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U.S. Air Force News

  • 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

  • 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

  • Air Force Medal of Honor recipients highlighted on AF.MIL

    The Medal of Honor is the highest award for heroism in military action that this nation can bestow. It is awarded for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. A special Web section has been developed on AF.MIL to recognize U.S. Air Force recipients

  • Thunderbird maintainers keep show running behind the scenes

    Throughout its 57 years in existence, the Air Force Thunderbirds air demonstration team has never canceled a performance due to maintenance issues. When you factor in the Thunderbirds' most recent air show performance Nov. 6 and 7 during AirFest 2010 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, continuing the

  • Commercial showcases aeromedical evacuation Airmen

    An Air Force commercial highlighting the roles Airmen play in Air Force humanitarian relief efforts begins airing in television markets and select movie theaters across the U.S. in November."Med Evac" highlights the Air Force's aeromedical evacuation mission during disaster relief efforts. The

  • 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

  • Admiral, Mrs. Mullen speak out on veterans' challenges

    With Veterans Day around the corner, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Navy Adm. Mike Mullen and his wife, Deborah, sat down with reporters this week to raise visibility on issues important to military families and veterans.The Mullens' interviews Nov. 3 with the Pentagon Channel and other news

  • Airmen support Antarctica mission

    Active-duty and Reserve Airmen from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., spent a few days supporting Operation Deep Freeze at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and related their experiences to the Defense Department's "Armed with Science" blog recently.Among the officers

  • Engineers testing eight-blade prop for C-130

    Engineers with the 418th Flight Test Squadron are currently testing a C-130H3 cargo plane equipped with Hamilton Sundstrand NP 2000 propellers.The new eight-bladed composite propellers are shaped to provide additional thrust in the takeoff and low airspeed range while using the current C-130

  • 37th Bomb Squadron Airmen, Canadian forces train

    Airmen from the 37th Bomb Squadron hosted five joint terminal attack controllers from the 1st Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in a training exercise Oct. 28 in Alzada, Mont.The four-day joint exercise was designed to prepare the 37th BS Airmen for their upcoming deployment in January. "The training

  • 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

  • Occupational analysts influence Air Force decision makers

    The Air Force's flying community logs thousands upon thousands of miles-per year fulfilling their mission, but 37 civilians based at Randolph AFB also are racking up the miles in their quest to assist the service's brain trust.Members of the Air Force Occupational Analysis office, assigned to Air

  • CMSAF visits Andrews, discusses Air Force issues

    More than 900 Airmen from Joint Base Andrews gathered to hear the Air Force perspective from the highest ranking enlisted Airman.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke to JB Andrews Airmen about joint readiness, deliberate development and building resiliency during an enlisted call

  • Squadron aims to reduce use of air-sickness bags

    Even the bravest fighter pilots and toughest medical-evacuation helicopter pilots may occasionally need an air-sickness bag. Air sickness has nothing to do with how tough or strong someone is. It's a complex problem with a variety of causes, which affects many people to varying degrees. For aircrew,

  • CCAF represented at White House community colleges summit

    Lt. Col. Tim Albrecht, commandant of the Community College of the Air Force, served as the Department of Defense representative at a White House community college summit recently.A broad spectrum of people attended the summit, including administrators, educators, philanthropists and representatives

  • New capability brings live JTAC training closer to the real thing

    A new capability to broadcast a combined live, virtual and constructive, or LVC, picture using distributed models and simulations brings live training for joint terminal attack controllers closer to training like they fight.The new capability was developed by members of the Air Force Agency for

  • Keep Focus on Troops, Mullen Tells Joint Forces Command

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff praised the members of U.S. Joint Forces Command Oct. 29 for their efforts on behalf of the nation's warfighters while urging them to maintain that focus going forward.In a ceremony near the command's Norfolk, Va., headquarters, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

  • 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

  • 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

  • South Dakota officials to pay veterans bonus

    Since World War 1, South Dakota officials have paid a bonus to residents who served on active duty during a wartime period and this tradition continues today. The current bonus program authorizes payments of up to $500 to current or former members of the Armed Forces who were legal residents of the

  • Civil engineer reflects on energy awareness achievements

    October's energy awareness theme, "Think Green, Build Green, Fly Blue," reminds Airmen to seek ways to conserve energy, increase efficiency, and incorporate sustainable practices into their lives. Responsible for installation support functions at 166 bases worldwide, Civil Engineer Maj. Gen. Timothy

  • 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

  • What is ACC?

