NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Maintenance advisers certify first-ever AAF expediter

    Maintenance advisers recently certified the first Afghan air force flightline expediter at Kandahar Air Wing.A direct maintenance commander delegate on the flightline and an expediter is responsible for efficiently utilizing manning and resources to effectively execute the flight schedule agreed

  • US, Kyrgyz officials participate in joint exercise

    Emergency responders from the Kyrgyz Ministries of Emergency Services, Interior and Defense participated in a joint explosive ordnance disposal and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives response exercise with their American counterparts Nov. 22 here.The exercise was

  • CSAF visits Airmen in Iraq

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz visited Airmen here Nov. 17.During his trip, he met with Airmen at Sather Air Base and FOB Union III, both in Iraq, as well as with U.S. and Iraqi leaders. While at Sather AB, the general hosted an all call to discuss current Air Force issues and take

  • Air Force leaders issue holiday safety message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy send the following holiday safety campaign message to all Air Force personnel:"'Safety never takes a holiday' is the theme of this year's holiday safety

  • Abizaid agrees to chair Dover mortuary panel

    Retired Army Gen. John P. Abizaid will chair the panel overseeing the Dover, Del., port mortuary, Pentagon officials announced last night.Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta asked Abizaid, the former commander of U.S. Central Command, to replace former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, who

  • SECAF addresses current, future challenges for Air Force

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed approximately 300 Airmen, industry officials and Air Force Association members in a keynote speech at the AFA's Global Warfare Symposium in Los Angeles, Nov. 18.During his remarks, the secretary provided symposium attendees with an update on the

  • Longest serving Airman calls it a career

    As the sun sets on the career of Maj. Gen. Alfred K. Flowers, he looks back with a sense of accomplishment. Flowers, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Budget, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, is set to retire from the Air Force on Jan. 1,

  • TRICARE data breach

    Science Applications International Corporation is mailing letters to affected military clinic and hospital patients regarding a data breach involving personally identifiable and protected health information. On Sept. 14, SAIC reported the loss of backup tapes containing electronic health care

  • Air Force civilian deployment opportunities expected to increase

    More than 800 Air Force civilians deployed to various overseas locations in 2010. Projections show that more than 900 will deploy in 2011 and by this time next year, Air Force Personnel Center officials anticipate as many as 1,000 Air Force civilians will be working side-by-side with uniformed

  • Conserving energy, reducing foot print one project at a time

    With today's fiscal limitations and focus on doing more with less, officials here are finding ways to save energy and money while getting the mission done.Executive orders state energy usage must be reduced by three percent and water usage by two percent annually until 2012, and members of Laughlin

  • Academy civilian rescues Colorado woman

    She can't leap tall buildings in a single bound, and she's not more powerful than a locomotive, but the administrative assistant for the Air Force Academy's Foreign Languages Department has the heart of a superhero.Leslie Johnson received a Command Civilian Award for Valor from Air Force Academy

  • Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence conducts EU, NATO training

    "You don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate," reads the sign on the door of the Air Force Negotiation Center of Excellence, part of Air University's Spaatz Center for Officer Education, here. As the NCE director, Dr. Stef Eisen is the Air Force's authority on negotiation. He recently

  • Afghan airmen begin functional check flight training

    With coalition adviser support, Afghan airmen began post-phase funcitional check flight training recently in an effort to further professionalize the Afghan air force at Kandahar Air Wing. A phase inspection is a detailed inspection of an aircraft that includes servicing and cleaning and takes place

  • Air Force updates doctrine documents

    The Air Force updated its two capstone doctrine documents.In October, the Air Force released Air Force Doctrine Document 1, Air Force Basic Doctrine, Organization, and Command. In early November, a revised AFDD 1-1, Leadership and Force Development, was approved and is expected to be available

  • Air Force wages war against waste

    On Nov. 15, the Air Force joined the rest of the nation in observing America Recycles Day, a nationally recognized initiative dedicated to encouraging people to recycle more at home, at work and on the go. Successful recycling and solid waste diversion efforts across the Air Force through the past

  • Airman emulates 'Spirit of Hope'

    The Defense Department, the family of late actor and comedian Bob Hope, and the Wiegand Foundation honored six people with the Spirit of Hope Award for their selflessness and commitment to troops during a Pentagon ceremony Nov. 15.Tech. Sgt. Leray Smedley, from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., was the

