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  • SecAF visits JB Charleston

    Members of Joint Base Charleston welcomed Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley during his visit to Joint Base Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 18.Donley was greeted by Col. Richard McComb, the 628th Air Base Wing commander, and Col. Erik Hansen, the 437th Airlift Wing commander, along with other

  • SecAF: Stay focused on readiness during challenging times

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley toured the base and spoke to more than 250 Airmen during an all call here Oct. 17-18.Donley, currently in his fourth year as secretary, said it had been more than 20 years since his last visit here. He complimented the strong community support enjoyed by the

  • Andersen AFB preps for Operation Christmas Drop 2011

    Airmen here are shifting into high gear in preparation for the 60th iteration of the Air Force's longest-running, humanitarian-airlift mission -- Operation Christmas Drop. Since 1951, Operation Christmas Drop has been spreading the holiday spirit in the form of needed supplies to residents in some

  • Powering awareness saves money

    Each October, the Air Force focuses its energy on saving energy."Our theme for Energy Awareness Month this year is 'Power the Force - Fuel the Fight,'" said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz in an energy awareness message to the

  • Dempsey: New energy technologies already helping DOD

    Saving energy saves lives, and new technologies championed by Defense Department officials already are making a difference at the Pentagon and on the battlefield, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here Oct. 18.Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey spoke at an energy security event held at the

  • Historic 'surge' exercises airlift crisis, contingency response

    A surge of C-5 Galaxies, slated to take place Oct. 17 - 21, will bring together 18 active-duty and 23 Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command crews and aircraft to fly cargo in support of combatant commanders across the globe. The assembly of the nation's largest military airlifters will

  • SVS officials launch redesigned AF sponsorship website

    The Air Force community has a combined purchasing power of $30 billion, and Air Force commercial sponsorship officials are revamping their efforts to spread the word to potential sponsors.Through the Air Force Commercial Sponsorship program, sponsoring businesses receive market exposure to total

  • Thracian Fall exercise kicks off in Bulgaria

    Service members from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Bulgarian air force are participating in a two-week jump exercise here from Oct. 9 through 22.Operation Thracian Fall 2011 is part of a semi-annual, off-station training that gives U.S. and coalition jumpers and pilots an opportunity to hone their

  • Congress reviews future Reserve equipment upgrades

    As Congress works on the fiscal year 2012 budget and to reduce federal debt, Army and Air Force Reserve and National Guard leaders were on Capitol Hill here to testify and answer questions about their funding proposals Oct. 12.Chairman Roscoe Bartlett and Ranking Member Silvestre Reyes lead the

  • 15 acres of land made ecologically safer at Little Rock AFB

    Nearly 15 acres here that was previously used as a skeet range in the 1960s, is an ecologically safer place today because of a restoration project that called for excavating 36 million pounds of contaminated soil and replacing it with more than 3,000 trees and recycled soil and mulch.There was cause

  • Denton Program, 437th APS support humanitarian missions

    There is currently 24,800 pounds of humanitarian aid stored at the 437th Aerial Port Squadron here waiting to be shipped to Colon, Honduras on Oct. 25. Twenty reverse osmosis water purification systems and two anesthesia machines are being sent to provide clean water and medical supplies to more

  • US, Afghan airmen perform 1st joint operational air-assault mission

    Members of the Kandahar Air Wing and U.S. Army Task Force Thunder conducted their first joint air-assault mission, "Operation Sand Hill Crane," together recently.Officials explained the goal of Sand Hill Crane was to insert specialized teams into strategic locations where reintegration leaflets

  • New entrant certification strategy announced

    The U.S. Air Force, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced Oct. 14 their strategy for certifying commercial launch vehicles that could compete for future contracts for space launch missions to include Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, or

  • Captain wins national Women in Aerospace Achievement Award

    A program manager here has been named a co-winner of the national-level Women in Aerospace Achievement Award.Capt. Amanda Zuber, a Space-Based Infrared System field program manager assigned to the 45th Launch Support Squadron here, will receive her award in Nov. 1 in Washington D.C."This is a big

