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  • Sergeant honored for lifesaving action

    A Tinker Air Force NCO received the Airman's Medal in September here for the actions he and two friends did to rescue a group of drowning college exchange students in 2007. Staff Sgt. Chris Harlan of the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron earned the Airman's Medal for heroism involving the

  • Afghan medical technicians learn lab techniques

    Air Force mentors are developing Afghan hematology knowledge and practices every day at the Kabul national military hospital. "The (medical embed training team) mission strengthens the (Afghan national army's) healthcare system's ability to improve medical care with trained and experienced medical

  • Secretary Donley: Airmen vital to missions in Iraq, Afghanistan

    Airmen remain a vital part of the joint mission, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley observed during his recent visit to installations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The secretary used the opportunity to speak with Airmen and receive mission updates in Iraq and

  • World War II vet receives long-awaited medals

    Although he was not dressed in the khaki Army Air Corps uniform he wore after enlisting at 17, World War II veteran Tech. Sgt. Howard Thornton was no less proud when he received medals during a special ceremony here Aug. 29. A small gathering of family, friends and military members assembled to

  • American medical advisers guide Iraqi army back into patients' trust

    American medical advisers at Camp Ur are helping Iraqi army members run a clinic efficiently here as well as getting Iraqi soldiers to use the medical care available to them. Camp Ur boasts a fully functioning medical clinic complete with a three-bay emergency room, pharmacy, dentist, radiology

  • Policy change benefits disabled Airmen

    A policy change by Air Force Personnel Center officials here now allows some Airmen retiring with less than 20 years active service to receive retirement certificates. A change to Air Force Instruction 36-3203, Service Retirements, authorizes Airmen with less than 20 years of active service who are

  • Air Force officials reactivate 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot

    Air Force officials reactivated the 69th Bomb Squadron Sept. 3 at Minot Air Force Base. The new unit is the fourth operational B-52H Stratofortress squadron in the Air Force and joins the 23rd Bomb Squadron as the second squadron here. The new squadron was established to provide each B-52 wing with

  • Veterans, first timers benefit from Red Flag exercises

    During the Red Flag 09-5 exercise here, young and veteran pilots train in realistic combat scenarios through Sept. 4. The large-force employment includes various airframes from sister services and allied nations. The pilots train in a combined an joint atmosphere in a training area spanning more

  • Airmen help Iraqi army take control of base operations

    Operations continue as normal at Camp Ur. The focus remains the same: keep the base running and the mission on target. Iraqi army soldiers routinely work with their U.S. counterparts, but one important difference now is that the Iraqis have taken command of the controls."It's a historic time for

  • Photo essay: Red Flag trains combat air forces

    Units from the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines Corps participate in training missions for Red Flag 09-5 along with allied forces from Italy and the United Arab Emirates Aug. 26, 2009 here. This is the first time the United Arab Emirates has participated in Red Flag, a realistic two-week air combat

  • Secretary Gates explains opposition to alternate F-35 engine

    A proposed alternative engine for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter would cost far more than the existing engine and push back the production timetable, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in early September. Secretary Gates visited the Lockheed Martin F-35 factory Aug. 31 in Fort Worth,

  • Soldier conquers suicidal thoughts, urges others to get help

    Army Capt. Emily Stehr, a physical therapist with the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, is in the business of healing. But five months after returning from Iraq, she was struggling with her own internal wounds of war that had not healed. She decided to kill herself. What stopped Captain Stehr was not

  • Ramstein Airmen support 15-nation medical training exercise

    Thirty-two members of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, arrived here Aug. 25 in support of the Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe 2009. More than 600 people representing 15 nations will participate in this year's annual exercise with a focus on

  • Air Force officials release Predator accident report

    Air Force officials here Sept. 2 said a disconnected vacuum line caused the April 28 crash of an MQ-1 Predator west of Creech Air Force Base, Nev.According to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report, the aircraft executed a hard landing in the rough terrain surrounding the airfield

