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  • Special Operations honors latest heroes

    One of the most combat-decorated Air Force units since the end of the Vietnam War named more heroes Jan. 23-24 during medal presentation ceremonies here and at Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore.The 24th Special Operations Wing gained one Silver Star and six Bronze Star medals with

  • Air Force to launch new standards program

    Air Force bases and customer-service oriented services will now be held to a uniform set of standards, thanks to the recently launched Air Force Common Output Level Standards program.It's a program that will standardize the delivery of installation support services so that Airmen and other customers

  • Former 'dirt boy' retires as Air Force's top enlisted Airman

    "Dirt Boy Did Good" would be a great working title for a movie about former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy's 30-year career. His first Air Force job, after he joined in 1982, was in civil engineering as a heavy equipment operator, a "dirt boy." His last, the one he retired from Jan.

  • Secretary Donley nominated for Order of the Sword

    The enlisted men and women of the United States Air Force nominated the service's senior civilian for induction into the Air Force Order of the Sword Jan 23 here.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley accepted the nomination from then-Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy at a meeting with

  • From tragedy comes triumph: Wounded warrior shares his story

    The first bullet struck him in the hip. But it was the second shot, the one that hit Staff Sgt. Kristoffer Schneider in the forehead, which forever changed his life nearly two years ago.Schneider and his wife, Amanda, shared his story of surviving the 2011 terror attack at Frankfurt International

  • Secretary Donley nominated for Order of the Sword

    The enlisted men and women of the United States Air Force nominated the service's senior civilian for induction into the Air Force Order of the Sword here today.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley accepted the nomination from Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy at a meeting with

  • Reserve announces revised force structure actions

    Air Force Reserve Command officials are moving forward with force structure changes authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2013.Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard leaders collaborated to develop one Total Force Proposal in response to concerns raised by

  • Afghan air force advances battlefield support tactics

    The commanders of the Afghan air force and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan signed two operational decrees Jan. 23, implementing procedures to improve air response to Afghan battlefield casualties by the AAF's new Cessna C-208 Caravan fleet and its Mi-17 helicopters. The decrees address the

  • Families make unit stronger

    The harsh reality of leaving family behind is common for service members, what is not so common is being deployed with them.The 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron understands the significance of family bonds and they should -- they have five pairs of related Airmen."We have great camaraderie

  • 400-plus selected for squadron, group command

    More than 400 officers from various Air Force career fields have been selected for mission support, training, recruiting, air base squadron and deputy maintenance group command, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced. Using squadron commander candidate lists released in November, wing hiring

  • Air Force Officials Aim to Eliminate Sexual Assault

    Following a nine-month investigation into sexual misconduct at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in San Antonio, the Air Force has implemented a comprehensive program aimed at eliminating sexual assault, senior Air Force leaders told Congress today.Air Force Chief Of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and

  • Military kids website also helps parents, educators

    The Defense Department website for military children has added new features to help parents and educators explain difficult topics of the military lifestyle to children.Since its launch in January 2012, MilitaryKidsConnect.org has served more than 125,000 visitors and won five industry excellence

  • Academy cadets march in 57th Inaugural Parade

    Cadets with the Air Force Academy's outstanding cadet squadron of 2012 marched down the streets of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington Jan. 22 as part of the 57th Inauguration Parade, honoring the swearing-in of President Barack Obama.Hundred of thousands of spectators greeted the Raptors of Cadet

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: The Airman and James Bond

    (Editor's Note:This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Quartermaster "Q" supplied Skyfall's 50-year anniversary James Bond with a radio and a Walther PPK handgun, but Sean Connery's 007 relied

  • Air Force Space Command to bolster cyber force

    The Air Force Space Command expects to be directed to add 1,000 new people, mainly civilians, to its base of about 6,000 cyber professionals for fiscal 2014, the command's chief said here Jan. 17.Speaking with reporters at a meeting of the Defense Writers Group, Gen. William L. Shelton said

  • Team of Airmen to attempt Mount Everest climb

    Four Air Force Academy graduates may be busy preparing to climb the world's highest peak in May, but they haven't forgotten where mountaineering first began for them: here, climbing Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks as cadets. A team of six seasoned Air Force mountaineers; currently stationed in

  • Airman chosen for Inaugural Ball first dance

    The Department of Defense has chosen four of its top men and women representing their respective service branches to join the Obamas and Bidens for the traditional first dance at the Presidential Inaugural Committee's Commander-in-Chief's Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Jan.