    For anyone who's ever wondered what "ACC" stands for, here's a chance to take a look inside Air Combat Command and get a glimpse of the mission, people and airpower. Find out where they are, what they do and who they are. Air Combat Command, with headquarters at Langley Air Force Base, Va., is a

  • Airmen train Iraqi air force instructor pilots

    For the past six months, Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force air advisers with the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron have been training Iraqi pilots to become T-6 Texan II instructor pilots to rebuild the Iraqi air force."The 52nd (EFTS) stood up this year for T-6 flight

  • Air Force poised for Expeditionary Combat Support System

    Touted as the largest change in Air Force logistics history, the Expeditionary Combat Support System will establish the service's first capability to globally view, standardize and manage logistics resources, officials said here during the program's kick off Oct. 22.Designed to close process gaps

  • 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

  • MAJCOMs to sponsor inaugural joint Air Force-level AFSO21 workshop

    Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, better known as AFSO21, is a fairly new program to the Air Force, but working smarter and more efficiently aren't new concepts. In an environment where the operations tempo is in constant 'do more with less' mode, four Air Force major command leaders

  • Professional Bull Riders honor Nellis Airmen at world finals

    Members of the international Professional Bull Riders, Inc., association saluted the Air Force and the accomplishments of several Airmen during their World Finals in Las Vegas Oct. 22.The special-themed Air Force Night kicked off with a swearing-in ceremony for 25 members of the Delayed Enlistment

  • 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

  • Airmen finish 860-mile trek for fallen comrades

    Hundreds of people gathered here Oct. 21 to welcome the marchers from the Tim Davis Special Tactics Memorial March. They had just completed an 860-mile march across five states that started Oct. 9 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Each of the marching Airmen carried one or more wooden batons, each

  • 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

  • Marathon officials release official plane for 2011 race

    Officials from the Air Force Marathon office here recently announced the B-1B Lancer will be the official plane for the 2011 Air Force Marathon. As the featured aircraft, the B-1B will be prominently displayed on all official marathon gear, including the finisher's medal racers receive after

  • Airmen evacuate injured New York Times photographer from Afghanistan

    Airmen aboard a C-17 Globemaster III aeromedically evacuated a New York Times photographer from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Oct. 24. Joao Silva, a veteran war photographer based in South Africa, was embedded with an Army patrol in Kandahar province when he was

  • 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

  • Airmen aid largest movement of paratroopers in decades

    Civilian passengers catching connecting flights in and out of the Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana couldn't help but notice a massive formation of military cargo aircraft sharing their airspace. Beginning at dusk, nearly 30 cargo aircraft descended on the airport Oct. 18 as part of a

  • Warfighters plan for 'future fight' at weapons, tactics conference

    Airmen in the ranks of sergeant through lieutenant colonel, warfighters serving abroad and defending the homeland, gathered here Oct. 18 through Oct. 22 to tell Guard and Reserve senior leaders what they need to improve capability in the air reserve component, or ARC.Their focus was on "Legacy

  • Photo essay: Eielson Airmen participate in convoy training

    Airmen from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Disposal Flight teach deploying Airmen here convoy preparedness classes Oct. 7. The training gives an understanding of weapons safety, small tactical troop movements, combat life saver skills and improvised explosive devices.View the slideshow.

  • Command, control wing adds joint digital integration mission

    A new mission was added to the 505th Command and Control Wing here Oct. 15.The 505th Operations Group at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., took over Joint Digital Integration for Combat Engagement, or JDICE, from the Air Force Command and Control Integration Center. The JDICE capability complements the

  • Special operations members garner awards

    Twelve members of the Air Force special operations community recently received annual awards presented by Lt. Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements. The awards ceremony recognized the 2009 United States Air Force Combat Rescue Officer of the Year,

  • 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

  • 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

  • Nellis remembers fallen Airman

    For more than 200 years, individuals have volunteered to serve in the U.S. military. Since 2001 more than 4,900 servicemembers have lost their lives in service to their country. These members took an oath to protect the ideals and freedoms allotted to citizens by the U.S. Constitution and to help

  • JET Airmen: 'Fit to fight any given day'

    Airmen often have a reputation of being "behind the scenes," never in the action, but persona is changing with Air Force's heavy involvement in joint tasking operations where Airmen are performing non-traditional jobs and missions alongside sister service members.There are many Joint Expeditionary

  • A different way to take the pain

    Acupuncture has long been a form of medical care, originating in ancient China and moving west through the world. It has only recently started to gain momentum during the last few decades in the U.S.Recently, military medical officials have begun investigating a type of acupuncture and its benefits

  • 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.