  • Whiteman Airmen test nuclear weapon mission

    Members of the 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron here took part in Combat Sledgehammer Aug. 17 as part of Air Combat Command's nuclear weapon system evaluation program. Combat Sledgehammer is conducted on Air Force bomber and fighter aircraft that are capable of carrying thermonuclear bombs and

  • Defense secretary touts F-35 as heart of future tactical combat aviation

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited the Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter factory here Aug. 31, assessing progress on what he called "the heart of the future of our tactical combat aviation." Secretary Gates walked through the mile-long production facility, getting

  • Secretary Gates to MC-12 workers: Your work is saving troops' lives

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave a pep talk to employees outfitting the MC-12 Liberty aircraft for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions Aug. 31 here, telling them their work is saving lives on the battlefield. Secretary Gates visited the L3 Communications plant here, getting

  • Air Force secretary praises Airmen, discusses ops with Bagram Airmen

    The secretary of the Air Force visited 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen Aug. 29 here during his second visit to Afghanistan in 10 months. Secretary Michael B. Donley spoke to approximately 300 Airmen at an Airmen's Call held on the steps of an old, Russian air traffic control tower, known as the

  • Photo essay: Supplies drop in Afghanistan

    Pallets of cargo drop from a C-17 Globemaster III to a forward operating base in Afghanistan, Aug. 27, 2009,  in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The aircrew is assigned to the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.View the slideshow.

  • Innovative Airmen make jobs, lives easier

    Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing have applied the axiom "work smarter, not harder" to come up with solutions on the job that are saving manpower, time and money here in Southwest Asia. Examples of innovation are not limited to just one group. Each of the four groups assigned to the 379th

  • Elmendorf Airmen support Army's Operation Arctic Response

    Active and Air National Guard Airmen provided assistance to Army Soldiers Aug. 24 and 26 during Operation Arctic Response here. Members of the 517th Airlift Squadron from here and the Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron supported the operation, which is an emergency deployment

  • Airmen protect space assets in new Air Force commercial

    An Air Force commercial highlighting the role men and women in the Air Force's Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., play in protecting satellite and other space assets begins airing Aug. 31 in television markets and select movie theaters across the country. "Space

  • Strike Eagles surpass 8,000 combat hours, support unique missions

    Airmen from the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron achieved a milestone here when they surpassed 8,000 combat hours in the F-15E Strike Eagle while providing security to coalition forces. The aircrew for the mission included Capt. Jaina Donberg, the F-15E pilot and a native of Arlington, Va., and

  • 'Today's Air Force' features chief of staff first-year reflections

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the chief of staff of the Air Force reflects on his first year on the job, the Global Positioning System gets a high tech upgrade, and Airmen turn to a new program in Iraq to get help dealing with combat stress.Major changes have taken place across the Air

  • AFCENT commander, command chief visit JBB

    Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the new U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, and AFCENT Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff visited Joint Balad Base Aug. 25 to survey various missions and address some of the Airmen he now commands. During his visit, General Hostage met with Army officials from the

  • Officials outline adoption process for military working dogs

    Military working dogs have come a long way since the days of ancient Persia and Assyria, where they donned armor, spiked collars and warned of impending attack or charged on the enemy's cavalry. Modern battlefield and customs conditions bring forth complex and ever-changing challenges, and as such,

  • New vice chief of staff takes office

    Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler is the new vice chief of staff of the Air Force, succeeding Gen. William M. Fraser III who held the position since October 2008. General Chandler comes to the Pentagon after two years of service as commander of Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S.

