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U.S. Air Force News

  • AF senior leaders address Hill Airmen

    The acting secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff spoke to top leaders and several thousand airmen here Aug. 22. Michael Donley and Gen. Norton Schwartz brought a tone mixed with both optimism and practicality in their speeches to Airmen. "It's been two months and one day since

  • Airmen provide care to 1,500 Guatemalans

    California Air National Guard members provided care to more than 1,500 Guatemalans over a three-day period from Aug. 18 to 20 living in Aldea Estanzuelas near Santa Rosa.Members of the 163rd Medical Group are in Guatemala as part of a two-week medical readiness training exercise as the Airmen

  • Airmen receive Sijan leadership award

    The Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Duncan J. McNabb presented the Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award to four Airmen during a ceremony Aug. 20 at the Pentagon. The award, named after the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor, recognizes Airmen who

  • Air and Space Basic Course celebrates 10 years

    Air University's Air and Space Basic Course here marks its 10-year anniversary in August as course and local officials are celebrating. In a surprise announcement Aug. 19, Montgomery, Ala., Mayor Bobby Bright proclaimed that Aug. 23 would be known as Air and Space Basic Course Day in Montgomery. "We

  • Early lessons shaped Air Force chief of staff's perspective

    The Air Force chief of staff recently shared some insight on the experiences that shaped his career and perspective he carries with him in his new position. The general spoke as part of Air Force Week in the Heartland Aug. 15 at the Criss Auditorium of the Bellevue University here. Gen. Norton A.

  • Guard members bring medical relief to Guatemalan citizens

    Thirty-one Airmen from the California Air National Guard's 163rd Medical Group traveled to Guatemala Aug. 18 for a two-week medical readiness training exercise in and around Santa Rosa.Hosted by Guatemala and with the cooperation of the Guatemalan military and public health department, the American

  • Reaper drops bomb on anti-Iraqi forces

    An MQ-9 Reaper dropped a 500-pound bomb against an anti-Iraqi target Aug. 16 in one of the first weapons engagements for the unmanned aircraft system.The Reaper began flying combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom July 18 and joined the MQ-1 Predator as another UAS patrolling the sky to

  • Reestablished council reaches milestones

    The Air Force's reestablished Force Management and Development Council has reached two milestones, securing the vice chief of staff's endorsement of the Air Force Learning Committee and the Officer Force Development Panel. The council, chaired by Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, reestablished its charter

  • 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

  • Security forces Airman at Academy scheduled for Article 32

    An Article 32 hearing for an enlisted Airman assigned to the 10th Security Forces Squadron convenes Aug. 21 at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Airman 1st Class David Christie, who is not an Academy cadet, has been charged with violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice by deserting with intent to

  • Tricare beneficiaries can 'stay alert' by e-mail

    Officials with the Tricare Management Activity are now providing benefit news electronically. From the latest beneficiary newsletters and changes in coverage, to pharmacy updates and news releases, all 9.2 million Tricare beneficiaries now have an easy way to stay informed by e-mail. A new

  • TDY per-mile rate increases

    In response to the mid-year rise in gasoline prices, General Service Administration officials raised the temporary-duty mileage rate from $0.505 per mile to $0.585. The increase applies to all uniformed personnel and civilian employees traveling on official business by privately owned automobile or

  • Predator passes 400,000 flight hours

    The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system surpassed 400,000 flight hours during a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Aug. 18. Members of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., flew the milestone mission in

  • New recruits enlist during Chicago Air and Water Show

    Following fast passes and vertical climbs by an F-22 demonstration, 60 young men and women were sworn in to the United States Air Force Aug. 16 during the 50th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show held Aug. 15 -17. Maj. Gen. Anthony F. Przybyslawski, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command vice

  • Future Predator/Reaper formal training unit announced

    Gen. John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander, with concurrence from the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, announced today that Holloman AFB, N.M., is the preferred potential location for an additional unmanned aircraft system formal Training unit. This is the first step in a series of actions

  • Officials work to reduce air violations over conventions

    The Continental U.S. NORAD Region is partnering with the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Aviation Administration to help reduce airspace violations near Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul during the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Public and private airports, known as

  • Offutt Airmen hold airshow for special needs families

    Airmen here pulled out all the stops to make several hundred people smile a little more during the Aug. 15 Air Force Week in the Heartland Special Needs Airshow. Offutt Air Force Base Airmen brought community members who would have difficulties attending the official airshow schedule because of

