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U.S. Air Force News

  • Quadrennial defense, nuclear posture review begin

    Pentagon officials kicked off the Defense Department's 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review and Nuclear Posture Review processes April 23 to determine what types of capabilities will be required to maintain U.S. national security now and in the coming years, senior officials said. "The QDR takes a

  • Altus slated to receive Reserve squadron

    Top military and government officials announced recently a Reserve squadron will join units here. The addition will boost aircrew training for the KC-135 Stratotanker, C-17 Globemaster III and the eventual KC-X.  The change will take place in fiscal 2010. "We have the opportunity to take some of the

  • Air Force legal team earns Deming Award

    Excellence, innovation and high-impact practices are among the goals of many government agencies, but an Air Force team at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., distinguished itself and earned recognition for that at an April 20 ceremony. At the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here,

  • ISR leader shares future of intelligence field

    "We're changing the way we view intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance from the past," said Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Air Force deputy chief of staff for ISR, during his visit here April 16. "In the past, we had stratified pockets of industry. Now we're heading toward an integrated,

  • JAG Airman provides unique service while deployed

    Many Air Force attorneys spend their days providing legal counsel and preparing legal documents, but for one Air Force captain being deployed means serving in a one of a kind legal position. Capt. Sophia Crawford, detention, judicial and legal policy attorney in the Office of the Staff Judge

  • Joint airpower show proves military might at Air Force Week

    Hundreds of Virginia residents saw a joint airpower demonstration firsthand during Hampton Roads Air Force Week April 22 along the coastline of Virginia Beach. The event included a simulated rescue where a special forces team called in airstrikes then ran into the Atlantic Ocean to be rescued by

  • F-22s, B-2s fly together over Pacific Ocean

    Twelve F-22 Raptors departed here recently following a deployment marking the first time F-22 Raptors and B-2 Spirits, the key national strategic stealth assets in the Air Force inventory, deployed together outside the continental United States. The Raptors arrived in January and were joined by the

  • Air Force civilians garner 22 Presidential Rank Awards

    Twenty-two civilian Airmen earned special recognition in a ceremony held at the Women's Memorial at Arlington Cemetery April 17. The selected Air Force senior executives and senior professionals received the 2008 Presidential Rank Award for sustained achievement in government service. Air Force

  • Guard, Reserve honor employers during Air Force Week

    Air Force officials honored the support of civilian employers of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve at an Air Force Week awards presentation April 21 at the Hamptons Golf Course here. After participating together in a golf tournament, Airmen from the Air National Guard and Air Force

  • 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

  • Thousands honor Doolittle Raiders at the 67th Reunion

    Thousands of people, young and old, gathered to honor five of the nine surviving Doolittle Raiders at the 67th Reunion in Columbia, S.C., April 16 to 18. On April 18, 1942, the Doolittle Raiders, led by then-Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, became the first to bombard Japan following the attack on Pearl

  • Experts review B-52 fuel hose process

    Consultants from the Air Force Inspection Agency and the University of Tennessee recently facilitated a four-day rapid improvement event at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here in an effort to resolve issues involving spare parts for the B-52. The rapid improvement event is part of the Air

  • President nominates next AF surgeon general

    President Barack Obama has nominated Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Charles Bruce Green to become the next Air Force surgeon general. General Green is currently the Air Force's deputy surgeon general, a position he has held since August 2006. Pending approval by the Senate, General Green would become the Air

  • April 18 airpower summary: A-10s protect coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and an A-10 Thunderbolt

  • Air Force Week commences at Hampton Roads

    Hampton Roads Air Force Week began here April 18 with an opening ceremony at Hampton University. The date chosen for the event's kick off was also the anniversary of the historic Doolittle Raid, occurring on this day in 1942. Moments into the ceremony, a fly-over by a B-25 Mitchell, the aircraft

  • Doctor performs first robot-assisted surgery in the Air Force

    Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kyle Weld performed the first robot-assisted surgery in the Air Force April 10 at Wilford Hall Medical Center here. The surgery was a laparoscopic prostatectomy, or the surgical removal of prostate cancer. "The procedure went great," said Dr. Weld, director of endourology at Wilford

  • National Security Personnel System goes under microscope

    The federal government's largest pay-for-performance system, the National Security Personnel System, is under review at the request of officials in the Defense Department and the Office of Personnel Management. Since October 2006, about 205,000 defense employees were brought under the new NSPS,