  • Air Force launches cutting-edge culture & language website

    The Air Force Culture and Language Center, part of Air University's Spaatz Center here, recently launched a new public website to provide information on the Air Force's efforts to increase cross-cultural competence -- a critical warfighting skill cited by Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta in an

  • Airmen host Kyrgyz soldiers for professional development event

     Airmen from here and soldiers from the Koi Tash NCO Academy met for a professional military education exchange Nov. 10 here.The event centered on the Airman Leadership School methods of course delivery and the four primary curriculum topics of expeditionary Airmen, supervisor of Airmen, military

  • Air Force participates in joint homeland defense exercise

    A variety of military and federal organizations participated in a first-of-its-kind homeland defense event Nov. 7 as part of the Joint-Deployable Integrated Air and Missile Defense field training exercise conducted in Key West, Fla.According to Maj. Greg Lewis, the chief of command and control,

  • SECAF to review disciplinary actions in AFMAO case

    Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley reaffirmed a commitment to ensure that appropriate disciplinary action was taken in regard to the management and procedures at the Dover Air Force Base, Del., Mortuary. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta asked Secretary Donley on Nov. 10 to review the Air Force's

  • U.S. NORTHCOM activates Defense Coordinating Officer for Alaska

    At the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Northern Command activated the Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating Element Nov. 9 in preparation for support to civil authorities in advance of a severe winter storm expected along the Alaskan west coast.DCOs and DCEs

  • Air Force secretary issues statement on Dover

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley issued the following statement today regarding Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta's direction that he ensure appropriate disciplinary action was taken in regards to the management and procedures for operations at the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations

  • Universal Class program offers personal development opportunities

    You're never too old to stop learning, and Air Force libraries offer opportunities for self-improvement and personal development through the Universal Class program. Total force Airmen, families, civilians, retirees and other eligible library users may register for more than 500 online personal

  • Panetta urges leaders in budget decisions

    In his strongest language to date, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta called on Congress Nov. 8 to "show some leadership" in the budget process.Panetta, speaking at the National Guard's Joint Senior Leaders Conference here, said that the sequester mechanism built into the Budget Control Act is "like

  • New deployed leaders guide available

    The latest "Deployed Leaders Guide to the AEF" is now available on the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Online website, and a print copy can be ordered Nov. 15. The guide is a reference tool used by deployed leaders to help answer questions throughout deployments. "It is designed for NCOs and above

  • Air Force investigates and improves mortuary operation

    Air Force officials have completed a year-long investigation of the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations at Dover Air Force Base, Del., the point of entry for U.S. service members who are killed or die overseas. The service implemented multiple corrective actions and took action regarding three

  • Elmendorf-Richardson civilian earns national award for work with families

    A civilian Department of Defense employee here recently received the Association of the U.S. Army's DOD Civilian of the Year for the Pacific Region award."She's the best of the best of the best," said Marvin Dickerson, an Army Community Service officer, said of Frederica Norman. "I've been working

  • Total force medical team provides care for Native Americans

    A medical team of 18 reservists and an active duty Airman from here recently spent two weeks providing medical care for about 400 members of the Crowe Creek Indian Reservation in Fort Thompson, S.D.The team, which included ophthalmologists, optometrists, nurses, flight surgeons, dentists, medical

  • Obama announces jobs initiatives for veterans

    President Barack Obama announced executive orders Nov. 7 to give tax credits to employers who hire post-9/11 veterans and wounded warriors, as well as enhanced career counseling and related services for veterans.The president, flanked by veterans association representatives in the White House Rose

  • Afghan airmen begin law enforcement patrols

    Afghan air force security forces members initiated the first-ever law enforcement patrols on the AAF compound in Kandahar recently.Working with advisers from the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group and with a goal of providing security on the AAF compound, the Afghan military police team began

  • AF lodging reservations go online

    Airmen and families now have an easier way to make lodging reservations for Air Force Inns worldwide.The Defense Lodging System now features online reservations and the capability for customers to leave online feedback about their stay at an Air Force lodging facility. Nearly 90 percent of all Air

  • Air Force civilians, cadets receive HENAAC awards

    Four Air Force civilians and two cadets were recognized at the 23rd annual Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference on Oct.7 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.HENAAC is an annual conference produced by Great Minds in STEM, a non-profit organization focusing on educational awareness programs