  • Falcon Hill Enhanced Use Lease agreement announced

    "Falcon Hill has finally gone from a dream to a reality!" Maj. Gen. Kathleen Close, commander of the Hill AFB Ogden Air Logistics Center, proudly stated at the Aug. 13 signing of the Master Lease and Master Development Agreement between the Air Force and Sunset Ridge Development Partners, LLC. The

  • Georgian humanitarian mission builds

    The humanitarian mission under way in Georgia is intended to alleviate suffering for now and will move into longer-range help in the future, officials said at a Pentagon news conference Aug. 15. The Air Force has sent two supply-filled C-17 Globemaster III transports into Georgia's capital of

  • Mobility Airmen deliver aid to Georgia

    Air Force mobility Airmen and aircraft delivered more than 78 tons of humanitarian aid supplies Aug. 13 and 14 to the people of the Republic of Georgia. Two Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs carried relief supplies including medical items, blankets, sheets, cots, air mattresses and sleeping bags from

  • Female leaders from Omaha, Air Force gather at Offutt

    Nebraska female executives met some of the Air Force's leading women during the Ten Dinner Aug. 14 at the Patriot Club on Offutt Air Force Base. The Air Force's top acquisition leader, the Reserve mobilization assistant to the deputy surgeon general of the Air Force, the deputy director for global

  • Building capable allies, strong bonds

    Over European castles, Middle Eastern deserts and Pacific islands, F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots are soaring in ever-increasing numbers. Their landscapes, nationalities and cultures are different, but they share several common bonds. They are allies, they are friends and they learned to fly their

  • Despite reduced numbers, New Horizons exercise a success

    With only half their medical team and three less days to see patients, the final medical readiness training exercises for New Horizons-Peru 2008 still provided medical care to more than 2,000 Peruvians. A 19-man team from the 433rd Medical Group out of Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, treated the

  • NATO forces a step closer to obtaining C-17s

    Three C-17 Globemaster IIIs are only three signatures away from finding a new home at Papa Air Base, Hungary. After years of planning, NATO members and partners are only a few signatures away from gaining access to the C-17s to share for their national requirements, to include NATO missions in

  • Air Force surgeon general returns to Heartland

    The surgeon general of the Air Force and native Nebraskan returned to his home state during Air Force Week in the Heartland Aug. 13 in Omaha. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush, originally from Gering, Neb., retraced his roots and visited the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine

  • Air mobility supports Georgia humanitarian relief

    Air Force mobility Airmen and aircraft are actively involved in airlift operations to aid the people of Georgia. "We have crews engaged to deliver supplies to those in need, and others on standby, ready to go at a moment's notice if called upon to go in and provide relief," said Gen. Arthur Lichte,

  • SECAF, CSAF stress 'back to basics'

    The acting secretary and new chief of staff of the Air Force emphasized a "back-to-basics" approach to get the Air Force back on track in areas ranging from the nuclear enterprise to acquisition in an Aug. 12 press conference at the Pentagon. Secretary Michael Donley introduced Gen. Norton Schwartz,

  • 'Letter to Airmen' focuses on teamwork, discipline

    In his current Letter to Airmen, the acting secretary of the Air Force designated the month of August for strategic planning and explains how the Air Force's top leaders will focus on a number of issues. "Along with General Schwartz and other senior leaders, I am reviewing a range of issues that

  • General Schwartz to Airmen: Be proud

    On his first day after being sworn in as the Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz wasted no time in getting his message out to Airmen. "The key thing we need to do is achieve stability," General Schwartz said. "At the same time, we need to focus on those things that are most important,

  • General Schwartz in as 19th chief of staff

    The Air Force's 19th chief of staff spoke of mending fences and earning trust in his speech after taking charge of the service during a ceremony here Aug. 12. "Without trust, we are nothing," Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said to the crowd of about 600 people on the base's ceremonial lawn. "Trust must be

  • Airman advocates safer skies for civilian, military pilots

    To make the skies safer for general aviation and U.S. military pilots, Air Force officials sent a safety expert here to the world's largest airshow, the Experimental Aircraft Association's Oshkosh Air Venture airshow, to educate pilots on midair collision avoidance and on the need for flight safety

  • Coalition exchange tours enhance vital partnership

    Coalition air forces have proved instrumental in the continued success of airlift missions for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. This was exemplified in July as the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group conducted C-130 Hercules aircraft exchange tours with the Japanese Air Self Defense Force's