  • Air Force leaders send birthday messages to Navy

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy salute the Navy on its 236th birthday Oct. 13. Secretary Donley wrote a letter to the secretary of the Navy stating:"Congratulations as you celebrate the 236th

  • Wing commander, spouse honored at Pentagon

     Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon and his wife Sara the General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley award during a ceremony here Oct. 11. The Dillons were honored for their service at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where the general serves as the 86th Airlift Wing

  • ESC provides modern air traffic control system for Iraq

    Members of the Electronic Systems Center completed work in September that improves and upgrades Iraq's air traffic control system.The completion of this foreign military sales effort involved the delivery of two new air traffic control tower systems along with state-of-the-art radar and ATC-tower

  • CMSAF visits Hawaii, discusses AF-wide issues

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy recently visited Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and took some time to answer questions about Air Force-wide issues. The following is a transcript of his interview:1. You were the Senior enlisted leader and adviser at (Pacific Command) and 5th Air Force

  • AMC officials save energy in the office, on the road

    With an annual energy bill of more than $100 million, not including aircraft fuel, Air Mobility Command officials are exploring ways to save energy and the money spent on it. While the most obvious energy savings might come from the flying mission, AMC is working just as hard to save energy on the

  • Panetta visits military bases in Italy

    On his way home from a week-long trip to countries in the Middle East and NATO headquarters in Belgium, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta made stops Oct. 7 at two military bases in Italy to thank U.S. and NATO troops for their service.At the Naval Support Activity in Naples, headquarters of the 6th

  • AFSOC's first MC-130J Combat Shadow II arrives at Cannon AFB

    Airmen assigned to the 27th Special Operations Wing held an aircraft acceptance ceremony Sept. 29 on the flightline here for the arrival of Air Force Special Operations Command's first MC-130J Combat Shadow II. Lt. Gen. Eric E. Fiel, the AFSOC commander, and Brig. Gen. Stephen Clark, the AFSOC

  • Free AFCLC 'Intro to Culture' course offers CCAF credit

    Officials at the Air Force Culture and Language Center are now accepting applications for the fall session of the "Introduction to Culture" course. Enrollment began Oct. 6 and is limited to 750 students. Class begins Oct. 20 and continues through Jan. 24, 2012. ITC is an online, self-paced course

  • AFCENT commander unveils his priorities

    Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, the Air Forces Central Command commander, recently published his vision, priorities and a set of guiding principles in a personal letter to Airmen and civilians across the Central Command area of responsibility. "Over the past two decades, from Lt. Gen. (Charles) Horner to

  • Third Language Enabled Airmen Board meets, selects participants

    Air Force foreign language experts recently met at the Air Force Culture and Language Center here to select the latest participants for the Language Enabled Airman Program. Nearly 600 people from across the Air Force applied for the program. Barbara Barger, the Air Force Senior Language Authority,

  • CSARs rescue wounded Afghan soldiers during high-risk mission

    Rescuing injured coalition forces in Afghanistan is something the 83rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Bagram Airfield is accustomed to doing, but flying over 12,000-foot mountains and aerial refueling presented dynamic challenges during a mission Sept. 11. Airmen from the 83rd ERQS, known as the

  • Air Force leaders issue Energy Awareness message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz send the following message regarding energy awareness month to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force and their families:Global Vigilance, Reach, and Power at home and abroad require vast amounts of energy -

  • Mullen: America can't lose its military edge

    America can ill afford to lose its military superiority, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said Sept. 30, his last day as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Speaking to the audience gathered at Virginia's Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall here to watch him transfer the chairmanship to Army Gen. Martin E.

