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U.S. Air Force News

  • New program helps develop holdover Airmen at BMT

    Airmen placed on hold in the 324th Training Squadron here are benefiting from a new program established earlier this year.Typically, Airmen in a hold status have already completed basic training and are awaiting orders or assignment to technical school. There may be medical reasons for a hold status

  • Thrift savings plan contribution limits increase in 2013

    The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board has announced the 2013 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions increased from $17,000 to $17,500 for 2013, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. The TSP catch-up plan contribution limit will remain at $5,500. TSP is a

  • Revamped program aids separating service members

    Major changes announced today to the Transition Assistance Program will revolutionize the way the military prepares people leaving the services, with mandatory participation in programs throughout their military careers to help set them up for a successful transition.The redesigned program, called

  • Airmen save AF more than a million dollars

    The 437th Aerial Port Squadron Load Planning Airmen answered the call when the Air Mobility Command Fuel Efficiency Office asked AMC aerial port squadrons to maximize fuel usage aboard C-17 Globemaster III's and other air frames using a new initiative called precession loading.Before the initiative

  • OTS shortens course length, increases efficiency

    Beginning in January, the Air Force Officer Training School's Basic Officer Training course will be shortened by three weeks, officials announced Dec. 4. Cutting the course from 12 weeks to nine weeks was the result of finding efficiencies in the course's scheduling processes and curriculum, said

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Reservist to headline MMA event

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Danny Ruiz is a fighter. He is a staff sergeant in the Air Force Reserve, a husband, father and coach. But above all, he's a fighter.Ruiz is a week away

  • Vandenberg continues 53 year holiday tradition

    While some families were busy with the normal holiday hustle and bustle that can come with the beginning of December, hundreds of Vandenberg Airmen were checking backpacks, schedules and presents to ensure local, underprivileged children were afforded a traditional holiday experience.The 53rd annual

  • From NY streets to Afghan skies, FDNY crew saves lives

    Four New York City firefighters, four Airmen, four friends, one team, one HH-60 Pave Hawk -- one crew -- deployed together with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, bringing a unique flavor of New York Fire Departments with them.Capt. Shaun Cullen, Capt. Tripp

  • NORAD provides website, apps to track Santa

    Children of all ages will be able to track Santa Claus on his annual journey, thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.The "NORAD Tracks Santa" website at http://www.noradsanta.org is up and running. The site features a holiday countdown, games and daily activities, video messages from

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Chaplain serves deployment in Antarctica

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)As the cool winter air begins to roll into Sioux City, Iowa, one Air Force Chaplain is feeling a much colder breeze.Chaplain (Capt.) William Vit, a

  • SecAF declares 'Modernization can't wait'

    The Air Force's senior civilian addressed the importance of modernization and the challenges ahead for the Air Force at the 2012 Aerospace and Defense Investor Conference here Nov. 29."Among the most difficult challenges facing the Air Force is the need to modernize our aging aircraft inventory as

  • Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee brings strategic issues to SecAF

    Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs, permanent-change-of-station lodging inconsistencies and TRICARE inequities within the Reserve Component were some of the issues addressed by the Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee during their meeting in the National Capital Region Nov. 5-7.Current

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: First sergeant flexes natural muscle

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Where are you at 3:40 a.m.? Master Sgt. LaJuan Fuller, 366th Civil Engineering Squadron first sergeant, is at the gym. He's been up for more than an hour

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman swears allegiance, attains dream

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)An 87th Logistics Readiness Squadron airman assigned here was full of nerves on the morning of Nov. 16, as he was about to become a U.S. citizen in a New

  • Language Enabled Airman Program announces selections

    Foreign language experts from around the Air Force recently met at the Air Force Culture and Language Center at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., part of Air University's Spaatz Center for Officer Education, to select the latest participants for the Air Force's Language Enabled Airman Program. More than

  • 'Today's Air Force' highlights Band of Flight, spins Wheel of Fortune

    Air Force Television News released a new edition of Today's Air Force on Nov. 26.On this episode's "Straight from the Top," Air Force Leaders urge Airmen to keep a focus on risk management during the holiday season. Next, Today's Air Force will take viewers to the activation ceremony of Detachment

  • Deployed structural maintainers 'do it all'

    When a homeowner needs to redo a wall, repair the roof, and re-key a lock, several calls must be made.The Air Force only has to make one.Structural maintainers are "like the carpenters, welders, roofers and handymen, kind of all rolled up into one," said Tech. Sgt. Howard Jones, 380th Expeditionary

