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  • Air Force awards $960 million in small business IT contracts

    The Air Force is announcing the award of 12 contracts worth up to $960 million that will make it quicker and easier for the warfighter to obtain innovative information technology services and capabilities covering the full spectrum of operations and missions.The Air Force's Network Centric

  • Kansas reservists 'refuel' Military Channel

    A KC-135 Stratotanker aircrew assigned to the Air Force Reserve 931st Air Refueling Group here was cast in a sort of supporting role for a Military Channel television program while performing an air refueling mission in the skies above New Mexico June 21.The routine air refueling mission called for

  • SOUTHCOM, partners prepare to respond to natural disasters

    Putting lessons learned from the 2010 earthquake response in Haiti into practice, U.S. Southern Command has entered this year's hurricane season ready to provide timely, effective aid should another disaster strike the region, command officials reported."We remain deliberately prepared," Southcom

  • U.S. Air Force Academy grad helps lead Estonia air force

    Lessons learned in the foothills of Colorado are taking flight in the Baltic Sea nation of Estonia. "I'm not a dreamer who thinks that Estonia will have a big strike air force. That is not something that 1.3 million taxpayers can sustain," said Lt. Col. Jaak Tarien, the chief of staff of the

  • AF instructors learn modern Army combatives skills

    After spending five days in a joint combatives "train the trainer" course, Air Force participants gained a valuable benefit in becoming certified to teach both Modern Army Combatives and Basic Air Force Combatives:"Confidence," said Lt. Col. Tim Thurston, the 322nd Training Squadron commander --

  • Program encourages Airmen to 'Be Ready'

    Every year on June 1, when hurricane season officially begins, Airmen at bases along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico start to pay more attention to the weather. It pays to be vigilant. Last year, on Aug. 27, 2011, Hurricane Irene landed in North Carolina and traveled up the Atlantic Coast,

  • Air Force officials announce milestone Atlas V launch

    As part of the Defense Department's ongoing efforts to maintain assured, affordable access to space through 2030, the Atlas V rocket successfully lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 at Florida's Cape Canaveral on June 20, Air Force officials said."This is an exciting time for the U.S. space

  • Nominations open for 64th Annual Arthur S. Flemming Award

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 64th Annual Arthur S. Flemming Award.The award is sponsored by the George Washington University, in conjunction with the Arthur S. Flemming Awards Commission. It honors outstanding federal employees who have made significant and extraordinary

  • Total Force Personnel Services Customer Experience survey launches June 22

    Air Force officials will distribute an online survey June 22 to to solicit feedback about user's experiences using the myPers-Total Force Service Center and myPers website.Thousands of Regular Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian members will be asked for their participation

  • National high school chemistry finalists attend camp at Academy

    The 2012 U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad finalists have put their chemistry knowledge and skills to the test through competitive exams and lab practicals at the Academy's 28th U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad study camp June 5-20 here.Fifteen high school boys and five high school girls from across

  • Smithsonian celebrates annual 'Become A Pilot Day'

    Officials at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum held the annual "Become a Pilot" family day June 16, in Chantilly, Va.More than 45 aircraft were on display as the museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, including two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a C-17 Globemaster III, which had its cargo bay

  • Air Force space vehicle comes in for a landing

    The Air Force's unmanned, reusable space plane landed in the early morning of June 16 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., a successful conclusion to a record-setting test-flight mission that began March 5, 2011, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, one of two

  • Cold War U-2 pilot gets posthumous Silver Star

    More than 50 years after his U-2 aircraft was shot down over the former Soviet Union, Capt. Francis Gary Powers posthumously received one of the military's highest decorations during a ceremony here at the Pentagon June 15.Powers, who died in a helicopter crash in 1977, was awarded the Silver Star

  • PACANGEL 12 kicks off in Vietnam

    Approximately 58 U.S. military members, along with the Vietnam People's Armed Forces and two non-governmental organizations, Project H.O.P.E. and East Meets West, kicked-off Pacific Angel-Vietnam 12 in Nghe An Province, Vietnam, June 11.This iteration of PACANGEL-Vietnam includes humanitarian

