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  • Symposium offers military women chance to connect, empower and succeed

    Military women from across the nation have gathered here March 15 and 16 to focus on professional development during the 24th Annual Joint Women's Leadership Symposium. This is the first time Airmen joined the ranks of the more than 1,300 women at this event. The symposium's theme, "Connect,

  • Environment, safety, occupational health symposium set for March

    Approximately 1,200 Airmen are set to convene in Nashville, Tennessee, March 21 through 25 for 4 1/2 days of classroom training at the Air Force's 2011 Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Training Symposium. More than 525 class sessions and 175 technical sessions in the fields of safety,

  • Joint training for joint operations

    A joint service and interagency exercise using both "live" and "virtual" forces concluded here recently.Emerald Warrior concentrates on integrated tactics and multi-service command and control, as well as leverages lessons from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom to provide trained and

  • Langley doctor receives 2011 National Public Service Award

    Col. (Dr.) Joyce Adkins, 633rd Medical Operations Squadron commander, received the 2011 National Public Service Award March 14 at the American Society for Public Administration Banquet in Baltimore."I am deeply honored," Colonel Adkins said. "The opportunity to serve and support the men and women

  • Airmen deploy to support relief operations

    Approximately 100 Airmen and three MC-130P Combat Shadows from the 353rd Special Operations Group deployed to Yokota Air Base March 12 to support humanitarian relief operations after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific Ocean off the coast of northeastern Japan March 11. The Airmen are

  • 45th Space Wing officials launch satellite atop Delta IV

    Members from the 45th Space Wing successfully launched a United Launch Alliance-built Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle here March 13 carrying a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite."The outstanding ULA, NRO and Air Force partnership made yet another successful mission," said

  • Lakenheath pays tribute to fallen Airman

    More than 500 Airmen and family members gathered in Hangar 7 here March 11 to honor the memory of Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden.Airman Alden, a 48th Security Forces Squadron senior patrolman, was killed March 2 in a shooting at Frankfurt International Airport.The service painted a picture of a

  • Department makes 'great strides' in brain-injury care

    The Defense Department is making great strides in the field of traumatic brain injury that will benefit not only the department, but also its global and civilian partners, a TBI expert said March 11."The department is committed to fast-tracking promising research and to improving the diagnosis and

  • Chief Etchberger honored at Air Force Memorial

    Air Force leaders joined the family of Chief Master Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger at the Air Force Memorial here March 11 to honor the war hero with the unveiling of his name on the memorial's Medal of Honor recipient wall.Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A.

  • Mullen urges communities to embrace returning vets

    The top U.S. military officer continued his campaign March 10 to encourage communities to help combat veterans transition after returning home and to embrace the attributes they bring to the nation. "This is a generation that is wired to serve," whether at the local, state, national or international

  • Official looks to define best balance of live flight, simulation

    Headquarters Air Force Director of Operations personnel plan to work closely with those in the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation and the MAJCOMs to define the right balance of live flight hours and Distributed Mission Operations-Live, Virtual and Constructive, or DMO-LVC, to train

  • Air Force official announces acquisition award winners

    Air Force Service Acquisition Executive David Van Buren announced the winners of the 2010 Acquisition Leadership and Transformation Awards March 9 at the Acquisition Leadership Forum here. The awards recognize Air Force individuals and organizations that have exhibited outstanding performance in

  • Rescue wing Airmen launch entire fleet during hurricane exercise

    Airmen from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing here launched the wing's entire fleet of aircraft March 6 during their drill training weekend. The mission simulated a mass hurricane evacuation prior to the start of Florida's storm season, as well as the 920th RQW's busy deployment schedules.

  • AFRICOM personnel bid farewell to Ward, welcomes Ham

    Members of the Defense Department's newest combatant command bid farewell to their inaugural commander here March 9.Army Gen. William E. "Kip" Ward passed the reins of U.S. Africa Command to Army Gen. Carter F. Ham after nearly three years at the helm.Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates officiated at

  • SecAF visits Moody AFB, observes combat capabilities

    The secretary of the Air Force visited here March 8 to observe the base's "Attack, Rescue, Protect" mission and the resources needed to accomplish it.During his first visit, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley met with Airmen, from various career fields, who are essential to accomplishing the base's

  • AFA honors CE contributions to operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm

    The Central Florida chapter of the Air Force Association recognized four Air Force civil engineers Feb. 18 in Orlando, Fla., at the organization's 20th Anniversary of Operation Desert Storm gala.The four were named Ira Eaker Historical Fellows in the AFA for their contributions to the successful