  • Wyatt: Air Guard is affordable, operational, accessible

    The Air National Guard is the affordable, operational, fully accessible force the Air Force needs during uncertain economic times, the director of the Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt said here."The Air Guard provides to the United States Air Force 34 percent of the combat capability on seven

  • Kandahar graduates basic flight medics

     Four medics recently graduated at the Kandahar Air Wing from the first Afghan air force Basic Flight Medic course, boosting the Afghan medical response capability. According to medical professionals, the goal of the 40-hour course was to combine ground and flight medical training to produce a

  • Fairchild units conduct first KC-135 OSC exercise

    Earlier in 2011, a military aircraft went down in Afghanistan and the aircrew evaded through enemy terrain. A Fairchild KC-135 Stratotanker was nearby conducting operations and was the first to receive communications from the downed survivors. Once they positively authenticated the survivors, the

  • T-6 advisory mission ceases, Iraqi pilots teach their own

    "Iraqi air power starts here," are the words written above the doorway of the Iraqi air force's Squadron 203, a T-6A Texas II flight training squadron at Tikrit Air Base, Iraq. The words ring true, in part, because of the efforts of the U.S. Air Force's 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron,

  • HC-130J arrival brings promise of improved personnel recovery

    Air Combat Command officials received its first HC-130J Combat King II after Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz flew the aircraft here and officiated an arrival ceremony Sept. 24.The delivery of the new C-130 model from Georgia was significant for the personnel recovery mission, as the

  • Reserve Command to realign several units

    Four flying wings, one flying group and seven smaller units in the Air Force Reserve Command will change their higher headquarters and chains of command by Oct. 1.These actions advance the command's efforts to provide operational capabilities and strategic depth across the full spectrum of military

  • Air Mobility Command's response saves lives

    In wars, natural disasters and humanitarian emergencies, the Air Mobility Command's real-time global response capability saves lives and brings people home, Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr. said this week.Johns, who commands AMC based at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., spoke to reporters here at a Defense

  • General cites SOUTHCOM regional challenges

    There have been several "good news" trends observed across the Caribbean and Central and South American regions over the past decade, yet narco-terrorism and corruption remain serious security concerns, U.S. Southern Command's chief said Sept. 21 here.Trade has increased in the region, while

  • Airmen recognized with Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards

    Five teams from across the service received Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 20.Gen. Norton Schwartz presented the awards, and lauded three teams' efforts with Air Force Best Practice

  • Air Forces Africa commander shares challenges, concerns

    The 17th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Africa commander discussed Africa operations during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 20.Major Gen. Margaret Woodward emphasized the importance of America's partnership with the people of Africa and the

  • Air Force Under Secretary stresses innovation amidst rough fiscal waters

    The innovative ideas and creativity of the Air Force's military and civilian workforce are critical to the service's ability to excel in a budget-constrained environment, said the undersecretary of the Air Force Sept. 20.In an address to attendees of the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space

  • C-130Js improve Bagram's airlift, airdrop capabilities

    The 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron recently filled its ranks with C-130J Hercules aircraft and aircrews as two new units joined the squadron. Almost two dozen C-130Js and a full complement of aircrew and maintenance personnel, split between California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing

  • USAFE commander highlights US, NATO partnership

    The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe shared his views on the evolution of the partnership between U.S. and European Airmen during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Convention and Exposition here Sept. 20.Since World War I and the days of the Lafayette Escadrille, and even before,

  • Air Force moving forward on more efficient energy

    The Air Force has taken a service-wide approach to create a robust, resilient and ready energy security posture, said the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 20.Mission requirements

  • Air Force will preserve 'core contributions' despite pressures, CSAF says

    Air Force leaders are focused on managing potential budget constraints so that the service can continue to provide its unique contributions to national security, according to the Air Force chief of staff.Speaking before hundreds of attendees at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference

  • Balancing force top priority say senior Air Force leaders

    Finding the right balance of regular, Reserve and Guard forces is the key to future Air Force capabilities and budget cuts senior leaders said Sept. 19, at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.More than 8,000 industry leaders, lobbyists, media, and

  • Air Force officials announce FY12 voluntary force management measures

    Air Force leaders announced Sept. 9 the continuation of voluntary officer separation measures for fiscal 2012 as part of the services' ongoing force-management initiatives.In 2010 Air Force leaders implemented a tailored, multi-year program  to reduce the number of personnel to operate at the

  • Mobility Air Forces provide wartime capability, humanitarian assistance

    The same mobility machines and personnel that deliver critical capabilities to U.S. joint forces in combat have also proven their mettle in humanitarian missions, said Air Mobility Command's top officer at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept.

