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  • Airmen keep base safe in austere conditions

    Not many Airmen here would volunteer to stand, dressed in their body armor, in the summer desert heat for 13 hours a day watching the perimeter. However, that is exactly what security forces Airmen do every day to keep people and assets here safe.“We secure the base and ensure nobody breaks the

  • Hot days are on their way

    When one pictures the combination of sand and sun, tropical paradise may come to mind. But here, that tag team can be one terrible tandem.With the dog days of summer almost upon Iraq, temperatures are rising daily, and dust storms are making frequent visits here.“The weather pattern during the

  • Being smart with money while deployed

    While deployed, Airmen receive many entitlements. They receive combat zone tax exclusion, $225 hostile fire pay per month, $3.50 per diem and for those with families, $250 family separation allowance per month. Airmen who live in dormitories at their home station also receive basic allowance for

  • Programs aim to reduce military divorce rates

    Recognizing the stresses military life and multiple deployments put on families, officials are stepping up their efforts to help servicemembers strengthen their family relationships and avoid divorce courts.A full range of outreach programs -- from support groups for spouses of deployed troops to

  • T-37 rolls off runway, pilot uninjured

    T-37 Tweet rolled off the runway here June 8 during a training flight.The student pilot, flying solo at the time of the incident, received no injuries.The aircraft’s left wing was damaged which resulted in a small fuel spill. The base’s fuel spill response team contained the spill which was

  • Airmen reflect on friend’s death

    The base lost a valued member in a car accident Memorial Day weekend. As grief hangs heavy over Shaw, leaders, co-workers and friends continue to ask why.Senior Airman Justin Morrow, 55th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, died from injuries sustained while traveling at night. He was not wearing his seat

  • Report: Pilot error caused Predator crash

    Pilot error caused the Nov. 24, 2004 crash of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle at an undisclosed military installation in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, according to an accident investigation board report released June 10.During a functional check-flight, the Predator had a

  • Airmen join Soldiers taking Kenya military to new heights

    As the sun rose June 6, seven Airmen wearing desert flightsuits stood outside the guarded entrance to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport waiting for their passengers.The C-130 Hercules crew, deployed to Southwest Asia from the 440th Airlift Wing at General Mitchell Air Reserve Base, Wis., were

  • Airman missing from Vietnam War identified

    The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced that the remains of an Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and were returned to his family for burial at Arlington National Cemetery on June 10.He is Col. James Carter of Johnson City, Tenn.On Feb. 3,

  • Iraqi airmen tack on master sergeant’s stripes

    An Airman here chose to have two unusual attendees, or in his words, his adopted family, tack on his new stripes recently. Master Sgt. Bubba Beason, 777th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron pneudraulic systems technician instructor deployed from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., asked two

  • Teen queen makes 'dream come true'

    One child stood out above the rest of the nearly 100 children from military families and their parents packed into the room here on Capitol Hill on June 10.They were here to meet teen actress and singer Hilary Duff. Alyssa Weishoff, 12, came as Ms. Duff's special guest. When the actress finally

  • Latest C-130J evolution arrives on desert ramp

    The faster more powerful C-130 Hercules J-models and the stretch version arrived in Southwest Asia on June 7 and 8, bringing state-of-the-art technology to the war on terrorism.Airmen with the Rhode Island Air National Guard’s 143rd Airlift Squadron, the California ANG’s 146th AS and the Maryland

  • Supply Airmen keep deployed essentials on shelf

    Continuously keeping supplies on the shelf to support military operations here falls on the shoulders of a group of Airmen from the 416th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron’s supply section.They ensure warfighters have the necessary gear and parts to effectively fight the war on terrorism. They

  • Cooperative Cope Thunder kicks off

    The sky above Alaska is brimming with activity as Pacific Air Force’s premier composite force exercise kicked off here June 9.Cooperative Cope Thunder runs through June 24 with operations here and at nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base.The exercise highlights multinational operations combined with

  • Coalition airpower supports Marines near Karabilah

    Coalition aircraft dropped seven precision-guided bombs while providing close-air support to coalition troops in the western Al Anbar province of Iraq on June 11. Anti-Iraqi forces had taken refuge in buildings in an attempt to shield themselves from coalition attack. An estimated 40 insurgents