  • Secretary Gates sees progress in Afghanistan

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said March 8 that he finds conditions here "very encouraging," as he ended his second full day of high-level meetings, troop visits and commander briefings in Afghanistan.Secretary Gates spoke to reporters at this outpost in the Arghandab district of southern

  • Panel recommends ways to improve military diversity

    A commission created to improve diversity among military leaders has issued 20 recommendations its members say will make the military better reflect the composition of the United States in its ranks.The Military Leadership Diversity Commission, created as part of the 2009 National Defense

  • Defense Logistics Agency aims high to support Air Force

    Air Force men and women are engaged around the world, flying combat missions in war zones, operating unmanned aircraft, developing and maintaining satellites, operating advanced weapons systems and conducting myriad other missions in support of combat operations, humanitarian assistance and homeland

  • Mullen urges communities to assist returning troops

    As the men and women who serve in today's military leave active duty, communities around the country should tap their potential as employees for the benefit of the nation, the top U.S. military officer said March 7.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addressed hundreds

  • Course readies civilians for overseas deployments

    An incoming rocket explodes, shaking the earth and setting off a shockwave of activity."Keep your heads down!" a soldier shouts back to a group of civilians standing by a doorway as he scans a half-blown-up parking garage ahead for suspicious activity.A few soldiers, M-16s in hand, surround the

  • Airmen help prepare Japanese counterparts for new security role

    A small group of security forces Airmen here are helping their Japanese counterparts stand up the Air Self Defense Force's an advanced security training squadron.JASDF security guards from the new Base Defense Development and Training Squadron will travel throughout Japan instructing other security

  • Panel says rescind policy on women in combat

    A commission established to study diversity among military leaders is recommending that Defense Department officials rescind the policy that prevents women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level.In a report issued today, the Military Leadership Diversity Commission

  • Photo essay: Exercise Red Flag

    Members of the Michigan Air National Guard participate in exercise Red Flag here Feb. 24. The exercise is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the U.S. and its allies. View the sideshow.

  • Air Force accepts delivery of final MQ-1 Predator

    The Air Force accepted MQ-1 Predator tail number 268, the final MQ-1 manufactured for the service, in a ceremony March 3. Col. James Beissner, the chief of Air Combat Command's Irregular Warfare Division, accepted the aircraft on behalf of the Air Force."This event marks a milestone in Air Force

  • Red Flag cyber operations: Isn't Red Flag a flyer's exercise?

    As Airmen from Air Force Space Command participate Red Flag from Feb. 21 through March 11 at the Nevada Test and Training Range complex, Nev.Red Flag is a realistic, combat-training exercise involving the air forces of the U.S. and its allies in simulated air combat."Red Flag continues to adapt and

  • C-5s provide 'muscle' for helicopter swap-out missions to Afghanistan

    The Air Force's biggest airlifter -- the C-5 Galaxy -- and the Airmen who maintain and fly them are part of a U.S. Transportation Command "multi-modal" effort to move Army helicopters to Afghanistan.The operation under way in Western Europe features two C-5B and two C-5M Super Galaxies and crew and

  • Contractor delivers first new E-8C Joint STARS production engine

    The U.S. Air Force E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or Joint STARS, achieved a significant objective March 3 as part of the ongoing System Design and Development Re-engining effort. A First Engine Delivery Ceremony was held at the Pratt & Whitney production facility in Middletown,

  • Photo essay: Exercise Cope North

    The U.S. Air Force and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force conduct exercise Cope North annually at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to increase combat readiness and interoperability, concentrating on coordination and evaluation of air tactics, techniques and procedures.View the slideshow.

  • Officials announce team bound for 2011 Warrior Games

    Twenty-five Air Force athletes are one step closer to gold after being chosen to represent the service at the 2011 Warrior Games.Warrior Games is an Olympic-style event open to all wounded, ill and injured military members and veterans. This year's event takes place May 16 through 21 in Colorado

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a look around the service

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," Air Force officials implement some cost-cutting measures in the wake of federal budget constraints. Plus, Airmen train with their host nation counterparts to make sure that when lives are on line, everyone's on the same page. And, get a look at some

  • First MC-130J training program takes flight

    As the first MC-130J Combat Shadow II rolled off the Lockheed Martin factory line, a training flight class recently conducted sorties in preparation for transition to the new airframe.The Air Force Special Operations Training Center's first MC-130J training program flight class practiced air drops,

