NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Air control wings partner under active association construct

    The chief of staff of the Air Force recently designated the 116th Air Control Wing here as an active association wing.The newly designated active association also establishes the 461st ACW as the regular Air Force associate wing. The 116th ACW will become the Air National Guard host wing. Together,

  • Airmen rope competition at rodeo world finals

    Six Airmen participated in the 10th annual 2010 Professional Armed Forces Rodeo Association World Finals at the Somervell County Expo Center here Nov. 20-21.The Airmen competed against more than 40 servicemembers, retirees and dependents in 12 events.Master Sgt. Travis Beck won the Men's All-Around

  • Airmen prepare for Antarctic climb

    Two Hurlburt Field Airmen are putting the 1st Special Operations Wing motto to the test.While most of their friends and colleagues are indulging in the family, food and football of the Thanksgiving holiday, Capt. Rob Marshall, with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, and Capt. Graydon Muller, with

  • Council works to end life insurance compensation confusion

    A special advisory council has agreed to provide family members and survivors of fallen servicemembers and deceased veterans more options for how they receive life insurance compensation.The agreement paved the way to end confusion for survivors and family members of fallen troops, John Gingrich,

  • DOD officials establish wounded warrior task force

    Officials from the office of the undersecretary of Defense for personnel and readiness have announced the names of 14 members who will serve on the Department of Defense Task Force for Care, Management, and Transition of Recovering Wounded, Ill, and Injured servicemembers.The four-year mission of

  • Academy officials educate future leaders on alternative energy

    Leaders at the Air Force Academy broke ground Nov. 1 for a 6-megawatt solar photovoltaic array, one of the largest solar PV projects in Colorado. The array is part of an energy transformation at the Academy, both physically and culturally, as officials seek to make the Academy a "Net Zero"

  • Network Integration Center team shapes future of AF cyberspace operations

    The Air Force Network Integration Center may be an organization that many Airmen aren't familiar with, but it has a very significant charter that ultimately affects every Airman, every day.The center, located here at Scott Air Force Base, is a direct reporting unit of Air Force Space Command at

  • DOD center tracks health, illness in U.S. forces

    A new Defense Department agency employs combined medical expertise to track health, illness and injury across the military services, the center director said.Army Col. (Dr.) Robert F. DeFraites heads the Maryland-based American Forces Health Surveillance Center, which serves servicemembers, family

  • "Best of the Best" bomber and missile wings earn top honors in competition

    Air Force Global Strike Command officials announced the overall winners of the first Global Strike Challenge, Nov. 17. With Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton and commanders of two major commands looking on, the officials capped the months-long bomber, missile and security forces

  • More Airmen needed to provide feedback through AF climate survey

    More than 130,000 people have participated in this year's Air Force Climate Survey, but more are needed to participate and provide their feedback to Air Force commanders and senior leaders before the survey closes Nov. 28.The climate survey assesses the opinions and perceptions of active-duty,

  • Airmen interact with Afghan children

    More than 15 Airmen from here spent the morning with about 45 local Afghan children at the Kandahar Airfield Bazaar School Nov. 13.Every Saturday, the bazaar school is opened to the children of local vendors who come to the base to sell goods at the bazaar, bringing anywhere from 30 to 90 students,

  • Defense undersecretary outlines cost-saving strategy

    Affordability, incentives and productivity growth are the ingredients to get the most out of the next Defense Department budget, a top Pentagon official said Nov. 17.The department will have to become more efficient to support troops while the budget flattens, Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary for

  • Remote device to monitor health on battlefield

    Pararescuemen and other medical technicians will be able to remotely determine a warfighter's health status on the battlefield with sensors designed to be worn and ingested.The Battlefield Automatic Life Status Monitor, or BALSM, is being developed by QinetiQ North America's Technology Solutions