  • Kadena personnel bank $10,000 for ingenuity

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton urged anyone employed by the U.S. federal government to search for and identify any areas that could cut wasteful spending, according to a message published in July 2011."Over the past two years, 56,000 ideas have been submitted through the Securing

  • AF releases new special duty assignment pay table

    Beginning June 15, Airmen in some special duty assignments will receive adjustments in special duty assignment pay, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.Based on recommendations following a routine biennial review of the program, Pentagon officials have modified the program to ensure Air

  • MIA bracelet connects Airmen across decades

    Twenty-two years ago, Air Force Academy cadet Amy Santmyer, now Lt. Col. Amy Young, decided she would wear an MIA bracelet honoring Lt. Col. Charles Walling, an F-4C Phantom pilot who was shot down Aug. 8, 1966, during a close air support mission in the Dong Nai province northeast of Saigon,

  • 'Go for green' helps Airmen stay fit to fight

    Many people have heard of "fit to fight" but how many Airmen know proper nutrition is also an important part of fitness?A balanced diet can help fuel one's body, which in turn assists in maintaining fitness goals.The 86th Force Support Squadron has implemented a new Air Force-wide standardized

  • Marine, AF pilots temporarily swap services

    Two instructor pilots assigned to the 310th Fighter Squadron are currently on very similar and overlapping career paths at Luke Air Force Base as part of the Joint Service Pilot Exchange Program.Air Force Capt. Michael McGrew is on his way to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., to begin the

  • Luke AFB reduces energy, earns money

    The 56th Civil Engineer Squadron here will receive approximately $54,500 from an energy program by reducing the amount of electricity Luke Air Force Base uses from June 1 to Sept. 30. The Peak Solutions Program was created through a partnership between Comverge, an energy management solution

  • NOAA armed for 2012 hurricane season

    While most residents here are crossing their fingers and hoping hurricanes miss the area this year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's chief of programs is "looking forward" to the 2012 storm season.That's not to say James McFadden is hoping for plenty of hurricanes, just that he

  • Attaché duty applications due in July

    Line of the Air Force active-duty officers interested in opportunities to help build and sustain international relationships have until July 7 to apply for attaché officer duty at locations ranging from Burundi to Russia, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced June 7 here.AFPC and the Office

  • Officials release investigation report on trainee's death

    The Air Force released a report of investigation June 7 into the death of an Air Force trainee, which occurred Oct. 19, 2011.The report cited Airman 1st Class Steven D. Williams' cause of death as cardiac dysrhythmia, or abnormal rhythm. Williams was in basic military training at Joint Base San

  • Summer offers additional PLAYpass use opportunities

    As summer approaches, eligible Airmen and their families have the opportunity to use the PLAYpass Get Out and PLAY program to save hundreds of dollars with discounts in recreational and life skills classes.PLAYpass cards, valued at more than $500, allow single Airmen returning from deployments,

  • DOD announces top environmental award recipients

    At a Pentagon ceremony today, Defense and Interior Department officials presented this year's Secretary of Defense Environmental Award to 10 teams and installations for excellence in advancing environmental initiatives.Among the installations recognized, the Air Force was represented by both the

  • Partnership helps military spouses find employment

    As the wife of the Air Force Chief of Staff, Suzie Schwartz has the opportunity to meet with Air Force families stationed all across the country and around the world. And when she does, one issue that comes up time and again is spouse employment. During a recent interview, Schwartz said a relatively

  • Initiative could help improve ISR operators' processes

    The Electronic Systems Center Command and Control Constellation program recently held an operational demonstration in here to evaluate a new prototype capability to improve command and control of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data.The prototyping initiative, called Deliberate and

  • Air Force consolidates three field operating agencies

    Three San Antonio-based field operating agencies officially consolidated with the June 1 initial operational capability announcement, Air Force officials said June 4. The Air Force Personnel Center, Air Force Services Agency and Air Force Manpower Agency, FOAs under the Air Force Deputy Chief of