  • Top officer cites Coast Guard-Air Force ties

    The top Coast Guard officer said the Air Force and the Coast Guard have more in common than one might think. During a speech about homeland security, Adm. Thad Allen, Coast Guard commandant, told this to Air War College students here April 9 . The bedrock of the relationship between the two services

  • Air Force, industry herald T-38 turning 50

    The test pilot who flew the T-38 Talon on its maiden flight 50 years ago said April 10 that during the historic sortie he felt he was on the safest mission of his career. Then something dawned on him. "I hadn't landed it yet!," said Lew Nelson, one of the speakers at a celebration held on the

  • New policy refines ancillary, expeditionary skills training

    As Air Force officials focus on giving Airmen more time to do their primary duty and reduce additional duties, senior leaders issued new policy guidance in March to streamline ancillary training and expeditionary skills training programs. "Air Staff, the A1 (personnel) community and major command

  • SECAF, CSAF announce 2008 safety award recipients

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz have announced the recipients of the 2008 Air Force safety awards. "We're grateful for the hard work of these award-winning individuals and organizations, and all Air Force safety professionals throughout the service,"

  • Airman coordinates air ops for Iraqi detainees

    There are thousands of Iraqi detainees located in different detention facilities throughout Iraq who require air travel for everything from detainee transfers to attending court cases, and thanks to one Air Force captain, the Iraqi detainees get where they need to go. Capt. M. Kathryn Kotora, Joint

  • Iraqi surgeons attend annual conference in Germany

    Iraqi air force flight surgeons attended the annual U.S. Air Forces in Europe Flight Surgeon Conference held March 11 through 21 at Ramstein Air Base. Major (Dr.) Abdulrazzaq and Lt. (Dr.) Hazem Prior participated in seven sessions of partnering as part of a Multinational Security Transition Command

  • Medal of Honor recipients visit Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Two Medal of Honor recipients visited with Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing April 10 here. Retired Army Col. Robert Howard and retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell, visited as part of a Medal of Honor Society tour of the area of responsibility. The Vietnam veterans who earned the

  • April 12 airpower summary: F-15s destroy enemy facility

    Coalition airpower integrated with Coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations April 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles destroyed an anti-Afghan

  • Leader magazine transitions from print to online

    In keeping with the evolving mediums for information dissemination, the Leader magazine has ceased production of its print version and has become the Leader Online. The new Web site features Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps, Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets and

  • Academy space fleet continues to grow

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's space fleet grows even larger this year with the launch of one satellite, continued operations of a second satellite and design work underway for a third. The newest addition will be FalconSAT-6, which is on the drawing board now. The FalconSAT space fleet is a series of

  • April 11 airpower summary: ISR critical to mission

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and a coalition aircraft

  • Reserve commander meets with deployed reservists

    Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., Air Force Reserve Command commander, visited with Reserve members April 8 and 9 during a multi-base tour of the Air Forces Central area of responsibility. General Stenner, who is also chief of Air Force Reserve, took the opportunity to dine with Reservists and

  • CSAF addresses 386th Airmen during AOR visit

    The Air Force's top officer spoke to 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen as part of a visit to the Air Forces Central area of responsibility April 6 and 7. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz also took time to visit the Airmen of the 387th Air Expeditionary Group and speak with the combat

  • Officials say cyber defense costly

    Defending the Defense Department's global information grid from attacks cost the U.S. military more than $100 million over the past six months, U.S. Strategic Command officials said April 8. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, Stratcom commander, and Army Brig. Gen. John Davis, deputy commander of Joint Task

  • Airmen in personal effects office take small items to heart

    Watches, coins, photos, dog tags and necklaces. To many, these are just items carried or worn by military members, even when serving in places like Iraq or Afghanistan. For families of the fallen, these simple items may be cherished keepsakes that serve as reminders of their son or daughter who paid

  • Helicopter pilots train Japanese forces on air refueling

    A team of HH-60G Pave Hawk pilots here provided a three-day intensive course on air refueling to Japanese Self Defense Forces helicopter rescue pilots in late March over Japan. The training, given by pilots from the 33rd Rescue Squadron, gave JASDF members hands-on helicopter air refueling training.

