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  • Air Force meets 2005 enlisted, OTS recruiting goal

    The Air Force exceeded its fiscal 2005 enlisted recruiting goal by sending 19,222 men and women to basic military training. And while the service had success recruiting for Officer Training School, it fell short in recruiting in some medical fields. "This was a challenging year for Air Force

  • Laos duty helps sergeant put her job into perspective

    An Army Golden Knight parachutist landed at Sheppard’s salute to America’s warfighters air show streaming the familiar black Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag. It was an emotional moment for many of the spectators at the Oct. 15 event. But it was an especially emotional moment for Tech. Sgt.

  • Moseley: Air Force needs to bolster intelligence cadre

    The Air Force can do a better job training and maintaining the Airmen that gather, process and distribute military intelligence, the Air Force chief of staff said. Gen. T. Michael Moseley said there are not enough Airmen working in military intelligence. And the Air Force must do a better job

  • Iraqi pollsters receive airlift help

    When Iraq took its next step toward democracy -- voting on a constitution -- Airmen and Marines helped ensure the process worked. That included getting 1,320 Iraqi poll workers safely to and from Baghdad International Airport to their polling stations around the country. It was a job that lasted

  • Depot's around-the-clock service better for warfighters

    A new one-stop customer service center here is helping get aircraft replacement parts to “downrange” customers much faster. The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here established the center -- open around-the-clock -- to provide customers timely, accurate and “action-based” service. The center goes

  • Hurricane Hunters fly into record season

    Despite being displaced and working out of a temporary home, the men and women of the Hurricane Hunters are flying missions to track Hurricane Wilma. The Hurricane Hunters,  of Air Force Reserve Command’s 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, flew a WC-130J into Wilma measuring top sustained winds

  • Vandenberg launches final Titan IV

    After five decades of service, the Air Force and the Lockheed Martin Corp. launched the last Titan IV B rocket from here Oct. 19. The heavy-lift workhorse thundered off the pad at 11:05 PST to deliver its final payload to space. It carried a critical national security payload for the National

  • General Smith to head U.S. Joint Forces Command

    Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Oct. 20 that President George W. Bush nominated Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith for appointment to the rank of general with assignment as commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command. General Smith is currently deputy commander of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air

  • Air Force garners 13 Presidential Rank Awards

    White House officials recently named its 2005 Presidential Rank Award recipients. The awards program recognizes career senior executive service and senior professional individuals. Award recipients are leaders, professionals and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate strength,

  • Homestead prepares for Hurricane Wilma

    The 482nd Fighter Wing is preparing for Hurricane Wilma. Airmen here are evacuating fighter jets and officials are coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for potential hurricane-relief operations. Six F-16 Fighting Falcons evacuated to Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga., and three

  • Incirlik moving Pakistan earthquake aid

    With the determination of an ant colony, Airmen here are busy moving humanitarian aid cargo bound for Pakistan. Incirlik has played host to an array of international aircraft and provided round-the-clock support since the relief operation started after the Oct. 8 Pakistan earthquake. From Oct. 18 to

  • Conference introduces influential civilians to military

    A group of civilian business professionals and politicians embarked Oct. 17 on a weeklong trip to familiarize them with the military. The Joint Civilian Orientation Conference began here with 45 people touring the Pentagon and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. The group will travel to Germany, the

  • Cope Thunder 06-01 challenges end

    The first winter Cope Thunder ended here Oct. 20 and aircrews found the weather was their main adversary. But the weather at this remote base -- which grounded many missions -- is exactly why exercise planners picked it to host Pacific Air Force’s premier combat airpower exercise, said Col. Bob

  • Kadena takes ‘pride’ in revamping F-15 fleet

    Some of the F-15 Eagle fleet’s oldest jets are getting a second chance at life here, thanks to a $5.2 million upgrade program. During the next year, Kadena Eagles will receive a microscopic inspection called "Pride Dock" by Department of Defense contractors and Airmen from the 18th Maintenance

  • UAV testing begins at Andersen

    Testing being done here will help determine if the tiny Weatherscout unmanned aerial vehicle can track tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean. The Weatherscout -- called the WUAV -- flew its first mission from this base’s Northwest Field Oct. 15. That kicked off a six-week testing period by members