  • Taking Jared's flight

    As one of his young Soldiers lay defenseless on a mountain path, Army Staff Sgt. Jared Monti dropped his radio and stepped in front of the enemy forces pinning down his unit -- exposing himself to a barrage of small-arms fire and rocket-propelled grenades as he attempted to pull his wounded comrade

  • Secretary Donley lauds Air Guard's capability, reach

    The secretary of the Air Force spoke to approximately 2,000 attendees at the Air National Guard's 2010 Senior Leadership Conference here Nov. 16.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said the Air National Guard leads the way in providing "maximum combat power when and where the nation needs it,

  • Partnership makes for expanded air refueling capabilities

    A 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker crew participated in air refueling training here with a C-17 Globemaster III crew from the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa Air Base, Hungary, Nov. 12.Although no fuel was exchanged during the mission, both units received training they don't get the

  • AETC commander to retire after 37 years of service

    The commander of Air Education and Training Command, Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, will retire in the grade of general effective Jan. 1, 2011, Air Force officials have announced, culminating more than 37 years of commissioned service. His retirement ceremony is Nov. 17.Among his many accomplishments as

  • Review aims to streamline ART hiring process

    Personnel officials from the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air Force Personnel Center met here Oct. 26 through 28 to begin steps in reducing the timeline of the hiring process for air reserve technicians, or ARTs.Leaders from AFRC and AFPC met with civilian force integration officials to

  • Former commander in chief pays tribute to wounded warriors during visit

    Some 1,500 people, including eight wounded warriors along with families of military members killed in action in the past 10 years, welcomed former President George W. Bush when he took the stage inside the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 11. It marked President Bush's third visit to the

  • President Bush salutes veterans during visit to Air Force Museum

    Former President George W. Bush praised veterans, active-duty personnel and their families during a speech at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Nov. 11, 2010.  The 43rd president served as the keynote speaker for a special Veterans Day tribute there.President Bush began by talking about his

  • All Americans owe thanks to veterans, Biden says

    Vice President Joe Biden honored servicemembers and veterans at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Nov. 11, saying 100 percent of Americans owe their gratitude to the 1 percent who serve in the all-volunteer force."Collectively, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who served and

  • Chairman works to bridge military-civilian gap

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the eve of Veterans Day Nov. 10, asked the civilian world to reach out to veterans returning home from the wars.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, speaking as part of the Bernard Brodie Distinguished Lecture Series at the UCLA campus here, said he is concerned that

  • Flu shot is essential preventive step to avoid illness

    In many places, flu season is already underway.And while the flu typically won't hit some regions for another few months, research shows it's better to get vaccinated early. "We want you to get the shot, which is an essential preventive service," said Lt. Col. (Dr.) Kimberly Johnson,

  • American Attitude strikes music industry chord

    When the band American Attitude formed four years ago, the members just wanted to fill some empty seats at their NCO club on drill weekends.The guardsmen from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing thought their hard-rock cover band would provide some much-needed entertainment at the

  • US, Afghan air force partner for security drills

    Airmen partnered with their Afghan air force counterparts  for the pinnacle of a month-long security training sessionNov. 6 through 7.After classroom lessons regarding the laws of armed conflict and weapons discipline, the soldiers of the Kandahar Air Wing Security Kandak, a squadron-level unit,

  • Officials use report's findings to prevent violence

    The Air Force follow-on review, Protecting the Force: Lessons from Fort Hood, released Nov. 9, concluded that Airmen at all levels are key to preventing future tragedies like the one at Fort Hood, Texas. The tragic shooting of servicemembers at Fort Hood in November 2009 underscored the need for the

  • Reserve units stand up force support squadrons

    In the coming months, reservists serving in mission support and services career fields will realign under force support squadrons in the Air Force Reserve Command.A mix of mission support and services units received authorization Oct. 15 to inactivate or change their unit designation. The result is