  • Top runners to participate in Air Force Marathon

    Two of the top distance runners of all time will be part of the ninth annual U.S. Air Force Marathon in September.Bill Rodgers and Alberto Salazar became running legends in the 1970s and 1980s before the cable television explosion brought new exposure to athletes.Both will conduct separate free

  • Communications flight Airmen link base with outside world

    Without people like Staff Sgt. Karisa Szczygiel and Senior Airman Keith Hopson life at this forward-deployed location would be lonely and quiet. Morale and mission accomplishment certainly would be severely degraded if not downright nonexistent. The two Airmen are part of a 12-person shop within

  • KC-10 air refueling sorties vital to combat missions

    KC-10 Extender crews know how important every mission is; however, success is even sweeter when major barriers are overcome to launch just one mission.This was especially true as maintainers and operators at a forward-deployed location overcame one obstacle after another to launch a KC-10, allowing

  • Report: Misaligned rollers caused B-1B accident

    Misaligned rollers on the crew entry ladder assembly created an abort condition that was the primary cause of a B-1B Lancer mishap during a mission qualification and currency training mission Nov. 23 at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., according to Air Force investigators.They determined the aborted

  • System increases B-52 target precision

    Along with successfully developing a new targeting capability for the B-52 Stratofortress, 53rd Wing test managers and aircrews also demonstrated a new $8.6 million avionics system capability for the aircraft June 14.A B-52 from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., was launched with Boeing’s prototype

  • Radio shop keeps deployed Airmen in tune

    A small shop has a big job here. The two-person shop within the 40th Air Expeditionary Group’s communications flight is responsible for programming, maintaining and tracking more than 360 hand-held radios, 299 pagers, a public address system, giant voice, about 15 television services and 200 phones

  • STRATCOM Airman on target for world title

    For three years, a space operations officer assigned at U.S. Strategic Command here has prepared for a chance to fulfill his dream of representing the red, white and blue at the world championship of practical shooting. His dream will become a reality Aug. 21 in Guayaquil, Ecuador.Maj. Roger

  • Volunteers fly 'greatest generation' to see their memorial

    Thousands of visitors have come to the National World War II Memorial here since it opened last year. But the miles between the memorial and the ever-dwindling, increasingly frail ranks of World War II veterans make it difficult for many members of "The Greatest Generation" to make the pilgrimage

  • Former professional athletes visit Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location received a special visit June 12 and 13, courtesy of the United Services Organization. And they went big, very big, with the celebrity guest list.National Basketball Association player and current hoops talking head, Charles

  • 30 years later, Vietnam vets finally get welcome home

    Thirty years after the last U.S. forces left Vietnam, tens of thousands of veterans of that conflict gathered here in the Ozark Mountains June 14 to get the official welcome home and thanks they never received.Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson, a Vietnam veteran himself, thanked his

  • U.S. military showcases mission, aircraft at Paris Air Show

    U.S. servicemembers were on hand to offer tours of eight U.S. military aircraft at the 46th Annual Paris Air Show’s official opening June 13.French president Jacques Chirac attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Le Bourget Exposition Park biannual event that allows traders, exhibitors and

  • Off-duty travel site opens Australia as vacation destination

    Military travelers can purchase vacations to Australia for about the same cost as a getaway to Europe simply by visiting a military-sponsored Web site.Authorized morale, welfare and recreation patrons can go to the Off-Duty Travel Web site and click on "Joint Services Travel Specials" to begin a

  • New mission arrives at Incirlik

    A new mission kicked off here recently with the arrival and departure of C-17 Globemaster IIIs carrying cargo to Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.The new mission, which works on a “hub and spoke” concept, calls for cargo to come into the base from Charleston Air Force Base, S. C., and be

  • Airman saves life while TDY

    Air Command and Staff College student Maj. Michael Jansen cannot explain his actions while on temporary duty to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for specialized study of air and space power. “Something like that may happen once in your lifetime, but hopefully never,” he said. “You can’t plan how you