  • Green Flag provides Italian air force new insight on close air support

    Italian airmen sharpened their close-air-support skills in realistic combat conditions here during their first-ever exercise appearance at Green Flag West Aug. 9 through 20. Nearly 180 Italian airmen from four different squadrons comprised the "Reparto Autonomo Volo," or Autonomous Flying Wing, at

  • Air evacuation liaison team's battle buddies wear Army green

    Airmen with an Air Mobility Command air evacuation liaison team and Soldiers from Army patient administration staff trained with each other during Joint Readiness Training Center Exercise 09-09 at Folk Polk, La., through Aug. 25. Their goal: prepare for Middle East deployments. "Our main goal is to

  • Air Force earns 6 campaign streamers

    A new chapter of military history was recognized here, Aug. 26, as the Secretary of  the Air Force added six campaign streamers to accompany the Air Force colors. The new streamers were presented by the Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, and received by Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, U.S. Air Forces

  • 'Defender's Edge': A new approach to combat stress

    A new customized mental health program is helping security forces Airmen here manage combat stress.The "Defenders Edge" is tailored to those security forces Airmen who conduct missions on or outside the wire. This program is intended to improve Airmen's mental resiliency to combat-related stressors.

  • 3rd Bombardment Group reunites at Elmendorf

    Several members of the 3rd Bombardment Group reunited here Aug. 12 through 16 to honor an important chapter in the 3rd Wing's history.The 3rd BG, which was also known as the 3rd Attack Group, was stationed in Australia during World War II and is today's 3rd Wing. The members who reunited here were

  • Iraqi air force brings ISR capabilities online

    Intelligence collection has become a valuable capability for the Iraqi air force in its push to provide security and stability. Unique to the Iraqi air force, the King Air Squadron 87 here boasts the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities necessary for detecting and deterring

  • United Arab Emirates air force participates in first Red Flag

    United Arab Emirates air force pilots and maintainers are participating in the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the first time Aug. 22 through Sept. 5. The UAE airmen spent the previous two weeks at the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International

  • VA simplifies compensation rules for post-traumatic stress

    The Veterans Affairs Department is taking steps to help veterans seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki announced Aug. 24. "The hidden wounds of war are being addressed vigorously and comprehensively by this administration as we move VA forward in its

  • Airmen, community help vets

    Beale Air Force Base volunteers teamed with partners from the Yuba-Sutter community to transform a shady patch of lawn at the River Bottoms Park here into a mini tent city used to provide assistance to veterans in need Aug. 20 through 22. "It's good to help out and give back to them," said Staff

  • NATO AWACS proves interoperability during test

    A NATO E-3 AWACS took part in six-hour combat scenarios that demonstrated interoperability between its prototype interrogator and various joint platforms that interrogate in the same mode in July flying at an observation point 100 miles off the coast of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. During

  • Hanscom Airmen train with Massachusetts state troopers

    Hanscom Air Force Base security forces Airmen received specialized tactical training as part of an ongoing partnership with the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations team in early August. The training, which took place in base dormitories, offered instruction on handling

  • Airdrop fuels troops in austere Afghan locations

    Air Force officials from here airdropped 3.3 million pounds of supplies into Afghanistan during the month of July. Members of the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron contributed more than 276,000 pounds of equipment, ammunition and other supplies ranging from fuel to food and water to fellow

  • Air Force unveils new fitness program

    Approval of the new Air Force fitness instruction in the coming weeks will bring about some of the most significant changes to the Air Force fitness program in the last five years.Those changes, which take effect Jan. 1, 2010, shift a greater responsibility of maintaining physical fitness 365 days a

  • Clinic traffic downrange shows need for hearing protection

    When gearing up for a mission in Afghanistan, servicemembers don't forget their helmet, gloves, weapon, eye protection or body armor. But what about hearing protection? Staff Sgt. Lee Adams, an ear, nose and throat technician here, said more than half of the patients seen in the ENT walk-in clinics

  • Flying hospital staff gives wounded fighting chance

    At any given moment, a call can come in requiring an entire aeromedical evacuation staff here to stop what they are doing and begin preparing to care for the wounded and sick headed their way. The team of Airmen will pull supplies, alert additional crewmembers, get updates from aid stations and make