  • Air Force officials take delivery of first MC-12

    Winning the fight from up high just got more advanced since the recent delivery of the MC-12 Project Liberty special mission turboprop aircraft. The MC-12 is the first of its kind for the Air Force and is set to venture downrange in May. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for

  • Space education seeks prominence

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's newly-released special area of emphasis, "Space as a Contested Environment," draws attention to the reality that the United States can and will be challenged in space, and that military education needs modification to address this reality. The overall goal

  • Beale AFB land-use deal closer to reality

    An undeveloped stretch of prairie at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., is one step closer to becoming the next premiere commercial development in the Air Force's enhanced-use lease portfolio.Officials with the Air Force Real Property Agency will begin negotiations with representatives of Beale Community

  • Family care forum kick starts Year of the Air Force Family

    Senior Air Force officials and family care professionals set the direction for the Year of the Air Force Family April 2 here. More than 200 Air Force behavioral specialists, chaplains, family advocacy personnel and other family support members separated April 1 into five groups and focused on

  • World War II aviators share stories, experiences

    It's rare today to be able to sit down with living legends and pick their brains of past experiences and commitment during their military aviation careers. Three such individuals provided that opportunity for servicemembers and civilians here March 31 during "Lunch with the Legends" at the base

  • U.S., Indian air forces discuss partnership efforts

    Senior air force officials from India and the United States met here March 25 through 29 to discuss operational concepts and to chart the way ahead for future training exchanges and exercises. This year's executive steering group meeting focused on the review and assessment of joint and combined

  • Guard F-16s intercept suspicious aircraft

    Airmen on Air National Guard fighter aircraft from two states intercepted a suspicious aircraft as it flew into U.S. airspace April 6. North American Aerospace Defense Command officials directed F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing from Duluth, Minn., to initially intercept the

  • Officials discuss Air Force role for Africa Command

    Officials from Air University, U.S. Africa Command and the 17th Air Force kicked off a symposium March 31 to foster recommendations for the Air Force's involvement for Africa Command. The 17th Air Force, also known as U.S. Air Forces Africa, is the air arm of the new unified command and the main

  • AF Research Lab personnel begin VPP journey

    Building on an already strong culture of safety, Air Force Research Laboratory personnel began the process recently to incorporate the Voluntary Protection Program into all levels of the organization. Since its inception by Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials in the early 1980s,

  • SECAF visits Expeditionary Center, McGuire

    Citing the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center as a "critical component of the Air Force's ability to train Airmen," Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley pronounced his first familiarization visit to the center here on March 31 a success. "The Air Force mission to fly, fight and win ... in air,

  • Maxwell legal services wins government-wide award

    The director of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency's Directorate of Legal Information Services, or AFLOA/JAS here, said he was notified March 27 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School that his organization had won the government-wide 2009 W. Edwards Deming Award. Col. Peter

  • AF officials look at bigger role for small business

    The Air Force is looking to support small businesses in a big way, two top service officials said during a visit here April 2. David Van Buren, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, and Ronald Poussard, director of Air Force small business programs, said during a

  • April 4 airpower summary: Reapers target enemy forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations April 4, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a B-1B Lancer dropped a number of guided bomb unit-38s

  • New satellite model showcased in dedication ceremony

    Air Force Space Command officials, in partnership with Lockheed Martin representatives, unveiled a one-quarter scale model of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite here April 1 during a ceremony in the AFSPC headquarters building. "It is phenomenally important to us and the warfighting

  • Generals discuss future issues at National Space Symposium

    The commander of Air Force Space Command was the keynote speaker for the 25th National Space Symposium March 31 in Colorado Springs, Colo. "Space is no longer just the high ground. It is an integral part of the joint fight," said Gen. C. Robert "Bob" Kehler.The general is responsible for the

  • Air Force takes combat air acquisitions priorities to Hill

    As airpower takes on an increasingly critical role in the joint fight, Air Force and Navy officials testified before the House Appropriations Committee March 25 here to outline the services' top combat air acquisition priorities. Lt. Gen. Mark D. "Shack" Shackelford, the acquisition deputy to the

  • Air Force Assistance Fund campaign ends May 1

    This year's Air Force Assistance Fund "Commitment to Caring" campaign, from Feb. 9 to May 1, provides Airmen the opportunity to contribute to any of the four official Air Force charitable organizations. Now in its 36th year, 100 percent of designated AFAF contributions benefit active-duty, Reserve,