  • Military OneSource connects troops, families to resources

    As the Information Age continues to shape modern communication, the Defense Department has revitalized and consolidated the Military OneSource website to better serve military members and their families, a Pentagon official said in a recent interview.Zona Lewis, military community outreach online

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman returns 'home' to help recover MIAs

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)An officer stationed at Grand Forks Air Force Base traveled thousands of miles earlier this year to return to his birth country of Vietnam for the first

  • Airmen provide Sailors real-time video for maritime operations

    Editor's Note: Actual locations and specific details of the types of aircraft and ships involved were withheld for operational security.A Navy information systems technician aboard ship looked down at his laptop on a recent October day and saw something unheard of for Sailors just months before - a

  • New tools to investigate, prosecute child pornography work

    A few years ago, individuals who viewed and downloaded child pornography were rarely discovered - but that's changed.New technology and assistance from the Department of Justice, law enforcement agencies within the Department of Defense in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation,

  • QF-16 drone arrives for testing, prepares warfighters for tomorrow's threats

    The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group marked an important milestone in continuing to prepare the warfighter for tomorrow's threats as the first QF-16 drone arrived for developmental testing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Nov. 19."The work done prior to today and the test work that is forthcoming will

  • New Medical Clinic Opens Doors Strengthening U.S. Kyrgyz Partnership

    Service members from the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, in partnership with representatives from the U.S. Embassy Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Health and residents of the Nizhne-Chuysk Village gathered on Nov. 15, to celebrate the grand opening of the village's new medical clinic. The

  • Transcom strives to protect networks against cyberthreats

    The new Joint Cyber Center here at U.S. Transportation Command is helping protect against persistent cyber-attacks while ensuring secure, uninterrupted access to the networks that underpin the command's global mission.TRANSCOM gets more cyber-attacks than nearly every other U.S. combatant command,

  • SecAF talks Pacific airpower

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley met with Team Andersen Airmen at an Airman's Call here Nov. 20. The secretary discussed several topics of national and international interest, to include the importance of Guam in the Asia-Pacific region, restructuring the size of the Air Force, changes in

  • Morin talks space superiority at AFA conference

    Acting Under Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Jamie Morin addressed more than 320 Airmen, industry officials and Air Force Association members at AFA's Global Warfare Symposium in Los Angeles, Calif., Nov. 15.Morin opened the symposium with a discussion on space superiority as an enduring source of

  • Airman awarded $6K through IDEA program

    A $6,275 check was presented to Staff Sgt. Jared Weddle, a 2nd Maintenance Squadron communications navigations mission system craftsman, by Col. Alexis Mezynski, 2nd Bomb Wing vice commander, Nov. 14 for a submission to the Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program that net the Air

  • Woof! "Major" relief for PTSD

    Imagine a pet trained to understand the side effects that come with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Imagine a pet trained to understand your symptoms to aid a path to recovery. One such pet resides at Minot Air Force Base and is helping a member of Team Minot every day.Meet Major, an adopted

  • U.S. Air Force Band and Honor Guard to perform at Macy's Thanksgiving Day

    The United States Air Force Band and Honor Guard will be traveling to New York City to perform a featured patriotic tribute, "This is My Country," in the 86th Annual Macy's Day Parade® on Thanksgiving Day 2012.Marching 200 strong, these premier ceremonial units from the 11th Operations Group will

  • 563rd Rescue Group receives first combat ready HC-130J Combat King II

    Making its Air Force debut, the first combat ready HC-130J Combat King II touched down on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., as the centerpiece of an induction ceremony presided by Col. Jason Hanover, 563rd Rescue Group commander Nov. 15.The 563rd Rescue Group directs flying operations for the

  • Band ramps up engagement as command position returns to Japan

    As U.S. forces rebalance to the Pacific, one group of Air Force musicians looks to play its way to new levels of engagement throughout the world's largest region.After a five-year absence, the command position for the Air Force's Band of the Pacific has returned to Yokota Air Base, Japan -- and with

  • AFOSI helps those traveling abroad via AF Portal

    Air Force Office of Special Investigations has streamlined the foreign travel briefing program to better serve active-duty Air Force members and Department of the Air Force civilian employees before, during and after their trips abroad.Improvements have been made to the foreign travel pre-brief and

  • New spouses, former spouses and children entitled to benefits

    If you're newly married, newly divorced, have dependent children or have a child who was born out of wedlock you may be confused about military benefits. Some family situations are complicated or even awkward, so Airmen may be reluctant to pursue benefits to which their dependents - or former

