Academy Board of Visitors meets in Washington

The U.S. Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors met in Washington on Oct. 6 to discuss a variety of issues relating to the academy. The board, comprising 15 people, met to review the morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical education, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters

Intel officer assumes command of Air Intelligence Agency

A career intelligence officer assumed command Oct. 6 of the Air Force organization charged with providing information warfare capabilities to air component and joint force commanders around the world. Maj. Gen. John C. Koziol became the 28th commander of the Air Intelligence Agency and Joint

Airmen push to limit with turn of a card

“Right now, I’m at 15,541.” And counting. As he counts down the days before returning home, increasing his push-up total has become a goal for Lt. Col. Jeff Sheppard, the 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron commander at a forward-deployed location. What began as a challenge among several

Servicemembers pay respect to fallen Airman

More than 225 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and multinational partners crowded the new base chapel Oct. 6 to pay their final respects to their comrade in arms, Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Jacobson. Airman Jacobson was killed on a convoy near Camp Bucca, Iraq, on Sept. 28 when her vehicle was hit by an

Web site expands services to help with PCS

The Air Force Move Web site "People First" has recently expanded its services. Besides the vast personal property links, travelers will now have access to a passenger directory to assist with locating the nearest transportation office. A ground transportation locator has been added to aid in finding

Air Warfare Center changes names to USAF Warfare Center

The Air Warfare Center here officially changed its name Oct. 1 to the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center. The new name more accurately reflects the center's expanding responsibility to integrate space and information operations with traditional air warfare, officials said. The expansion was previously

Web-based system changes how orders are processed

Individual mobilization augmentees have a new way to get military orders through a Web-based system. Air Reserve Order Writing System-Reserve, which began Oct. 1, allows IMAs to initiate the orders process from any computer worldwide. Units can start using the system as early as Nov. 1, said Air

Barksdale joins Bright Star 2005

Airmen here recently engaged in a unique international exercise -- Bright Star 2005. The Bright Star exercise takes place every two years in Egypt and includes coalition forces from the United States, Egypt and 12 other countries. Airmen faced several challenges during the exercise which ran Sept.

A-10 phase dock keeps OEF frequent flyers flying

A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft here flew 500 sorties in September over Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Direct close-air support missions accounted for 380 of those sorties. Whether supporting ground troops in the war or conducting a training mission at their home station, A-10

Reserve wing welcomes change to flying mission

The 445th Airlift Wing received its first of 11 C-5 Galaxy aircraft Oct. 3. Air Force Reserve Command wings do not change aircraft very often, and the 445th AW is no exception, having flown C-141 Starlifters since the wing’s activation Oct. 1, 1994. All that will soon be history. The C-141s are

Fluid intake

Fall 2005 quarterly issue of Airman available online

Read about the Air Force’s explosive ordnance disposal team in Baghdad disarming the enemy, get inside the Air Force’s response to Hurricane Katrina, follow a little boy named Eddy as he undergoes surgery in Ecuador, and discover the ins and outs of the F/A-22 Raptor. These features and more

Officials name new assistant to secretary of the Air Force

Department of Defense officials announced Oct. 6 the appointment of Donald M. Kerr as the assistant to the secretary of the Air Force for intelligence space technology effective Oct. 3. Mr. Kerr, also the National Reconnaissance Office director, will support the secretary of the Air Force in

Cope Thunder exercise begins

Cope Thunder 06-1 participants are using the 62,000 square miles of airspace at this remote base to “fly, fight and win” during Pacific Air Force’s premier combat airpower exercise. The two-week exercise, which will run through Oct. 21, is the command’s largest air combat training exercise,

Fairchild Airmen test for Ranger School

Airmen assigned to the 22nd Training Squadron and select Airmen with the 66th Training Squadron here have taken on a rare challenge to push themselves beyond normal endurance for the chance to attend the Army’s elite training program -- Ranger School. And they only had a day to do it. The 12-hour

Moseley: C-17 'worth weight in gold' in Pacific

Basing C-17 Globemaster IIIs in Hawaii will boost Pacific Air Force’s airlift capabilities in the region, the Air Force chief of staff said Oct. 6. Gen. T. Michael Moseley said with the huge transports flying out of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command

Edwards, DARPA explore new C-17 capability

Soaring 6,000 feet above the sun-baked California desert, a pair of Edwards aircraft -- a C-17 Globemaster III shadowed by a C-12 Huron observer aircraft -- carried out an unusual mission with an even more unusual cargo recently. The rear of the aircraft yawned open, and at the prompt of "five,