  • Airmen feedback essential to additional duty study

    Airmen may now take advantage of a free-form text questionnaire, readily identifying additional duties they believe are non-value added or need redesigning. The Air Force Manpower Agency here will use this feedback to assist in the Air Force's drive to reduce additional duty demands in order to free

  • $1 headset fix improves Predator mission

    MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial system pilots here can now talk over a secure Internet phone line using their headsets thanks to one Airman's ingenuity and one dollar. Staff Sgt. Ray Stetler, the NCO in charge of base information and infrastructure for the 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron

  • Pilots provide emergency close air support

    For F-15E Strike Eagle and A-10 Thunderbolt pilots deployed here, joint terminal attack controllers, or JTACs,  play a vital role in the close air support mission. However, there's not always a JTAC on the ground when close air support, or CAS,  is needed. In these rare situations, pilots step

  • Conference highlights force support transformation efforts

    In June, signifying A1 Force Support transformation efforts, more than 350 manpower, personnel and services commanders, directors of personnel, major command, field operating agency and Air Staff leaders gathered in Keystone, Colo., for the first combined worldwide conference. With the integration

  • Air Force Week in the Heartland kicks off with a bang

    Fly-bys, music, military precision and fireworks broadcast the beginning of Air Force Week in the Heartland as more than 10,000 witnessed Airmen at their best Aug. 9 at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha. Airmen from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., hosted the free event to let the public experience what the

  • Aug. 9 airpower summary: A-10s drop bomb, fire cannon at enemy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fired cannon rounds and dropped

  • Pentagon Force Protection Agency braces for tourists

    The Pentagon is the most obvious symbol of the world's most powerful military. The building is the home of the National Military Command Center. And soon it will be a tourist destination. While there are already tours of the building, the Pentagon will become a major destination for visitors to

  • Compensation panel recommends Tricare changes

    Members of the Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation have recommended fee changes to Tricare, the military's health care system.The recommendations mostly would affect retirees and will not affect active-duty servicemembers or their dependents, retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jan D. "Denny"

  • Panel recommends changes to military retirement

    A panel looking at military compensation has recommended dramatic changes in the military retirement system. The recommendations are part of the second volume put out by members of the 10th Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation. The first volume, released in March, looked at cash compensation.

  • Officials dedicate enlisted education center

    Air University officials dedicated the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education to the fourth chief master sergeant of the Air Force at a ceremony here July 24. The Barnes Center acts as an umbrella covering the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, all NCO academies within the

  • Reserve Airmen gain avenue to joint credit

    Reserve Airmen can now nominate themselves for joint experience credit Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here said recently. ARPC officials received the necessary Reserve component implementation guidance March 28 from the undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, which outlines

  • AFOSI marks 60 years of service

    Brig. Gen. Dana A. Simmons, Air Force Office of Special Investigations commander, hosted AFOSI's 60th Anniversary wreath-laying ceremony Aug. 1 at the Air Force Memorial located across from the Pentagon. The purpose of the ceremony was to honor the men and women of the organization both past and

  • General McNabb confirmed by Senate

    Gen. Duncan McNabb soon will assume command of the United States Transportation Command. With the Senate confirmation vote Aug. 1, the 34-year Air Force veteran will become the ninth USTRANSCOM commander. General McNabb provided testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on July 22 prior

  • Senate confirms General Schwartz as next chief of staff

    Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, a 35-year veteran in special operations, will be the 19th Air Force chief of staff, according to a Senate confirmation vote which occurred Aug. 1. General Schwartz provided testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee on July 22, before the full Senate voted on his

  • Elmendorf community mourns fallen commander

    Airmen and members of the local community paid tribute to the 3rd Wing commander during a memorial service July 31 at Hangar 1 here.Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley passed away July 27 at his on-base residence. "General Tinsley was a true leader and Airmen warrior and his untimely death is a loss to the

  • July 31 airpower summary: Tankers bring fuel to the fight

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 31, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fired cannon rounds at

  • History project allows veterans to share experiences

    The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the remembrances of American war veterans and civilian workers who supported them. These collections of first-hand accounts are archived in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress for use by researchers and to serve as an

  • 20th EBS honors fallen by taking flight, continuing mission

    A memorial service was held here July 25 to honor the men of "Raider 21" who lost their lives when the B-52H Stratofortress they were flying crashed off the coast of Guam July 21. Nearly 2,000 Airmen, friends and family gathered to honor the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron crew and Col. George

  • Study to focus on Airmen's time

    A team, chartered by Lt. Gen. Richard Newton III, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, will visit 10 Air Force bases to study the numerous strains on Airmen's time in today's resource-constrained environment. "We are at war and (operations) tempo is very high," General Newton said.