  • Kehler: Spherical battlespace is new theater of operations

    The world is no longer flat and information is no longer static. Neither can military operations confine focus to one area of a conflict while remaining oblivious to interconnections with the larger picture. It is time the view of the battlefield is turned upside-down. This is the message of the

  • NATO brings Albania, Croatia into security alliance fold

    Just ahead of NATO's 60th anniversary, the collective security alliance added Albania and Croatia April 1 as the newest members.The enlargement marks only the sixth time the organization has expanded its borders, and brings to 28 the number of allies that will celebrate six decades since a dozen

  • Force support officers represent flexibility

    Responding to evolving needs from the field has prompted several transformations in the manpower, personnel and services community over the past few years, including the recent stand up of an initial skills training course for force support officers. "Our Air Force officers are showing great

  • Air Force officials hold Caring for People Forum

    More than 200 Air Force behavioral specialists, chaplains, family advocacy personnel and other family support members gathered to discuss how to care for the Air Force family April 1 in Arlington, Va. The Year of the Air Force Family: Caring for People Forum started in a hotel in the shadow of the

  • Gates signs policy for dignified transfer operations

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has approved a policy change that, under strictly delineated conditions, allows media filming of dignified transfer operations of fallen servicemembers' remains at Dover Air Force Base, Del. The new policy is slated to be implemented April 6, Pentagon spokesman

  • Language emerges as element of national security

    Language and culture are "almost inextricably intertwined," and military personnel must be knowledgeable in both to be fully effective when operating overseas, the director of a military language school said. Army Col. Sue Ann Sandusky, commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language

  • ALO commands new combat unit at Bagram

    A former air liaison officer to the Army's 101st Airborne Division in Iraq took command of the newly activated 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group during an assumption of command ceremony here March 30. Col. James Thomas took hold of the 504th EASOG guidon from Lt. Gen. Gary North,

  • Reserve commander briefs Congress

    Two units received a "positive plug" in the congressional record when the commander of Air Force Reserve Command testified March 25 before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr. touted the strong Yellow Ribbon Program partnership initiatives between Airmen

  • Ukrainians, Danes, Americans resupply remote outpost

    Thule Air Base was the scene of an historic event of multinational cooperation between three countries that less than 20 years ago glared at each other across the Cold War's Iron Curtain. American, Danish and Ukrainian air forces successfully completed Operation Brilliant Ice 2009 March 26 after

  • Top Air Force leaders discuss top Air Force issues

    Air Force senior leaders discussed key issues facing the service during Corona South March 27-28 at Bolling Air Force Base here. Corona meetings, hosted by the secretary of the Air Force and Air Force chief of staff, are held several times a year to bring together major command commanders, Air Staff

  • 6 states send troops to flood duty in North Dakota

    Governors in six upper Midwestern states have sent more than 2,400 National Guard members and some much-needed equipment to help fight flooding for a second week in North Dakota. North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven said March 28 that his state continues to fight rising waters in Fargo and at other

  • Servicemembers honored at annual USO-Metro gala

    The United Services Organization honored military heroes with a black-tie gala at the Ritz-Carlton March 25 here. The Metropolitan Washington Annual Awards Dinner recognized 36 of the nation's 98 living Medal of Honor recipients and other battlefield heroes from each branch of service, including

  • Spangdahlem Airmen to support Canadian troops

    The Canadians are coming to Spangdahlem Air Base.Canadian officials accepted a U.S. Air Force offer to use the base as the springboard to support to its deployed troops throughout Southwest Asia. Under an agreement with close allies Germany and the U.S., Canada has begun to implement a plan to use

  • Air Force officials deliver first C-130 to Polish military

    American and Polish airmen delivered the first of five refurbished C-130E Hercules military transport planes and spare parts March 24 to the Polish air force at Powidz Air Base, Poland. "It's a great day for them to celebrate the arrival of the Hercules. It's vital to them being able to -- own their

  • March 24 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Navy F/A-18-E and -F Super Hornets carried out shows of

  • Yokota lab earns prestigious accreditation

    You're in good hands when it comes to the service provided by the 374th Medical Group clinical laboratory, and they have the paper to prove it. The College of American Pathologists awarded an accreditation, based on a recent on-site inspection, to the medical group laboratory. The lab, noted for