  • CSAF addresses key Air Force issues at JB Andrews

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz provided insight into the latest developments in Air Force funding, manpower and morale during a chief of staff call here Nov. 1. Schwartz opened the event by delivering introductory comments to the Team Andrews audience, then addressed the concerns of

  • Defense officials urge nuclear deterrent funding

    The nation's security strategy is built on nuclear deterrence, and the systems and workforce that support nuclear capabilities must be sustained, senior Defense Department officials told Congress Nov. 2.James N. Miller, the principal deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, and Gen. C. Robert

  • AETC announces newest Order of the Sword recipient

    Maj. Gen. Alfred Flowers learned of his selection as the next Air Education and Training Command Order of the Sword recipient here Nov. 2.Chief Master Sgt. James Cody, the AETC command chief, informed Flowers of his selection at a surprise announcement in the Pentagon's Airman's Hall filled with

  • AFMC officials restructure to cut overhead, make command more efficient

    Air Force officials announced an Air Force Materiel Command-wide restructure Nov. 2 that is aimed at providing greater military capabilities, improving readiness and operating effectively in the current fiscal environment.AFMC officials will reduce the number of its centers from 12 to five. This

  • Air Force announces civilian workforce restructuring

    Air Force officials announced several adjustments to the civilian workforce Nov. 2. In response to the secretary of defense's direction to stop civilian growth above fiscal year 2010 levels and the need to add 5,900 positions against the Air Force's top priorities, the Air Force eliminated

  • AF selects officers, civilians for developmental education

    More than 740 officers and 106 civilians were selected for intermediate and senior developmental education opportunities during the 2011 Developmental Education Designation Board in October here, officials announced Nov. 2. Selectee lists have been posted on the Air Force Portal.Developmental

  • Air Force assists in historic final transfer of Iraq's airspace

     With the Air Force's assistance, Iraq now has full air traffic control responsibility for the country's airspace for the first time since 2003.The Air Force transferred management of the Baghdad and Joint Base Balad Airspace sector to the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority Oct. 1. With this historic

  • NCO retraining program a success in fiscal 2012

    The 2012 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program concluded Oct. 26 with 870 Air Force NCOs identified to transition to new career fields. The NCORP consists of two-phases -- voluntary and involuntary -- designed to sustain the enlisted force by retraining second-term and career Airmen from

  • Air Force leadership speak about diversity

    Air Force senior leaders released a memorandum stressing the importance of diversity in today's force here Oct. 14.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy signed the Declaration on Diversity, which

  • Air Force's top maintainers recognized

    Two Air Force aircraft maintainers were recognized by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz during a ceremony here Oct. 28 for their outstanding contributions to the Air Force mission.Capt. William Bernecker, who is assigned to the 48th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Royal Air Force

  • SECAF authorizes funds to assist flood-stricken Airmen

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley recently authorized funding for skilled and licensed volunteers to travel to Minot, N.D., to perform home repairs for nearly 250 Airmen who remain displaced here following historic flooding this summer. Secretary Donley signed into effect the memorandum

  • Air Force releases major, captain reduction-in-force board results

    Commanders Air Force-wide were notified Oct. 24 of the results of the Calendar Year 2011 Reduction-in-Force Board held at the Air Force Personnel Center here in September.The CY11 RIF board, which considered captains and majors in the Line of the Air Force competitive category, is part of the Air

  • New tools for the war against waste

    The Air Force has some new ammunition in the war against waste thanks to Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment officials launching the third edition of the Win the War Against Waste tool kit recently. Win the War Against Waste is an outreach campaign developed to support the Air

  • President, first lady visit Langley AFB

    President Barack Obama made an official visit here Oct. 19 to speak to service members and invited guests to show his support for the American military, and address how he hopes to put more money in the pockets of working men and women. The visit was on the third day of Obama's American Jobs Act bus

  • Panetta answers troops' questions in Japan

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta answered troops' questions about the impact of defense budget cuts on the U.S. military presence in Japan, time at home for soldiers between deployments and other topics during a town hall meeting here Oct. 24.Addressing some 200 troops gathered in the 459th Airlift

  • AFAF officials host video contest to raise awareness for charities

    The Air Force Assistance Fund is hosting an online video contest from Nov. 30 to Jan. 20, 2012 to help raise awareness for the AFAF's 2012 fundraising campaign.The concept for a video contest originated from an installation project officer from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., who created a humorous

