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U.S. Air Force News

  • Macedonian general officially closes MEDCEUR 11

    The 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe officially closed during a ceremony here June 15.MEDCEUR, an annual chairman of the joint chiefs of staff-sponsored regional and multilateral exercise, was designed to provide medical training and operational experience in a deployed

  • Defense Department leads nationwide food drive

    The Defense Department is taking a leading role in a nationwide campaign challenging federal employees to donate to their local food pantries.The "Feds Feed Families" campaign, announced by the Office of Personnel Management on May 26, will run through the end of August, said Pat Tamburrino Jr., the

  • Columbus T-38C accident investigation complete

    The investigation of the Feb. 11, 2011, T-38C Talon mishap at Ellington Field, Texas, found the mishap was due to the pilot mistaking the landing runway, losing altitude too quickly and allowing his airspeed to fall below a safe level. This resulted in catastrophic damage to the T-38's landing gear

  • Air Force organizations win telework awards

    Two Air Force organizations earned the 2011 Telework Exchange Tele-Vision Award for excellence in leadership and for best new initiative, respectively, officials said here June 13.The office of the administrative assistant to the secretary of the Air Force won the award for its headquarters Air

  • TRICARE eligibility requires DEERS enrollment for newborns

    TRICARE offers a variety of health plans designed to provide the best quality of care for parents and their babies. However, if children are not properly registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, they risk losing their TRICARE benefits, program officials said."TRICARE

  • Academy hits switch on solar array

    Officials with the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs Utilities and SunPower Corp. flipped a switch signifying the official dedication of the Academy's 6-megawatt solar array in a ceremony June 13.Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael C. Gould called the event significant because it demonstrates

  • Airmen standardize procedures to ensure patient, aircrew safety

    Similar to walking through security and being searched by TSA at an airport, Airmen at the contingency aeromedical staging facility here have standardized procedures to take security aboard military aircraft to a higher level."We're like a medical airport," said Lt. Col. Barbara Persons, the 451st

  • DOD seeks Input from employers of Guardsmen, Reservists

    Defense Department officials want to hear by July 6 from the civilian employers of reservists and National Guardsmen in a survey intended to measure the impact of service members on the civilian workplace.Announced in March, the Department of Defense National Survey of Employers will indicate how

  • Policy changes consider troops, families, official says

    The Pentagon office for personnel and readiness and the programs it oversees will not be immune from Defense Department efficiency initiatives, but will keep troops and their families at the forefront in the consideration of changes, the office's top civilian leader said."I joined with an efficiency

  • Multinational students receive training from U.S. medics

    Thirty-nine students from Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, participated in a Defense Institute for Medical Operations disaster planners course here June 6 to 10. This course was part of the 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe, an annual

  • Panetta vows to put national security, troops first

    Leon E. Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee June 9 that if he's confirmed as the next defense secretary, his first and foremost mission will be to protect the U.S. and ensure it has the "best-trained, the best-equipped and the strongest military in the world" to provide that defense.Mr.

  • Department recognizes environmental stewards

    The Defense Department today recognized its best stewards of the nation's natural and cultural resources at a Pentagon ceremony marking the 2011 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards."The Defense Department has long made it a priority to protect our natural and cultural resources," said Dorothy

  • Air Force civilian named IMFA Gold Plate winner

    An Air Force civilian was named the 2011 International Foodservice Manufacturers Association's Gold Plate winner here May 23.George Miller, the Air Force Services Agency food and beverage operations chief, is the first military member to receive the 56-year-old award that annually recognizes the

  • Air Force senior leaders reflect on founding Air Commando

    The former deputy commander of the 1st Air Commando Group died June 6. Retired Maj. Gen. John Alison was 98 years old and is survived by his wife Penni and son David."General Alison was a superb Airman and an Air Force legend," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "As a highly decorated

  • Historians write their own chapter with Air Force awards

    Air Force officials recently named the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency history office the recipient of the 2010 Brig. Gen. Brian S. Gunderson Award for overall history program management excellence and the Air Force Heritage Award for its heritage center and

  • Ellsworth Airmen providing support to FEMA

    Airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing here are providing support to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the federal response to recent flooding in South Dakota and surrounding states.Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., is serving as a staging base for 21 FEMA tractor trailers of relief supplies,