  • Air Force releases results of health and welfare inspection

    The Air Force released the results of the service-wide health and welfare inspections that were completed in an effort to emphasize an environment of respect, trust and professionalism in the workplace."Every Airman deserves to be treated with respect. They also deserve to work in a professional

  • 'Hurricane Hunters' kept relentless watch on 2012 storms

    As the nation rebounds from 19 named storms and 11 major hurricanes in 2012, a small but hardy military organization keeps relentless watch to track and prepare for such disasters.Located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, dubbed the "Hurricane Hunters" of

  • Air Force names Lance P. Sijan Award winners

    Air Force officials recently announced the winners of the 2012 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award.The Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities.The senior officer category winner is Lt. Col. Nathan C. Green, who is assigned to

  • Air Force leaders deliver budget guidance to force

    Air Force leaders delivered guidance to the force recently, telling them to begin planning for the uncertain budget environment ahead, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said Jan. 11 in a press briefing."Even though we're not presuming this worst case will occur, prudent planning for the

  • Airmen featured in upcoming documentary series

    A six-episode television documentary exploring Air Force combat rescue in Afghanistan through the stories of deployed Airmen slated to premiere Feb. 18, at 10 p.m. EST/PST.The show, "Inside Combat Rescue," provides a real-time look at the experiences of Airmen working to save the lives of NATO

  • Civil engineers meet with industry to develop partnerships

    The newly established Air Force Civil Engineer Center hosted its first industry day Jan. 15 in San Antonio.Maj. Gen. Timothy Byers, the Air Force civil engineer, and Joe Sciabica, Air Force Civil Engineer Center director, addressed more than 350 industry professionals about the future of Air Force

  • Tops in Blue gets boost from Air Force licensing program

    Tops in Blue, the Air Force's premier traveling entertainment troupe, was selected to receive $100,000 from the Air Force's Trademark and Licensing Office.The Trademark and Licensing Office, which operates with the Air Force Public Affairs Agency here, processes requests from around the world

  • Reservists, local police team up for C-17 rescue training

    Airmen of the 446th Airlift Wing teamed up with a local police dive team to conduct familiarization training on the C-17 Globemaster here Jan. 10. Nate Condreay, Pierce County Metro deputy sheriff and rescue diver, reached out to the 446th AW for Air Force aircraft specialists to train the police

  • DOD official lauds veterans commercial license effort

    Maryland has joined 33 other states in agreeing to waive the skills test for veterans and service members who have military training that would entitle them to a commercial driver's license, a senior Defense Department official said today.Frank C. DiGiovanni, director of training, readiness and

  • Humanitarian award presented to Florida businessman

    The military services chose a longtime Air Force volunteer from Florida as this year's recipient of the Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley presented the award to Chris Sehman, a local businessman from Okaloosa County,

  • AF officials reschedule MilPDS upgrade

    Originally slated for December 2012, Air Force officials will perform a major upgrade to the Military Personnel Data System, or MilPDS, March 2013.The Air Force Personnel Operations Agency here will upgrade and transfer MilPDS to the Defense Information Systems Agency Defense Enterprise Computing

  • Air Force leaders will deliver budget guidance to force in days

    Air Force leaders will deliver guidance to the force in a few days to begin prudent planning for the uncertain budget environment ahead, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said here Jan. 11.Donley and Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the Air Force chief of staff, briefed Pentagon reporters Jan. 11, on the

  • State of the AF is 'strong'

    The Air Force's top leaders said today the service has accomplished much while dealing with many challenges in the last year.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III briefed members of the media here on the state of the service and its focus on

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman takes pride in building future leaders

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It is a simple word to describe a powerful human trait or action; the ability to influence or guide a group of people to complete an act greater than