  • Vehicle maintainers roll into digital age

    Although many of the  technological innovations the U.S. military makes are large scale, staying up to speed can also require small, yet significant, changes at every level, which streamline processes for the workforce.The 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management flight at Kunsan Air

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Cuban boy fulfills dream of becoming American Airman

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Under a star-studded night in their native Cuba, a young boy and his stepbrother made a promise to each other. If they ever somehow made it to the United

  • 19 stories of heroism highlighted in 'Veterans in Blue'

    "Let me not mourn for the men who have died fighting, but rather let me be glad that such heroes have lived," said Gen. George S. Patton. For decades Airmen have answered the call to serve and protect the nation's interests, its people and the cherished freedoms that underpin it all, risking their

  • 'Today's Air Force' reviews Hurricane Sandy relief operations

    Air Force Television News released a new edition of "Today's Air Force" on Nov. 13. On this episode's "Straight from the Top," President Barack Obama speaks about the ongoing recovery after Hurricane Sandy. Later, Staff Sgt. Shannon Ofiara shows viewers how Airman contributed to the Relief

  • New process helps prevent adverse civilian pay, records impact

    Civilian employees' supervisors will now get automatic email reminders 45 and 20 days before personnel actions are due to help prevent adverse impact on civilian pay and records, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.Automatic notifications will go out for various actions, including when a

  • Indian airmen receive C-17 maintenance training

    The Indian air force has begun sending about 100 airmen to Joint Base Charleston, S.C.,  to receive instruction from the 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 5, on how to operate the 10 C-17 Globemaster IIIs they recently purchased."The Indian air force purchased the C-17s and they need the training

  • New vehicular device saves money Air Force-wide

    All government-owned and general service administration vehicles at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas,  are scheduled to receive an automotive information module, or AIM2.AIM2 is a device that collects real-time data that will help fleet managers avoid wasting fuels and stop emissions

  • New LED fixtures light the way

    For close to two years, almost half of the street lights and parking lot lights on Peterson AFB have been disabled in an effort to cut energy costs. This past summer, the lights started coming back on in anticipation of new light-emitting diode fixtures being purchased.According to Jim Jacobsen,

  • SEAC brings inspiration to Scott AFB

    Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Oct. 28-Oct. 31.The SEAC, who is the principle advisor to the CJCS and the secretary of defense on all joint and combined total force matters, toured Team

  • Hurricane relief mission hits home with N.J. Reservists

    After the historic Hurricane Sandy battered New York and New Jersey, Airmen from across the country answered the call for help, but for the Airmen of one Reserve wing, those calls for help were coming from friends, family and neighbors.Most of the Airmen assigned to the 514th Air Mobility Wing at

  • AF establishes full-time presence in Poland

    U.S. officials praised the long-standing relationship with Poland as they celebrated the first full-time U.S. military presence in that nation yesterday.During a ceremony at Lask Air Base, located about 100 miles southwest of Warsaw, U.S. Air Force personnel flew the American flag, marking the

  • Cody named next Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III has named Chief Master Sgt. James A. Cody to serve as the 17th chief master sergeant of the Air Force.Cody will assume his new position on Feb. 1, following the Jan. 31 retirement of current Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy. Roy's

  • Military leave carryover extension expires Oct. 1

    Unless approved for special leave accrual, active-duty and Active Guard Reserve members who have more than 60 days of leave must use it or lose it by Oct. 1, 2013, when the temporary leave carryover extension provision expires, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today. The 2010 National

  • Top AF engineers help clear flood waters

    A team of nearly 50 Air Force civil engineers from duty locations across the country pulled together to form the 331st Air Expeditionary Group this week, to pump flood waters affecting New York coastal communities following Hurricane Sandy. The 331st AEG assembled here Saturday, Nov. 3, with

  • AF senior leaders approve doctrine restructure

    Officials at the LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., announce that by next fall, Air Force doctrine will be restructured, streamlined and accessible to anyone with an e-reader, smartphone or tablet.Dubbed "Doctrine Next," the initiative overhauls

  • AF leaders send birthday messages to Marine Corps

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy salute the Marine Corps on its 237th birthday Nov. 10.Donley wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Navy stating, "On behalf of the men and women of the United

  • Nomination deadline approaches for Military Child of the Year

    An organization whose primary mission is to provide emergency financial and other services to the families of service members and wounded warriors is opening nominations for one of their top recognition programs.Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization formed shortly after 9/11 to support