  • General North assumes command of Pacific Air Forces

    The command of Pacific Air Forces, celebrating 65 years of providing American airpower in the Pacific this month, was passed from Gen. Howie Chandler to Gen. Gary North during a ceremony here Aug. 19 on Freedom Tower Mall. General North assumed command here after completing more than three years of

  • Quilts of Valor comfort complex wartime emotions

    In 2003 Catherine Roberts, a midwife by profession and quilter for 25 years from Seaford, Del., wanted to give a wounded Soldier a quilt to bring him comfort during his recovery. "We are a nation at war," Ms. Roberts said. "Warriors need something tangible, a physical representation of love, support

  • Dog days of summer

    A handful of Airmen and their canine companions deployed here as part of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron defend Bagram Airfield and search up to 700 vehicles on a daily basis. Since they inherited the base defense mission, the Airmen and their K-9s have found thousands of pounds of

  • Photo essay: new dog, handler develop bond at Moody AFB

    A military working dog handler with the 822nd Security Forces Squadron works with a new dog here recently. Senior Airman Beaun Clegg and Rreyana train and develop a bond so that the team will be combat ready.  Rreyana arrived in June from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.View the slideshow.

  • 24th Air Force activated, 2 units realign in joint ceremony

    Air Force officials here activated the newest numbered Air Force and realigned two units under its command in a joint ceremony here Aug. 18. The 24th Air Force activation under Air Force Space Command is a major milestone in the combination of space and cyberspace operations within one command. Gen.

  • U.S., international mobility airmen to participate in exercise

    U.S. and international mobility airmen will come together Aug. 17 to 25 to participate in a Joint Readiness Training Center exercise with the Army Soldiers at Fort Polk, La. Members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; aeromedical evacuation crews from

  • Enlisted sensor operators take flight in AF's newest career field

    The U.S. Air Force boasts more than 130 enlisted career fields and on Aug. 17 one more was officially welcomed as the first class of 10 enlisted unmanned aircraft system sensor operators began their technical school. Because of their capabilities, unmanned aircraft have become in exceedingly high

  • New recruits enlist at Chicago Air and Water Show

    Following a full-throttle aerial display by Air Combat Command's F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team, 50 young men and women were sworn in to the United States Air Force Aug. 15 during the 51st Annual Chicago Air and Water Show. "Today has been crazy... I'm beyond excited," said Michael Leonard, 20, from

  • Photo essay: Airmen prepare to deploy

    Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen participated in a month-long Combat Skills Training at Fort Dix, N.J. recently with hostile scenario and weapon familiarization training.  The course prepares Airmen for Joint Expeditionary Tasking combat roles augmenting the U.S. Army in support of

  • Final Air Force Delta II launches

    Air Force personnel successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II booster carrying the 21st modernized NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite into space Aug. 17. The NAVSTAR GPS was launched at 6:35 a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) from Space Launch Complex 17A here. "With this

  • Photo Essay: Airstrike ends gunfight in Korengal Valley

    A U.S. Army Soldier watches as Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles destroy insurgent positions with a bomb after a 20 minute gun battle in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan's Kunar Province Aug. 13. U.S. servicemembers from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th

  • Air Guard should keep UAS missions

    The Air National Guard should remain in the unmanned aircraft systems business now and in the future, the chairman of the service's UAS weapons system council said Aug. 17. Col. Bob Becklund, who is also the commander of the 119th Wing in Fargo, N.D., said his attendance at the Association for

  • 'Today's Air Force' features standup of new command

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the stand up the service's first new major command in nearly three decades is highlighted. Also featured are Airmen with special skills train for combat in Afghanistan and the best-of-the-best food service professionals in Europe compete for top honors. Air

  • Military members, families keys to year of success

    After a year in the job, the Air Force chief of staff said he is still impressed with the contributions of Airmen of every specialty, stateside and overseas."It's still stunning to see what our Airmen are doing," Gen. Norton Schwartz said.  "There is work to do. There are challenges to face. But