  • New Air Force Portal tool gets warfighters parts faster

    Armed with a single user ID, password and valid stock number, Airmen can now get parts into the hands of warfighters quicker with a new Air Force Portal application. The Enterprise Solution-Supply online tool gives logisticians the ability to find parts stored in any of the more than 300 Air Force

  • Westover C-5s airlift more Chinooks for earthquake relief

    A third C-5 Galaxy aircrew from the 439th Airlift Wing here left Oct. 18 to deliver more help to earthquake-ravaged Pakistan. The giant cargo plane picked up two Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters at Fort Sill, Okla., and delivered them to Pakistan, after a stop in Spain. It was the 13th humanitarian

  • Lakenheath opens air dominance center

    The Air Force’s first Joint and Combined Air Dominance Center of Excellence is now open for business here. Lt. Col. Dave Slade, the center commander, said the Air Force established the center in response to the changing security environment in European Command’s area of responsibility with the

  • Peering through window to world of ‘sniffing’

    Security forces military working dog handlers have a unique job. But not every handler gets the opportunity to train with customs agents from a host nation. Military working dog handlers here train with Japanese K-9 agents from Narita and Osaka as part of a joint-training opportunity established

  • Raptor drops first bomb

    “Weapon’s away.” Those two words from Lt. Col. Jim Hecker put the 27th Fighter Squadron into the record books. The squadron commander dropped the first bomb -- a 1000-pound global positioning system-guided joint direct attack munition -- from an F/A-22 Raptor Oct. 18. Eight more bombs followed

  • Introductory flight training undergoing changes

    The introductory flight training program that prepares pilot candidates for specialized undergraduate pilot training will decrease from 50 to 25 hours next fall. The transitional program will bridge the change from the current introductory program to a new program called initial flight screening.

  • Airmen in place for Hurricane Wilma relief

    As Hurricane Wilma rips through south Florida, Airmen from 1st Air Force are already in place today to help storm victims. The rest of 1st Air Force is ready to respond, if asked to provide resources for Wilma relief efforts, said 1st AF commander Maj. Gen. M. Scott Mayes. “If we get the call, we’re

  • Hurricane Wilma makes landfall in Florida

    Hurricane Wilma hit Florida's western coast around 6:30 a.m. EDT today with sustained winds of about 125 mph. So far, there have been no reported deaths or injuries in Florida.Waiting for the storm, dispersed throughout the state, are some 2,400 Florida National Guard Airmen and Soldiers, the

  • Floating checks will soon be thing of the past

    “Check floaters” beware. The Army and Air Force Exchange Service will start to electronically process checks in January. Now, instead of taking up to three days, check may process instantly or in one day. The move is so the exchange service complies with “Check 21” Legislation. “Checks will be

  • Davis-Monthan getting combined air operations center

    The Air Force broke ground on a new combined air operations center here. There was the sound of sledgehammers swinging when workers started the conversion of an old ground-launched cruise-missile facility into the new Falconer CAOC facility Oct. 17. The new operations center -- scheduled to open in

  • Reservists clean house, increase F-16 capability

    Desire and motivation drove 14 Reserve Airmen to turn a barely functional back shop into one of two fully functional avionic intermediate shops here. The revamped work center allowed the staff to double the improved avionic intermediate repair capabilities. The reservists deployed here from

  • Horned Frogs trample Falcons, 48-10

    Texas Christian University trampled the Falcons, 48-10. After the Oct. 22 victory, the 7-1 TCU Horned Frogs remain unbeaten in the Mountain West Conference, holding a two-game lead over the second-ranked team. It also leaves the Falcons facing the possibility of a losing season. “They handed us a

  • Being nosey pays off

    Because Sara Simms was nosey, the U.S. government saved more than $424,000. And she received a surprise, too. During a data review, Ms. Simms, a lead human resources assistant, noticed an unusual annotation on a Reservist’s record. Convicted of first degree felony, the reserve officer’s status was

  • General Regni takes command of U.S. Air Force Academy

    Lt. Gen. John F. Regni became the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 17th superintendent during a change of command ceremony here today. The new superintendent graduated from USAFA with a bachelor of science degree in Biology in 1973. “I am honored and humbled to pick up the torch from General John Rosa,”