  • Air Force shooting team takes silver, bronze at trap match

    The Air Force International Trap Shooting Team recently competed in the 2005 Interservice Trap Championships and won two medals.The five-day competition here brought Air Force and Army marksmen together to compete in international trap and double-trap events.Capt. Mike Herman from Schriever Air

  • Vietnam War disc jockey praises families of MIAs

    The man who became famous bellowing "Good morning, Vietnam!" to his military radio audience praised the families of servicemembers who are still listed as missing in action in Southeast Asia.In his opening remarks for the Defense Department's 2005 annual government briefing for Vietnam War-era

  • Guardsmen familiarize Polish airmen with F-16

    Once adversaries, American F-16 Fighting Falcons and Soviet-era MiG-29s sit side by side on the flightline here during exercise Sentry White Falcon 2005.Warm emotions can be felt as the Polish and American pilots share each other’s planes; sometimes the fighter pilots cannot fight away the

  • 2006 Thunderbirds team includes first female pilot

    U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, “Thunderbirds,” officials announced their new pilots for the 2006 demonstration season which includes the first female demonstration pilot in the 52-year history of the Thunderbirds. Capt. Nicole Malachowski, of the 494th Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force

  • Technicians ensure safe, clean, serviceable fuel

    The availability of safe and reliable petroleum is vital in safeguarding the lives of military forces.“Sediments in fuel are dangerous,” said Staff Sgt. Carmarius Johnson, a fuels laboratory technician with the 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron here. “It causes fuel filters and injectors to clog.

  • U-2, early Cold War reconnaissance exhibit opens at museum

    An exhibit highlighting the Air Force's early Cold War reconnaissance opened to the public at the National Museum of the United States Air Force here June 15."Dragon Lady: The U-2 and Early Cold War Reconnaissance" exhibit joins the museum's permanent displays in the Cold War Gallery.The U-2 has

  • Reservists required to register civilian employment info

    Time is running out for about 15,000 Air Force reservists in the Selected Reserve to comply with a Department of Defense directive. Oct. 31 is the deadline for reservists who are paid for training to register information about their civilian place of employment. About 60,000 of these Airmen,

  • Cadets learn it’s a BEAR out there

    For some people going to college, the summer months mean returning home for a break from school or finding a summer job. But that is not what is in store for more than 1,200 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets.Cadets are receiving a crash course in setting up BEAR, or basic expeditionary airfield

  • Football analogy benefits ACC civil engineers

    When looking for better ways to conduct business, many people check out their competitors for ideas. For one directorate at Air Combat Command, however, the answer was found with a different set of competitors -- football teams.To tackle problems which typically plague construction projects in

  • Face-to-face counseling available to Airmen, families

    Sometimes an Airman needs someone to talk to, and although his or her supervisor or friends are available, they are not always the right ones to listen.The Air Force, as part of a larger effort within the Department of Defense, offers Airmen a professional, private, face-to-face counseling as part

  • 2005 POW/MIA Recognition Day poster unveiled

    The 2005 POW/MIA Recognition Day poster was unveiled here June 15 in honor of the sacrifices made by prisoners of war and servicemembers still unaccounted for, spanning World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom.The unveiling was a highlight of the Defense Department's annual government briefings here.

  • 379th AMU fighter maintenance family affair

    Like many father and son teams, Senior Master Sgt. Joe Franco and Staff Sgt. Joe Franco plan on spending Father’s Day getting out the toolbox and tinkering around with a vehicle.Only the wrenches will not be spread out under a carport or at a base auto hobby shop. Not this year.The elder Franco, of

  • Air Force releases findings of Wassaw Sound survey

    Air Force officials completed their evaluation of radiation levels in the Wassaw Sound where an incomplete nuclear weapon was lost off the coast of Georgia in 1958.During a June 17 press conference in Savannah, Ga., Air Force officials released results of a data collection survey conducted Sept.