  • AFNIC engineers assist in Global Hawk beddown

    When Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., officials needed to establish a more robust communications infrastructure to support a new tenant unit's Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft mission, they knew just who to call."Pat Katzer is the best network engineer in the business ... we needed the best,"

  • Army to assume responsibility for Pope Air Force Base

    Pope Air Force Base became Pope Field March 1 as it transitioned to be an Army operated facility supporting Air Force operations.Several Air Force units were redesignated or inactivated, marking a significant moment in Air Force history.The signing of a proclamation marked the handover of

  • CMSAF strengthens ties with Colombian partners

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited Colombian military sites here Feb. 1 to 4.He said the purpose of the visit was to reaffirm U.S. Southern Command officials' commitment to a strong nation-to-nation partnership and to explore professional military education exchange

  • Frank Buckles, last known U.S. Doughboy, dies

    Frank Woodruff Buckles, who lied about his age to enlist in the Army in 1917 and became the last known U.S. veteran of World War I, died Feb. 27 at the age of 110. Burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery."We have lost a living link to an important era in our

  • Airmen demonstrate massive airdrop, teamwork in joint exercise

    Nine Little Rock Air Force Base C-130 Hercules and twice as many aircrews, along with maintainers and planners from the base, participated in Joint Operation Access Exercise Feb. 9 through 12 here and at Fort Bragg, N.C.JOAX is a two-week exercise to prepare Airmen and Soliers to respond to

  • Landing zone safety officers trained at austere location

    At an austere airstrip here, air mobility liaison officers are conducting landing zone safety officer certification training to U.S. and coalition forces throughout Afghanistan. Twenty-six students from the U.S. Air Force and Army and the Romanian army attended a two-day class that featured

  • Photo essay: Airmen participate in exercise Cope North

    U.S. and Japanese airmen take part in exercise Cope North Feb. 21, 2011, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The exercise helps joint forces increase combat readiness and interoperability, concentrating on coordination and evaluation of air tactics, techniques and procedures.View the slideshow.

  • Future initiatives discussed during fuel efficiency summit

    Air Mobility Command members set the course for cultural change during a fuel efficiency summit here Feb. 16 and 17 that included participation by representatives from 11 Air Force major commands. AMC leaders hosted the summit to share and collaborate on ideas and initiatives that will help promote

  • USAFWS takes new approach to generating leaders

    U.S. Air Force Weapons School officials recently modified their syllabus to reflect that it is not only the Air Force's most challenging tactical training, but also a program designed to produce the Air Force's next generation of great leaders.The USAFWS has commonly been thought of as a leadership

  • Photo essay: CV-22 Osprey training mission

    Crewmembers from the 8th Special Operations Squadron participate in a CV-22 Osprey training mission here Feb. 1. The primary mission of the CV-22 is insertion, extraction, and resupply of unconventional warfare forces and equipment into hostile or enemy-controlled territory using air-land or airdrop

  • Agency chief outlines threat reduction strategy

    Defense Threat Reduction Agency people are at work around the clock to protect American forces and citizens from nuclear, chemical and biological threats, the agency's director said Feb. 23.Speaking to the Defense Writers Group, Kenneth A. Myers III, who also is director of the U.S. Strategic

  • Photo essay: Combined Team Zabul

    Dog handlers from the Air Force, Army, and Navy and their explosive detection canines work together as part of a Combined Team Zabul training session here Feb. 18.View the slideshow.

  • Members at Laughlin AFB mourn loss of Airman

    Members from here are in mourning, base officials said Feb. 22, after Department of Defense officials announced the death of an Airman stationed here.Airman 1st Class Corey Owens, a 26-year-old installation patrolman assigned to the 47th SFS, was pronounced dead due to non-combat related injuries

  • Officers visit Kuwait college, brief students

    Four officers visited Kuwait's Mubarak Al Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College to lecture to 92 students from 19 countries within the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf on various joint military topics. The school is similar to the Air Force's Air Command and Staff College and

  • RAF Alconbury Airman dies in Southwest Asia

    An Airman assigned to the 423rd Security Forces Squadron here died while deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation New Dawn.Airman 1st Class Christoffer Johnson, 20, died Feb. 17 due to a non-combat related incident."Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this