  • AFSOUTH, AFNORTH host air chiefs conference

    Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, and Maj. Gen. Henry Morrow, the 1st Air Force (Air Forces North) commander, hosted a Central American Air Chiefs Conference here July 25 for six air chiefs from Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

  • Summit gives disaster response leaders 'Eagle Vision'

    Key disaster response leaders united for a three day summit here July 22 to learn about a process that brings real-time life-saving images to civilian and military first responders. Maj. Gen. Henry C. 'Hank' Morrow, commander of 1st Air Force and Air Force Northern Command,  and Brig. Gen. Andre

  • July 29 Airpower Summary: C-17s provide heavy airlift

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped a guided bomb

  • Medics Conclude MEDRETE Panama

    Air Force medics here are preparing to return home July 26 after ending two-weeks of operations for Medical Readiness Training Exercise (MEDRETE) Panama. The 16-person medical team from seven different military installations saw more than 8,300 patients here and diagnosed numerous cases of glaucoma,

  • McKinley: Airmen play key roles in joint National Guard

    Airmen are an integral part of fulfilling an increasingly joint National Guard's domestic and overseas missions, the director of the Air National Guard said here July 23. Lt. Gen. Craig McKinley told a record-breaking audience of 1,500 gathered for the National Guard Bureau Joint Family Program

  • July 28 airpower summary: A-10s strike enemy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles fired cannon rounds onto

  • Elmendorf commander dies of gunshot wound

    Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley, commander of the 3rd Wing here, died of a gunshot wound July 27 at his on-base residence. Elmendorf medical authorities responded and General Tinsley was declared dead at approximately 10:30 pm July 27. The general had served as the wing commander here since May

  • Academy commandant to take on new challenge

    A leader during one of the most dynamic times in U.S. Air Force Academy history is moving on. Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Susan Y. Desjardins will depart the Academy in October to become the Headquarters Air Mobility Command Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs deputy director at Scott Air

  • Accident investigation board convened to investigate B-52 crash

    Gen. John D.W. Corley, commander of Air Combat Command, has convened an accident investigation board to investigate the B-52 Stratofortress mishap off the northwest coast of Guam. Brig. Gen. Mark A. Barrett, commander of the 1st Fighter Wing here, has been designated as the board president. The B-52

  • NORAD officials keep constant vigil for threats to homeland

    Defending North America's borders is no easy task. The threats are continuous and can come from anywhere -- by land, in the air, on the sea or even through information systems. Anticipating these threats and warning of them is the job of the men and women of the North American Aerospace Defense

  • U.S. Strategic Command chief closes cyber symposium

    "Cyberspace has become integral to the joint fight," said Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, the U.S. Strategic Command commander, after an address to more than 250 attendees July 17, as he closed the week-long conference held here to discuss the Air Force's role in cyberspace. "We expect all of the services,

  • Eielson possible home for alternative fuels facility

    Federal, state and local government leaders met July 18 in Fairbanks, Alaska, to plan Alaska's energy future. The Interior of Alaska Strategic Energy Summit, sponsored by the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, was attended by Senator Ted Stevens, Under Secretary of Energy Bud Albright,

  • Exercise in Pacific builds trust between nations

    Representatives from nine nations are participating in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2008 throughout July in Hawaii and the Pacific Ocean.RIMPAC 2008 employs more than 20,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as members of other nations building a foundation of trust

  • July 17 airpower summary: A-10s fire multiple weapons

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-38s onto an

  • U.S., African forces participate in medical exercise

    Malian medics, doctors and nurses put their skills to the test during a mass casualty exercise July 18, which kicked off in the village of Kati, Mali. Medics received a call July 18 of a bus crash -- with an actual bus and a vehicle on its side, blocking a roundabout. Patients were moulaged and

  • Search effort shifts from rescue to recovery

    Air Force officials here determined July 23 that none of the six crewmembers survived the B-52 Stratofortress crash July 21 off Guam's northwest coast. Search and rescue teams have now shifted their focus from rescue operations to recovery of the aircrew. The joint civilian and military rescue teams

  • Senate committee reviews Air Force nominees

    Senate Armed Services Committee members presented a number of questions and challenges to Air Force civilian and military leader nominees July 22 on Capitol Hill. Michael Donley, the acting secretary of the Air Force, and Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, nominated to become the next chief of staff of the