Airmen deliver first relief supplies to Pakistan

The first relief supplies from the United States arrived here on a C-17 Globemaster III less that 48 hours after the devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and injured. The C-17 and its crew, from the 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 12 pallets -- almost 90,000

DOD begins earthquake relief efforts

Department of Defense officials announced Oct. 10 that Navy Rear Adm. Michael Lefever will establish a humanitarian coordination center in Islamabad, Pakistan. Admiral Lefever will coordinate Defense Department support to the State Department, other U. S. government agencies and to the Pakistan

Secretary of State visits Manas, inspires Airmen

Perfect weather and more than 500 Airmen with the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing here greeted the 66th secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, when she arrived Oct. 11. The relatively small, but strategically important Kyrgyzstan was the secretary’s first stop in her four-day, four-country tour of

Welcome home, Daddy!

Robins Airman found guilty on all charges

A military jury here unanimously found Senior Airman Andrew Paul Witt guilty of two specifications of premeditated murder in the July 5, 2004, stabbing deaths of Senior Airman Andrew Schliepsiek and his wife, Jamie. Airman Witt was also found guilty Oct. 5 of one specification of attempted

Officials update Keesler assignment information

Airmen in non-critical career fields are still not authorized to proceed to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., until further assignment guidance is released, said Air Force Personnel Center officials here. People still affected by the stop movement order must not depart their current base. Those

Domestic Violence Awareness Month aims to reduce violence in homes

Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States -- more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined. It is also estimated that a woman is battered every 15 seconds in the United States, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Academy Board of Visitors discuss top issues

Sexual assault prevention and religious tolerance, and the academy’s handling of these issues, were topics discussed by the academy’s Board of Visitors here during an Oct. 6 meeting. Despite the heaviness of the topics, “this was an upbeat meeting,” said Johnny Whitaker, director of communications

ETDC supplies gear downrange so deployed troops don’t have to

The 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s expeditionary theater distribution center here is leading the way in expeditionary mobility gear processing to make life easier for thousands of deploying Airmen. The center is part of an Air Force test where Airmen can deploy from their home

Midshipmen cage Falcons, 27-24

For 59 minutes and 59 seconds Air Force was back. Its three-game losing streak appeared over. Its quest to regain the coveted Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, symbolic of interservice football supremacy, was on track and its bowl chances were rekindled. But, before the final tick expired, those

Wright-Patterson celebrates an essential step in aviation

One-hundred years of practical flight were celebrated Oct. 5 on the grounds Orville and Wilbur Wright used to test their legendary Wright Flyer -- launching an aviation era. Mark Dusenberry, pilot and creator of the world's only exact replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer, re-visited the historic moment,

Eddy current inspection shop saves lives, money

Saving lives and money: That is what employees in the eddy current inspection shop at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center are all about. And it is their life management approach to reliability-centered maintenance that allows them to extend the life of rotating jet engine components by

By my mark

Thunderous combat

'Gateway to Europe' ends 60-year airlift legacy

Although 60 years of airlift legacy came to a close, the “spirit” of this base will endure. The long-time airlift hub closed during an Oct. 10 ceremony attended by U.S. and German dignitaries. A C-17 Globemaster III bearing the name “Spirit of Rhein-Main” was unveiled by Lt. Gen. Christopher Kelly,

AFMC air logistics centers garner Shingo Prize

Industry leaders recognized Air Force Materiel Command's three air logistics centers for their practical implementation of Lean Transformation practices, ensuring America's warfighters success on the job. Lean is a methodology designed to create value, eliminate waste and allow an organization to

Uniform board meets this month

The Air Force Uniform Board meets here Oct. 20 to 21 to consider Air Force uniform improvements and standardization. The board will address various uniform requirements, including the Airman's new battle dress uniform, and Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force

Academy sports recap

This week the U.S. Air Force Academy challenged itself and the nation during five collegiate sporting events. Men’s Soccer: Air Force toppled the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1-0, at the cadet soccer stadium. Academy senior David Schill scored the game’s only goal in the early part of the second

Keesler Airmen back in school at Sheppard

Sheppard has a new electronic principles course to train Airmen from Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., displaced by Hurricane Katrina. It took Sheppard two weeks to have the course ready for instruction, said Master Sgt. Rosa Marlin, 365th Training Squadron avionics test equipment flight chief. It