  • SecAF takes stock of progress, future challenges

    During remarks to the Air Force Association's 27th Annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition here Feb. 18, the Air Force's senior ranking official reviewed the service' s priorities and underscored Air Force commitment to making the most of available resources in a challenging fiscal

  • DOD officials identify Air Force casualty

    Department of Defense officials announced Feb. 18 the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation New Dawn. Airman 1st Class Corey C. Owens, 26, of San Antonio, Texas, died Feb. 17 due to a non-combat related incident at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. He was assigned to the 47th Security Forces

  • CMSAF discusses need for strengthened resiliency at symposium

    The Air Force's senior enlisted leader discussed the importance of resiliency and its impact to the service Feb. 17 here during the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke candidly about the repercussions of a

  • World War II hero receives medals after 65 years

    A safety NCO here helped a veteran receive recognition for his service during World War II.Tech. Sgt. Wayne Herold, a 22nd Air Refueling Wing ground safety technician, helped Gordon Ballagh, a 90-year-old veteran and prisoner of war during World War II receive four medals: the Prisoner of War Medal,

  • Vice CSAF: Air Force must prepare for more complex, varied ops

    The Air Force is working to balance today's needs and tomorrow's challenges while operating under intense fiscal pressures, the service's vice chief of staff said here Feb. 17.During remarks at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove

  • SecAF, CSAF provide FY12 budget details

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz provided details on the service's fiscal 2012 national defense authorization budget request during a House Armed Services Committee hearing here Feb. 17.Air Force officials are requesting $150 billion in the

  • Army, Air Force win first-round bouts

    The Marine Corps boxing team was the first service branch to capture a win on opening night of the 2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championship here.Marine middleweight Damarias Russell showed in more than one way Feb. 15 that he's committed to being first-to-fight.Russell's convincing 24-4 decision over

  • Eagle Vision program garners key award for keen Earth observation

    An Electronic Systems Center program has been named the winner of a prestigious award presented by officials from NASA and the U.S. Department of the Interior.The agencies honored the Eagle Vision program with the 2010 William T. Pecora award during a Pentagon ceremony Feb. 15. Eagle Vision was

  • Results of command, control training study show roadmap ahead

    Standardizing command and control, or C2, training across air, space and cyber domains and consolidating training here were the main recommendations of a recent independent study completed for Air Combat Command.Results and proposed priorities of the study examining Air Force operational-level C2

  • U.S., Polish military enhance partnerships through training

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base traveled to the 33rd Air Base in Powidz, Poland, Feb. 4 to 12 for a joint training mission with Polish military forces.More than 60 Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing participated in the week-long, off-site training aimed at sharing

  • Top gloves to meet in interservice bouts

    With national champions, world military champions and 2012 Olympic Team hopefuls stacking the upcoming 2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championships at Lackland Air Force Base Feb. 15 to 18, the interservice event is truly an elite competition.Foremost among the military teams, the Army team enters as the

  • New element assists special forces trainees

    Trainees in two Air Force Basic Military Training squadrons now have a "BATTLE" plan in place.Battlefield Airmen Technical Training Liaison Element was recently incorporated for trainees in the 320th and 331st Training Squadrons in the tactical air control party, combat controller and pararescuemen

  • Air National Guard director: Equitable treatment of all a 'moral imperative'

    Equitable treatment of all people is a moral imperative, the director of the Air National Guard told new equal opportunity advisers at a graduation ceremony here Feb. 4."Our service members in the National Guard and Reserve are indeed our most valuable asset," Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt told 87 National

  • Efficiencies, balance main focuses of FY12 budget

    Air Force officials said despite a reduction in the top line request, combat capabilities and balance will remain focal points in the Air Force's portion of the president's fiscal 2012 budget presented here Feb 14.The total Air Force budget request for FY12 is $166.3 billion, down from $170.8

  • Athletes vie for spot on Air Force Warrior Games team

    More than 25 wounded, ill and injured athletes participated in the 2011 Air Force Team training camp here Feb. 7 through 11. In January, Air Force Services Agency officials invited 32 athletes to the training camp. Twenty-five athletes will be chosen to be part of the Air Force team in the 2011

  • ANG director: Equal opportunity is critical downrange

    The importance of leadership in equal opportunity was highlighted in the  Air National Guard director's message delivered to 87 National Guard and Reserve graduates of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute's Equal Opportunity Adviser Reserve Component Program Feb. 4."Our service members