  • ESC to deliver 40,000th advanced search, rescue radio

    Officials from the Electronic Systems Center are on schedule to deliver the 40,000th Combat Survivor Evader Locator radio to U.S. operators by the end of October 2010.Because the likelihood of rescue decreases significantly with time, CSEL's advanced technology is credited with saving many lives by

  • Firefighter Combat Challenge returns to Ramstein after 5-year hiatus

    For the first time in five years, firefighters and emergency responders from throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe came together here Oct. 9 for the 2010 Firefighter Combat Challenge. The return of the event, previously put on hold due to real-world demands, also marked the end of the Kaiserslautern

  • Secretary Donley addresses challenges ahead during Kirtland visit

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited Kirtland Air Force Base Oct. 13 and 14 to meet with base leaders, speak with Airmen serving here and address members of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.During his visit, Secretary Donley visited numerous base organizations, including the

  • Top enlisted Airman visits Horn of Africa

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force spent a day here to see firsthand the role Airmen play in the mission of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and throughout the U.S. Africa Command theater.During the Oct. 13 visit, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited Airmen in

  • 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

  • Vandenberg officials hold memorial service for fallen Airman

    A memorial service was held for a fallen Airman Oct. 13, at the Base Chapel here. Hundreds of people filled the chapel's pews to pay their final respects to Senior Airman Daniel Johnson, a 30th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician who was killed in action Oct. 5, west of

  • Air Force to quadruple solar energy production

    For nearly three years, a 14.2-megawatt solar array spanning 140 acres at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., has held the title of the largest renewable-energy project in the Air Force. Hundreds of media outlets have published stories featuring the vast display of solar panels, and President Obama visited

  • 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

  • C2 conference addresses future structure, training

    The 505th Command and Control Wing hosted its semi-annual Commander's Conference here Oct. 12 through 14.Thirty-one commanders, deputy commanders and superintendents from seven locations across the U.S. converged on Hulburt to discuss command and control, or C2, issues affecting operational-level

  • Record year on deployed mobility airdrops continued to build in September

    Mobility Airmen completing airdrops for Operation Enduring Freedom during September surpassed the 40 million pounds-delivered mark for 2010, building on what is a new record year for airdrops for OEF.Numbers tracked by air-mobility planners at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center in

  • 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

  • Secretary Gates seeks expansion of U.S.-Vietnamese cooperation

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates noted the level of cooperation in the military relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam and said he sees potential for that relationship to expand even further Oct. 11 during a speech at Vietnam National University. Secretary Gates said collaborative efforts

  • Air Force wins back-to-back softball titles

    The Air Force men's softball team won its second consecutive Armed Forces Softball Championship title after out-slugging Army Sept. 23 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. ,19-10. The Air Force won its sixth gold medal in nine years and posted a 7-2 record throughout the five-day tournament. Air

  • Special tactics Airmen walk for fallen comrades

    Fifteen special tactics Airmen carrying 50-pound rucksacks departed from here Oct. 9 on a mission to honor the memories of their fallen comrades.The 860-mile trek, known as the Tim Davis Special Tactics Memorial March, will stretch across five states and will consist of six teams walking 24 hours a

  • Expeditionary center takes UDM training on the road

    Officials are expanding the capability of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center here for training unit deployment managers by deploying mobile training teams across the Air Force.These mobile training teams will consist of pairs of UDM instructors who will travel to major Air Force installations

  • Scott Airmen teach Iraqi Forces life-saving techniques

    Airmen with the 375th Security Forces Squadron here, who are deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, recently helped create a new training plan for Iraqi guards.Senior Airman Aaron Jennings, a unit trainer with the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, is one of the security forces Airmen who

  • Officials announce new initial enlistment bonuses

    Pentagon officials recently released the fiscal 2011 initial enlistment bonus program list. Three Air Force specialty codes had bonuses decrease, but only for those enlisting for six years. Those AFSCs seeing decreases were airborne linguist, crypto linguist and tactical air control party. No AFSCs

  • Academy officer picked for top triathlon

    Forget about who's crazy enough to participate in a triathlon. Who was crazy enough to come up with the over-the-top race in the first place? Believe it or not, it was a Sailor.In 1978, following a foot race on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, participants argued about who were the best overall