  • DOD issues guidance for medics dealing with detainees

    Department of Defense officials recently issued new guidelines for military medics dealing with detainees.The new rules deal with patient care, interrogations and medical-record confidentiality, among other issues, the department’s top doctor said June 17.Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant

  • Airmen establish early warning network with locals

    Instead of relying solely on patrolmen and sensors to analyze the ever-evolving installation defense puzzle, security forces specialists here are using the help of a previously underused weapon system -- word of mouth. Security forces patrol teams responsible for securing Tallil’s perimeter are

  • Life on the other side of the litter

    During the 1991 Gulf War, Marine Sgt. Brian Ackerman was a member of Task Force Grizzly, the American force that swept through the desert into Kuwait to liberate it from Iraqi forces.After Sergeant Ackerman’s unit made it into Kuwait City and began busting down doors looking for resistance, an Iraqi

  • Online purchase turns into historical find

    The online purchase of one person here will soon be displayed in an Air Force historical museum. Jeffery Hughes, a 305th Mission Support Squadron human resource assistant, recently donated a rare set of 1955 Airman test stripes to the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base, Del.Mr.

  • New majors selected for IDE

    The P0404A Major Central Selection Board recently held at the Air Force Personnel Center here selected officers for promotion and identified those selected for intermediate developmental education.Officers selected will join a resource pool of officers who will be considered for future attendance at

  • EOD Airmen work to keep Kandahar safe

    There are many unsung heroes in the war on terrorism. From the security forces Airmen at the front gates to the supply clerks who keep the warfighters equipped, it takes a strong effort behind the scenes to keep today’s Air Force flying.Here, however, it is difficult to find a group that does more

  • Yokota radar techs keep Pacific aircraft safe

    Every day, technicians here ensure air traffic control radars correctly and safely track incoming and outgoing Department of Defense military and contracted civilian aircraft. Radar is air traffic control’s primary surveillance system, said Tech. Sgt. Michael Smith, ground radar systems supervisor

  • Deployed dads get ‘live’ visits from families

    Six deployed dads got a special Father’s Day present from their families here June 15 when they were linked up via video teleconference.The six Airmen, all deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, were told they would be doing television interviews with local reporters about being deployed on Father’s Day.

  • Kadena aircrew evacuates boy from Saipan

    A life-threatening emergency on the island of Saipan prompted a team of Airmen here into action recently.An aircrew from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron and medics from the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron transported a severely injured 15-month-old boy out of Saipan.“It was a Friday afternoon

  • New one-star joins two-star brother

    As Maj. Gen. Stanley Gorenc watched his younger brother, Brig. Gen. Frank Gorenc, pin on his first star, they became two of 271 general officers in the active-duty Air Force out of its more than 350,000 AirmenThe younger brother was promoted during a frocking ceremony June 15 as he relinquished

  • Schwartz nominated to command TRANSCOM

    President Bush has nominated Lt. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz for the rank of general and to command U.S. Transportation Command here.General Schwartz is currently serving as the Joint Staff director in Washington. Before that assignment he was the Joint Staff’s director for operations.A 1973 graduate

  • DOD launches sexual assault prevention Web site

    Servicemembers who are victims of sexual assault or who need information on the Defense Department policy on preventing sexual assaults can find the information at a new Web site.The site, launched by Joint Task Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, is basically a place to go to for

  • DOD cautions servicemembers against 'loan-shark' lenders

    The Defense Department has launched a new effort to educate servicemembers about the dangers of borrowing from "loan-shark" lending companies and to teach them how to avoid ending up in a spiral of compounding debt, a DOD official said here June 17.The most prevalent type of loan-shark lending

  • Weather forecasters provide support in Kosovo

    When some people want to start a conversation with a stranger or someone they have not seen for a while, they may ask the long-standing question, “What do you think of the weather?”As weather forecasters, a small group of Airmen deployed to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo take the question one step

  • Granite Thunder 2005 rocks New Boston

    A van lies on its side at the edge of a road where two men sprint from the scene into the nearby woods. As a figure lies motionless in the grass beside the van, an ear-piercing explosion suddenly rocks the vehicle, shrouding it and the unknown figure in smoke. Debris arcs high into the air before

  • Predator provides close-air support to embattled Marines in Iraq

    An MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle destroyed an anti-Iraqi forces mortar launch site near Al Qaim on June 18 while assisting Marines under enemy fire.The air strike occurred during Operation Spear in which U.S. and Iraqi security forces in Iraq’s Anbar province called in air strikes on