  • AF safety chief shares vision

    With two months in the seat as Air Force Chief of Safety, Maj. Gen. Margaret H. Woodward doesn't need a palm reader to glimpse the future."It is absolutely essential that safety is embraced as a core value in preserving combat capability," Woodward said.The Air Force's success in reducing mishaps

  • Open season set for 3 civilian benefits programs

    Open season for three civilian benefits programs will be Nov. 12 through Dec. 10. Those programs are the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program. Federal Employees Health BenefitsIn the

  • Falcons shot down in West Point, 41-21

    Turnovers made the difference in the Air Force's 41-21 loss to Army Nov. 3 at Michie Stadium in West Point, N.Y.The Falcons, unable to establish an offensive rhythm after two solid drives in the first quarter, gave up three interceptions and two fumbles that cost them 17 points against the

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman puts crosshairs on life goal

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)To the naked eye, she was totally invisible. Even in the middle of an open field, she blended in with the sparse grasses and bushes that made up her

  • New program provides recordable books to deployed Airmen

    Air Force Personnel Center Directorate of Services officials are sending more than 900 recordable children's books to learning resource centers at six deployed locations throughout the U.S. Air Forces Central Command's area of responsibility.The Air Force Library Program collaborated with the

  • Nuclear treaty monitoring aircraft visits Patrick AFB

    Special equipment operators from the Air Force Technical Applications Center's Detachment 1 visited Oct. 25 and invited base personnel to tour the detachment's flying workhorse, the WC-135 Constant Phoenix.The detachment, which is located at Offutt AFB, Neb., is responsible for operating and

  • National Parks free to veterans this weekend

    America's 398 national parks will offer the public free admission Nov. 10-12 during Veterans Day weekend in honor of those who serve and have served in the U.S. military, according to a National Park Service news release."National parks preserve places that commemorate our country's collective

  • Guardsmen send supplies to storm-stricken communities

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency tapped the West Virginia Air National Guard's 167th Airlift Wing here as a staging area to push out much-needed relief supplies to West Virginia and East Coast residents hit hard by Superstorm SandyAlthough FEMA's stay at the Martinsburg base was brief --

  • 'Spartan' aircrew helps bring power to New York

    A C-27J Spartan aircraft crew from the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, flew power generators and other equipment to New York in support of Hurricane Sandy relief efforts Saturday, Nov. 3. ANG crews from Ohio, Mississippi and Maryland flew the first-ever C-27J domestic operations missions

  • 62nd Port Dawgs do 'whatever it takes' to support hurricane relief efforts

    Airmen from the 62nd Aerial Port Squadron worked through the night Nov. 2, and well into the afternoon Nov. 3,  to process more than 20 vehicles and support equipment destined for the East Coast to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.The vehicles, sent from the Seattle City Light power company in

  • Rescue Task Force begins mission in New Jersey

    Members of the National Urban Search and Rescue Task Force traveled to Staten Island, N.Y., to conduct house-to-house searches, Nov 3, 2012. The Task Force includes state search and rescue task forces from Maryland, Virginia, and Texas, who specialize in disaster recovery, and emergency triage and

  • Military airlifts, aid flow to New York, New Jersey

    Another airlift, this time from Phoenix, Ariz., will bring more power restoration trucks and equipment to New York and New Jersey, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told Pentagon reporters today.As of this morning, 12 C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft have arrived at Stewart Air

  • Religious respect conference attendees discuss Academy's progress

    Representatives from Air Force major commands, religious endorsing organizations, First Amendment watchdog groups and others gathered Oct. 30-31 at the Air Force Academy to review the religious climate here.Chief among the topics discussed was the religious respect training program, which was

  • Air Force conduct round the clock ops to deliver hurricane relief

    Airmen and transport aircraft from across the nation converged here Nov. 1 to begin part of the Air Force's movement of relief supplies and equipment to the beleaguered areas of New York and New Jersey in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.Crews from 12 active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force

  • Airmen earn Gen. Lew Allen Award

    Two aircraft maintenance Airmen received the Gen. Lew Allen Jr. Award on Oct. 31 during a ceremony held inside the Pentagon.Maj. Jennifer Gurganus, U.S. Air Force Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School director of operations from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and Master Sgt. Christopher