  • 18 nations gather for Conference of the American Air Chiefs

    Air chiefs and representatives from 18 Western Hemisphere nations arrived July 19 for the 48th annual Conference of the American Air Chiefs in San Antonio. Lt. Gen. Norman R. Seip, the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander led the AFSOUTH delegation during the week-long event. Attendees at

  • Service delivery assessment vital to patient care

    Patient feedback through a centralized telephone survey program known as the service delivery assessment, or SDA, provides Air Force clinic staffs with direct, rapid and relevant feedback from their patients vital to national security, Air Force Medical Service officials said. "Improving the health

  • Airmen deliver aid to flood victims in Afghanistan

    Airmen and other American servicemembers from the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team here delivered emergency humanitarian assistance supplies July 3 to residents of Kuz Kunar and Dari Noor districts of Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. The Nangarhar Emergency Preparedness Committee assessed

  • MQ-9 Reaper enhances Air Force capabilities in Iraq

    The Air Force flew its first operational MQ-9 Reaper mission from here July 18, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The integration of the Reaper into theater-flight operations significantly enhances the strike and close-air-support capabilities of airpower forces in Iraq. The Reaper has a unique

  • Search effort continues following B-52 crash

    A joint-agency search continues for missing crew members following the crash July 21 of a B-52H Stratofortress bomber 25 miles off the northwest coast of Guam. The bodies of two of the six Airmen on board the aircraft have been recovered. Identities of the crew members are being withheld pending

  • Tuskegee Airman: Follow in the footsteps of these heroes

    A former Air Force colonel encouraged the next generation to follow in the footsteps of the World War II heroes during the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Awards Gala of the 37th Annual Tuskegee Airmen Convention July 19 here. Dr. Guion Bluford Jr., the Aerospace Technology Group founder and president,

  • Top acquisition official: Tanker acquisition top priority

    Officials from the Government Accountability Office testified before Congress July 10 here about their decision to uphold Boeing's protests of the Air Force's selection of Northrop Grumman Corp. to produce 179 new tankers that would replace the aging KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. In its report, GAO

  • Servicemembers honored at Tuskegee Airmen convention

    Military members and Tuskegee Airmen were honored at the Tuskegee Airmen National Convention military luncheon July 18 here. "I want people to understand whose shoulders we are standing on and what those men did for us and our Air Force," said Brig. Gen. Robin Rand, the principal director to the

  • Air Force leaders share women's perspectives

    Servicemembers learned more about the perspectives of women in the military during a leadership forum here July 17. The forum was part of the Tuskegee Airmen Convention ending July 20. Senior leadership spoke about several issues, including the heroism of Tuskegee Airmen, the history of women in the

  • Symposium gets to core of Air Force's role in cyberspace

    In an effort to bring together minds and ideas from across the cyberspace community, Air University officials hosted a week-long cyberspace symposium here recently. Some 250 professional civilian and military information experts gathered to discuss the implications of cyberspace, especially with

  • California firefighting commander: 'Great job' by Airmen

    People in California noticed the job Airmen at McClellan Airfield performed in fighting California's wildfires and could not stop telling the commander of U.S. Northern Command during his July 17 visit to Sacramento. "State leaders are stumbling over each other trying to thank you guys!" said Gen.

  • Air Force doctors take advantage of unique training benefit

    Air Force doctors are taking advantage of a unique training benefit, which allows them to travel to foreign countries and assist people with frequently encounter medical conditions that are not as prominent in the United States The doctors are deployed to Panama for a Medical Readiness Training

  • Air Force officials buy 'offices in the air'

    Air Force officials recently approved the purchase of pallets that will provide work and rest areas for senior leaders traveling aboard mobility aircraft. The service is purchasing two types of removable mobile command workspaces for use by military and senior civilian leaders who are required to

  • Iranian threat justifies missile defense, general says

    Iran's launch of a missile with a 2,000-kilometer range last week is a concrete example of the threat the world faces from missile proliferation, the chief of the Missile Defense Agency said here July 16. Lt. Gen. Henry A. "Trey" Obering, said the United States is concerned specifically about the

  • Gates recommends McKinley to be Guard's first four-star general

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has recommended the Air National Guard's director for a promotion that would make him the first four-star general in National Guard history. Pending nomination by President Bush and confirmation by the Senate, Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley would become the chief of the