  • Florida asks Air Force for little hurricane help

    Although Hurricane Wilma left a swath of destruction through southern Florida Oct. 24, the state has asked the Air Force for very little assistance. Florida was so well prepared for Wilma that officials there have -- so far -- only asked the military to provided communication packages and helicopter

  • Travelers informed of avian flu threat

    The Air Mobility Command surgeon general's office reminds overseas travelers of the risks involved with foreign travel caused by the threat of the avian flu. Avian flu is an infectious disease in birds caused by the type H5N1 strains of the influenza virus, according to the World Health

  • Air Force nation's leading 'green power' user

    For the Air Force, winning a 2005 Green Power Leadership Award was a breeze -- literally. Bases like Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, and Fairchild AFB, Wash. -- both which receive 100 percent of their energy from wind or other renewable energy power sources -- helped the Air Force earn the award Oct.

  • Air defense continues during hurricane season

    Though it has been busy providing hurricane support over the past 14 months, the 1st Air Force is also busy doing its main job -- protecting America’s skies. The Airmen that work in the combined air operations center continue to maintain the nation’s “steady and robust air defense,” said Col. Kevin

  • Hybrid refueler truck could cut energy use

    The Air Force is looking for a way to save fuel and energy, while meeting mission needs. The R-11 hybrid electric refueling truck is one answer. The truck -- which is undergoing a series of tests before its release later this year -- is the first step in a spiral development between the Advanced

  • Web lets reservists track education progress

    Air Force reservists can now track their education progress, request transcripts and update personal education information on the Web.Going through the Air Force Portal -- and accessing the Virtual Education Center’s Web site at https://afvec.langley.af.mil  -- saves reservists time and money.

  • Academy gets new reserve squadron

    A new partnership between the reserve and active-duty force soared into the Rocky Mountains when the 70th Flying Training Squadron opened for business here. Formed Oct. 25, the new squadron -- formerly known as Detachment 1, 302nd Operations Group -- marks the first time citizen Airmen have had a

  • Real estate agency announces award winner

    The Air Force Real Property Agency has announced its 2005 Air Force Real Estate Award winners. Air Force-level winners are: -- Real estate specialist: Cheryl Cordray, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. -- Senior real estate specialist: Lynn Holcomb, Air Force Space Command,

  • President Bush: Troops depend on family support

    All U.S. troops fighting the war on terrorism "rely on the love and support of their families," President George W. Bush told spouses at Bolling Air Force Base here. Military members are deployed worldwide defending "our freedom and our security in the first war of the 21st century," President Bush

  • Staging facility offers more than air evacuations

    Getting troops injured in battle from the war zone to another location where they can receive more definitive care takes careful planning and coordination. Such was the case Oct. 21, when members of the 386th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility at this desert base helped move 16 injured troops

  • Pod gives Strike Eagles an edge

    In today’s war on terrorism, troops have many tools at their disposal. One of best tools -- and friend -- is the F-15E Strike Eagle, with its advanced targeting pod. The pod gives pilots real-time information for targeting. “The pod’s capability is simply staggering and it’s changing the battlefield

  • Tuskegee Airmen return to war zone

    The Tuskegee Airmen know about war. They battled the Nazis abroad and racism at home. Now they've made their way back to the front lines to show their support for Airmen fighting the war on terror. Five members arrived here Oct. 25 to interacting with military members, sharing their stories and

  • Homestead cleans up, stages relief

    Just hours after Hurricane Wilma hit this base, the 482nd Fighter Wing had the base airfield open and ready to help with relief efforts. The wing is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Florida Army National Guard and local officials here to send relief supplies to south Florida

  • Falcons golfers win 11th-straight Reemtsma Trophy

    The U.S. Force Academy golf team captured the Reemtsma Trophy for the 11th-consecutive year  -- continuing their dominance of the annual Service Academy Golf Classic. The Falcons, facing rivals Army and Navy, shot a 5-under-par 355 as a team in the third round Oct. 25, to bring their tournament

  • 'Turkey feather' check

    BURLINGTON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Vt. (AFPN) -- Airman 1st Class Jacques Young inspects the "turkey feathers" -- turbine blades -- on an F-16 Fighting Falcon's Pratt and Whitney F100-220E engine. The jet engine mechanic works at the propulsion shop of the 158th Fighter Wing here. (U.S. Air Force