  • Officials seek Spirit of Service Award nominees

    Air Force officials are soliciting nominations for the 2011 American Legion Spirit of Service Award.The award is sponsored by the National Headquarters of the American Legion and is presented annually to an enlisted member from each of the military branches for outstanding volunteer service

  • 586th Flight Test Squadron hits testing milestone

    The 586th Flight Test Squadron, part of Air Force Materiel Command's 46th Test Group, recently hit an aviation milestone when members of the unit completed flight testing of an inert missile, the LTGM-65 Laser Maverick, currently under development by Raytheon Missile Systems. Air Force testers have

  • 'Mission One' at NORTHCOM: Defending the homeland

    Developing regional response capabilities, stepping up preparations for a no-notice catastrophe and maturing partnerships are among priorities at U.S. Northern Command, the new deputy commander said here Nov. 2."We're working very closely with the National Guard and (the Office of the Secretary of

  • Air advisers help Iraqi airmen settle at new base

    Airmen from the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force Base Transition Team assisted the Iraqi air force Squadron 70 -- the first Iraqi flying unit to arrive here -- relocate permanently Oct. 17 from Basra Air Base, Iraq. The unit is a CH-2000 squadron that conducts intelligence, surveillance

  • Samurai surge at Yokota

    Seven C-130 Hercules aircraft took off as part of a Samurai Surge exercise here Nov. 4.Launching the fleet is an operation that occurs when Airmen launch as many aircraft available on the ramp simultaneously, known locally as Samurai Surge."The C-130s here at Yokota Air Base are the only tactical

  • Retired Guardsmen preserve war history, camaraderie

    At the Jackson Barracks Military Museum here, Wednesdays are a time for reminiscing and restoration for the members of the 122nd Bomb Restoration Squadron Unit.The unit is a group of volunteer retired Guardsmen who help to restore old military aircraft and cannons for the museum, and the members

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters visits 3rd Operations Group

    As he dangled from parachute risers, 12-year old Keegan Hall looked down at a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific. Deftly controlling his parachute's toggles, Keegan successfully maneuvered into a stand-up landing on the ship's pitching deck.Peering through virtual reality

  • Two in Air Force among DOD's best employees

    Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III paid tribute to eight people who distinguished themselves among more than 700,000 others and were selected to receive the Defense Department's annual top civilian employee awards."They understand that working for the department is a public trust that

  • Squadron tests newest F-22s, live-firing of missiles

    F-22s Raptor crews from the 90th Fighter Squadron here deployed to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Oct. 30, to participate in exercise Combat Archer, the air-to-air evaluation portion of the Air Force's Weapons Systems Evaluation Program.90th FS members are training and being evaluated with the

  • Nominations open for public administration award

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 7th annual Department of Defense David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award. This award recognizes non-managerial career civilian employees who demonstrate great leadership potential as future federal executives. To be eligible,

  • Not just an average flight simulator

    Officials from the 23rd Operations Support Squadron started their first HC-130 Hercules simulator course here recently.This simulator doesn't train just the pilot and co-pilot, it trains the entire crew. "The purpose of the simulator is to bring up situations that the crew could run into during a

  • Wingmen in right place, right time save lives

    Being at the right place at the right time may have saved the life of a surgical nurse assigned to the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron here Sept. 6. Capt. Scott Thallemer was on temporary duty at the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center when two fellow nurses saved him from

  • 11-year-old becomes a pilot

    When an 11-year-old becomes a pilot, it's a headline maker. When an 11-year-old survives potentially terminal brain cancer, it's a headline maker. And the heroes who made both of those things possible for 11-year-old Ryder Lum were the doctors and staff of Kapiolani Women's and Children's Hospital,

  • Airmen help Soldiers meet airborne school requirements

    Paratroopers sat side-by-side both crushed and cozy from the weight of the massive parachute packs on their laps. Each jumper's eyes squinted from a combination of fatigue and flying dust kicked up by the ferocious winds whirling in from the C-17 Globemaster III's side doors. Loadmasters and