  • Air Force doctors begin medical exercise in Panama

    Air Force and Panamanian doctors began seeing patients here at a local school as part of Medical Readiness Training Exercise-Panama July 14. On the first day patients began lining up, hundreds upon hundreds waited in orderly fashion; looks of curiousness and anticipation on their faces. Some looked

  • Air Force medics provide medical care in Panama

    A two-week U.S. Southern Command sponsored exercise designed to hone the skills of medical personnel while providing free health care in remote locations began here July 12 with the arrival of medics from seven military installations. The Medical Readiness Training Exercise, or MEDRETE, in Panama is

  • Enlisted medical training to consolidate at Fort Sam Houston

    A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Medical Education and Training Campus here July 10 marked another step toward what leaders are calling the largest consolidation of training in the history of the Department of Defense. Upon completion in 2011, the joint campus, led by tri-service leadership, will

  • Iraqi air force reaches 2,000-flying hour milestone

    The Iraqi air force reached 2,000 flying training hours here July 13, with the help of Airmen from the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron. The milestone comes 11 months after Lt. Col. Mark Bennett, the 52nd EFTS commander, arrived at Kirkuk. "This is very significant across the entire

  • Medical team deploys to Mali for MEDFLAG 08

    More than 90 servicemembers deployed to Bamako, Mali, July 11 for MEDFLAG 08, a multinational medical training exercise designed to enhance medical capabilities and readiness for U.S. and African forces. "MEDFLAG 08 gives us the opportunity to conduct medical training in a simulated mass casualty

  • Recycling contract turns trash into treasure

    War is messy -- literally -- but U.S. forces, contractors and Iraqis found a way to turn the military's trash into Iraq's economic treasure. Albu-Hussan-based Almandhour United Company oversees waste-management operations here following a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 10 that commemorated the opening

  • Enlisted education gets new namesake

    The official designation ceremony of the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education July 11 was the last in a series of events transforming Air University into streamlined centers for professional education, research and doctrinal development. The Barnes Center will serve as the umbrella

  • July 13 airpower summary: A-10s fire on anti-Afghan forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with Coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit 31s and 38s

  • July 11 airpower summary: F-15E drops bomb on target

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped guided bomb unit-31s

  • Chief of staff retires after 37 years

    In a ceremony filled with military tradition, the 18th chief of staff of the Air Force, General T. Michael Moseley, retired July 11 after 37 years of service. "We honor here today the career of a warfighter, diplomat, historian and Airman," said former Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne, who

  • Beale Airmen prepared to welcome 450 of their neighbors

    Like Airmen at many other Air Force bases, the Airmen of Beale Air Force Base, Calif., are constantly working to be good neighbors with the civilian communities outside their front gate. The Beale community may soon have a chance to demonstrate just how far they will go as they make preparations to

  • Iraqi air force acquires new aircraft from U.S. forces

    U.S. forces transferred ownership of 11 aircraft to the Iraqi air force July 9 during a ceremony at New Al Muthana Air Base. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, signed over eight Cessna 172s and three Cessna Caravan 208s worth more than $9

  • New MH-53M helicopter exhibit opens at AF museum

    Several high ranking officials from Air Force Special Operations Command, industry and the community recently joined personnel from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force for the official opening of the museum's new MH-53M Pave Low IV helicopter exhibit. Air Force special operations forces used

  • AFOTEC officials hold first space summit

    Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here, hosted the organization's first space summit July 1 and 2. Senior leaders from AFOTEC, the Under Secretary of the Air Force Directorate of Space Acquisition, the National Geospatial and

  • Officials unveil portrait of AF pioneer

    Air Force officials unveiled a portrait of the late Gen. Bernard Schriever in a ceremony July 8 at the Pentagon. General Schriever is often called the "father of the Air Force space and missile program" because of his advocacy of the need for space superiority and contributions to the development of

  • Air Force unit flies 50,000th Noble Eagle sortie

    Continental U.S. NORAD Region, known as CONR,  pilots reached a significant milestone June 8 after they flew the 50,000th Operation Noble Eagle sortie conducted over the continental United States locally over South Carolina. Two F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 20th Fighter Wing at Shaw Air Force

  • Wilford Hall surgeon wins AFA award

    Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kirk A. Milhoan, a pediatric cardiologist at Wilford Hall Medical Center here, has won the 2008 Paul W. Myers Award for his work at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, and in the 59th Maternal/Child Care Squadron at Wilford Hall. The Paul W. Myers Medical Award was established in 1982 by Air