Soaring with ‘Thunderbirds’

Loading up

‘Beverly’ visits Guam

Airlift honored

AMC assists initial earthquake response

The Air Force deployed more than 45 members from the 621st Contingency Response Wing here to Islamabad, Pakistan Oct. 10 in the wake of a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck the country Oct. 8. Members of 621st Contingency Response Group Element deployed to support humanitarian airlift operations

Globemasters deliver more relief aid

A huge C-17 Globemaster III delivered more relief supplies here Oct. 11 that will go help victims in this country’s earthquake-devastated region. The C-17 and its crew of five, from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia, flew in approximately 50 tons of food and shelter equipment.

Eglin Airmen train Iraqi police

The introduction of democracy and the reconstruction of Iraq hinges on its police force’s ability to handle those fighting against the transition. So two Airmen from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and one from Offutt AFB, Neb., are in the country to make sure the Iraqi police force gets the training it

Service demographics offer snapshot of force

Air Force Personnel Center officials here recently published the quarterly demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force, as of Sept. 30. More information can be found online at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/demographics/>. All statistics are rounded to

Maintainers keep Cope Thunder going

Tucked away in an office on the far corner of the Thunder Dome, two men ensure Airmen and Sailors get Cope Thunder 06-1 missions off the ground -- on time and on target. Without the oversight of Col. Mark Fluke and Chief Master Sgt. Darrin Dwyer, exercise Cope Thunder would, theoretically, only be a

Saying thanks

Moseley: We are moving towards interdependence with sister services

The Air Force’s future path requires more jointness and interdependence between the total force, sister services and coalition partners. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley spoke Oct. 11 about this vision for the future of the Air Force, but began with a vision of its recent past. The

Helicopter pilot is Cheney Award recipient

An Air Force MH-53 Pave Low helicopter pilot from Fort Bragg, N.C., received the Cheney Award in a ceremony at the Pentagon Oct. 13. Maj. John Groves earned the award for his actions while delivering supplies to Iraq as part of two-ship formation. The major’s wingman was shot down en route. Major

Air Force continues aid to Pakistan

Oct. 12 marked the fourth straight day the Air Force airlifted aid into the devastated region of Pakistan. Four U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and two C-130 Hercules aircraft transported more than 408,000 pounds, including more than 60 pallets loaded with supplies like tents, cots and

Blood donations still in high demand

The U.S. military always needs blood in war zones and now, more than ever, it is depending on troops at stateside bases to donate. That is because troops that deploy “down range” cannot donate blood for one year after they return home, said Maj. Julie Zwies, officer in charge of the Expeditionary

Airman sentenced to death

The Airman here who was recently found guilty of two specifications of premeditated murder and one specification of attempted premeditated murder, has been sentenced to death by a military panel. Senior Airman Andrew Paul Witt, 23, is now the only Airman to sit on death row. Airman Witt's death

Hearing voices

Lifesaving trauma team provides care within one hour of injuries

Should deployed troops need on the spot surgery, there is a five-person mobile forward surgical team on standby, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice to help them. The team -- an MFST -- can deploy in 24 to 48 hours. It is the smallest forward-deployable surgical team that can do field surgery. The

Combat care

Cope Thunder supply mission diverse

As aircraft lift from the flightline and roar into the low-lying clouds, two 353rd Combat Training Squadron supply liaisons are busy helping customers with the supply process. Tech. Sgt. Devandis Smith and Staff Sgt. Normajean Glossan know first-hand that its the behind-the-scene efforts that makes

Picture perfect

Electric cars cut fuel costs

As gas prices soared this summer, the 37th Mission Support Group here searched for something new to help the it lower the cost of official transportation. “With gas prices approaching $3 per gallon, we were looking for something that would be beneficial over the long haul,” said group commander Col.

Historic haul

SECDEF visits MacDill, addresses military concerns

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld thanked Airmen here Oct. 11 for their involvement in the global war on terrorism and humanitarian efforts at home and abroad. "We fight today so that our children and their children might not have to experience the heartbreak of something like Sept. 11,” he said.