  • Schriever volunteers connect with veterans during VA standdown

    Robert Montgomery had given up trying to communicate with federal veterans agencies. Multiple calls and conversations, he said, transformed into a fruitless and frustrating endeavor. As he struggled to make ends meet during the past year, that connection became even more important. His solution

  • Basic trainee succumbs during training

    Air Force officials here announced the death of a basic trainee who died Oct. 19 at Southwest General Hospital in San Antonio, Texas.Twenty-six-year-old Steven D. Williams of Detroit, Mich., had just completed his physical training assessment when he collapsed around 6 a.m. The assessment includes

  • Nominations open for 2012 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2012 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award.There are three categories for award -- Airman, NCO and Senior NCO. Major commands and the Air Force District of Washington will each nominate three candidates, one per category, to the Air Force 12 OAY

  • Officials release new selective re-enlistment bonus list

    Enlisted Airmen will now have 78 Air Force specialties from which they can receive a selective reenlistment bonus. Fiscal 2012's program continues emphasis on retaining Airmen with 17 months to six years of service as well as those from six to 10 years of service, Air Force officials said. While

  • Officials seek DOD-wide tuition assistance plan

    Pentagon officials are reviewing the Defense Department's tuition assistance policy, and no DOD-wide decision has been made to change benefits, officials said Oct 20.All military services are providing input to the DOD review, officials said. Any recommended changes must be instituted in a

  • U.N. officials extend NATO mandate in Afghanistan

    The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Oct. 12 to extend authorization of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan for another year while continuing to transfer key responsibilities to the Afghan government by the end of 2014.The resolution extends the mandate for ISAF's

  • Air Force building the future force

    Changes are coming to the Air Force and officials are working with the Department of Defense to prioritize current and future resources as part of a national priority to reduce spending. In the spring of 2010 the Defense Department began a comprehensive effort to increase efficiencies, reduce

  • Wing commander, spouse honored at Pentagon

     Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon and his wife Sara the General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley award during a ceremony here Oct. 11. The Dillons were honored for their service at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where the general serves as the 86th Airlift Wing

  • ESC provides modern air traffic control system for Iraq

    Members of the Electronic Systems Center completed work in September that improves and upgrades Iraq's air traffic control system.The completion of this foreign military sales effort involved the delivery of two new air traffic control tower systems along with state-of-the-art radar and ATC-tower

  • 2011 Air Force Innkeeper Award winners named

     Air Force Innkeeper evaluation team memers here recently announced the winners of the 2011 Air Force Innkeeper Awards. The large-base recipient is the Inn on Davis-Monthan at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., and the small-base recipient is the Eagle's Rest Inn at Dover AFB, Del."The objective

  • AMC officials save energy in the office, on the road

    With an annual energy bill of more than $100 million, not including aircraft fuel, Air Mobility Command officials are exploring ways to save energy and the money spent on it. While the most obvious energy savings might come from the flying mission, AMC is working just as hard to save energy on the

  • Defense office protects privacy, liberties of troops, civilians

    A small and little-known Defense Department office has the big task of protecting service members' and civilian employees' personal information in the digital world, while also getting accustomed to its new charge of protecting their civil liberties.The Defense Privacy and Civil Liberties Office is

  • Free AFCLC 'Intro to Culture' course offers CCAF credit

    Officials at the Air Force Culture and Language Center are now accepting applications for the fall session of the "Introduction to Culture" course. Enrollment began Oct. 6 and is limited to 750 students. Class begins Oct. 20 and continues through Jan. 24, 2012. ITC is an online, self-paced course

  • Misawa AB Airmen support Federal Energy Awareness Month Program

    Airmen here are participating in the annual Federal Energy Awareness month program that runs Oct. 1 through Oct 31.Each year, Federal Energy Management Program officials provide materials and ideas to promote energy-saving practices at federal facilities and produce a theme for the year. This year's

  • Cape Canaveral continues cleanup efforts

    Air Force officials have recently implemented changes to the force's environmental cleanup program to focus on cleaning up more sites more quickly.The environmental management team here is using cutting-edge technologies and accelerated cleanup procedures to implement some of those changes and

  • Air Force leaders issue Energy Awareness message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz send the following message regarding energy awareness month to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force and their families:Global Vigilance, Reach, and Power at home and abroad require vast amounts of energy -

  • Mullen: America can't lose its military edge

    America can ill afford to lose its military superiority, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said Sept. 30, his last day as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Speaking to the audience gathered at Virginia's Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall here to watch him transfer the chairmanship to Army Gen. Martin E.