  • SECAF delivers address on state of the Air Force

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed hundreds of Airmen, sister service members and industry leaders during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here, Sept. 19.Donley spoke about the state of the Air Force in regards to budget concerns,

  • Senior leaders: B-2 has a bright future ahead

    Senior leaders from across the Air Force visited here last week to discuss the future of the B-2 Spirit bomber.The General Officer Steering Group for B-2 Sustainment met here Sept. 8 to discuss challenges and solutions for keeping the B-2 fleet healthy and operational for years to come.Ann Mitchell,

  • Rescue squadron returns home from concurrent deployments

    Approximately 60 members of the 56th Rescue Squadron returned here Sept. 15, after back-to-back deployments in support of two different operations that had them away from home for more than nine months.Their deployments began with a three-month stretch in Afghanistan where they provided high-risk

  • Air Force team trains Afghans on EOD ops

    Over the past month, an Air Force explosive ordnance disposal team has been training members of an Afghan National Army EOD team on the most current methods to defeat improvised explosive devices.Members of the 466th Air Expeditionary Squadron EOD charlie flight will soon conclude a

  • SECAF helps NGA celebrate Air Force birthday

    The relationship between the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Air Force was lauded Sept. 16 during NGA's celebration of the service's 64th birthday at the agency headquarters in Springfield, Va.Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley joined NGA Director Letitia A. Long in a ceremony

  • Leaders issue Air Force birthday message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy issued the following message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force:On September 18, 1947, our nation established the United States Air Force, thus

  • Air Force completes action on 2005 BRAC

    After more than six years of execution, the Air Force successfully completed its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure program, Air Force officials announced Sept. 15.All 64 of the Air Force BRAC recommendations enacted into law Nov. 9, 2005, are now complete. Air Force BRAC Program Management Office

  • Air Force aerial firefighters continue battling Texas wildfires

    Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft provided aerial firefighting support to northeast Texas for a second consecutive day Sept. 12, forming fire retardant lines in support of ground fire crews.Aircrews and their four C-130s dropped approximately 12,000 gallons of fire retardant against Fires 262 and

  • DOD aircraft join firefighting efforts in Texas, Northwest US

    Under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander for Air Forces Northern here, six Defense Department C-130 Hercules equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems will deploy in support of the National Interagency Fire Center to supplement wildland

  • Yokota Airmen 'connect' to help fellow Airman

    When an Airman here needed his room renovated to support a device that would monitor his heart, several squadrons came together to lend a helping hand.After experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest during a physical training exercise, Airman 1st Class Tan Nguyen, from the 374th Medical Operations

  • 440th Airlift Wing helps 'Move that bus!'

    Airmen from the 440th Airlift Wing got a taste of Hollywood recently as ABC's reality television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" was here to film scenes for an upcoming episode.Extreme Makeover: Home Edition renovates homes for families facing recent or ongoing hardships. Show host Ty

  • DTC provides comfort, eases transition for US service members

    The Ramstein Deployment Transition Center here recently opened its doors to service members from other branches of the U.S. military, 2,100 so far, allowing those teammates who are consistently in harm's way a method to ease into the transition of going home. Since July 2010, the DTC has been the

  • Airmen reopen base to support Iraq transition

    As U.S. Forces-Iraq members continue to return from Iraq, Airmen here have recently reopened an air base that was closed in 2004.With U.S. service members and multiple flying squadrons expected to pull fully out of Iraq by late December, the U.S. Air Force has created a home for some of these units.