  • Airmen help preserve historic D-Day aircraft

    Airmen and volunteers from the 19th Air Support Operations Squadron are currently taking a break from their primary mission of providing joint terminal attack controllers in support of deployed brigade combat teams to restore a historically significant plane here. The team is restoring the World War

  • New upgrades revitalize B-1B Lancers

    B-1B Lancers are currently undergoing the most advanced hardware and software upgrades to date as part of the Sustainment-Block 16 program.Sustainment-Block 16 upgrades include a fully integrated data link in the aft station and vertical situation display upgrade in the front station as well as

  • Museum, base historians receive top honors

    Robins Air Force Base is being recognized for how it showcases history and for the top-notch team that records it. The Air Force History and Museums Program recently announced the Museum of Aviation's exhibit, "Tuskegee Airmen: A Proud Heritage," as the 2012 Air Force Heritage Award winner. Dr.

  • Shaw captain named top AF fighter tactician

    Every year the Air Force spotlights the most outstanding fighter tactician from the combat air forces. The search combs through hundreds of pilots from four major commands, the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. For 2011, the Air Force's outstanding tactician isn't a general, a colonel, a

  • Academy cadets work with Osan engineers

    The sounds of hammers and drills echoed through the air as Air Force Academy cadets gave Osan Air Base's civil engineers an extra hand with construction May 24. Approximately 15 cadets from the Academy worked side-by-side for two weeks with the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron's Prime Base Engineer

  • Warrior Wellness equine assistance important part of healing process

    The relationship between man and his horse is a storied one. Winston Churchill once said, "There's something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." The 19th century novelist Robert Smith Surtees said, "There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse."

  • USO Service Member of the Year nominees sought

    The Air Force is accepting nominations for the 2012 USO Service Member of the Year Award, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced today.This award, sponsored by the USO, recognizes specific acts of heroism by E-4 through E-6 enlisted members from each branch of the military.Organizations and

  • Multinational medical exercise readies forces to save time, lives

    A two-week joint medical exercise began with a kickoff ceremony here May 28.Exercise Shared Resilience 2012 is an annual U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff-sponsored exercise with a goal to strengthen interoperability; facilitate training in disaster management and crisis response; and validate the

  • DoD leaders target audit readiness at Town Hall

    In the Defense Department's congressionally mandated effort to become audit ready, DOD leaders yesterday told senior government executives the Pentagon must manage its books as tightly as it manages operational missions.In a recorded video message, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta addressed the

  • Black Flag: Taking care of those who wait

    The distinctive black flag, depicting a head lowered under a guard's watchtower, is often seen waving right below the American flag. Black patches with the mottos "You are not forgotten," "Keeping the promise" and "No one left behind" adorn leather vests, ball caps and bumper stickers across the

  • New 3-D scanner makes impact at Eglin

    When the 46th Test Wing's Air Force SEEK EAGLE Office purchased a 3-D laser scanner system six months ago, they had no idea how much of an impact this system would make."This is state of the art," said Mark Hillman, lead engineer at the SEEK EAGLE. "We are breaking ground for the military."The

  • Guard, Reserve leaders discuss budget issues

    The military's reserve components remain ready and capable despite budget cuts and their transition from a strategic to operational force, senior National Guard and Reserve officials told the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee here May 23.As the drawdown continues in Afghanistan,

  • Navy, Air Force develop engine modification that may save billions

    The Navy and Air Force stand to save more than $2 billion after jointly developing an engine modification that will keep critically important aircraft flying for years.The two services and industry worked together to develop and field a modification to CFM International's CFM56-2 (F108) engine,

  • AF colonel encourages 'caged' drivers to watch out for bikers

    Col. Dana Morel knows the dangers of motorcycle riding as well as anyone.A biker herself, Morel was a lieutenant at Mather Air Force Base, Calif., in 1986 when a young airman she knew with the base honor guard took off speeding one night. Distraught over the end of a romance, he missed a turn and

  • SecAF visits 'Arctic Warriors'

    Airmen from around Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson gathered at Hangar 20 here May 21, where Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed the assemblage."This is a great opportunity to thank you for your recent service and the service of your families," Donley said.The secretary said visiting