  • Busy Afghan mission leads to recognition

    A 919th Special Operations Wing aircrew recently was selected for the Air Force Association's Brig. Gen. Ross Hoyt Award for their efforts on a mission over Afghanistan in 2009.At that time, the 10-man MC-130E Combat Talon aircrew led by pilot Maj. Michael Black, then with the 711th Special

  • Mission complete for C-130, C-17 aircrews supporting flood relief

    As flood waters recede and Pakistan's aid delivery shifts focus from air to ground transportation, the Pakistan government informed the U.S. recently that U.S. military aircraft and other international cargo plane airlift support was no longer required. At Pakistan's request, the U.S. military has

  • Afghan air force members attend fly-away security team training

    Nine Afghan air force security forces members received flyaway security team training here from Sept. 27 through Oct. 4. They are assigned to the quick reaction force and have received previous basic military police and air base defense training. The training provides the Afghan air force an added

  • Airmen make impact with first GBU-54 combat drop in Afghanistan

    Airmen from the 510th Fighter Squadron here employed a guided bomb unit-54 laser joint directed attack munition for the first time in the Afghan area of operations recently.The GBU-54 is the Air Force's newest 500-pound precision weapon, equipped with a special targeting system that uses a

  • Exercise aims to change game

    A training exercise held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord recently might change how Air Force and Army units conduct close air support.Pacific Strike 2010 demonstrated capabilities that could vastly improve close-air-support operations for deployed units as well as in garrison, said Army I Corps' Chief

  • Photo essay: Afghanistan unit shows capabilities

    Pararescuemen from the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron participate with Airmen from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in a training mission here Sept. 24. The training mission provided a glimpse of what the 33rd ERQS brings to the fight and the capabilities it provides to combat commanders.View

  • Airman dies in combat operations in Afghanistan

    An Air Force Special Operations Command combat controller died Sept. 29 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.Senior Airman Mark A. Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was killed while conducting combat operations with his special forces team in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to

  • 24th Air Force achieves full operational capability

    The commander of Air Force Space Command declared full operational capability for 24th Air Force Oct. 1.The criteria to reach FOC, established in Air Force Program Action Directive PAD 07-08, required 24th Air Force, headquartered at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to be able to perform all

  • Gates praises service, sacrifice of all-volunteer force

    The American people are losing contact with those who make up its military, and the nation needs to understand the service and sacrifices that U.S. military personnel and their families make, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said at Duke University's Page Auditorium Sept. 29.The secretary spoke to

  • Officials implement new training model

    Given the complexities of today's combat missions and the inherent, life-threatening dangers faced by Airmen today, it is critical that Airmen receive effective training before engaging in battle. To provide Airmen with the most realistic training environment away from the battle space, Air Force

  • VA officials extend coverage for Gulf War veterans

    Veterans of the Gulf War as well as current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan now have a smoother path toward receiving health care benefits and disability compensation for nine diseases associated with their military service, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced Sept. 29.A

  • Atlantic Strike simulates real combat

    The team of four trudged down the road in the hot, mid-afternoon sun wearing body armor, Kevlar helmets and radios on their backs with their weapons drawn. There had been reports of an enemy stronghold in the area, and the team's mission was to take the "bad guys" out. Finally, they came to a split

  • DOD identifies Air Force casualty

    The Department of Defense announced today the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.Senior Airman Daniel R. Sanchez, 23, of El Paso, Texas, died Sept. 16 while conducting combat operations in Oruzgan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics

  • Photo essay: Airmen and Soldiers join forces during exercise

    Airmen and Soldiers take part in a Joint Forces Entry Exercise here Sept. 13. The training develops cohesiveness between the Army and Air Force by executing large-scale heavy equipment and troop movements for real-world contingencies.View the slideshow.