  • VA creating 28 new vet centers

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced Aug. 14 that combat veterans will receive readjustment counseling and other assistance in 28 additional communities across the country where the Department of Veterans Affairs will establish vet centers in 2010. "VA is committed to providing

  • Airman instructs Kabul's first POL course

    Thirty-three days of technical instruction in petroleum, oil and lubricants doesn't seem like a daunting task. Throw in a language barrier, limited training aids and an incomplete curriculum and anyone might start to question whether or not it will get finished. However, despite the obstacles,

  • CMSAF visits expeditionary center

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy took stock of the people and the mission of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center during a visit here July 29. Joint Base personnel gathered in the expeditionary center's auditorium for an "All Call" town hall-style gathering. Chief Roy answered a

  • U.S., Vietnam host Asia-Pacific military nursing symposium

    The United States and Vietnam co-hosted more than 200 nurses from 14 countries during the 3rd Annual Asia-Pacific Military Nursing Symposium in Hanoi, Vietnam Aug 3 through 7. The five-day conference, hosted by officials from the U.S. Pacific Command and the Vietnam People's Army, focused on nursing

  • Osan cross servicing program fosters good relations

    The first combat cross servicing program evaluation of the year for Osan Air Base Airmen took place Aug. 10 when two South Korean F-5's landed on the flightline here. The Osan AB combat cross servicing program is a mutual agreement between the U.S. and South Korean air force that allows maintainers

  • Air Force employee serves more than half a century

     When a 19-year-old Army recruit left New York City for Fort Dix, N.J., in 1944, he never imagined that 65 years later he would still be serving with the military. Anthony Duno had no idea where his Army service would lead him or how long it would last, but the humbling experience of growing up

  • Convention showcases unmanned capabilities

    Senior defense officials are getting a glimpse of the latest in unmanned systems technologies, which many concede is the way of the future for the U.S. military, in August here.More than 5,000 people from 30 countries took part in the exhibition of robots and unmanned systems capabilities at the

  • Top enlisted Airman visits joint servicemembers at Fort Bliss

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Biggs Army Airfield Aug. 10 for meetings at both Joint Task Force North and an Air Force squadron here. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy answered a few questions from task force Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines before ending up

  • Reservists integrate with active duty for theater security

    Air Force Reserve Command's first F-22 Raptor total integration unit is deployed here to suppport the U.S. Pacific Command commander's theater security package mission in the Asia-Pacific region. These Airmen are from the 302nd FS and the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Elmendorf Air Force

  • Airmen assist Iraqis with gunner training

    A trio of Airmen here are teaching Iraqi air force aerial gunners to defend their crew and cargo against threats. The three Airmen are part of the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, whose mission is to "train, advise and assist" the Iraqis at the helicopter squadrons. The Iraqi gunners train

  • Pararescuemen train at Joint Base Balad

    "Is she alive?""Copy. Still alive."The pararescuemen loaded their patient onto a litter and carried her off to the safety of an awaiting vehicle. But the mission wasn't over. This mission never really ends. Pararescuemen played out this scene during a crisis-action scenario Aug. 2 at Joint Balad

  • Technology convergence could prevent war, futurist says

    The convergence of "exponentially advancing technologies" will form a "super-intelligence" so formidable that it could avert war, according to one of the world's leading futurists. Dr. James Canton, CEO and chairman of the Institute for Global Futures, a San Francisco-based think tank, is author of

  • Total-force team airdrops 10-ton artillery load

    A team of Bagram Airfield Airmen airdropped an M198 artillery piece to an Army unit in a remote Eastern-part of Afghanistan Aug. 8. New York, Ohio and Missouri Air Guard members joined with reservists and active-duty Airmen to form the total-force aircrew that loaded and delivered the 155 mm