  • Airmen demonstrate unmanned aircraft not merely 'drones'

    The door to the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron features a drawing of an MQ-1 Predator armed with Hellfire missiles underscored with the words "We're not drones - we fire back." Often referred to by reporters as "drones," unmanned aircraft like the MQ-1 Predator and RQ-4 Global Hawk are

  • Environmental symposium held in St. Louis

    More than 1,000 Airmen, Air Force civilians and personnel from other government agencies from all over the world gathered for the annual Environmental, Safety and Operational Health Symposium March 9 through 13 in St. Louis. Started in 1993, the symposium features more than 500 classes tailored to

  • Innovative brain therapies offer hope to injured troops

    Innovative therapies that have assisted previously comatose patients regain consciousness may be incorporated on a greater scale to treat troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, a brain injury expert said here March 23. Dr. Philip A. DeFina, chief executive and scientific officer at the

  • Lackland conservation efforts equal big rebate

    Lackland Air Force Base officials received the largest rebate ever awarded by CPS Energy March 17 here after creating a win-win situation for the base and the city-owned utility company. Brigadier Gen. Leonard A. "Len" Patrick, the 37th Training Wing commander, received a rebate check for

  • Senior leaders speak out on diversity, equal opportunity

    Officials in the Air Force Equal Opportunity Office and the Strategic Diversity Integration Office joined forces to produce a video that demonstrates the commitment of senior Air Force leaders to diversity and equal opportunity programs. In the video titled "Diversity and Equal Opportunity in Our

  • Senior leaders meet for high-level 'Warfighter Talks'

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Air Force leadership hosted Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and senior naval leaders for the Navy-Air Force Warfighter Talks March 18 at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. About 35 flag and general officers from both services gathered for a

  • Mail must be addressed to specific servicemembers

    A recent increase in mail addressed to "Any Servicemember" has prompted the Military Postal Service Agency to remind the general public not to send mail or care packages addressed in such a manner. "Mail to 'Any Servicemember/Any Wounded-Recovering Warrior,' deposited into a collection box and

  • Stimulus package to aid Airmen

    Improvements in dormitories, child development centers and energy conservation plans will come to fruition as the Air Force receives about $1.7 billion in Defense-related appropriations through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, military finance officials said. "The Air Force fully supports

  • Pay incentives help military avoid nursing shortage

    Army, Navy and Air Force nurse corps members are highly trained, capable and critical to the wartime mission of each service, the corps' leaders told a congressional committee this week here. The Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee heard testimony March 18 from the services'

  • Manas KC-135s revolutionize combat operations

    The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing's fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers here delivers more than fuel to the fight in Afghanistan these days as it is revolutionizing the way war is fought by serving as a data network relay high above the battlefield. At first glance, the cluster of cases mounted in the back

  • Osan exercise optimizes communication between forces

    More than 2,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Sailors participating jointly with South Korean air force members in Exercise Key Resolve/Foal Eagle in mid-March here have learned the key to success is communication.Despite some language barriers, the key players smoothly conduct the air and space

  • March 19 airpower summary: B-1B destroys enemy positions

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and F-15E Strike Eagles

  • Deterrence still key to national security, general says

    Deterrence remains as central to America's national security as it was during the Cold War, U.S. Strategic Command's top officer told the Senate Armed Services Committee March 19. "Our unique global perspective has given us a good platform for advocating for the nation's needs for missile defense;

  • Verifying records, personal information vital to career

    Successful career progression for Airmen requires hard work, planning and dedication, but even more importantly, an accurate personnel record. Of all the actions Airmen can take to affect their chances for promotion and professional development, the most important is ensuring their personal

  • Gates recommends new terms, positions for senior officers

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates March 18 announced his recommendations that President Barack Obama re-nominate Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright as the chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for a second two-year term. Secretary Gates also

  • AF personnel leaders focus on Airmen, modernization

    As mission requirements continue to grow, Air Force personnel leaders said before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee in Washington March 17 that the service will refine priorities to win today's fight and prepare for tomorrow's challenges. The Honorable Craig Duehring, assistant Secretary

  • U.S., Japan forces conduct bilateral training

    Japan Air Self Defense Force pilots are practicing defensive missions with U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors in bilateral fighter pilot training March 16 through 19 over Kadena Air Base.American Airmen regularly conduct joint, combined and bilateral training from the base to defend Japan to maintain peace