  • South Pole airdrop delivers critical medical supplies in total darkness

    Airmen with the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here airdropped urgently needed medical supplies Sept. 1 at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. The supplies will augment a South Pole medical team's treatment of an ailing civilian wintering there with the U.S. Antarctic

  • Air Force Iraq mission likely to increase before it ends

    As the American presence in Iraq draws down, the Air Force mission in the nation likely will increase, said Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy.Handy, the commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force and director of the Air Component Coordination Element in Iraq, discussed the Air Force

  • SECAF visits Andersen, talks AF way ahead

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley spoke on topics of national interest Aug. 29 at an Airmen's Call here. Donley toured the Pacific to reconnect with the region and thank Airmen serving in the Pacific area of responsibility.In introducing Donley, Brig. Gen. John Doucette, the 36th Wing

  • Air Force celebrates JSF arrival, rolls out nation's airpower future

    Air Force officials said the unveiling of the F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighter was a "historic occasion" during a rollout ceremony here Aug. 26.The F-35A, on display during the ceremony, was delivered here in July by Lt. Col. Eric Smith, the Air Force's first F-35 pilot."This is indeed a new

  • Ceremony kicks off NCR leg of 9/11 Ruck March to Remember

    Security forces Airmen from across the national capital region joined for a wreath laying ceremony Aug. 29 at the Pentagon. The ceremony marked the beginning of their participation in the Security Forces 9/11 Ruck March to Remember. "Our enemies will never win while America's Airmen stand ready to

  • New efforts enhance Irene response

    Approximately 7,675 National Guard Airmen and Soldiers from 18 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico responded Aug. 28 to support Hurricane Irene relief efforts.According to Guard officials, three capabilities are enhancing the National Guard's contribution to the joint state and federal

  • Dual-status commanders to support Irene relief efforts

    Defense Department officials announced the appointment of four dual-status commanders to support Hurricane Irene relief efforts Aug. 27, marking the first time the dual-commander concept has been implemented for a natural disaster.While others may be appointed in the coming days, the initial list of

  • Guard supports joint response, thousands deploy

    National Guard support to the joint response to Hurricane Irene was in full motion Aug. 27 as thousands of Soldiers and Airmen rolled out in multiple states to support civilian authorities.Guard officials at the National Guard Coordination Center here were tracking the storm and working with other

  • Panetta puts troops on standby for hurricane assistance

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has issued a prepare-to-deploy order for 6,500 active-duty service members from all of the services to support hurricane relief efforts if ordered, Pentagon spokesman George Little said Aug. 27.On requests from states for the department to provide hurricane relief

  • Scott AFB supports bases evacuating from Hurricane Irene

    More than 20 aircraft from various East Coast locations began arriving here Aug. 25 as part of Hurricane Irene evacuation efforts. So far, Scott Air Force Base has received:-- Eight F-15C Eagles and 26 support personnel from the 125th Fighter Wing from the Jacksonville Air National Guard in

  • Air Force, AMC poised for Hurricane Irene response

    In response to Hurricane Irene heading up the east coast of the U.S., the Air Force and Air Mobility Command are postured to support relief efforts if needed, officials said recently.According to a National Weather Service report released Aug. 27, Hurricane Irene is currently a Category 1 storm with

  • JB MDL prepares for Hurricane Irene

    Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is actively preparing for Hurricane Irene, officials here said.The base entered Hurricane Condition III on Aug. 25, which is declared when the weather forecast predicts the arrival of 58 mph or greater winds within 48 hours."Hurricane Irene is expected to be a

  • 20th EBS Airmen assume continuous bomber presence in Guam

    More than 300 Airmen assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrived here recently to replace the 96th EBS in support of U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence.The rotation of bomber aircraft is specifically designed to enhance regional security