  • Holloman squadron takes home AF's top logistics award

    The Airmen of the 49th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., recently earned the Maj. Gen. Warren R. Carter Logistics Effectiveness Award, naming them the best Air Force logistics readiness squadron.First introduced in 1962 by the Order of the Daedalians, the award is

  • New, lighter ABU available in June

    The new, Rip-stop Airman Battle Uniform (RABU), featuring a lighter nylon-cotton blend, will be available to Airmen at 16 U.S. bases and through AAFES online starting in June.The wear policy for the light-weight RABUs will be exactly the same as for the ABUs. The only difference between the ABU and

  • Two former Airmen inducted into Astronaut Hall of Fame

    Two retired Airmen were recently inducted into the NASA's Astronaut Hall of Fame during a ceremony May 5 at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla.Retired Gen. Kevin Chilton and retired Col. Charles Precourt, along with Franklin Chang Diaz, were the 11th group of astronauts inducted, which brings the total

  • Bystander intervention training: Take a stand against sexual assault

    Bystander Intervention Training, or BIT, is the Air Force's direct strategy to provide Airmen with knowledge to recognize potentially harmful situations and take action to mitigate possible harm to their fellow wingman. Bystander intervention training is mandatory for all military personnel and for

  • Arlington ceremony honors 150th anniversary of taps

    Intermingled with song birds and reverent silence, 200 buglers from around the country collectively sounded America's most recognizable bugle call May 19 at Arlington National Cemetery.From Section 60 to the Kennedy gravesites, the 150th anniversary of the bugle call "taps" was commemorated at a

  • Air Force Cross recipient soars among 'eagles'

    Next to the signatures of the "Candy Bomber," a Tuskegee Airman, the sixth chief master sergeant of the Air Force and a Vietnam prisoner of war, Air Force Cross recipient Tech. Sgt. Robert Gutierrez placed his name as the only current active-duty enlisted Airmen to be named an "Eagle."Two members of

  • New process to save Airmen time, effort during change of station

    Starting at the end of May and going through February 2013, officials here will help test a new procedure to centralize steps military members take to get their permanent change of station orders and other actions prior to out-processing. The project, spearheaded by the Air Force Personnel Center,

  • Air Force vice chief nominated to be next USAFE commander

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced May 11 that the president has nominated Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Phil Breedlove to be the next U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander.If confirmed by the Senate, Breedlove will replace Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, who the president nominated to become

  • Expanded Palace Chase applications due June 1

    Some active duty officers who are unable to separate because of an active duty service commitment may still be able to take advantage of the Expanded Palace Chase program, said Lt. Col. Tara White, Air Force Personnel Center retirements and separations chief."This isn't a new program," White said,

  • Active duty service commitment waiver request window closing soon

    Active duty Airmen who would like to retire or separate but have an active duty service commitment that prevents them from doing so may be eligible for a waiver, said Lt. Col. Tara White, Air Force Personnel Center retirements and separations chief."We announced this opportunity last December as one

  • Prior enlisted retirement restriction waiver requests due by June 1

    Prior enlisted officers with eight years of active duty commissioned time may be able to retire through the Air Force 10-8 Commission Waiver Program, which was originally announced last December, Air Force Personnel Center officials reminded Airmen today. "AFPC announced this program last December

  • Air Force libraries serve 'delicious' summer reading program

    The Department of Defense summer reading program returns this month to more than 250 installation libraries, including 74 Air Force libraries, with a goal to encourage and support a love of reading among military children and families. This year's theme is "Reading is so Delicious!" and library

  • Vietnam vet hears call of duty, heads to Afghanistan

    During a commander's call last year, Brig. Gen. Robert C. Nolan II, the Air Force Flight Test Center commander, asked Airmen who have been deployed to stand and be recognized for their service. He then asked those Airmen who have been deployed multiple times to raise their hands. Most of the Airmen