  • Extended absentee voting for New York military and overseas voters

    Registered military and overseas voters in New York will have additional time to submit a request for an absentee ballot. Due to Hurricane Sandy, the State Board of Elections has extended the deadline for receiving ballot requests by mail or by fax to Friday, Nov. 2.Voters in New York County

  • AETC sees first pilot production from new Afghanistan schoolhouse

    The new fixed-wing pilot schoolhouse in Afghanistan at Shindand Air Base, Herat Province, graduated its first three fixed-wing pilots this month, the first to be produced in Afghanistan in more than 30 years -- a major milestone for the U.S. and Afghan Air Forces.Three Afghan air force first

  • AF officials delay MilPDS upgrade

    Air Force officials are delaying the upgrade of the Military Personnel Data System that was originally scheduled for December.Delaying the upgrade is necessary to ensure the new system is thoroughly tested by the Air Force Personnel Center and other Department of Defense and Air Force agencies that

  • 'Airman' magazine enters digital era

    A year after publishing the final print edition of Airman magazine, the Air Force is unveiling a new digital version of the service's official magazine specifically geared for tablet devices."Built specifically for Apple and Android tablet users, this new format gives readers all the in-depth

  • CEMIRT brings reliable power to Ascension Island

    Reliable power is everything. Without it, an isolated location in the Atlantic like Ascension Auxiliary Airfield couldn't sustain its mission or provide adequate facilities for personnel. So when the power personnel at the airfield needed an immediate backup power solution for their overworked

  • Hungary-based Airmen write new chapter in mulitinational operations

    At this small, bare-bones, communist-era airfield located in the Hungarian countryside, midpoint between Budapest and Vienna, American Airmen are writing a dynamic new chapter in multinational cooperation and flight operations. Airmen assigned to the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa Air Base,

  • Air Force awards $365 million Secondary Power Logistics Solution contract

    Officials from the U.S. Air Force and Honeywell International Inc. signed a new eight-year, $365 million extension to the Secondary Power Logistics Solution contract to provide logistics and depot support for F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft.This extension builds on Increment I of the SPLS contract,

  • SecAF, community honor Keesler AFB

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley praised the robust partnership of the Air Force and its sister services at the Salute to the Military in Biloxi, Miss., Oct. 23.Donley addressed nearly 1,000 military members and community representatives at the 34th annual event sponsored by the Mississippi

  • 2012 Football Frenzy underway at AF clubs

    Four Airmen will be headed to the "Big Easy" this Veteran's Day thanks to the Air Force club system during this year's Football Frenzy contest. The package of airfare, rental car and hotel accommodations to see the New Orleans Saints host the Atlanta Falcons was the result of an Air Force club

  • Space ops unit takes over newest GPS satellite

    The 2nd Space Operations Squadron accepted satellite control authority of its third Global Positioning System Block IIF satellite during a ceremony here Oct. 26.Following its launch from Cape Canaveral, Fla., Oct. 4, acquirers from the Space and Missile Systems Center and operators from the 50th and

  • Reservists can carry leave balance after training tours

    In a "one-step-at-a-time" approach, Air Force officials have a new program for reservists to save and carryover leave time from year to year beginning Nov. 1.Reservists performing duty under the Reserve Personnel Appropriation or RPA orders may now "save" their leave for future use. Prior to this

  • McGuire continues recovery efforts, FEMA base of operations

    Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst personnel are continuing with recovery efforts and expect to resume most operations Wednesday.Impact from the storm includes fallen trees, scattered debris, some property damage, minor flooding and power outages."The entire joint base's preparation efforts went a

  • More than 7,400 National Guard members responding to Hurricane Sandy

    More than 7,400 Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen had been mobilized in 11 states to respond to Hurricane Sandy by 4:30 a.m., Oct. 30, and more were on the way.National Guard assistance to local first responders and the Federal Emergency Management Agency included support at evacuation shelters, route

  • AF officials eliminate civilian skill code requirements

    Air Force officials have rescinded the manual used to define civilian position skill codes in one of several ongoing administrative actions geared toward transforming civilian hiring, determining employee training and development needs, and selecting employees for training under competitive

  • NORTHCOM supports hurricane response efforts

    U.S. Northern Command is poised to provide Defense Department support to Federal Emergency Management Agency, tribal, state and local response efforts due to Hurricane Sandy.Part of NORTHCOM's defense support of civil authorities mission directs the command to plan and anticipate actions that it may