  • Moving families can transfer TRICARE Prime enrollment

    Active duty military members and their families who are moving to a new location can now transfer their TRICARE Prime military health plan enrollment with a simple phone call. The enrollment transfer includes a new primary care manager best suited to the location of the service member's work, home

  • Former Air Force general sworn in as VA undersecretary for benefits

    Retired Brig. Gen. Allison A. Hickey, a 27-year veteran of the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve and a graduate of the first U.S. Air Force Academy class to include women, has been sworn in as the Department of Veterans Affairs' undersecretary for benefits."General Hickey is a

  • Multinational exercise kicks off in Macedonia

    Members from seven multinational forces gathered in Macedonia June 6 to kick off the 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe, or MEDCEUR 11. MEDCEUR, an annual regional and multilateral exercise sponsored by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is held in the spirit of

  • Thunderbirds announce 2012 officer selections

    The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. William M. Fraser III, has officially selected the officers who will be joining the United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds" for the 2012 demonstration season. Maj. Greg Moseley, a lieutenant colonel-select currently assigned to

  • Captain shares Student Flight knowledge to help unit build program

    Capt. Bryan Williams, the Student Flight coordinator for the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., helped establish the new Student Flight training program for the West Virginia ANG's 130th Airlift Wing here.A Student Flight prepares new recruits for

  • Minot Airmen help neighbors as flood water rises

    With the Souris River threatening to break the levies already in place, thousands of Minot citizens, including military members, their families and DOD civilians, have been forced to evacuate the area here June 1.Many have sought shelter with friends and families outside of the evacuation areas. For

  • EPLO assisting relief efforts after Massachusetts tornadoes

    At least two tornadoes struck parts of central and western Massachusetts June 1, prompting the Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate to deploy an emergency preparedness liaison officer to assist in the relief effort at the request of the defense coordinating

  • Lakenheath Airmen pay homage to fallen

    Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing Honor Guard at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, participated in a memorial ceremony honoring fallen heroes at the Scottish-American War Memorial here May 30.This year marks the 77th annual Scottish-American Memorial Day service at "The Call," a war memorial

  • TRICARE ECHO helps families with special needs

    For beneficiaries with specific mental or physical disabilities, TRICARE's Extended Care Health Option provides benefits, including financial assistance that is not available through the basic TRICARE program.ECHO does not replace benefits from other TRICARE programs; it simply offers supplemental

  • Minot Airmen affected by flood seek shelter

    Flooding caused by the springtime snow-melt, saturated ground and heavy rainfall led emergency management officials to evacuate more than 10,000 Minot residents, in areas near the Souris River in downtown Minot May 31, including more than 500 Airmen and families assigned here who live

  • Air Force announces OTS selection results

    A total of 63 men and women from across the U.S. have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced today. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 971 applications as part of Officer Training School

  • Guard, Reserve employers earn top Defense Department honor

    Fifteen employers have been chosen to receive the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award in recognition of the support they provide to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.Officials at Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Defense Department agency,

  • New warrior, family operations center opens

    Air Force officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand opening for the Air Force's new Warrior and Family Operations Center here May 25.More than 200 people witnessed the opening of the 7,000 square-foot facility housing four programs: Air Force Wounded Warrior, Airman and Family Readiness,

  • Deployed Airmen fuel combat outpost security

    Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management Flight are assisting in the safety and security of thousands of U.S., Afghan and coalition troops at various forward operating bases and combat outpost throughout Afghanistan.Above these remote locations, aerostats

  • Iraqi airmen, U.S. advisers celebrate bittersweet PME graduation

    More than 160 Iraqi airmen graduated from a two-week enlisted professional development course taught by U.S. Air Force advisers here May 28. The students, who learned skills designed to make them more effective leaders, supervisors and managers, were praised by their American advisers for their

  • Air Force officials to hold selective early retirement boards

    As part of the FY11 Force Management programs announced in early February, Air Force officials are preparing for the selective early retirement boards for lieutenant colonels and colonels to further size and balance the force within congressionally authorized end-strength levels. The lieutenant

  • Air Force leaders issue summer 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 Critical Days of Summer safety campaign message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force and their families:Memorial Day weekend through Labor

  • Commissary Agency officials honor best stores for recycling

    Helping the environment has become a habit for a number of stores in the Defense Commissary Agency. Agency officials formally acknowledged these commissaries for their excellence in recycling May 25 as part of DeCA's Solid Waste Management Awards.The awards were developed to recognize store