  • Air Force opens first ambulatory surgery center in National Capital Region

    Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic has recently transitioned to the Air Force's first ambulatory surgery center in the National Capital Region, opening a newly renovated state-of-the-art 18-bed same day surgery unit."We are well on our way to becoming the premier ambulatory surgery center of choice for

  • B-1 aircrews make history by employing laser JDAMS

    B-1 Lancer aircrews from here employed laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions against moving targets during a weapon system evaluation program exercise May 14 through 16.Aircrews from the 37th Bomb Squadron and 34th BS employed six GBU-54 laser JDAMs against targets on the Utah Test and Training Range

  • AF selects emerging leader program participants

    Six Air Force officers were selected for the 2012 National Defense University Center for the Study of Mass Destruction Program for Emerging Leaders, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.The purpose of the program is to foster a community of rising U.S. government leaders with the awareness

  • Spokane boy lives dream as 'Airman for a day'

    A 10-year-old boy, who has been fighting a cancerous tumor on his optic nerve and endured 1.5 years of chemotherapy, had the opportunity to become an "Airman for a day" here May 4.Sam, from Spokane, Wash., was the first youth to participate in this program, which was started by the Fairchild AFB

  • AF Space Command realigns cyberspace capabilities

    The Air Force Network Integration Center will go through a restructure as it divests cyberspace lead command functions to Air Force Space Command to allow AFNIC to focus on its core mission of Air Force network integration and engineering services.The changes are a result of an AFSPC chartered study

  • 21 enlisted members selected for physician assistant program

    Nearly two dozen enlisted Airmen have been selected for the 2013 Interservice Physician Assistant Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.The first group begins training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, in December, said Kevin Smith, the education manager at the AFPC Biomedical Sciences

  • Some reservists billed for dental premiums

    About 3,500 Guard and Reserve Airmen on extended active duty will need to pay dental premiums directly to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. rather than through payroll deduction, officials said.A glitch, which occurred May 1 when the TRICARE Dental Program changed providers from United Concordia

  • Military HIV/AIDS conference promotes awareness, prevention

    The 2012 International Military HIV/AIDS Conference concluded here today after four days of sharing insights into new ways to re-energize military HIV/AIDS prevention programs.Presentations by subject matter experts, interactive discussions and workshops were among the ways participants shared

  • Global Strike Command leader previews B-52 upgrades

    During a recent visit to Edwards Air force base, Calif., the commander of Air Force Global Strike Command spent time with B-52 Stratofortress combined test force officials to preview the combat capability enhancements made to the B-52H.Modernizing and sustaining the nation's long-range strike

  • Tinker B-1 program awarded James G. Roche Sustainment Excellence award

    The B-1 System Program Office from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., earned an Air Staff-level award recognizing the Air Force Materiel Command program office with the most improved aircraft maintenance and logistics readiness performance. William Barnes, the deputy chief of the B-1 System Program

  • USAFA cadet honored as Cadet of the Year

    U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 1st Class Dustin Hayhurst was honored as the 2011 U.S. Air Force Cadet of the Year on May 10 during a ceremony at the Pentagon here. During the ceremony, hosted by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Hayhurst received recognition for demonstrated excellence in

  • New guide helps Airmen, families navigate social media

    Airmen and families have a new resource at their fingertips with the recent release of an updated and revised social media guide by the Air Force Public Affairs Agency in San Antonio, Texas.The guide features sections geared toward all Total Force members and their families as well as Air Force

  • AF husband earns Military Spouse of the Year award

    A husband who championed the progression of disability policy and the exceptional family member program received the 2012 Military Spouse of the Year Award here today.Jeremy Hilton, spouse of Air Force Lt. Col. Renae Hilton, an Air Force Office of Special Investigations agent on Joint Base Andrews,

  • Travis AFB concludes C-5 AMP

    A 1970 C-5A Galaxy was the last C-5A to be converted from a "legacy" C-5 to an Avionics Modernization Program C-5 here May 6. AMP modifications, the first part of the modernization effort for the C-5, replace the old analog avionics with a digital avionics suite and add a digital architecture that