  • Airmen conduct coalition training with Slovenian soldiers

    Airmen from Aviano Air Base, Italy, partnered with members of the Slovenian army  to conduct a NATO coalition combat-capability training exercise Jan. 31 to Feb. 4 at Pocek A-G Range here. The exercise consisted of close-air-support training between nine 8th Air Support Operations Squadron Airmen

  • General Schwartz talks past, present of special ops

    The U.S. has the world's most competent and most capable special operations forces thanks to the selfless dedication of countless U.S. special operations professionals over the years, according to the Air Force Chief of Staff.Gen. Norton Schwartz discussed the past and present of SOF at the National

  • Photo essay: 'Spooky' training at Hurlburt Field

    Members of the 4th Special Operations Squadron participate in a training mission aboard an AC-130U Spooky here Feb. 3. The AC-130U is the primary weapon for members of Air Force Special Operations Command. The gunship's primary missions are close-air support, air interdiction and armed

  • DOD must train for 'degraded' environments, official says

    The military needs to do a better job of training to conduct operations in less-than-perfect conditions, the chairman of the Defense Science Board said here Feb. 9.Paul G. Kaminski said that given the cyber and space threat environment that exists today and likely will grow in the future, commanders

  • Women learn to fight stress from home front

    During a week in which White House officials pledged a whole-of-government approach to supporting military families, 11 women worked diligently a few miles away to learn to cope with the stresses of their husbands' multiple deployments and the post-traumatic stress that affects many of them when

  • Hornets nest in 'Draggins'' lair

    Members of the 25th Fighter Squadron, known as the "Assam Draggins", hosted members of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.The squadron members visited Osan Air Base as part of a six-month deployment to bases across the Pacific, which provided a unique training

  • Dyess cantonment honors Airman

    Airmen and family members of Staff Sgt. Ray Rangel, a 7th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection craftsman, gathered at the cantonment area here, for the unveiling of a sign renaming a piece of Dyess Air Force Base after the fallen hero Dec. 14.The cantonment area, used to host exercises and

  • Top doctor cites importance of psychological health

    Psychological health is among the military's most critical and most promising areas of medical treatment, the Defense Department's assistant secretary for health affairs said Feb. 8.Speaking at the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury's Warrior Resilience

  • Airmen vie for slots in Army Air Assault course

    The sound of 12 Airmen chanting "air assault, air assault, air assault" over and over with every left step as they marched double time through the woods was audible from a distance.They'd been on duty since 4:30 a.m., completed an Army physical training test, and were about to face "The Tough One,"

  • Edwards flight engineers perform first X-47B flight

    Testers from Northrop Grumman and the Navy successfully conducted the first flight of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration aircraft here Feb. 4.The fighter-size unmanned aircraft took off and successfully flew for the 29 minutes planned for its first test flight. This event marks a

  • Air bridge sustains coalition lives, Afghan security

    There's a bridge connecting land-locked Afghanistan to America's East Coast. Metaphorically, the bridge has trusses spanning continents. Literally, it's a lifeline to ground combat units, as without that bridge Soldiers would lack vital life-sustaining supplies. "Life at my combat outpost would be

  • Airmen join Soldiers in Joint Dawn

    About two dozen contracting Airmen trained here to get a taste of contracting operations in a contingency environment. The Airmen came from as far away as Japan, Alaska and Hawaii to participate in the U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command Operation Joint Dawn 2011. When they hit the ground

  • Air Mobility key to outpost sustainability

    For service members assigned to small military outposts strategically placed throughout Afghanistan's most rugged landscape, air mobility is the key to mission success."We have outposts all over the place here," said Army Lt. Col. David Preston, a member of a support battalion for Task Force

  • Leaders call operational Reserve 'a new DOD efficiency'

    The new role and future direction of the Department of Defense's reserve components was the focus of the Reserve Officer Association gathering attended by more than 600 people at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel here Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.Senior DOD leaders here discussed how the Reserve programs

  • C-17s deliver largest OEF fuel resupply

    Three C-17 Globemaster IIIs carrying 120 bundles dropped the largest resupply of fuel ever to a remote military outpost in Afghanistan.Throughout the span of two days, Jan. 29 through 30, Soldiers hustled to collect the pallets, store them and then prepare for the next C-17 pass."When these drops

  • Legends Panel links past, present communications Airmen

    Air Force Network Integration Center Airmen had a unique opportunity to meet with and ask questions of some of the organization's past commanders and members of the Communications and Information Hall of Fame during the AFNIC Legends Panel session here Jan 26.The panel was part of a two-day heritage