  • Operation Deep Freeze 2011-2012 begins

    Late winter flights, known as WINFLY, for Operation Deep Freeze 2011-2012 began August 20.Deep Freeze is a joint service, interagency activity that supports the National Science Foundation, which manages the U.S. Antarctic Program.Lt. Gen. Stanley T. Kresge, the commander of 13th Air Force, is

  • American families tour Transit Center

    New U.S. Embassy employees and their families traveled from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to tour the Transit Center Aug. 20 to learn more about the installation's missions and capabilities.More than a dozen children excitedly took turns lying in a KC-135 Stratotanker boom, sitting in a C-17 Globemaster III

  • SJAFB evacuates jets as Irene approaches

    As Hurricane Irene approaches, the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing began evacuating approximately 60 F-15E Strike Eagles and eight KC-135R Stratotankers to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25.In addition to the aircraft sent to Barksdale, the base also sent approximately 350 aircrew

  • Smart bases, electric vehicles key energy independence components

    The Air Force and other Department of Defense agencies are aggressively pursuing plug-in electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid infrastructure technologies, DOD leaders told industry representatives at an Electric Vehicle Industry Day here Aug. 23."We are here to tell you three things," said Terry A.

  • Family, friends say goodbye to a 'hero'

    An Air Force Special Operations Command pararescueman was laid to rest here Aug. 23.Tech. Sgt. Daniel Zerbe, 28, died Aug. 6 in the Wardak province of eastern Afghanistan when the Chinook helicopter in which he was traveling crashed. Zerbe was one of 25 U.S. Special Operations Command operators who

  • Former Air Force Two now part of AMC Museum

    The Air Mobility Command Museum here has long been home to many landmarks of American avionic innovation. The retired military and civilian airframes are restored to historically accurate quality by museum volunteers and displayed for the enjoyment of several generations of patrons.If the planes

  • Reserve pilot spearheads Air Force's efforts to go green

    A historic agreement, introduced by a Reserve pilot from the 317th Airlift Squadron, between the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration establishes procedures for pilots called optimized profile descent, which will reduce noise, fuel costs and emissions effective Aug

  • 16th SPCS breaks ground for new global capability

    In a combined effort, the 16th Space Control Squadron and its Reserve associate unit, the 380th Space Control Squadron, broke ground July 28 for a Rapid Attack, Identification, Detection and Reporting System site in Hawaii.Lt. Col. Roger Sherman, the 16th SPCS commander, Lt. Col. Bob Claude, the

  • National Guard ready for Hurricane Irene

    National Guard adjutants general along the East and Gulf Coasts are currently awaiting the potential landfall of Hurricane Irene, but are prepared to act if called upon by their governors, Guard officials said Aug. 23.As of 3:30 p.m., the Florida National Guard 125th Fighter Wing, has upgraded to

  • Pacific Air Rally starts in Sri Lanka

    More than 300 military members from the U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Sri Lankan Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force gathered together for the start of Pacific Airlift Rally 2011 Aug. 22 here.PAR is a Pacific Air Force sponsored, biennial multilateral tactical military airlift

  • Base makes room for more rotary wing aircraft in Afghanistan

    Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan, increased its capacity recently when officials opened a new rotary wing apron with a goal of increasing capability to stage rotary wing aircraft.Approximately 112,000 meters in size, the apron has the ability to park 18 UH-60 Blackhawks, 14 CH-47 Chinooks and 10 AH-64

  • Altus Captain embarks on 'Journey of Freedom' to honor fallen heroes

    An Air Force captain is planning to bike from Arlington National Cemetery, Va., for approximately 150 miles and then run another 100 miles to Ground Zero in New York City, N.Y., Sept. 10-11 without stopping to rest. Capt. Chris Pace, a 58th Airlift Squadron instructor pilot, is calling his athletic

  • ESC awards contract for lightened instrument landing system

    Officials at the Electronic Systems Center here issued an $8.8 million contract award to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Network Systems Division Aug. 12 to provide the Air Force a deployable precision approach landing capability to support contingency operations or humanitarian missions across the