  • Wounded Soldier saved through use of heart, lung machine

    A wounded Soldier incurred an injury that affected his lungs, and was transported on an aeromedical evacuation mission Oct. 21, from Afghanistan to Germany. The mission was carried out aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, with the use of an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation machine. "This is the first

  • Airman close to death, wingman stays by his side

    What started as a stomach complaint one month ago for an Airman deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, turned into an emergency medical evacuation. Shortly after doctors at Joint Base Balad found fluid in Senior Airman Colton Brown's lungs, drainage tubes were placed, and he continued fighting for his

  • Nominations open for William A. Jump Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 62nd Annual William A. Jump Memorial Award.The Jump Award annually recognizes a federal employee for his or her outstanding service in administration and notable contributions to the efficiency and quality of public service. Nominees must have

  • Ramstein Airmen host German counterparts

    In the spirit of partnership, members of the 37th Airlift Squadron hosted 11of their counterparts from the German Luftwaffe Oct. 25 through 29 here. The German airmen, along with two C-160D Transall aircraft assigned to the Lufttransportgeschwader 62, traveled from Flugplatz Wunstorf to spend a week

  • Nominations open for 2011 First Sergeant of the Year award

    Air Force officials are soliciting nominations for the 2011 First Sergeant of the Year award.The award recognizes the important contributions and leadership qualities exhibited by Air Force members in the first sergeant special duty career field.Nominations must include examples of leadership and

  • Whiteman Airmen support developing nations

    Members of the 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron, along with members of the 729th Airlift Squadron, completed a humanitarian mission to Honduras, recently. The mission was part of the Denton Amendment. "The Denton Amendment provides humanitarian and civic assistance in conjunction with military

  • Training center launches Afghan pilots

    The commander of the Afghan air force air school and the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron is charged with training Afghan soldiers to operate in their air force. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Nichols discussed his specialized training facility in an Oct. 28 "DODLive" bloggers roundtable."(This

  • CSAF honors hometown heroes at Air Force Week

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz helped honor some of central Florida's hometown heroes during a dinner Oct. 29 at Air Force Week Cocoa Beach 2010 here. Air Force Week is a public communication program that allows community members the opportunity to meet Airmen and learn about the Air

  • Community leaders share information, ideas with AFMC commander

    Eighteen civic leaders from across Air Force Materiel Command met with the commander Oct. 28, for a discussion of challenges that lie ahead in five significant categories tied to the AFMC mission.The civic leaders are members of the command's Community Liaison Program, a group of 40 people

  • Online tool tracks Airman deployment readiness

    An online tool available to Airmen aims to reduce the workload of tracking appointments and training in preparation for a deployment.The Personal Deployment Processing Tool, found on the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Online website, allows Airmen to review and track their readiness status for

  • Airmen hone teamwork skills during live-fire training

    Firefighters from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron geared up and headed out to a nearby military installation here Oct. 27 and 28 for annual live-fire training, giving them a unique opportunity to hone their skills while working more closely as a team. Using a Mobile Aircraft

  • No. 8 Utes survive AIr Force comeback, 28-23

    Five turnovers sabotaged the Air Force Academy's offense as the Falcons fell to the University of Utah at Falcon Stadium Oct. 30.This was the second straight week the Falcons faced a team ranked both in the top 10 of the nation and the BCS rankings, and was fourth nationally-ranked opponent the

  • Air Force officials initiate service-wide upgrade to Windows 7

    In a continuing effort to meet emerging threats, Air Force officials initiated the service-wide upgrade of operating systems to Windows 7 Oct. 29. "This upgrade keeps with life cycle management best practices for information technology systems," said Col. Mark Ware, 24th Air Force director of

  • Airmen embracing fitness culture

    "Readiness," said the chief master sergeant of the Air Force, "is the primary purpose of developing the new fitness standard, and, so far, Airmen are stepping up to the challenge as the program normalizes." The new physical-training standard is a way to ensure Airmen are prepared to do the nation's