Lending a helping hand

Gimme a 'brake'

VA finding jobs for Iraq, Afghanistan vets

For young men and women fighting the war on terrorism, coming home in good health is a major goal. But coming home to a good job also is a primary concern, Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary R. James Nicholson said during a news conference Oct. 13. He announced a VA jobs program for

Air Force testing new transparent armor

Engineers here are testing a new kind of transparent armor -- stronger and lighter than traditional materials -- that could stop armor-piercing weapons from penetrating vehicle windows. The Air Force Research Laboratory's materials and manufacturing directorate is testing aluminum oxynitride --

Healthy children require proactive parents

Eating an apple a day doesn't always keep the doctor away. This is especially true in children from birth to early adolescence, an age group with especially high illness rates, said Maj. Tamara Hall, the 325th Medical Operations Squadron pediatrics flight commander and nurse practitioner here.

General McNabb takes command of AMC

Gen. Duncan J. McNabb took command of Air Mobility Command during a ceremony here Oct. 14. During the ceremony, the general discussed the importance of the command now and in the future. "It has been six years since I left here as commander of the (Tanker Airlift Control Center)," said General

Air Force continues Pakistan aid

The Air Force continues to provide humanitarian aid to Pakistan after it suffered a 7.6 magnitude earthquake Oct. 8. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs, KC-10 Extenders and C-130 Hercules aircraft have transported more than 630,000 pounds of humanitarian relief, including food, tents, cots, medical

Airmen act quickly at accident scene

 When thrust into a surreal situation, three Airmen here stepped up and showed that people can do extraordinary things. It was around 1 a.m. Oct. 16 when Senior Airmen Brooke and Marc Llafet and Matt Ritchie were driving home from Fort Walton Beach, Fla. In the car with them were Airman Marc

Space Command presented first-ever missile badge

A unique ceremony took place here in which the family of a space pioneer presented Air Force Space Command a unique object -- the Air Force’s first missile badge. The family of the late Col. William Erlenbusch presented the first missile badge -- known as the U.S. Air Force guided missile insignia

Air Force, small business specialists top Defense awards

The Air Force is the top performing major defense agency in the Department of Defense Small Business Program for fiscal 2004, defense officials said. Also, two Air Force small business professionals earned awards, rounding out the top honors for the Air Force. The recognition is the highest DOD

Falcons wake up at the right time

Air Force football players, like many athletes, are creatures of habit. So the prospect of playing an early-morning game against the University of Nevada Las Vegas wasn’t exactly greeted with high-fives. But judging by their 42-7 route of the Rebels Oct. 15, the Falcons may want to re-set their

First F/A-22 deployment is for training

The Raptors are leaving the nest for their first deployment. Nearly 170 Airmen left here Oct. 15 on a two-week deployment to Hill Air Force Base, Utah. This may sound like a run-of-the-mill temporary duty assignment. But for the Langley Airmen, it is far from a typical out-of-town operation. It is

Edwards Talons test one-engine takeoffs

T-38 Talons usually require both engines for takeoff. But in case one engine fails, pilots and engineers here are working to determine the safest single engine takeoff speed for the aircraft. Edwards Air Force Base test pilots last completed single engine takeoff speed, or SETOS, testing on the T-38

Officers, civilians selected for developmental education

More than 1,100 officers and civilians will attend intermediate and senior developmental education programs during the academic 2006-07 year, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced. The Intermediate and Senior Developmental Education Center Designation Board met Sept. 14-16 to select line

Air Force announces team-excellence awards

Air Force officials announced the five teams chosen for the 2005 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards. The Air Force nominated 15 teams for the awards, which recognize outstanding team performance and promote systematic process improvement. The awards also serve as a means to share best practices

Antarctica Deep Freeze mission resumes

One of the most difficult Air Force missions -- Operation Deep Freeze -- is about to resume. Deep Freeze is the Air Force’s resupply mission for the National Science Foundation and U.S. Antarctica operations. Aircrews from the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard stopped at here on their

Rebar work

Putting food on the plate takes a team

It’s 11:30 a.m. A sergeant pushed back from a table after his meal. “That chicken was actually pretty good today!” he said to no one in particular. In his tone was the sense of satisfaction one might expect from a man who works long, hard hours each day and who takes his job -- and his food --

Air Force services awards scholarships

For the ninth consecutive year, six people received a combined total of $25,000 in scholarship money from the Air Force Club Membership Scholarship Program. Club members and their families were given the opportunity to submit an essay on “My Hero, and Why.” Two to four essays were chosen by each

Vehicle maintenance

Memphis Belle at Air Force museum

The "Memphis Belle," is one of the Eighth Air Force's first B-17F heavy bombers to complete 25 successful bombing missions over Europe during World War II, is now at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force here. The move came under the terms of an agreement between the Air Force and the Memphis

Airmen help with Guatemala relief

Nine Airmen from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, deployed here as part of a Joint Task Force-Bravo team supporting Hurricane Stan relief operations in this Central American country. The hurricane, which hit the country Oct. 4, caused massive flooding and land slides and displaced thousands of people.