  • Airmen, Sailors help Soldiers move containers of hope

    Airmen and Sailors continue helping Soldiers here provide humanitarian assistance and support to the earthquake-affected people of Pakistan. When they’re not fixing aircraft helping fight the war on terrorism, Air Force EC-130 Hercules and Navy E-6B Intruder maintainers have been helping 82nd

  • Sponsors help form newcomers’ first impressions

    Bad first impressions last a long time. That is what William Robinson tries to instill in every person assigned as a sponsor here. Sponsors provide those impressions of the base and the arriving member’s unit, said Mr. Robinson, 39th Mission Support Squadron family support center community readiness

  • New processor makes Strike Eagle more lethal

    When F-15E Strike Eagles starts getting a new core processor next year, they will be more lethal and effective weapons in the war on terrorism and beyond. The Aeronautical Systems Center's F-15 Systems Group here is managing the development, test and acquisition of the advanced display core

  • Airmen help prepare Soldiers for Afghanistan duty

    Airmen from around the Air Force helped prepare 10th Mountain Division Soldiers for their deployment to Afghanistan during exercise Unified Endeavor 06 here. The exercise, which ended Oct. 23, prepared members of the division’s headquarters and staff for their upcoming rotation to head Combined

  • Troops look up to Compass Call

    Operation Enduring Freedom has become as much about electrons as about bullets. Providing an umbrella of electronic protection over ground forces has become the role of EC-130H Compass Call aircraft here. But since November 2004, the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron has taken that role

  • Predator’s success ups procurement and development

    With the MQ-1 Predator logging significant hours in counterinsurgency operations and earning troop support, the Air Force wants to buy more of the aircraft and develop the next-generation variant. Predators worldwide are logging 4,000 hours a month in support of the war on terrorism and other

  • Overseas quarterly assignment listing available Nov. 1

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for overseas requirements for July through September 2006 will be available Nov. 1. Assignment preferences need to be updated by Nov. 17. Airmen will be notified of their selection before Dec. 15. Airmen need to work through their military personnel flight

  • Oct. 28 last TRS buy day for some guardsmen and reservists

    Some Guard and reserve members -- and some former members -- must sign up to buy Tricare Reserve Select by Oct. 28. TRS is a Department of Defense program that offers comprehensive health coverage similar to Tricare Standard and Extra. National Guard and reserve members who served on active duty for

  • Eagle eye

    NAVAL AIR ENGINEERING STATION LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFPN) -- An Airman takes up a firing position here during exercise Eagle Flag 06-1. The exercise goal is to test the ability of participants to open and establish an air base to an initial-operating capability for a forward operation, regardless of

  • New personnel system's final regs sent to Congress

    Ending a nearly two-year process, the Defense Department sent Congress the final national security personnel system regulation. Acting Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said Oct. 26 that Congress has 30 days to review the final regulations. The regulations will take effect Nov. 25. Changes to

  • 'Change Clock, Change Battery' campaign begins

    As residents turn their clocks back one hour this weekend and revert to standard time, defense safety officials urge them to change their smoke alarms batteries, too. Daylight-saving time ends 2 a.m. on Oct. 30, the last Sunday in the month. Clocks "fall back" one hour and standard time resumes. For

  • Raptors return with insight, information

    The familiar sound of flying Raptors will soon fill the Virginia skies again. The 27th Fighter Squadron returns here Oct. 28 from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, ending two weeks of out-of-town training and bringing the first-ever deployment for the F/A-22 Raptor to a close. “Training like this is

  • The Air Force needs your feedback

    People still have time to take the 2005 Air Force Climate Survey, but the Nov. 23 deadline is rapidly approaching. Twenty-nine percent of the Air Force had taken the survey as of Oct. 27. The survey, which began Oct. 1, gives Air Force people an opportunity to provide honest and productive feedback

  • Soaring into the blue

    GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala (AFPN) -- Tech. Sgt. Barry Snokhous checks an F-15 Eagle's fire warning system prior to its performance in a Guatemalan International Air Show 2005. Sergeant Snokhous is a member of the West Coast F-15 Demonstration Team, which participated in the airshow Oct. 26 as part of