  • American, Kyrgyz service members partner to enhance communication

    Airmen from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing here and Kyrgyz soldiers gather twice a month to practice foreign language skills. For the soldiers, speaking English offers a chance to exercise a skill they learned in school. For Airmen deployed here, it's a chance to learn the language of their host

  • Joint basing strengthens 673rd Security Forces Squadron

    More than 10 months after the former Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson merged to form Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson; the 673d Security Forces Squadron is running on all cylinders, officials here said.Capt. Melissa Hull, the 673rd Security Forces operations officer, said it was a

  • Exercise Eagle Flag focuses on joint task force-port opening

    The U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center launched its Eagle Flag Exercise Aug. 13, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.The first week of the two-week exercise is designed to simulate unloading and the transportation of cargo received in a deployed environment. A joint task force-port opening, or

  • RED HORSE team rides in for Ulchi Freedom Guardian

    Ulchi Freedom Guardian 2011 augmentees from across the globe arrived here recently to find a tent city already set up by 254th RED HORSE members.Ulchi Freedom Guardian is an annual computer-assisted simulation command post exercise that focuses on training service members while exercising senior

  • S. Korea, U.S. begin major exercise

    South Korea and U.S. servicemembers began another year of training in a familiar peninsula-wide exercise Aug. 16. U.S. forces and their South Korean allies first gathered here last week to ramp up for the multi-day, defense-oriented command post exercise Operation Ulchi Freedom Guardian. This is one

  • Yokota Airmen take to sky during Pacific Airlift Rally

    Seventy-eight members from the 36th Airlift Squadron here will test their humanitarian assistance and disaster relief abilities in the Pacific Airlift Rally held in Sri Lanka, Aug. 18 through 22. The Pacific Airlift Rally is designed to strengthen interoperability between nations in the Indonesian

  • Space Command retires workhorse satellite

    Members of the 3rd Space Operations Squadron, along with their counterparts from the 53rd Signal Battalion, waved a fond farewell to a trusted old friend Aug. 12. Lt. Col. Kevin Mortensen, 3rd SOPS commander and Lt. Col. Benjamin Jones, 53rd SB commander, took the honors, shutting down the final

  • Joint Base Charleston holds air transport conference

    More than 140 people attended an Air Transportation Test Loading Activity conference Aug. 11 and 12 here. ATTLA is the Department of Defense agency responsible for approving airlift cargo before it can be transported by aircraft. Loadmasters, aerial porters and representatives from various agencies

  • Sharing intelligence helps contractors strengthen cyber defenses

    A new pilot program in which Defense Department officials share classified threat intelligence with defense contractors or their commercial Internet service providers is showing promise in increasing their cyber defenses and preventing enemy intrusions into sensitive government networks, Deputy

  • VA reaching out to rural Vets with Telehealth

    Kenneth Winn, 48, suffered a head injury while deployed in Operation Desert Storm. Since then, he's experienced his fair share of challenges in life. He's been looking for a job now for two years."I want to work," he said. "But if I tell (a potential employer) I have a head injury, they don't hire

  • Fellowship provides broad perspective on Air Force mission

    The Air Force Manpower and Personnel office announced the plans for its annual Strategic Policy Fellowship Intermediate Developmental Education rotations for 2011-2012, which is set to begin mid-August. The program's goal is to develop competitively selected, officers' understanding of air, space,

  • U.S., South Korea forces to begin Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise

    U.S. and South Korean troops will begin the 10-day Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise Aug. 16, conducted annually by the Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command to improve combat readiness.Tens of thousands of U.S. and South Korean troops are expected to mobilize in and around the South

  • Communications upgrades keep warfighters connected

    The Theater Deployable Communications Team at the Electronic Systems Center here is continuing to ensure warfighters have the key communications infrastructure they need while deployed."We are looking for capability modernization and to update the equipment modules that make up TDC as they get to