C-17s airlift Qatari mobile hospital to Pakistan

An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transported a Qatari mobile hospital to Pakistan in support of earthquake relief operations Oct. 15. Airmen loaded seven Qatari soldiers and 90,000 pounds of cargo on the aircraft, and flew to Islamabad, Pakistan. The group included two medics, two drivers and three

Pacific Command joins Pakistan earthquake relief effort

U.S. Pacific Command Airmen loaded three C-5 Galaxies with helicopters, support equipment and Soldiers bound to help earthquake victims in Pakistan Oct. 16. The Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters are the first command assets to deploy to earthquake-shattered Pakistan. A C-5 can carry two CH-47

Airmen score triple play on one trip

A C-130 Hercules aircrew picked up earthquake relief supplies in Bahrain and delivered them to Pakistan Oct. 15 -- but their mission did not end there. The crew then flew to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, where it picked up cargo to take to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, to support Operation Enduring

Cope Thunder medical team practices mobile medicine

Practicing mobile medicine and leaving a small footprint on a mission is just one the aspects of participating in Cope Thunder 06-01, said a flight surgeon here. Six-year veteran Maj. (Dr.) John Cotton, said he is enjoying his first temporary duty assignment as the Cope Thunder flight surgeon. He

Force shaping board meeting in 2006

A force shaping board will convene in 2006 and continue to meet annually to properly shape the officer corps to meet emerging Air Force needs. Instituted by the Air Force, the board will be a regular aspect of force management and development in the future. Authorized by the Secretary of the Air

Help on the way

Personnel center will conduct force shaping board

In an effort to right size and shape its future force, Air Force officials approved an annual board to evaluate officers for continued service at their three-year point. The board will be part of the service's force management program. The first Force Shaping Board is scheduled to convene at the Air

Pretty Raptors all in a row

Honor guard takes national award

The 301st Fighter Wing Honor Guard took center stage -- not as presenter, but as the recipient of the Air Force Association’s the 2005 Citation of Honor. This annual honor -- the association’s highest achievement award -- recognizes outstanding contributions by an individual or group in the

'Makos' in sky help warriors on ground

The sky above Balad Air Base was thick with dust and sand when four F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots completed another mission in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.They were headed to their deployed home at Balad Oct. 17 when they were eventually diverted here.  Their mission started early that morning,

EOD Airmen help destroy old rockets

Airmen and Soldiers joined forces at a former Soviet munitions dump near here to transport and destroy three 5,000-pound rockets. If not destroyed, the rockets could have posed a threat to U.S. and coalition forces serving here as part of the ongoing global war on terrorism, officials said. Lessons

Remains of missing World War II Airmen returning home

The remains of three U. S. servicemen, missing in action since 1941, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Augustus J. Allen, of Myrtle Springs, Texas; Staff Sgt. James D. Cartwright, of Los Angeles,

Wife's song provides encouragement to spouse, others during separation

Heather Wagner watched intently as the dramatic scene played out on her television screen.A Soldier was deploying. And there by the departure gate, his wife and children hugged and kissed their goodbyes as tears cascaded down their faces. As Heather's gaze drifted from the television to her husband,

Fisher House Distributes Airline Tickets

Wounded servicemembers and their families can get a free ticket home through "Operation Hero Miles."The Fisher House organization uses more than a million frequent flyer miles per week to distribute free round-trip airline tickets to war-wounded servicemembers -- as well as their family members --

Bagram getting new passenger terminal

Engineers are building a new $932,000 passenger terminal that will expand operations at this base. Twenty-four Airmen from the 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Group, deployed here from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., began laying the terminal’s foundation earlier this month. The group expects to finish the

Inspecting a C-130

Radar gyro system

Hickam exercises

Air Force continues earthquake support

As the United States enters its second week of humanitarian operations here, Airmen from all over the world continue working to deliver thousands of pounds of humanitarian cargo a day. In the second week following the earthquake in Pakistan, the group handled almost 700 tons of cargo intended for