  • Medical staff celebrates advances in ECMO

    The year 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of the 59th Medical wing staff conducting extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation missions.ECMO is a machine that provides cardiac and respiratory support primarily to infants and children whose hearts and lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can

  • Balad first base to host resiliency training

    Deployments cause stress and stress, if not managed, can lead to consequences such as arguments, fights, mission failures and possibly suicide.Joint Base Balad is the first base in Southwest Asia to test the Flash Forward Resiliency Training Program, which is one of many programs that will be

  • Former NCO fights through PTSD

    Before a nine-month deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq, an active-duty security forces member stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., was on the fast track. He was promoted below-the-zone to senior airman and selected for staff sergeant on first attempt. Before he was medically retired due to

  • Air Force bands provide more than music

    Airmen deployed to combat zones today perform a variety of missions, ranging from precision bombing to explosive ordnance disposal, to working with local community leaders as members of provincial reconstruction teams and even training Iraqi and Afghan soldiers and airmen. Air Force bandsmen, too,

  • Photo essay: Security forces prepare for combat at Hill

    Airmen with the 75th Security Forces Squadron practice rifle fighting techniques during combat readiness training Sept. 13 here. The CRT course provides Airmen with the basic skills needed to deploy, to include tactical movements and land navigation.View the slideshow.

  • Military participates in National Public Lands Day

    Thousands of volunteers are expected to descend on 48 military bases Sept. 25 to prune, plant and paint in an effort to show that the Defense Department is a good steward of its public land.The work is being done as part of the 17th annual National Public Lands Day, an event sponsored by the

  • South Dakota Air National Guard wing named top fighter unit

    The Airmen of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing have once again distinguished themselves as the most outstanding Air National Guard fighter unit in the nation. They were selected as the 2010 recipient of the National Guard Bureau's Winston P. Wilson Trophy. The trophy is

  • Joint warfighters hone skills at Atlantic Strike

    Joint and coalition warfighters improved their close-air support skills during an exercise led by Air Combat Command and U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team Sept. 13.Atlantic Strike 10-02 trained warfighters to find, fix, track, target, engage and assess

  • Collaboration improves treatment of unseen scars of war

    Several times every week, a team of about 50 specialists gathers around a conference table at the National Naval Medical Center here to assess the progress of every wounded warrior undergoing treatment at the hospital. They bring an array of expertise to the discussion, with specialties in

  • Airmen participate in Operation Market Garden anniversary

    Nineteen Airmen along with three C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron traveled to Holland Sept. 16 to 19 to participate in the reenactment of the largest airborne assault in history to date. More than 1,000 Dutch, German, British, Polish and American servicemembers

  • Net-centricity transcends the network, experts say

    Several high-level Air Force, joint service and industry speakers discussed the powers and perils of operating in a net-centric environment at this year's Net-Centric Operations Conference at the Wentworth Hotel and Conference Center here Sept. 20.Sponsored by the Patriots Roost Chapter of the

  • Airman inducted into Pentagon's Hall of Heroes

    Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger was posthumously inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes in a ceremony Sept. 22 following presentation of the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony the day before."Today, we bring honor to Chief Etchberger's memory and our nation's highest tribute to

  • Air Force officials select 2010 team excellence award winners

    Air Force officials recently selected five teams to receive 2010 Chief of Staff Team Excellence awards for finding creative ways to enhance mission capabilities, improve operational performance and create sustained results. The innovations and business solutions the competing Air Force teams

  • Veteran recalls battle leading to Medal of Honor

    In 1968, a battle raged where heroes arose only to be unacknowledged for 18 years. Proper recognition occurred during a White House ceremony Sept. 21 when Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after saving three of his men in a battle that failed to make

  • President presents posthumous Medal of Honor to hero's sons

    President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to the family of an Air Force chief master sergeant killed in action 42 years ago in Laos during a ceremony Sept. 21. "Today, we present the Medal of Honor to an American who displayed such gallantry more than four decades

  • Family prepares for Medal of Honor

    Three men, along with their families and friends, travelled to the nation's capital to take part in an important correction to Air Force history.Steve Wilson, Cory Etchberger and Richard Etchberger attended a ceremony at the White House Sept. 21 where their late father, Chief Master Sgt. Richard

  • Reservists win first place in international medical competition

    A team of Reserve officers earned first place in the Combat Casualty Care competition during the Interallied Allied Confederation of Reserve Officers annual Congress and Military Competition here.USA Team 3 pulled top scores based on their ability to react quickly and assess and treat wounded

  • Photo essay: Hunters track 'Igor'

    Airmen from Air Force Reserve Command 's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron known as the "Hurricane Hunters" fly a mission to collect data on Hurricane Igor here Sept. 17.View the slideshow.

  • NCO trains for mixed martial arts fight on base

    The first thing a visitor to the FIT NHB Fight Gym in downtown Albuquerque, N.M., notices is the steady series of staccato thumps echoing off the walls. It's the sound of solid blows landing squarely on padded targets. In this converted warehouse, fighters train in mixed martial arts, practicing