  • Egress Airmen save family

    On what should have been a peaceful, relaxing day off, Airmen here found themselves busy rescuing a family from a water disaster.During a kayaking trip, Airmen 1st Class Todd Branthoover, Erik Main and Walter Lewis, and Senior Airman Mark Medonis, all of the 33rd Maintenance Squadron’s egress shop,

  • Airman saves children from drowning

    An Airman here was expecting to have some fun in the sun on a weekend trip to the beach during a recent trip. He was not expecting to save children from drowning.Staff Sgt. Jozsef Nagy, an Internet services technician with the Air Force Weather Agency, was attending a network management training

  • Indian Springs renamed Creech Air Force Base

    Nearby Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Air Field officially changed its name to Creech Air Force Base on June 20 in honor of Gen. Wilbur L. “Bill” Creech.As the commander of Tactical Air Command from 1978 to 1984, General Creech shaped the Air Force of today with a call for new weapons and

  • General Looney takes command of AETC

    Gen. William R. Looney III became the commander of Air Education and Training Command here June 17 taking the helm of the Air Force’s “first command.”Gen. John P. Jumper, Air Force chief of staff, presided at the flightline ceremony, which more than 1,200 people attended.General Looney came to AETC

  • Premier air mobility competition kicks off

    “Ladies and gentlemen, let the fight begin -- Rodeo’s on!”Brig. Gen. David S. “Scott” Gray kicked off the Rodeo 2005 competition with those words June 19 when Rodeo participants and observers gathered on the flightline here for the opening ceremony. He is the Rodeo commander and the commander of

  • Architect of Air Force space and missile programs dies

    Retired Gen. Bernard Adolph Schriever, widely regarded as the father and architect of the Air Force space and ballistic missile programs, died of natural causes at home in Washington on June 20.Under General Schriever’s leadership, the Air Force developed programs such as the Thor, Atlas, Titan and

  • Officials release Albania accident report

    An accident investigation board found that a loss of situational awareness by the flight deck crew caused the March 31 crash of an Air Force MC-130H Combat Talon II in Albania.The nine Airmen on the 7th Special Operations Squadron aircraft, based at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, were killed.

  • Rodeo umpires offer critical eye

    There is a room in a hangar here where only a select few are admitted, but every competitor at Rodeo 2005 wants access. It is the room where scores are recorded and winners are identified for every event this year.Providing the raw data for the score keepers in that room will be 250 umpires -- men

  • Maintainers keep 'Thunder' rolling

    With more than 47 aircraft from the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom converging on the flightline here for Cooperative Cope Thunder, the "Thunder Dome" is serving as the nerve center of maintenance activities vital to deployed units.The Thunder Dome is nothing like the gladiator-style

  • Communications Airmen complete Rodeo ‘puzzle’

    Months of preparation have allowed base officials to assemble the puzzle pieces necessary to run Rodeo 2005. Perhaps one of the most essential, and busiest, pieces of the puzzle has been the Airmen of the 62nd Communications Squadron here.With more than 1,000 people coming here for the one-week air

  • Lowry redevelopment assists Denver's renaissance

    When Lowry Air Force Base, Colo., was selected to be shuttered as part of the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Act, many recession-battered Denver residents thought the end had come to the "Mile High" city.Lowry, a military training installation with a 50-year history, was providing 7,000

  • Pilot dies after U-2 Dragon Lady crashes in Southwest Asia

    The pilot of an Air Force U-2 Dragon Lady died when his plane crashed at a forward-deployed location here in the early hours of June 22.The pilot completed flying a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and was returning to base when the crash occurred. His name is being withheld pending

  • Report: Academy grapples with religion in the public forum

    A team looking at the religious climate of the Air Force Academy found an institution grappling with a challenge that is the subject of significant debate in the public arena.Part of the problem appears to be a lack of operational guidance as to what is and is not acceptable in the area of religious

  • Moving season highlights need for good customer service

    After receiving only part of his unaccompanied baggage shipment, an Airman here became concerned about the whereabouts of the remainder of his shipment.“After checking into the status of the rest of my unaccompanied baggage, I found out that the paperwork from my last base was not completed