  • 460th Space Wing wraps up first Cyber Lightning exercise

    Working under a carefully planned and escalating contested cyber environment on Oct. 15, members of the 460th Space Wing here successfully completed their first exclusively cyber-focused exercise."Exercise Cyber Lightning" was designed to test the wing' s capability to operate in a contested cyber

  • Port Dawg Challenge tests skills, strengthens camaraderie

    Out on the tarmac, noise from a C-130 Hercules drowns out the sounds of morning. Its four engines are still running with no plans to stop. Five Air Force Reservists brave the hot gusts from the jet's propellers and rush toward the ramp, which they lower to the ground. The Airmen load a Humvee and a

  • Motorcycle group supports military funerals

    As the U.S. Supreme Court contemplates whether protestors outside military funerals are protected under First Amendment free-speech rights, a motorcycle group that travels the country attending those funerals as a show of support and respect rides on, undeterred by the political fray.About 200,000

  • 'Mission One' at NORTHCOM: Defending the homeland

    Developing regional response capabilities, stepping up preparations for a no-notice catastrophe and maturing partnerships are among priorities at U.S. Northern Command, the new deputy commander said here Oct. 26."We're working very closely with the National Guard and (the Office of the Secretary of

  • Airmen teach Krav Maga techniques to local law enforcers

    For nearly 40 exhausting hours last week, security forces Airmen taught self-defense and hand-to-hand combat tactics to a group of local law enforcement officials.Although the community and base members have a positive working relationship, this is the first time they have come together to share the

  • Tops In Blue to conduct talent search

    The Air Force's entertainment group, Tops In Blue, is seeking new performers for their 2011 team.Total force Airmen who think they have the skills to sing, dance, act or play musical instruments are encouraged to apply for the Worldwide Talent Search at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Dec. 6 to 13.

  • Air Force Week Cocoa Beach begins with proclamation ceremony

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp helped kick off Air Force Week Cocoa Beach during a proclamation ceremony here Oct 26. "We rely upon the public, who are here and in other parts of the country, to help us succeed," Ms. Conaton said to the more than

  • Hickam Airmen 'deploy' during readiness exercise

    Airmen tested their ability to respond to contingency operations in the Pacific during Beverly Kahuna 2010-F, an initial response readiness exercise Oct. 20 and 21. For the first time since Pearl Harbor Naval Base and Hickam Air Force Base joined their borders to become a joint base, the efforts of

  • Chief Roy issues call for action in latest 'Perspective'

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted Airman wants everyone's help to stem the alarming increase in the number of suicides among the total force Airmen,  active duty, guard, reserve and civilians. "We've had a drastic increase this year in the number of suicides among

  • Jet arrival marks start of Golden Lance

    A fleet of 10 F-15 Eagles from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, arrived here Oct. 21 for the start of Operation Golden Lance.The objective of the exercise is to build partnership capabilities by conducting joint air-to-air combat training operations with members of

  • American air forces participate in Exercise Cooperacion 1

    The air forces of 12 countries of the Americas participated in an exercise aimed at using multinational air assets from SICOFAA member nations (Sistema de cooperacion de las Fuerzas Aerias de las Americas) in support of humanitarian civic assistance missions, Oct. 4 to 14 in Chile.The Cooperation 1

  • Airmen, Sailors train together for future relief efforts

    Airmen from the 36th Mobility Response Squadron and Sailors from the Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO FIVE partnered during a field training exercise to foster a better working relationship Oct. 13, at Northwest Field, Guam.The joint training consisted of a series of 9-Line medical

  • Honor Guard exhibits excellence, represents service

    For Airmen assigned to the United States Air Force Honor Guard here, excellence isn't a trait to be desired, it's expected. "We are in the public spotlight day in and day out," said Staff Sgt. Eric Allen, the media librarian for the USAF Honor Guard. "So every time we do our job we have to make sure