  • DOD officials release sexual assault statistics

    Defense Department officials here released March 17 a congressional report that examines sexual assault allegations in the military services and sets policies for reducing incidents. Key components of the annual analysis include a finding that indicates a rise in the number of incidents reported in

  • Chief Airey memorial service celebrates life of AF hero

    During his life, he was a dedicated member of the profession of arms and fervent military supporter who became one of the most iconic figures of Air Force enlisted heritage and culture -- he was Paul Wesley Airey, the first Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force. His death was announced March 11 to a

  • AFSO 21 helps ease finance program headache

    A team of experts came together this week to use the Vandenberg Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, program to overcome obstacles in the Management Internal Control Program. The MICP came into effect during the President Reagan era and is intended to be a control on how the

  • Prototype PT uniforms undergo wear tests

    A prototype physical training uniform for the Air Force is undergoing wear testing here, the Pentagon and MacDill AFB, Fla. The new design was introduced last month at the three sites for 185 males and females of various sizes, ethnic backgrounds, officers--including 42 general officers, and

  • Special operations officials seek best, brightest pilots

    Wanted: Individuals able to think on their feet, adapt quickly when needed, have a love for flying, and want to get in the fight now. That was the message to members of the 80th Flying Training Wing's Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program March 6 here from Maj. Gen. Kurt A. Cichowski, the Air

  • Royal Saudi family attends pilot training graduation

    Members of the royal family of Saudi Arabia visited Columbus Air Force Base March 13 to participate in the graduation ceremony of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Class 09-06. While Columbus AFB officials graduate students every three weeks, this class is particularly special as the Saudi

  • AFPC officials establish diversity council

    Air Force Personnel Center officials drafted a charter and established working groups for its diversity council, the center's most recent endeavor to advance diversity initiatives Feb. 26. One of the first of its kind in the Air Force and comprised of military and civilians, the council will serve

  • European Command commander discusses USAFE role

    Partnering with allies to strengthen capabilities and interoperability is the future of U.S. European Command, of which airpower is a major factor. Army Gen. John Craddock, U.S. European Command commander, visited Ramstein Air Base March 16 and spoke about the way ahead for the command, and how

  • Gen. Schwartz to Airmen: 'We are a family'

    The chief of staff of the Air Force had a message for Airmen during an Airmen's Call here March 11: "We are a family and everyone in this room counts. "This is a big-tent Air Force," Gen. Norton Schwartz said. "In our business, you don't measure your worth by your proximity to the fight," he said.

  • March 14 airpower summary: B-1Bs support ground troops

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs used 30 mm Avenger cannon

  • March 13 airpower summary: A-10s strike enemy positions

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a coalition aircraft responded to a dawn attack against a

  • Multinational consortium celebrates milestone of first C-17

    Twelve nations simultaneously came a step closer to fulfilling their national strategic airlift requirements today as a single C-17 Globemaster III reached a key manufacturing milestone here. Officials associated with the first-of-its kind strategic airlift capability, or SAC, consortium of 10 NATO

  • AF Africa commander addresses continental challenges

    The commander of U.S. Air Forces Africa spoke about the increasingly focused role the U.S. is taking to bolster Africa's air capabilities during a March 9 visit to Air University here. "We must invest in the future of Africa," said Maj. Gen. Ronald R. "Ron" Ladnier Jr. The general's comments came on

  • Air Guard engineers prepare for involuntary deployment

    Air National Guard civil engineer squadrons comprising hundreds of construction and repair experts will involuntary deploy overseas in historic numbers and scope during the next two years, senior Air Guard officials said. The mobilizations involve nearly one-eighth of the Air Guard's civil engineer

  • Gen. Petraeus praises medics, corpsmen

    The commander of U.S. Central Command praised the Army medics and Navy corpsmen whose courage on the battlefield protects the lives of fellow servicemembers March 11 here. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus told the 400-person audience at the 3rd Annual Armed Services YMCA Gala here that he was an

  • 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

  • 'Letter to Airmen' discusses balanced approach

    In his current Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force highlights the need to create a balance across the Air Force."A balanced approach means prevailing in today's operations while investing in new capabilities, force structure, skills and technologies to meet tomorrow's needs," Secretary