  • Air National Guard fighter wing preps for alert missions at Tyndall

    U.S.-based alert pilots train to shoot down enemy aircraft over American soil. They run exercise scenarios on a constant basis, preparing for that call to scramble. But all the dry runs in the world can't prepare a pilot for that moment when a live missile is released from the jet. That's why

  • Rescue Airmen respond to helicopter crash

    Air Force reservists from the 943rd Rescue Group here responded to a Department of Public Safety helicopter crash in a rugged valley northwest of Tucson Jan. 31.Around noon, 943rd RQG Airmen were conducting two rescue helicopter training missions in the local area when they heard radio chatter

  • Nonpartisan group teaches vets how to run for office

    Ask most Americans what they they'd like to see in their elected officials, and they're likely to rattle off a laundry list of characteristics: integrity, leadership experience, an ability to work cooperatively to tackle tough challenges, and perhaps most of all, a willingness to put what's best for

  • Officials announce Sijan Award winners

    Air Force officials announced the winners of the 2010 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award.The Sijan Award annually recognizes four Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities. Officer and enlisted honorees are chosen in senior and junior categories.Lt. Col. Tony Millican of Nellis Air Force

  • F-15E pilot selected to receive Jabara Award

    An F-15E Strike Eagle pilot and 2004 graduate of the Air Force Academy was selected Jan. 25 to receive the 2011 Col. James Jabara Award for Airmanship.Capt. Michael Polidor, a member of Air Force Global Strike Command, distinguished himself through heroic actions in an Operation Enduring Freedom

  • High-tempo training prepares maintainers for war

    Aircraft maintainers are working day and night during Red Flag 11-2, so pilots can fly the missions needed to prepare for aerial combat, but not only aircrew members benefit from the Red Flag experience.The high-tempo mission requirements of Red Flag provide maintainers an environment that

  • Airmen, Soldiers participate in medical evacuation training

    Approximately 40 Airmen from the 8th Medical Group participated in medical evacuation training here Jan. 19. The Airmen also trained with Army medics and pilots from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.The 8th MDG Airmen, who were mainly flight surgeons, doctors, nurses

  • Officials to issue new camouflage uniforms to deployers

    Airmen deploying to Afghanistan in 2011 will see a new uniform issued to them as part of their deployment gear beginning in March. While Airmen have been faced with a slew of uniform changes in recent years, this new uniform is not a matter of image or heritage but instead has resulted from a joint

  • Defense officials identify Air Force casualty

    Department of Defense officials announced Jan. 27 the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom . Tech. Sgt. Leslie D. Williams, 36, of Juneau, Alaska, died Jan. 25 due to a non-combat related incident at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 4th Maintenance

  • Gates: Congress must address 'crisis on my doorstep'

    The failure of Congress so far to pass the fiscal 2011 defense appropriations bill, which creates the possibility of funding the department under a year-long continuing resolution instead, is "the crisis on my doorstep," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in an interview Jan. 26.Failure to pass

  • Officials provide advice on post-deployment intimacy issues

    In the list of problems that can confront service members after a combat deployment, few can be harder to talk about or more devastating than the inability to resume intimate relationships.Couples who have survived multiple combat deployments know the situation all too well."The first few years of

  • Lynn: Defense budget plans strike 'right balance'

    The Defense Department's plans to cut $78 billion from its budget over five years, and find more than $100 billion in savings for reinvestment, was a collaborative effort and a reasonable balance between military needs and budget constraints, said Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III Jan.

  • Program helps service retain RPA, rated pilots

    Air Force officials announced their plans Jan. 26 for the fiscal 2011 Aviator Continuation Pay program to help retain active-duty pilots and combat-systems officers who are trained as remotely piloted aircraft pilots.The ACP program allows some active-duty, rated aviators to qualify for a monetary

  • Red Flag 11-2 provides combat experience

    The first pilots flew into a simulated combat environment designed to give them the skills needed to survive in war during Red Flag 11-2 here Jan. 24. "The mission of every Red Flag is to expose our combat aircrew to realistic training," said Col. S. Clinton Hinote, the Red Flag 11-2 Air

  • New fitness requirements for deploying Airmen

    Airmen preparing to attend Army-taught Combat Skills Training prior to deploying to a joint expeditionary tasking in direct support of combatant commander or joint task force ground component missions will soon be required to possess a current and passing fitness assessment, according to new Air