  • Airman awarded National Defense Space Award

    The first Forrest S. McCartney National Defense Space Award was presented to Maj. Kenneth Holmes, the Air Force Special Operations Command chief of space training, at the National Space Club luncheon here Jan. 8.The award recognizes significant contributions of Department of Defense personnel on

  • Academy Band conductor nominated for regional Emmy

    The commander and conductor of the Air Force Academy Band may soon be clutching an award statuette from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.Lt. Col. Don Schofield was nominated for a regional Emmy award this year for his 2011 production of "Holiday Notes from Home" and will attend

  • Panetta: Fiscal crisis poses biggest immediate threat to DOD

    The "perfect storm of budget uncertainty" howling around his department is the biggest immediate threat facing the U.S. military, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told reporters here today.Panetta and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, stressed during a regular

  • AF officials reschedule MilPDS upgrade

    Originally slated for December of last year, Air Force officials will perform a major upgrade to the Military Personnel Data System, or MilPDS, in March.The Air Force Personnel Operations Agency here will upgrade and transfer MilPDS to the Defense Information Systems Agency Defense Enterprise

  • Air Force announces KC-46A candidate bases

    The Air Force announced Altus Air Force Base, Okla. and McConnell AFB, Kan., as candidate bases for the KC-46A formal training unit (FTU) today. Altus AFB, Fairchild AFB, Wash., Grand Forks AFB, N.D., and McConnell AFB, are candidate bases for the first active-duty led KC-46A main operating base

  • Air Force Academy parachute team wins 46 medals at national competition

    The Wings of Blue Air Force Parachute Team won 46 medals and set five national collegiate records at the National Collegiate Parachute Competition here Jan. 2.Wings of Blue skydivers took home 13 gold, 18 silver and 15 bronze medals at the competition, held from Dec. 2 - Jan. 2. The Air Force Legacy

  • The most fearsome weapon is evolving

    The first MC-130J Commando II to be converted into Air Force Special Operations Command's newest variant of the gunship, the AC-130J Ghostrider arrived at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Modifications to the airframe will be completed in 10 months and will be a milestone in the recapitalization of the

  • AF largest refueling squadron tops 50K combat hours in 2012

    Averaging more than 136 hours a day, the largest refueling squadron in the world flew more than 50,000 combat hours within 2012's 366 calendar days using the Total Force Integration model."Surpassing 50,000 hours is a significant milestone," said Lt. Col. Brian Gilpatrick, 340th Expeditionary Air

  • Air Force supports defense of Turkey

    Mobility Airmen are enabling their Army counterparts to meet a Secretary of Defense order to move two Patriot anti-missile batteries and hundreds of Soldiers to support Turkey, a U.S. ally.According to officials, Airmen worked around the clock to support a NATO request to deploy two Patriot

  • Deadline nears to nominate employers for recognition

    Reserve-component service members have until Jan. 21 to nominate their employers for a 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, according to a Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve news release.Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense agency, manages

  • Deployed Airmen help Afghan police with security checkpoint

    At a busy intersection in Parwan Province near Bagram Airfield, adults and children alike stopped to watch as a crane lofted what looked like a shipping container above the heads of Afghan and American servicemembers Jan. 7.The container was actually the top of an old guard tower from Bagram

  • AF legal team advises Afghans

    Members of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing here are helping the Afghan air force Kandahar air wing leadership and legal office implement military justice and hold the wing's servicemembers accountable to military standards. Maj. Deanna Daly, Staff Judge Advocate for the 451st AEW, and her

  • Reservists to get help with travel vouchers

    Air Force Reserve Command is adding resources and changing business practices to make travel voucher processing easier for reservists.Throughout FY13 the command will increase the number of Defense Travel System travel technicians to assist reservists with their travel vouchers, according to Michael

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Flight surgeon notches 1,000 F-16 hours

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)When people began telling Col. Donald Majercik, a flight surgeon here at the Vermont Air National Guard, that he was 20 hours short of 1,000 flight

  • AF opens new nuclear training center

    Almost 10 years of joint effort and cooperation culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Nuclear Security Tactics Training Center in Guernsey, Wyo., Dec. 13.The $4.2 million facility boasts 14,500 square feet of functional space for training classrooms and cadre offices, and has been