  • National Guard assists governors of states in Sandy's path

    National Guard members are at work in seven states as Hurricane Sandy takes aim at the East Coast.As of 8 p.m., Oct. 28, about 1,500 National Guard forces were on state active duty supporting the governors of New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut and Maryland.These

  • Outreach to teach: Volunteers connect with Afghan children

    A year ago, a group of volunteers turned a burned-out restaurant on Bagram Airfield into a one-room classroom, and invited area school-age children to learn math, reading, and writing.When the first "Cat in the Hat" class graduated in August, 40 area Afghan children had taken huge steps toward

  • Reservist sets latest mark in battle for Schriever track record

    When Seth Cannello, Schriever Sports and Fitness director, and Steve Steinke, fitness cell monitor, first hung the Schriever fitness record board early in 2010, they expected the 1.5-mile-run record to be hotly contested. After all, nearly every active-duty and reservist Airman is required to run

  • Life Extension Programs modernize ICBMs

    Fifty years ago, officials deployed the first Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles to the missile fields in support of the strategic deterrence mission. Five decades later, these missiles are still in place, providing safe, secure and effective strategic nuclear deterrence.Since it

  • SecAF visits basic military training

    In the wake of ongoing investigations into professional misconduct that occurred at basic military training, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley met with BMT leaders at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Oct. 23."It was important for me to talk to the commander and military training instructors about

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman battles breast cancer

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)"I was 21 years old and didn't think I was strong enough to beat two cancers -- I thought my life was over," said Senior Airman Latisha Chong.Chong, a

  • Online access simplifies dependent updates

    Family situations can be complicated, but updating family benefit information doesn't have to be, now that it can be done online.Dependent family members must be registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, and in many instances must have a valid dependent identification card,

  • Aviano unveils first locally painted F-16

    The 31st Maintenance Squadron unveiled Aviano's first locally-painted F-16 during a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new NATO-funded Corrosion Control Facility here Oct. 19, which will enable the squadron to sustain and extend the life of F-16 fighter jets and avoid costs to perform the task elsewhere.

  • Declassified document shows 'real' flying saucer

    The grainy film showed a round ship floating out of a hangar. Its silver, aluminum exterior glinted in the sun as it hovered a few feet off the ground. As it glided over a pool of water, it kicked debris into the air and the glass canopies of the two cockpits were showered with grass and gravel as

  • Air Force releases RFP for next search and rescue helicopter

    The Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition announced today the posting of the Combat Rescue Helicopter (CRH) Request for Proposal (RFP) to the Federal Business Opportunities website, signaling the official launch of this high priority Air Force acquisition program. The

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Who says cops have no sense of humor?

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)"Knock, knock.""Who's there?""Security forces Airman.""Security force Airman, who?""Security forces Airman who tells much better jokes than this one."The

  • Bases 'REAP' awards for energy and water savings

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Center recognized three installations with Reduce Energy Appreciation Program  awards for renewable energy use and energy and water reduction. This year's winners are Charlotte Air National Guard Base, N.C.; Fairchild AFB, Wash.; and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson,

  • Airman's sacrifice remembered around the world

    While deployed to Iraq, Airman 1st Class LeeBernard E. Chavis was killed by sniper fire as he tried to keep civilians away from a suspected bomb in the streets near Baghdad on Oct. 14, 2006.To remember Chavis and the Airman he was, Air Force members here and around the world commemorated the

  • Air Force aims to invigorate energy efficiency programs

    The deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy spoke to a group of industry and civic leaders, and a handful of international military partners, about the service's energy saving initiatives at the Air Force Association's monthly breakfast Oct. 17 in Crystal City, Va.Dr. Kevin T. Geiss

  • Air Force adopts mascot in the 'Win the War Against Waste' campaign

    The Air Force has a new mascot to help its recycling awareness campaign and fight against solid waste.CHUCK-IT, the recycling mascot, targets children between the ages of 5 and 12 and is the latest addition to the "Win the War Against Waste" tool kit -- an outreach campaign developed to support the

  • New York Air National Guard supports Antarctic research

    The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing kicks off its annual support for the National Science Foundation in Antarctica as ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft head for Antarctica on Oct. 16 and 17.These aircraft will support the National Science Foundation's research in the Antarctic,

  • Wounded warrior gets help with canine wingman

    An Air Force wounded warrior has a new wingman helping him cope with his physical and mental pain, thanks to the "Train A Dog - Save A Warrior" program.Staff Sgt. Andrew Goligowski struggles with post-traumatic stress and the pain caused by sarcoidosis, a disease with no cure that causes