  • Reserve Airmen begin work on Boy Scout Jamboree site

    Reserve Airmen recently arrived here to begin work on a 10,600 acre National Scout Jamboree site as part of Joint Task Force Summit.More than 20 civil engineers from the 477th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, began clearing trees and installing silt fences on the

  • Red Cross eases access to emergency communication services

    As part of an ongoing effort to better serve the military community, the American Red Cross will move to a single telephone number for its emergency communication services in June.Beginning June 13, service members and their families can use one toll-free number, 877-272-7337, to send an urgent

  • Secretary Donley congratulates new officers at Academy commencement

    The secretary of the Air Force spoke at the commencement address for the Air Force Academy's Class of 2011 at Falcon Stadium here May 25.Michael Donley congratulated the 1,021 graduates and challenged them to be lifelong learners, team players and doers after they have received their diplomas and

  • Tops in Blue set to kick off 'Rhythm Nation' tour

    Tops in Blue, the Air Force's expeditionary entertainment unit, kicks off their 2011 'Rhythm Nation' tour with a performance at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., May 25.Tops in Blue is a group of Airmen comprised of 35 vocalists, dancers, musicians and technicians who perform for deployed service

  • myPay goes mobile

    Users of myPay now can check pay statements on the go using a smartphone or other mobile device that has a web browser.This update for myPay, the online pay account management system for service members, military retirees and many federal civilian employees, is based on customer feedback received

  • Fairchild Airman accepted to doctor of pharmacy program

    Airman 1st Class Bart Hardwell never imagined it could happen, but through hard work, perseverance and support from his peers and leadership, it did.He was one of 249 selected out of 1,200 applicants to attend the fall 2011, doctor of pharmacy program at the University of Southern Nevada College of

  • Strong military is key to long-term U.S. success, Gates says

    The ultimate guarantee against success of aggressors, dictators and terrorists in the 21st century is the size, strength and global reach of the United States military, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said May 22."Beyond the current wars, our military credibility, commitment and presence are

  • First lady lauds 'A force of families'

    The nation's military is built and sustained on the strength of families, First Lady Michelle Obama told the U.S. Military Academy's Class of 2011 and their families at a banquet last night in West Point, N.Y., on May 20, the eve of graduation ceremonies. No matter where their careers take them,

  • Today's Air Force special report: Ranger school

    In a special edition of "Today's Air Force," you will get an inside look at Ranger School. It's the Army's premier leadership course, but it's open to all services. Next you'll take a look at the course and then follow an Airmen on his journey towards a Ranger tab. However, before Airmen attend

  • Secretary urges careful thought in spending reductions

    Finding $400 billion in additional defense spending reductions over the next 12 years will require careful thought that considers the risks the reductions create, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here May 19.In a question-and-answer session with students at the U.S. Army Engineer School here,

  • Civilian career development webcasts continue May 26, June 21

    Webcasts designed to help civilian Airmen plan and manage their careers will be held May 26 for GS-12 and GS-13 civilians, and June 21 for GS-7 through GS-11 civilians. Hosted by officials of the Air Force Personnel Center civilian force integration directorate, webcast topics will include how to

  • 7th Intel Squadron named best in Air Force

    The 7th Intelligence Squadron was named the Outstanding Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit of the Year for 2010 as part of the annual Air Force ISR awards program and the National Military Intelligence Association Maj. Gen. Jack E. Thomas awards program. The 7th IS selection was made

  • Air Guard Airmen establish air hub for earthquake-relief exercise

    More than 40 members of a contingency response element from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Airlift Wing operated a key patient-movement hub here as part of National Level Exercise 2011.The exercise is designed to test the local, state and national response to a simulated earthquake along

  • Joint Air Operations Center stand-up part of National Level Exercise 2011

    Kentucky Air National Guard officials stood up a joint air operations center here May 16 to serve as the main command node for all of the state's fixed-wing and rotary aircraft that are participating in the largest earthquake-response exercise in U.S. history.The week-long event, called National

  • Gates shares views on Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan

    During a question-and-answer session here May 19, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave U.S. Army Engineer School students his view of the situations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.Though the current agreement between the U.S. and Iraq calls for all U.S. forces to be out of Iraq by the end of