  • AFTAC Airman wins Air Staff-level award

    An Airman assigned to the Air Force Technical Applications Center here was selected as the Air Force's Outstanding Scientific Applications Specialist-Technician of the Year Award for 2012.Senior Airman Jacob Caron, a systems control shift leader at AFTAC, learned of his selection when he opened his

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman strives to become pro fighter

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Most people dream of getting rich, or houses with white picket fences, but one Airman's dream is to be locked in a blood-stained steel cage with a

  • Lt. Gen. Clarke confirmed as Director, Air National Guard

    Lt. Gen. Stanley E. "Sid" Clarke III, commander of the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and 1st Air Force, has been confirmed by the Senate to be the next director of the Air National Guard.Clarke will replace Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt, who is retiring this month.

  • Airmen and Soldier musicians play in unison

    Editor's Note: This is the first article in a series about the U.S. Air Forces Central Band, the only assigned Air Force Band to the Central Command Area of Responsibility. Based in Southwest Asia, the current band "Total Force" is comprised of deployed Airmen from the Band of the U.S. Air Force

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman blogger aims high

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Coming back to a new school year was difficult, even for an experienced teacher. Her new special education math class was crowded. Twenty students

  • New training facility opens in Wyoming

    Almost ten years of joint effort and cooperation culminated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Nuclear Security Tactics Training Center in Guernsey, Wyo., in December.The $4.2 million facility boasts 14,500 square feet of functional space for training classrooms and cadre offices, and has been

  • Solar power lights up Southwest Asia

    Air Force leaders are continually looking for means to do things leaner and cleaner, even in deployed locations.It probably goes unnoticed by most people here, but solar-powered light carts are paving the road to an environmentally friendlier future in Southwest Asia. These new light carts save the

  • Separate paths bring brothers together for Christmas

    Up until a few days ago, Staff Sgt. Derek Allen hadn't seen his brother, Army Cpl. Greg Allen, in a long time. However, an interesting twist of fate spurred their separate services to bring them together here for the Christmas holidays."Both of us being here in (Afghanistan) is the closest we have

  • Deployed Airman receives Christmas phone call from President Obama

    "Hello, President Obama? ... I'm great, how are you?" So began the most memorable phone call of a six-month deployment for Senior Airman Keshia Shutts with the 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron here, who received a Christmas morning phone call from President Barack Obama.The

  • Pararescue, security forces Airmen train as one

    The afternoon sky was still and silent just before a thunderous HH-60G Pave Hawk landed thrusting 100 mph winds. Out jumped three pararescuemen assessing possible threats in all directions as they headed to aid an injured member of a friendly force.The 38th Rescue Squadron and 823rd Base Defense

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: High school reunion ... above Afghanistan

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)In 2001, three students -- each in a different grade -- shared the halls and classrooms of DuBois Area High School in rural Pennsylvania.This month,

  • Space Fence program moves forward

    The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center here recently put out a request for proposal to move the Space Fence program forward.Space Fence will be a system of up to two land-based radars, the first site located at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, to track objects entering Earth's orbit.

  • Academy firefighters recognized for Waldo Canyon Fire efforts

    More than 50 firefighters with the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron here received Air Force Achievement Medals and Air Force Civilian Achievement Awards in a pair of ceremonies Dec. 19-20 for their efforts in containing the Waldo Canyon Fire, which burned 12 acres on the Air Force Academy in June but

  • Acting Under Secretary presents AF small business achievement awards

     In a Dec. 17 ceremony held on the 109th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright's first powered flight, the Air Force honored 15 Air Force employees and organizations for significant contributions to the Air Force Small Business Program.Acting Under Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Jamie Morin was

  • Engineering research psychologist receives Harold Brown Award

    A senior engineering research psychologist received the 2012 Harold Brown research and development award from Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley during a Pentagon ceremony Dec. 17. Dr. Mark H. Draper, from the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, received the