  • A farewell message from Adm. Mike Mullen

    To the men, women and families of the armed forces of the United States,It has been the greatest privilege of my life to serve as your Chairman for the last four years. Everywhere Deborah and I went to see you and your families we walked away humbled by the magnitude of the responsibility you have

  • Four decades of service come to a close for senior Air Force civilian

    It's the wonderful people that he's worked with that have made 43 years in the Air Force such a great experience, said William Davidson. Davidson, the administrative assistant to the secretary of the Air Force, will retire in a ceremony here Sept. 30. "They always say you'll know when to leave." He

  • Kandahar graduates basic flight medics

     Four medics recently graduated at the Kandahar Air Wing from the first Afghan air force Basic Flight Medic course, boosting the Afghan medical response capability. According to medical professionals, the goal of the 40-hour course was to combine ground and flight medical training to produce a

  • Bird migration season increases bird strike risks

    As summer fades into fall, birds begin to migrate south to their wintering grounds. That migration means one thing to pilots and airfield managers: a dramatic increase in the risk of bird strikes. Monthly trends recorded from 1995 - 2010 by the Air Force Safety Center Aviation Safety Division

  • Food drive nets record 5.7 million pounds

    The Department of Defense led all federal agencies in exceeding the philanthropic goals of this year's "Feds Feed Families" food drive campaign, which ran June 1 to Aug. 31.The U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the Chief Human Capital Officers Council announced in a press release that DOD led

  • Emergency management campaign helps Airmen 'Be Ready'

    The Air Force Emergency Management's Be Ready Awareness Campaign features a new website and products designed to raise awareness and promote readiness on military installations and within local communities.Emergency Management planners said they hope the messages will educate both military members

  • Civilian career development webcasts slated Sept. 27, 29 and 30

    Webcasts developed to help GS-7 through GS-11 civilian Airmen plan and manage their careers continue through the next five weeks, beginning with a Sept. 27 webcast at 8 a.m. Sessions have been earmarked for eligible civilians based on command. "This is our largest civilian Airman population," said

  • 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

  • Randolph employee earns national award through preservation efforts

    A civilian employee who has long spearheaded efforts to preserve Randolph Air Force Base's architectural heritage is the recipient of a prestigious national award.Scott Shepherd of the 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron, the base's cultural resources manager, earned the Secretary of the Interior Historic

  • Officials reduce officers eligible for upcoming lieutenant colonel SERB

    Voluntary retirements have resulted in the removal of two competitive categories from the upcoming October 2011 selective early-retirement board, Air Force officials announced Sept. 12. Lieutenant colonels in the Chaplain and Medical Services Corps competitive categories are eliminated from meeting

  • TRICARE reduces pharmacy home delivery co-pays

    Co-payments for some medications provided through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery are being reduced to zero. As of Oct. 1, home delivery beneficiaries may fill generic prescriptions at no cost to themselves.Generic formulary drugs purchased through home delivery currently cost $3 for a 90-day

  • Air Force Under Secretary stresses innovation amidst rough fiscal waters

    The innovative ideas and creativity of the Air Force's military and civilian workforce are critical to the service's ability to excel in a budget-constrained environment, said the undersecretary of the Air Force Sept. 20.In an address to attendees of the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space

  • Air Force recommits to green initiatives during pollution prevention week

    One of the best ways to protect the Earth is to not pollute in the first place, a realization that became official American policy in 1990 with the passing of the Federal Pollution Prevention Act. This week, the Air Force joins the rest of the nation in acknowledging a concerted effort to reduce

  • Command chiefs address concerns, offer advice during AFA convention forum

    Issues affecting America's Airmen took center stage Sept. 19 during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition's Command Chief Master Sergeants Forum here Sept. 19.The forum provided Airmen an opportunity to communicate directly with chiefs on hot-button topics

  • AFA recognizes 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

    The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2011 were recognized during a formal banquet hosted by the Air Force Association during its 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition, Sept. 19, at the National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy emceed the

  • Air Force officials announce FY12 voluntary force management measures

    Air Force leaders announced Sept. 9 the continuation of voluntary officer separation measures for fiscal 2012 as part of the services' ongoing force-management initiatives.In 2010 Air Force leaders implemented a tailored, multi-year program  to reduce the number of personnel to operate at the