  • DOD makes progress in civilian hiring reform

    Until recently, applying for a civilian job at the Defense Department was an exercise in navigating through a byzantine federal hiring process and amassing thick application packets, with applicants sometimes waiting up to a year for any word on their applications.Pasquale M. Tamburrino Jr., the

  • Cadets win Boeing design challenge

    A year of hard work paid off for team of cadets recently, when they won the Boeing CrewSystem 2035 challenge. CrewSystem 2035 was a year-long design competition sponsored by Boeing. Teams from the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy were tasked to design the

  • Officials launch U.S. International Cyber Strategy

    White House officials yesterday launched a strategy that the administration says unifies U.S. engagement with international partners on a range of cyber issues for the first time.The International Strategy for Cyberspace was presented here by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Attorney

  • Lynn: Cyberspace strategy to build coalition of nations

    White House officials released an international cyberstrategy here May 16 that will help to build a "coalition of nations (with a) mutual interest in securing cyberspace," Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.The event to launch the U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace also

  • 50th anniversary of U.S.'s first human spaceflight celebrated

    People gathered here May 4 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first American in space.The event honored Alan B. Shepard Jr., who piloted the 15-minute, 23-second suborbital flight at 303 statute miles in the Freedom 7 spacecraft May 5, 1961.Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter and members of the

  • Plans in place to spend $1 million IEA winnings at Spangdahlem AB

    More than 30 service members, U.S. and German national civilian employees, and family members from here received the Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence and Special Recognition Award May 2 through 6 in Washington.It was during this trip that Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton

  • Air Force officials announce civilian hiring controls

    Air Force leaders announced that hiring controls were instituted May 12 to reduce projected growth of the civilian workforce.The Air Force-wide efforts to stem the civilian personnel growth are a result of Secretary of Defense Robert Gate's efficiency initiatives to maintain civilian manning at

  • EPLOs supporting Mississippi River flood response effort

    The recent flooding along the Mississippi River has disrupted lives and commerce, and now the next threat is to several parishes in Louisiana. To help save lives and mitigate property damage, officials at the Air Forces Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness Directorate have deployed two

  • USTRANSCOM wins 2011 Government Organization Defense Architecture Award

    The Association for Enterprise Information recognized U.S. Transportation Command as the winner of its 2011 Government Organization Defense Architecture Award.The award highlights the command's USTRANSCOM Joint Deployment and Distribution Architecture - Enhanced as a model for policy and practice

  • Travel website helps determine risks when planning events

    Returning from deployment, getting ready for marriage, a promotion and three-day weekends are just some of the occasions in which Airmen take the time to plan and schedule leave.Planning for a good time on leave is not only limited to the destination, however. The element of safety can be properly

  • Marines begin reintegration through Air Force Deployment Transition Center

    More than 100 Marines arrived by air here April 27 for a brief stay at the Air Force Deployment Transition Center.On their way home from Helmand Province in Afghanistan, the Marines of the 1st Explosives Ordnance Disposal Company, from Camp Pendleton, Calif., are the first members from another

  • Air Force honors 2010 Sijan award winners

    For demonstrating outstanding leadership, four Airmen received the 2010 Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award during a ceremony May 11 in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.Named in honor of the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor, the award annually recognizes officer and

  • AETC, 17th AF officials bring maintenance training to 7 partner nations

    Officers and NCOs from seven African nations began a three-week course here May 5 designed to provide fundamental maintenance and logistics management skills, thanks to a partnership between 17th Air Force (Air Forces Africa) and Air Education and Training Command.The Trans-Sahara Culture of

  • Odierno: Services must partner to weather lean times

    Defense Department officials must expand joint service, interagency and allied partnerships during tight fiscal times, and avoid the pitfalls of "doing more with less," Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said May 11. "We must avoid the trap of doing more with less, which is a recipe for creating a hollow

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

    In a special edition of "Today's Air Force," you will get an inside look at Ranger School. It's the Army's premier leadership course, but it's open to all services. Take a look at the course and then follow an Airman on his journey towards a Ranger tab. However, before Airmen attend Ranger School

  • Lynn: U.S. must preserve its defense industrial base

    Competition, a global defense market and targeted research and development spending will be critical in preserving the nation's defense industrial base during the slowdown in Pentagon spending, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here May 11.In keynote remarks at the Intrepid Sea, Air