  • Airmen decrease response time with improved expeditionary medical team

    More than 60 medical Airmen from Andersen Air Force Base, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska and Yokota Air Base, Japan, joined trained on the new expeditionary medical support health response team here, Dec. 10-13. EMEDS is a team of expertly-trained medical professionals who utilize a mobile

  • New F-16 software platform to be tested by 40th, 85th

    Developmental testing for an F-16 operational flight program will be accomplished at the 40th Flight Test Squadron and 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron here for the first time.The testing for Block 40 and 50 model F-16s is scheduled to begin in 2014 and will also be the first time developmental

  • Air Force Cross recipients honored at Pope Field

    Four bronze busts in the likeness of Air Force Cross recipients were unveiled during a ceremony here honoring the Airmen at the Combat Control School Dec. 6. The busts honor Capt. Barry Crawford, Tech. Sgt. John Chapman, Staff Sgts. Robert Gutierrez and Zach Rhyner. Crawford and Gutierrez were in

  • AETC declares Eglin ready for F-35 training

    Following an independent evaluation of Eglin's capability to conduct F-35A Lightning II pilot training, Air Education and Training Command announced Dec. 17 that the 33rd Fighter Wing can do so starting January 2013. "The preliminary results provided by the Joint Operational Test Team show the F-35A

  • Guard members prepare for variety of roles in presidential inauguration

    Approximately 6,000 Army and Air National Guard members from 15 states and territories are preparing to take part in and support the 57th Presidential Inauguration, said officials. "They will be coming into the District of Columbia, processed in and will go out to several parts of the city where

  • Employment Website Teams With Joining Forces

    Employment website Monster.com is collaborating with the White House's Joining Forces campaign and will contribute to the initiative's goal of hiring or training an additional 250,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014, Acting Commerce Department Secretary Rebecca M. Blank announced

  • AEDC Fire Department honors a true hero

    When Daryle Lopes, the Arnold Engineering Development Complex Fire Department Chief, sent an email out to the worldwide fire protection community seeking moral support for a young man battling cancer, the response he received exceeded his expectations.Mark Kelly Olson is a 10-year-old boy who was

  • Lt. Gen. Clarke nominated as Director, Air National Guard

    Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, commander of the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region - 1st Air Force, has been nominated by President Obama to be the next director of the Air National Guard.If confirmed by the Senate, Clarke will replace Lt. Gen. Harry "Bud" Wyatt III.,

  • Freedom Award recognizes Guard, Reserve supporters

    Reserve component members still have time to nominate their civilian employers for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, officials from Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a DOD agency, said today.Nominations for the award are due by Jan. 21, 2013. The award is the

  • Airmen's holiday spirit spreads through Korean orphanages

    Airmen at Osan Air Base here are giving back for the holidays to ensure children in local orphanages receive a little bit of holiday cheer. Approximately 500 volunteers will be visiting more than 20 orphanages as part of Operation Christmas Hope, an event focused on the spirit of giving. "We are

  • Q&A: AF chief information officer on Cyber Summit

    Air Force leaders held a Cyber Summit in November at Joint Base Andrews, Md., to discuss the Air Force's role in cyberspace and to ensure the mission needs of the Air Force and joint warfighter are being met going forward.More than 30 senior leaders, including the secretary and chief of staff of the

  • Past, present SOWTs shape elite career field

    The Special Operations Weather Team is one of the newest career fields in the Air Force, officially created just three years ago. However, this grey beret-wearing unit has been around since 1963, originally known as the Commando Combat Weather Team stationed here at Hurlburt Field, Fla.To remember

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Boom operator reaches 7,500 flying hour milestone

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Master Sgt. Todd Buit, the 92nd Operations Group standards evaluations NCO in charge and career boom operator, reached for the sky and broke records in

  • Cadets soar to 8th straight national championship

    Air Force Academy cadets soared to their eighth straight national sailplane racing championship and their 14th in 18 years, the Soaring Society of America announced Dec. 5.This year's team posted more miles than any other in Academy history with more than 30,700 miles, nearly twice as many miles as

  • 'Sir, tell the TACP thanks'

