once considered the young pilot's "pet-project" has now become the Air Force standard. Alderman consolidated multiple map displays including killbox keypads,

  • Youngest maintainer at Red Flag launches America’s youngest jet

    The future belongs to the young. Airman 1st Class Nathan Kosters, the youngest F-35A Lightning II crew chief in the 34th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, was born in 1996. “The Macerana” was No. 1 on the charts, “Independence Day” topped the box office and the F-16 Fighting Falcon had already been flying

  • Youngstown Airmen take part in oil spill cleanup

    Two C-130 Hercules aircraft and crews from here are spraying oil-dispersing agents as part of an effort to clean up the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.More than 40 reservists from the Air Force Reserve Command's 910th Airlift Wing are operating out of Stennis International Airport, Miss.

  • 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

  • 'Your Guardians of Freedom' site set to scale down

    Budget constraints and contract services reductions have forced officials  to make changes to the "Your Guardians of Freedom" Web site starting Oct 1. The Web site enables Air Force members to order pins for employers of activated Guardsmen (E pin), parents (P pin) and spouses (S pin). Pin

  • 'Your life is our business'

    In the shadows behind every aircrew stands a life support team. These Airmen typically don’t seek the limelight. Instead, they want all “their” aircrews to come home safely. The role of life support is significant for many reasons, said Staff Sgt. Jessica McCormick, a KC-135 Stratotanker life

  • Youth center goes global

    Children at the youth center here are going global -- the old-fashioned way.In a world of e-mail, modems and ever-changing technology, the center's “Journey Around the World” club gives its members the chance to make friends with others their age who live on Air Force bases worldwide, by simply

  • Youth claim 'Bowl by Mail' trophies

    Air Force Services Agency officials here recently announced the winners of the annual Bowl by Mail tournament.Bowl by Mail is a worldwide youth-bowling competition that allows children ages 5 through 18 to compete against others their age, but with a slight twist -- it is done via e-mail or postal

  • Youth encouraged to 'Get Up, Get Out and Get Fit'

    Air Force Airman and Family Services officials will challenge thousands of children of ages from across the Air Force to 'Get Up, Get Out and Get Fit' as the seventh year of FitFactor kicks off with the Worldwide Day of Play Sept 24."We're proud to continue the FitFactor initiative and encourage

  • Youth Service Medal recognizes children's sacrifices

    When servicemembers deploy, they aren't the only ones who serve. Their families serve also, and usually the separation is hardest on the children. Homecomings are joyous moments for military families, but until recently, the service and sacrifice made by the children of deployed troops went largely

  • Youth summer camps offer engagement, growth

    The Air Force Services Activity, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, manages many programs designed specifically for kids, to include a variety of summer camps – both residential and at home station.

  • You've got a friend

    Tech. Sgt. Terrance Butler shares his hat with a Bulgarian child April 2. Butler is currently assigned to the 409th Air Expeditionary Group at Camp Sarafovo, Bulgaria. More than 40 children from two orphanages in nearby Burgas toured the camp and entertained the deployed troops. (U.S. Air Force

  • Zabul governor: Unite in peace for Afghanistan, for the world

    Nearly 200 village elders, children and Zabul provincial government officials gathered Sept. 21 to celebrate the United Nations' Day of Peace. "I hope this day of peace can be maintained in Afghanistan," said Zabul provincial Governor Delbar Jan Arman. "There should be an end to the misery in our

  • Zarqawi air strike shows aerial flexibility, general says

    The attack that killed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi demonstrates the flexibility that air assets give commanders, officials here said. Brig. Gen. Stephen Hoog, an air planner with Multinational Force Iraq, gave a timeline of the operation that resulted in the death June 7 of the most wanted terrorist in

  • Zelda's tower

    For 35 years, Zelda Montoya has stood in her tower, overlooking flightlines around the world and guiding aircraft to and from home. To her, the sky is not made up of fleecy clouds and endless expanses of blue, but rather lines, grids and waypoints.

  • Zero tolerance for sexual assault

    The Air Force Academy superintendent restated Feb. 21 that there is "zero tolerance" for sexual assault at the academy and in the Air Force at large."Any and all perpetrators will be brought to justice and disciplined appropriately," said Lt. Gen. John Dallager. "Such reprehensible action is

  • Zettler: People first in reconstituting force

    As the dust of Operation Iraqi Freedom settles, the Air Force installations and logistics community is turning its attention to the challenge that lies ahead: readying the service for the next big contingency.Replenishing the materiel and equipment reserved for wartime use, rebuilding the munitions