  • Undersecretary addresses fiscal challenges

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton spoke at the Air Force Association's Air Force Breakfast Program here May 11.Ms. Conaton discussed the state of the Air Force and how the service is approaching the challenging budgetary environment it faces today."We're currently balancing a range of

  • EPA awards Aviano clinic second Energy Star

    Environmental Protection Agency officials recently awarded the 31st Medical Group a second Energy Star, making the Aviano Air Base clinic the "greenest" in the Air Force.To qualify for the Energy Star, a building must earn 75 or more points on the EPA's 100-point performance scale, indicating that

  • 2011 Team of the Year visits Washington

    Air Force first sergeants were recognized recently during events honoring them as the Air Force and Air Force Association 2011 Team of the Year. Each year the chief master sergeant of the Air Force, along with the major command-level command chief master sergeants, selects a specific Air Force

  • AFCEE redefines the gateway to the Air Force

    Engineers at the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment are preparing to build an inprocessing and information center for Air Force recruits and their families here.The construction of the facility is significant to both the agency and the Air Force, due to its robust depiction of Air

  • Building a better tomorrow, one NCO at a time

    Airmen serving with the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air and 447th Air Expeditionary Group are focused on building the foundation of the Iraqi air force. Equipment transfer and technical training are important, but a small group of NCOs are also teaching enlisted professional development as

  • ESC trifecta will enable autonomous Iraqi air defense

    Because a strong Iraqi air force capable of flying and fighting starts with a solid foundation of planning and control of forces, an Electronic Systems Center team has taken on three major projects of an ESC master plan to ensure the Iraqi air force is capable of providing its own air

  • U.S., Congolese military complete MEDLITE 11

    Airmen and Democratic Republic of the Congo service members finished a joint-medical exercise here May 5.The MEDLITE 11 exercise focused on aeromedical evacuation to improve the readiness of personnel. According to Lt. Col. June Oldman, the director of MEDLITE 11, the exercise focused on five key

  • Common interests, challenges discussed at African Air Chiefs Conference

    Shared interests and common challenges topped discussions between African air chiefs from 24 nations and their U.S. counterparts during the 2011 African Air Chiefs Conference April 26 through 28 here.The conference aims to foster communication and dialogue between regional and multilateral partner

  • Air Force members recognized for decades of public service

    With 50 years of service each, two Air Force public servants were among 39 men and women recognized in the Pentagon courtyard May 5 with the Spirit of Service award honoring those whose government careers have spanned 48 to 68 years.As part of Public Service Recognition Week, May 1 through 7, Sara

  • Remembering pilot slain in Afghanistan

    Quiet giant. Humble. Tremendously respected. Genuine. These were the repeated words that friends and family members here used to describe the instructor pilot who was among the nine Americans killed during the April 27 Kabul International Airport shooting. Lt. Col. Frank Bryant Jr. made the ultimate

  • Air Force officials urge motorcycle safety

    As the summer brings warmer temperatures, Airmen should remain vigilant in taking safety precautions in all activities, and particularly on motorcycles, officials said here May 6. In a 2011 Year of Motorcycle Safety dual-signature memorandum to Airmen, the assistant secretary for installations,

  • Force management explained

    A group of mostly captains sat in on a recent briefing here to find out more about the 2011 Force Management Program.In February, Air Force leaders announced another round of involuntary force-management programs to reduce personnel, and this time it affects mostly officers.For some of the officers,

  • Aeromedical evacuation saves lives in Afghanistan

    An aeromedical evacuation capacity unrivaled anywhere in the world is saving the lives of wounded warriors in Afghanistan, said the officer here who oversees the effort at the combat theater's busiest aeromedical evacuation point.Equipment and procedures are being improved continually to move

  • Tinker AFB Airmen complete first repairs on F117 engine

    Airmen from the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group and Pratt & Whitney mechanics recently completed repairs on the first F117 engine of the newly-obtained workload. The Pratt & Whitney manufactured engine powers the C-17 Globemaster III."The significance is that this engine was the first ever

  • Chief of staff addresses issues, surveys tornado damage

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz visited here May 4 and 5 to meet with Airmen and see the damage caused by recent tornadoes.During an all-call meeting, General Schwartz discussed several issues, including recent force management actions by Air Force officials, the repeal of the law

  • Officials announce personnel annual award winners

    The deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, or A1, recently announced the 2010 award winners for the A1 community.This year's winners are:Installation awards:Gen. Curtis E. LeMay Award, for best large-category force support squadron:1st Special Operations FSS, Air Force Special