  • 820th SFG field tests chemical warfare garments

    The 820th Security Forces Group here began the first military field durability tests on new chemical warfare garments Oct. 24.  The 820th SFG, which provides force protection for expeditionary air forces, is putting the latest version of the chemical warfare suit to the test to assess its fit,

  • New tanker ramp opens, improves deployed operational safety and efficiency

    It is a scene that plays often at air bases -- crew chiefs guiding aircraft onto the ramp.But this time the aircraft was taxiing onto a brand new tanker ramp, and the sound of its engines signaled a new era of safety and efficiency for air operations here. The Oct. 22 opening of the new ramp --

  • Air Force communications directorate expands

    The Air Force chief of staff announced plans today for an enhanced integrated communications capability that will enable the Air Force to better inform the American public about its engagement in the global war on terrorism and support to the nation. The plan eventually calls for a two-star general

  • NDI stops problems before they start

    Similar to a private investigator gathering evidence to crack a case, the Non-Destructive Inspection unit here also gathers evidence -- but its intent is to ensure the case remians uncracked. The NDI unit uses methods such as magnetic particle, fluorescent penetrant, X-rays, and eddy current to

  • Air commandos learn martial arts from Marines

    Beaten, bloodied and loving it. It’s the best way to describe the 20 battlefield Airmen who went toe-to-toe in hand-to-hand combat here, Oct. 17-28. Air commandos from Air Force Special Operations Command units around the world gathered at the 720th Special Tactics Group here to learn from three of

  • Trainee dies during basic training

    Joshua Rolfe, a basic trainee with the 322nd Training Squadron, collapsed during physical training here Oct. 29 and was pronounced dead at 7:30 a.m. at Wilford Hall Medical Center. Trainee Rolfe arrived here Oct. 25 for six weeks of basic military training. This is the first trainee death since May

  • Eagle Flag 06-1 finishes, but the learning goes on

    Being prepared to deploy is the key to success of the Air Force’s expeditionary mission. This is where Eagle Flag comes in. The two-week exercise, held Oct. 18 to 28 here, tested Airmen on a multitude of expeditionary combat support skills. Participants for the exercise are chosen based on their

  • Air Force releases report on fatal traffic accident

    The driver of a van carrying three Air Force Airmen fell asleep at the wheel and subsequently lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a fatal single-vehicle traffic accident near Wady El Na Natron City, Egypt, Sept. 19, Air Force officials announced today. One Air Force officer was killed, and two

  • Chaplain provides insight to Islam

    A chaplain here has received a national award recognizing his efforts to help warfighters better understand Islam. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Thomas Azar, 347th Rescue Wing head chaplain, was named the 2004-2005 best military chaplain by the National Ministries, American Baptist Churches. “I was totally

  • Combat communications answers the call

    They can set up communications to anywhere in the world from anywhere in the world. They can take a strip of land and turn it into an airfield capable of carrying out military or relief missions, but for now, members of the elite 5th Combat Communications Group are at a former Soviet republic making

  • Airmen performing non-traditional security

    The camp has the look and feel of many Army bases with one exception, the majority of the force protection presence is Airmen -- including the two security forces squadron commanders. Traditionally an Army function, here, Airmen are providing perimeter defense, convoy and area security and security

  • Air Force depots exceed major maintenance goals

    For the second consecutive year, the Air Force's three air logistics centers exceeded their aircraft production goal and met their engine production goal, putting more hardware essential to the global war on terrorism and peacetime training missions into the hands of U.S. warfighters. The overall

  • Turtle patrol volunteers give baby sea turtles new life

    Fifty eight newly hatched baby green sea turtles got their first taste of life and the Gulf of Mexico after the Eglin’s sea turtle patrol volunteers released them to the wild Oct. 27. While this was deemed a great day of success for the volunteers, the prospects of the baby turtles surviving to see

  • Medical logisticians deliver medical relief

    When warriors are wounded in the field, many rely on the men and women of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Squadron medical logistics flight for the medicine and supplies needed to patch them up. With a staff of seven, the logistics flight works long hours keeping medical supplies flowing to field

  • The AC-130U Gunship program explores viper strike capability

    The AC-130U Gunship, managed by Aeronautical Systems Center's Special Operations Forces Systems Group here, is undergoing an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration for a standoff precision-guided munition called Viper Strike. Viper Strike is a small, precision-attack munition with guide/glide