  • USAJOBS October upgrade to affect job seekers

    Air Force job seekers will notice changes to the USAJOBS website in mid-October, including stronger security procedures, elimination of unnecessary applicant profile questions, and improved search filters, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. The improved federal employment search portal is

  • 'Portraits in Courage' Vol. VI: Core values, real time

    Directing heat, jumping into raging waters, triaging under fire, powering relief efforts, or using a camera to alter outcomes; these are the actions taken by some of the 18 Airmen featured in the latest series of Portraits in Courage.Volume VI tells the stories of heroes and game changers; the

  • Mobility Air Forces provide wartime capability, humanitarian assistance

    The same mobility machines and personnel that deliver critical capabilities to U.S. joint forces in combat have also proven their mettle in humanitarian missions, said Air Mobility Command's top officer at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept.

  • SECAF delivers address on state of the Air Force

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed hundreds of Airmen, sister service members and industry leaders during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here, Sept. 19.Donley spoke about the state of the Air Force in regards to budget concerns,

  • AF officials announce civilian early retirement, separation incentive options

    The Air Force is implementing civilian Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay programs, Air Force officials announced today."Our goal with these programs is to mitigate the impact of reduced fiscal year 2012 funding on our permanent civilian workforce," said Maj.

  • AAF receives first fixed-wing trainers

    The first three aircraft slated as initial trainers for the Afghan air force undergraduate pilot training program arrived here Sept. 18, marking a milestone for the Afghan Flight School. Three Cessna 182 Turbos are the first of six to be used as initial flight-training aircraft, with six additional

  • Enlisted force bestows highest honor on ACC commander

    A gathering of 500 Air Combat Command Airmen assembled in Hampton, Va. Sept. 12, to honor the ACC commander with induction into the Order of the Sword. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor the enlisted corps can bestow on an individual and is steeped in military tradition. Originally begun as

  • Air Force wraps up critical days of summer

    The Air Force concluded its Critical Days of Summer campaign Sept. 6, and the results reflect the need to be mindful of the risks associated with activities and look out for one another officials said. During the 15-week campaign, the Air Force experienced 18 fatalities -- all of them in off-duty

  • Air Force completes action on 2005 BRAC

    After more than six years of execution, the Air Force successfully completed its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure program, Air Force officials announced Sept. 15.All 64 of the Air Force BRAC recommendations enacted into law Nov. 9, 2005, are now complete. Air Force BRAC Program Management Office

  • Air Force vice chief testifies on GO, SES numbers

    The Air Force vice chief of staff provided the Air Force perspective on general officer and senior executive service civilian authorizations to the Senate Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Personnel here Sept. 14.Gen. Phil Breedlove joined his Army, Navy and Marine Corps counterparts in

  • Possible F-16 buy highlights Iraq's progress

    Iraq's potential purchase of 18 U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcons is an encouraging development that benefits both nations, the senior U.S. Air Force component commander in Iraq said Sept 14."I do not have any word yet that a letter of offer and acceptance is signed, but as you probably know, we did have a

  • Air Combat Command welcomes new leader

    Air Combat Command welcomed a new commander in a ceremony Sept. 13 here.Gen. Gilmary Michael Hostage III assumed command of ACC from Gen. William M. Fraser III in front of hundreds of Airmen and others gathered at the 94th Fighter Squadron hangar.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, who

  • Officials announce colonel selective early retirement board eligibility

    As previously announced May 27, the Air Force will convene a selective early retirement board for colonels to further size and balance the force within the congressionally authorized 332,800 end-strength level. The CY12A Colonel SERB is scheduled to convene Jan. 9, 2012, to consider eligible

  • Air Force ROTC unit established at Yale

    The secretary of the Air Force and the president of Yale University signed an agreement here Sept. 12 establishing an Air Force ROTC detachment on the campus, which marks a renewed presence at Yale for the Air Force.Yale's commitment to service, intellectual excellence and diversity make it the

  • Civil engineers start construction project on Wake Island

    Three 611th Civil Engineering Squadron members arrived here recently from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to begin building the second of three Sprung Instant Structure buildings. After their arrival on the atoll in the Pacific Ocean about 3,000 miles southwest of Anchorage known as Wake Island,

  • Memories of 9/11 resonate with Dover Port Mortuary staff

    A decade ago, less than a dozen people worked in a modest building that sat on a few acres of land behind the fence at the end of Atlantic Avenue.That's how William Zwicharowski described the facility where the solemn duty of honoring the fallen was performed. Zwicharowski, an embalmer at the time,