  • Proposal would save $3.2 billion in health care costs

    The Defense Department's proposal to reform the TRICARE health plan and the military health system would save at least $3.2 billion between 2012 and 2016, the Pentagon's chief financial officer told Congress yesterday. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee,

  • Officials announce AF fuels management awards

    The 87th Air Base Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., recently received the Air Force's 2010 American Petroleum Institute Gold Award.The other award winners were:Silver Award - 86th Air Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany Bronze Award - 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Air

  • Registry yields life-saving treatment lessons

    A registry established six years ago to track casualty information from Iraq and Afghanistan is providing valuable data that's saving wounded warriors' lives, the commander of the theater hospital here said.Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Guillermo Tellez, commander of the Staff Sgt. Heathe N. Craig Joint

  • Report outlines progress in Afghanistan

    READY FOR REVIEWLast year's surge of U.S. and coalition forces into Afghanistan, with the simultaneous growth of Afghan forces, is leading to tangible progress for peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, according to a biannual Defense Department report recently released.The final component of 30,000

  • Five military installations receive top honors

    Teams from five military installations around the world received top awards today for excelling at their mission despite the demands of war and recent natural disasters.At a Pentagon ceremony, Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, lauded the

  • 24th AF officials conduct first change of command

    Maj. Gen. Suzanne M. Vautrinot assumed command of 24th Air Forces during a change-of-command ceremony here April 29.General Vautrinot replaced Maj. Gen. Richard E. Webber, who retired after 36 years of service. General William L. Shelton, the Air Force Space Command commander, presided over the

  • Airman saves seizing Soldier

    An Airman assigned to the 647th Civil Engineer Squadron here performed self aid and buddy care on a Soldier suffering from a seizure April 15."I was at a benefit concert for a Bible study I attend," said Senior Airman Jesse Cornell. "We were sitting there, listening to the guy play and sing, and all

  • Clinton: U.S. will redouble antiterrorism efforts

    The U.S. will not become complacent in the aftermath of killing Osama bin Laden, but will continue its efforts to stamp out terrorism with new resolve, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said May 2. "We must take this opportunity to renew our resolve and redouble our efforts," she said. "Our

  • Some officer development applications due by May 31

    Officers considering 2012 advanced academic degree and experience broadening programs should get their applications started, since some applications are due as early as May 31, officials recently said.Bomber pilot, space and missile operations, intelligence, weather, logistics, program management,

  • Academy military trainers receive mark of distinction

    As long as there's been an Air Force Academy, an elite group of NCOs has played a key role in the development of future leaders for the Air Force, and now those NCOs wear a formal mark of distinction.Academy Military Training NCOs, more commonly known as AMTs, were recently authorized to wear an

  • Air Force further reduces officer RIF requirements

    Several year groups and competitive categories no longer will be required to meet the September 2011 reduction-in-force board. Air Force officials announced that RIF-eligible officers from previously announced competitive categories for chaplains, medical service corps and 1999 and 2000 judge

  • Logistics Airmen play crucial dual-role before Kirkuk transition

    As U.S. military forces pack up their things and transition out of Iraq, Airmen from the 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron have their hands full.With less than eight months remaining before the security agreement deadline, 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen are

  • Top enlisted leaders focus on families

    Building resilience in families and ensuring they have access to effective support programs are just a few of the steps the services are taking to ensure a high quality of life for troops and their families, the services' senior enlisted leaders said during a town hall meeting here April 28."At the

  • Using tobacco does not reduce stress, researchers report

    Many service men and women report that stress is a major reason they smoke or chew tobacco, since military life produces unique pressures and challenges. But a recent article published on the Department of Defense's tobacco cessation website, http://www.ucanquit2.org, explains how tobacco actually

  • Mullen discusses personnel pluses, concerns

    Calling personnel issues his greatest comfort and greatest concern, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today praised U.S. service members for the way they've adapted through a decade of war.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told attendees at a Government Executive Magazine leadership briefing that while

  • Commissaries continue efficient reporting of taxpayer funds

    When it comes to accounting for taxpayer funds, the Defense Commissary Agency has proven that every dollar counts. For the ninth consecutive year, independent auditors have rated DeCA's financial statements as excellent. In the accounting world, an excellent rating on the review of a corporate