  • Air Warrior II tests aircrews and controllers

    A-10 Thunderbolt IIs are participating in Air Warrior II, a large-scale combat exercise here.The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., aircrews are helping prepare 10th Mountain Division Soldiers for an upcoming deployment to Afghanistan, said Maj. Joel Hampton, 548th Combat Training Squadron

  • Bangladeshi airmen observe Cooperative Cope Thunder

    Observers from the Bangladesh air force are attending this year’s Cooperative Cope Thunder to help prepare for their first participation in 2007. Their observation included a facilities tour such as the flightline, hangar bays and ramp space. “While here, we’ve had many questions about Cope Thunder

  • Missing pilot from Vietnam War identified

    The remains of an Air Force pilot missing in action from the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to his family in Savannah Ga., according to the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office. A burial service is scheduled for July 3.Capt. David Phillips Jr. of Miami Beach, Fla., was

  • Grounded, but governing the sky

    While F-15 Eagles and F-16 Fighting Falcons take off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, for one of the many Cooperative Cope Thunder exercise scenarios, Japanese and Australian weapons control officers sit side by side viewing and controlling the sky.To do so, the controllers use a computer-based

  • Competitors battle ants and obstacles on Rodeo course

    One hundred million ants, 800 possible points, 150 pounds to carry, 13 umpires, eight obstacles, five teams, two visiting generals, and one endurance course … priceless.Participants in the aeromedical evacuation endurance course event may be new to Rodeo, but they took the challenge head-on and made

  • Guard Airmen join total force Rodeo

    A 19-person team from the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio, is the only Air National Guard unit competing in Rodeo 2005.“It is our honor to be here and further the tradition of the citizen-Soldier,” said Maj. Dave Johnson, 121st ARW team commander. “We are proud to go shoulder to shoulder

  • Teams flex muscle during Rodeo fitness event

    The 715th Air Mobility Operations Group team from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, finished first in the fit-to-fight competition at Rodeo 2005 here June 19 with a score of 297 points.The competition, worth a possible 300 points, was the first in Rodeo history, stemming from the desire of Gen. John P.

  • Taking fight to the enemy

    Once the plane is airborne and the fasten seatbelt light goes off, there is a flurry of activity as crewmembers hustle to get their various tasks done. As the aircraft continues on its heading, the crew of the E-3 Sentry, with its many buttons, switches and gadgets, gets set for their part in a

  • Rodeo closing ceremony broadcast live

    The closing ceremony for Rodeo 2005 will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. PDT on June 24.The U.S. Air Force’s premier air mobility competition features more than 30 U.S. and international teams and dozens of mobility-related events, including airlift, aerial refueling and medical evacuation.This marks

  • Life support takes new meaning for deployed Airmen

    Two small shops with more than double the workload as at home station pray their efforts supporting Operation Enduring Freedom are all for naught.That is because lives depend upon flawless work on the life support equipment in their care. If the equipment is never used, life support Airmen say that

  • New system improves KC-135 performance, saves money

    After years of development, the wheel and brake system improvement program for the KC-135 Stratotanker is ready for implementation by workers at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here.The steel brakes currently used on the KC-135 are being replaced with carbon brakes which allow the aircraft to

  • Seymour Johnson crew carries Reserve torch at Rodeo

    Aircraft at Rodeo 2005 come in many shapes and sizes, but one thing they have in common is their need for a steady supply of fuel.The 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., is one of nine refueling wings, and the only Reserve refueling wing, competing here. The wing flies the KC-135

  • C-17s cross globe to assist international exercise

    Six C-17 Globemaster IIIs flew from Alaska to Australia June 18 to 21 to help launch the Talisman Saber 2005 international exercise. The exercise involved more than 6,000 Australian and 10,000 U.S. servicemembers from the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy.The C-17s were from here and Charleston AFB,

  • Airdrop, refueling events take flight at Rodeo 2005

    The airdrop and air refueling event at Rodeo 2005 included 33 international and U.S. aircraft on a mission to become the best of the best.“These crewmembers were sent by their wings and their nations to represent them, having gone through intense training to hone their skills to be the best