  • AFDW commander inducted into Boys and Girls Club Alumni hall of fame

    Air Force District of Washington Commander Maj. Gen. Darren McDew was one of nine outstanding alumni inducted into the Boys and Girls Club of America Alumni Hall of Fame May 2 in San Diego, Calif.BGCA annually recognizes distinguished alumni during the organization's national conference to celebrate

  • Welsh nominated as next CSAF

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced May 10 that the president has nominated Gen. Mark A. Welsh III to be the next chief of staff of the Air Force, succeeding Gen. Norton Schwartz, who has served in the position since August 2008."I'm tremendously honored and deeply humbled by the nomination

  • Test pilot school adds cyberspace to test and evaluation training

    The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School has a long, rich history of educating the best of the best in air and space.  Apollo 13 astronaut, Fred Haise; X-15 pilot, Joe Engle; and the first man to break the sound barrier, Chuck Yeager; are just a few of the notable Test Pilot School alumnae who have

  • Medical official explains F-22 pilot-protection efforts

    Air Force officials have instituted measures designed to protect its pilots, ensure mission completion and assess the possible physiological effects of flying the F-22 Raptor, the command surgeon for Air Combat Command said here May 9."The health and safety of our pilots -- all of our pilots -- is

  • Retired AF general named to Astronaut Hall of Fame

    Retired Gen. Kevin Chilton was inducted into NASA's Astronaut Hall of Fame during a ceremony May 5 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.Chilton is the former commander of U.S. Strategic Command, a 1976 graduate of the Air Force Academy, the husband of Academy Mobilization Assistant Brig. Gen.

  • 'Care Beyond Duty' - The Air Force Wounded Warrior Program

    Since Oct. 1, Air Force Wounded Warrior Program nonmedical care managers have assisted Airmen with garnering more than $700,000 worth of benefits and entitlements. This is just one example of how the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program works with, and advocates for, wounded warriors and their

  • Officials emphasize commitment to Joint Strike Fighter

    Senior leaders from the Air Force and Navy affirmed yesterday that the F-35 joint strike fighter remains the centerpiece of the tactical aircraft program and will play a large part in the services' ongoing modernization plans.Navy Vice Adm. David J. Venlet, F-35 Lightning II program executive

  • Air Force provides aircraft pilot safety testimony to Congress

    The military deputy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition discussed tactical aviation programs during congressional testimony here May 8.During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Lt. Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger discussed what steps the Air Force has taken in

  • Deployed wing becomes part of Air Force, Tuskegee Airmen legacy

    The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing deactivated in a ceremony May 8 at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.Maj. Gen. James Jones, the deputy commander of U. S. Air Forces Central, presided over the ceremony which brought a storied era of 332nd history to a close. Also in attendance were Matthew

  • Military wives eligible for vocational scholarships

    Operation Homefront and the Women's Self Worth Foundation will offer the Saban Military Wife Educational Scholarship to wives of uniformed service members who attend certain vocational training programs in the medical field and meet eligibility requirements.Overall, 22 vocational training

  • AF joins international battle against HIV, AIDS

    The armed forces for the defense of Mozambique, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Defense HIV/AIDS Prevention Program and U.S. Africa Command, is hosting the third International Military HIV/AIDS Conference from May 7 to 10. More than 445 military and civilian delegates from 77 nations

  • Chiefs issue strategic direction to combat sexual assault

    Despite years of concerted effort, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commandant of the Coast Guard are dissatisfied with progress made in reducing sexual assault in the military, and have released strategic direction to increase the emphasis on combatting the crime.The chiefs released a "32-star"

  • AF nominates 111 for astronaut candidate program

    The Air Force has nominated 111 Airmen for the 2012 NASA Astronaut Candidate Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.The Air Force candidate selection panel met in April to review 192 applications, selecting 110 officers, ranging from captain to colonel, and one senior master sergeant.