    On 13 May 2010, an Airman First Class taught me some lessons I'll never forget. I think of Airman 1st Class Corey Hughes almost every week. His actions on that particular day in May remind me to focus on others first, that heroic leaders exist among us all the time, and doing the right thing takes

  • Airmen save AF more than a million dollars

    The 437th Aerial Port Squadron Load Planning Airmen answered the call when the Air Mobility Command Fuel Efficiency Office asked AMC aerial port squadrons to maximize fuel usage aboard C-17 Globemaster III's and other air frames using a new initiative called precession loading.Before the initiative

  • EOD Airmen earn 18 Bronze Stars

    After six months of clearing improvised explosive devices, providing blast analysis and clearing roadways, the nearly 40 explosive ordnance disposal Airmen assigned to Joint Task Force Paladin South 966th Air Expeditionary Squadron are headed home, but not before being recognized for their

  • DOD recognizes two Air Force members with disabilities

    The Department of Defense presented awards to two Air Force members during a ceremony here at the Pentagon, Dec. 4.Capt. Ryan McGuire, a C-17 Globemaster III pilot with the 4th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and Christopher Randall, a civilian test director with the Air Force

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman creates important database program

    When an expensive contract on an Air Force aircrew flight equipment database program was not renewed, bases across the world had to find local solutions to fill the void. Some had to turn to time consuming spreadsheets or paper records. At Dover Air Force Base, Del., one Airman created a solution to

  • CSAF directs Air Force-wide inspection

    Commanders across the Air Force will conduct health and welfare inspections starting Dec. 5 to emphasize an environment of respect, trust and professionalism in the workplace.The health and welfare inspection is a tool routinely used by unit commanders, command chiefs, and first sergeants.Air Force

  • OTS shortens course length, increases efficiency

    Beginning in January, the Air Force Officer Training School's Basic Officer Training course will be shortened by three weeks, officials announced Dec. 4. Cutting the course from 12 weeks to nine weeks was the result of finding efficiencies in the course's scheduling processes and curriculum, said

  • AF receives space award

    Space and Missile Systems Center Commander Lt. Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski accepted the donation of the Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy from Dr. Bradford Parkinson on behalf of SMC and the GPS Directorate at a special ceremony held at Los Angeles Air Force Base on Nov. 30.Dr. Parkinson and the "GPS

  • Secrets of universe revealed thanks to AF research complex

    Looking skyward, scientists worldwide now know the universe's size, composition, approximate age and rate of expansion, thanks in part to "essential" data derived from a time-sensitive test conducted at the Arnold Engineering Development Complex's (AEDC) Mark 1 Aerospace Space Chamber. On June 30,

  • From NY streets to Afghan skies, FDNY crew saves lives

    Four New York City firefighters, four Airmen, four friends, one team, one HH-60 Pave Hawk -- one crew -- deployed together with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, bringing a unique flavor of New York Fire Departments with them.Capt. Shaun Cullen, Capt. Tripp

  • NORAD provides website, apps to track Santa

    Children of all ages will be able to track Santa Claus on his annual journey, thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.The "NORAD Tracks Santa" website at http://www.noradsanta.org is up and running. The site features a holiday countdown, games and daily activities, video messages from

  • CSAF talks leadership with wing commanders

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III met with more than 140 wing commanders from across the Air Force Nov. 28 at Joint Base Andrews, Md., to underscore, face-to-face, his expectations of them as leaders and to discuss Air Force issues."Operationally, we're doing great ... mission-wise

  • Deployed father controls airspace over son in Afghanistan

    Maj. Christopher Gering worries like any other parent whose child deploys downrange. It can be gut wrenching knowing his child operates outside the wire, working to clear and dispose of improvised explosive devices.Since August, this proud parent has had an advantage most parents are not afforded

  • Three Airmen win 'Best in Show' photography contest

    Defense Department leaders honored three Airmen Nov. 30, for their participation in the Arts in Embassies program. The Airmen were part of a group of 12 photography winners, selected from over 3,000 photo submissions.Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: First sergeant flexes natural muscle

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Where are you at 3:40 a.m.? Master Sgt. LaJuan Fuller, 366th Civil Engineering Squadron first sergeant, is at the gym. He's been up for more than an hour