  • Airmen add armor to convoy vehicles

    Airmen here are adding life-saving armor to large trucks to protect troops on convoy missions throughout Iraq. While these monsters of the road may look menacing now, it was not always this way, officials said. In many cases, their complete transformation can be traced back to the Airmen of the

  • U-2 pilot identified

    Department of Defense officials identified the pilot killed in a U-2 surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft crash June 22 in Southwest Asia.Maj. Duane Dively, 43, of Rancho California, Calif., had completed flying a mission supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and was returning to his base when

  • Air Force transformation in Europe aiding terror war

    The transformation taking place throughout the Defense Department started early for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, which began reshaping and repositioning its assets 15 years ago and is now better prepared to support the war on terrorism, the command's top officer said June 23.Gen. Robert H. "Doc"

  • Air Force teams compete in pit-stop challenge

    Millions of NASCAR fans each year watch as professional pit-stop crews speedily change out tires and refill gas, but eight Air Force teams got to experience this rush for themselves. The Air Force’s car, No. 21, visited here June 23 to conduct a pit-stop demonstration and competition. The Air Force

  • Reserve Tricare enrollment requires contact center support

    The Air Force Reserve Contact Center here is the sole point of contact for Air Force reservists to enroll in Tricare Reserve Select, officials announced June 17.This is the first time Air Reserve Personnel Center officials have provided a service to all reservists under a centralized personnel

  • Leaders say timetable for troops’ return would be mistake

    Setting a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal in Iraq would be a mistake, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told the Senate Armed Services Committee here June 23."Some in Congress have suggested that deadlines be set," Secretary Rumsfeld said. "That would be a mistake; it would throw a lifeline

  • Cadet finishes second at track and field championships

    U.S. Air Force Academy cadet Dana Pounds wrapped up an incredible season with a second-place showing at the USA Track and Field Outdoor Championships here June 23.Pounds, the top collegiate javelin thrower once again, threw 177 feet, 4 inches to place second overall behind American record-holder Kim

  • Exercise trains U.S. forces for combat missions

    Airmen, Sailors and Marines got a taste of realistic combat during Pacific Air Force’s premier combat-air power exercise, Cooperative Cope Thunder, which ended here June 24.About 400 U.S. forces and their 30 aircraft conducted operations together during two weeks of large-force employment training.

  • Coalition, NATO forces take pride in Afghanistan's progress

    Afghanistan "has come alive," thanks to progress made during Operation Enduring Freedom, and troops serving there cannot help but feel motivated knowing the role they are playing in that progress, the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe said here June 23.Gen. Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong described

  • Potential recruits list critical to 'all-recruited' force

    The term "all-volunteer force" is a misnomer, a senior Defense Department personnel official said here June 23.In truth, the U.S. military is an "all-recruited force," and its success depends on recruiters having access to potential recruits, said Dr. David S. C. Chu, undersecretary for personnel

  • Total force Samaritans in the sand help friend, foe

    As the story goes, a good Samaritan helped an injured stranger along a well-traveled road in the Middle East more than 2,000 years ago.Today, hundreds of miles farther east, reservists of the 433rd Medical Squadron are working with about 140 Airmen of the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Medical

  • Officials urge Airmen to be wary of scams

    “Congratulations! You’re the winner of $6 million. All we need you to do is contact our agent to begin the claim process.”At one time or another, most people have received this type of offer in the mail or by e-mail. This “to-good-to-be-true” offer is in fact a scam to entice people to give up

  • West Nile Virus remains threat in U.S.

    Most people remember Sept. 11, 2001, as the day terrorists attacked America. But for one family here, it marks the day their 2-year-old son died from West Nile Virus.Summer is here in full force, and people are thinking about the 101 Critical Days of Summer -- vehicle accidents, sports injuries,

  • Airmen, Soldiers open lines of communication

    Since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the area surrounding Baghdad International Airport has developed into a series of bases, each with its own unique role in fighting the war on terrorism.Now, a small group of Airmen and Soldiers are working together to link each of those bases together