  • 'Blue' NCO temporarily goes 'green', wins Army NCO of quarter

    He's a spot of Air Force blue surrounded by Army green at a deployed location in Southwest Asia.Staff Sgt. James Springer, a Joint Expeditionary Tasking Airman in the 387th Expeditionary Support Squadron, decided to try on a bit of "green" when he competed against Army NCOs for a quarterly award in

  • Air Force refocuses pollution, waste efforts

    Air Force leaders recently refocused their pollution prevention and waste elimination efforts with a new policy aimed at gaining efficiencies.A policy memo co-signed April 27 by Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove and Assistant Secretary for Installations, Environment and Logistics

  • 10 Air Force teams compete for top dog honors

    The U.S. Air Force selected 10 of its best military working dog handler teams to compete in the 2012 Department of Defense Military Working Dog K-9 Trials here May 3-5.The Air Force makes up 10 of the 43 teams for the first DoD competition to be held in the past 10 years.The Air Force traditionally

  • Thousands treated, partnerships formed during Operation Pacific Angel-Laos

    Thirty American military members, along with partners from the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the U.S. Embassy, treated more than 3,650 patients, renovated five health clinics and schools, and shared medical and engineering expertise with each other during Operation Pacific Angel-Laos here,

  • Airmen attend 'survive and operate' university

    With JB McChord's operational readiness exercise just days away, the 627th Air Base Group provided Airmen an opportunity to practice their "Ability to Survive and Operate" skills April 30 through May 2, 2012.According to Tech. Sgt. Troyann Ernle, 627th Civil Engineer Squadron noncommissioned officer

  • Key leader in Air Force nuclear enterprise passes away

    A top Air Force senior advisor and leader involved in the integration of nuclear capabilities into Air Force, as well as joint and coalition, operations passed away May 3 following a lengthy illness.Charles R. "Ron" Henderson, the deputy assistant chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear

  • Military working dog handlers come together for joint competition

    The 2012 Department of Defense Military Working Dog K-9 Trials kicked off here May 4 and will continue through May 6.The competition allows 43 teams from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps to demonstrate their handling skills with their canine partners.The competition was designed to

  • Air Force leader talks about future of ISR

    Air Force leadership reinforced the critical nature and future of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions April 26 to a group of civic and industry leaders as well as media members attending the Air Force Association's monthly breakfast in Arlington, Va.The Air Force Association's

  • Two AF bases take top DOD honors for environmental work

    Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta announced the Defense Department's environmental awards for fiscal 2012 May 1 and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and Hill AFB, Utah, were among nine Department of Defense installations selected for top honors.Each year since 1962, the secretary of defense has

  • Officer development program applications due

    Officers considering 2013 advanced academic degree and experience broadening programs have a narrow application window, with some applications due within the next few weeks, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. Public affairs and chaplain corps candidates have submitted their applications,

  • Little Rock AFB members say goodbye to last C-130E

    Airmen gathered for a ceremony here May 1 to say goodbye to the first C-130E Hercules ever produced and the last one to be retired.Tail No. 61-2358 will retire to Edwards AFB where it will be used as a static display after more than 50 years of service. Leaders and Airmen from three different wings

  • Top Air Force chaplain retires after 40-year career

    Air Force Chief of Chaplains Maj. Gen. Cecil R. Richardson concluded a nearly 41-year career with his retirement ceremony April 30 here.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz recounted how retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni at U.S. Central Command once told him that "Richardson has the

  • Programs exist to minimize RIF impact on employees

    As demonstrated by the announcement of a third round of Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay and Voluntary Early Retirement Authority beginning 1 May, the Air Force is committed to maximizing voluntary separation measures to the greatest extent possible. Despite this, some bases may find the need to

  • Pentagon hosts 'Air Force STEM 2020 Challenge' essay winners

    Eighteen "Air Force STEM 2020 Challenge" essay contest winners from Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia schools were invited to the Pentagon on April 20 for a day of learning about innovation in the Department of Defense.The 317th Recruiting Squadron's Air Force STEM 2020 Challenge was an

  • Mobile app connects Airmen to their base

    Want to connect with friends and family? There's an app for that. Need to find the best restaurant around? There's an app for that. Want to see what movies are playing nearby? There's an app for that.Discovering what events your base is hosting on a particular day? Now there is an app for that,