  • Program Fills Gap for Returning Guard, Reserve

    Though the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program has eased the post-deployment process for thousands of Guard and Reserve members and their families over the past two years, officials are hoping thousands more take advantage of the Defense Department program in the coming months, the program's

  • US, Bulgarian medics forge successful partnerships

    Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as well as other U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen, participated in Exercise Thracian Fall 2010 Oct. 18 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The three-week, combined exercise was designed to provide both U.S. and

  • Officials seek nominees for Pitsenbarger Award

    Officials at the Air Force Sergeants Association are seeking nominations for the 2011 Pitsenbarger Award.The AFSA Pitsenbarger Award is presented annually to an Air Force enlisted servicemember who has performed a heroic act, on or off duty, that resulted in saving a life or preventing serious

  • Gen. McKinley: Collaboration saved Minnesota fighter wing

    Collaboration between Duluth, Minn., and the Minnesota Air National Guard officials saved the 148th Fighter Wing from closure and will help it grow in the future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said Oct. 22."You don't see many chambers who recognize their local military," Gen. Craig R.

  • Yokota Airmen participate in low-cost, low-altitude training drops

    Airmen here used low-cost, low-altitude training to practice new airdrop techniques Oct. 7 at the Fuji Drop Zone.Yokota Air Base Airmen were supported by Soldiers from the Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems from Natick, Mass. PM FSS provided the training equipment and technical assistance as

  • Contract extension puts communication system on bombers

    Electronic Systems Center officials here awarded a contract Sept. 29 that will enable continued integration of an airborne communication system aboard two key Air Force platforms.The $14 million award to Northrop Grumman Corp. extends a previous contract to develop and test the Common Link

  • Second SBIRS satellite successfully completes panel integration

    The U.S. Air Force's second geosynchronous Space-Based Infrared Systems satellite successfully completed the integration of its two equipment panels onto the spacecraft core module on Oct. 6 at the development site in Sunnyvale, Calif. This is a major milestone in the GEO-2 program and represents

  • Photo essay: Barksdale Hawgsmoke crews 'ham' it up

    Members of the 917th Wing and 47th Fighter Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., compete in Hawgsmoke 2010 here Oct. 13. The competition involved 40 jets and 72 pilots from 18 different units and was hosted by the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Wing.View the slideshow.

  • Warfighters meet in second coalition virtual battle

    The United States rarely goes to war on its own now. More than ever U.S. servicemembers work with coalition partners to win on the battlefield. In order to train for this, the 705th Combat Training Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. spent the last year preparing to host the second Coalition

  • Hurlburt Field intelligence flight earns AF level award

    The 1st Special Operations Support Squadron received the 2009 Outstanding Operations Group Intelligence/Operations Support Flight Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit of the Year award Oct. 14 here for their tremendous accomplishments at Hurlburt Field. Brig. Gen. Robert "Bob" P. Otto,

  • Nominations open for civilian humanitarian award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2011 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award.The Fisher Award is presented annually to an individual or organization outside the Department of Defense that has demonstrated exceptional patriotism, generosity and

  • Officials seek nominations for aerospace awards

    Air Force officials are soliciting nominations in a variety of fields for the 2011 Air Force Association Aerospace Awards for outstanding contributions to national defense.These awards include:The Theodore Von Karman Award for contributions in the field of science and engineering relating to

  • Officials seek Vanguard Award nominees

    Air Force officials are soliciting nominations for the 2011 Noncommissioned Officers Association Vanguard Award.Nominees must be between the rank of senior airman and chief master sergeant who have performed a heroic act, on or off duty, which resulted in the saving of life or the prevention of a

  • EOD team trains with new response vehicle

    Technicians from the 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight here displayed the effectiveness of a new, four-wheeled weapon that helps improve their response time and capabilities during a training scenario Oct. 13.Known as the BSERV, the 36-foot long bomb squad emergency

  • AFSO21 Rapid Improvement Event streamlines report process

    Officials here are bringing change to the performance reporting process, thanks to a recent week-long Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Rapid Improvement Event.Subject matter experts from the wing gathered with a goal of streamlining the enlisted and officer performance reports

  • Air Force museum director to receive national award

    The director of the National Museum of the Air Force was recently selected as a recipient of the National Aeronautic Association Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Award.Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf is one of four recipients this year who will be honored at the NAA Fall

  • Jordan, U.S. commence exercise in Southwest Asia

    Falcon Air Meet 2010 officially kicked off Oct. 19 at Azraq Royal Jordanian Air Base in the country of Jordan. The two-week exercise brings servicemembers from various countries together to share doctrine and procedures, strengthen relationships, and improve regional security. A friendly competition

  • Senior Pentagon official: Military must reduce use of fossil fuels

    The Defense Department's current reliance on expensive, difficult-to-transport and finite fossil fuels affects cost-reduction efforts as well as war-fighting operations, a senior Pentagon official said."Certainly, for current operations and for the future, one of the things we're really focused on

  • 8th Fighter Wing Airmen take on Max Thunder

    Members of the 8th Fighter Wing and Republic of Korea Air Force are participating in the fourth annual Max Thunder exercise, hosted by Kwangju Air Base officials Oct. 15 to 22.Max Thunder is a bilateral training exercise intended to increase interoperability between Republic of Korea and U.S.

  • Immersive training builds small-unit decision-making skills

    Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., got a glimpse recently into what's likely to be the training environment of the future: one that injects live actors, animatronics, projected avatars and other sensory enhancements to replicate the sights, sounds, smells and stresses of combat, and demands the same

  • Hawgsmoke 2010 under way in Idaho

    Hawgsmoke 2010, the biennial A-10 Thunderbolt II bombing, missile and tactical gunnery competition, has begun.  This year's event, which takes place from Oct. 13 to 16, is being hosted by the Idaho Air National Guard's 190th  Fighter Squadron, the 2008 competition's winning unit.  The competition

  • One step at a time: Airman recovering after crash

    Staff Sgt. Chris Curtis wanted nothing more than to walk through the doors to the 8th Special Operations Squadron building.His friends and colleagues cheered him on as he accomplished that goal Oct. 8; a feat that just a few months ago seemed nearly impossible.Sergeant Curtis was a flight engineer

  • DOD, VA healthcare officials combine specialties to provide 'one-stop shop'

    Through a joint venture between Defense Department and Veterans Affairs officials, medical professionals here are offering DOD and VA patients a combined clinic for heart, lung and vascular care.The Heart, Lung and Vascular Center at David Grant USAF Medical Center, which opened Oct. 13, is the

  • Test center fuses old, new technology for light attack

    Test pilots and engineers here are learning what happens when high-tech systems are combined with low-tech airframes for a new, cost effective, light-attack aircraft.Light attack, a revitalized concept in the Air Force, addresses the need for an airplane that offers surveillance as well as strike

  • Jay Leno entertains servicemembers, families

    Thousands of servicemembers, their families and friends attended part of Jay Leno's Tour for the Troops here, sponsored by the Air Force Reserve Command.Mr. Leno hosted the grand opening a new recruiting station for AFRC in Wasilla, Alaska, and spoke to a crowd of hundreds of fans after 13 local

  • Base cycling team raises $13K for charity

    Seventeen members of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Cycling Team raised more than $13,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the annual two-day MS City to Shore Ride 2010. Another 18 joint-base personnel volunteered with ground support.The ride started Sept. 25 in Cherry Hill,

  • Memorial held for fallen special forces Airman

    A memorial service for an Airman who was recently killed in action was held here Oct. 8. Senior Airman Mark Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was killed Sept. 29 while conducting combat operations with his special forces team in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. "Mark believed with all his heart in