  • Airman have opportunity for education, commission with LEAD

    Airmen have the opportunity to compete for admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy through the Leaders Encouraging Airman Development program where they can earn a degree and a commission. "As an enlisted member, you have gained valuable knowledge, experience and discipline," said Col. Chevalier

  • 'Top Guns' receive awards at Tuskegee Airmen convention

    The National Tuskegee Airman Inc. president presented members of the historically-acclaimed 332nd Fighter Group awards during the 38th annual convention Aug. 6 through 9 here. The honoring ceremony marked the 60th anniversary of the original "Top Guns" who claimed victory in the 1949 National

  • 379th AEW commander addresses bloggers' roundtable

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander spoke with online journalists during a Department of Defense Bloggers' Roundtable Aug. 5 from Southwest Asia. Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson, spoke to journalists about how the men and women of the 379th AEW meet the ever-changing needs of the Combined Forces

  • Air Force Global Strike Command activated

    Air Force officials stood up a new major command to oversee all of its nuclear forces in an activation ceremony Aug. 7 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Global Strike Command will provide combat ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of

  • Air Force Global Strike Command will stress nuclear mission

    A key step in reinvigorating the Air Force's nuclear deterrence mission will be made Aug. 7 with the activation of the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will bring together the Air Force bomber force and

  • Hickam Airmen deploy to Afghanistan

    Fifty-four reservists from the 624th Civil Engineer Squadron left Hickam Air Force Base for a deployment to Afghanistan Aug. 5. Half the squadron is being mobilized and the Airmen will support Army personnel when the arrive in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Members of the 624th CES

  • New leaders take command of redesignated AFCENT, 9th Air Force

    New leaders took command during the 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central change of command and redesignation ceremony Aug. 5 at Shaw Air Force Base.Lt. Gen. Gary North relinquished command of 9th Air Force/AFCENT, then the two units were redesignated into two separate commands.Army Gen. David

  • Guard officer model for new Air Force career field

    Can an Airman who never flew a combat sortie give expert advice to an Army commander on the use of airpower in battle? That question has been the focus of study and debate for nearly two decades in the Air Force. But Lt. Col. William Wheeler and nine others in the Air National Guard showed it could

  • Airmen assist Iraqis with maintenance training

    On the flightline, in hangars and in backshops here more and more Iraqi air force members are repairing their own helicopters with less and less instruction from American Airmen.Airmen assigned to the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron help the Iraqi air force become self-sustaining by

  • Photo essay: Photographer captures mission

    Aerial still photographer Tech. Sgt. Michelle Desrochers documents a C-17 Globemaster III refueling mission over the Pacific Ocean July 30. The aircraft is assigned to the 336th Air Refueling Squadron out of March Air Reserve Base, Calif. Sergeant Desrochers is from the 4th Combat Camera Squadron

  • Aug. 2 airpower summary: HH-60G transports medevac patients

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs were providing armed

  • Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman cites Coast Guard's 219th birthday

    Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton convinced Congress to authorize construction of 10 topsail schooners Aug. 4, 1790, for the U.S. Revenue-Marine to combat widespread smuggling. Our nation proudly celebrates that day 219 years ago when the U.S. Coast Guard was born. Since then, thousands of men

  • Silver Flag provides contingency training for USAFE Airmen

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen participated in a week-long contingency operations training exercise here July 27 through 31. Silver Flag consisted of five days of classroom training and two days of field training. Airmen from various Air Force specialty codes had to work together to set up and

  • Explosion injures 2 Airmen

    Two Airmen were injured in a landmine explosion Aug. 2 about 12:30 p.m. at an off-base location near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. The Airmen were transported to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here. The Airmen are assigned to the 755th Air Expeditionary Group, which reports to the 455th Air

  • Sheppard, AF officials retire workhorse of pilot training

    More than 50 years of dependable service is a lot to ask, especially from a tool used to train thousands of people in a critical and sometimes dangerous business. But as men and women in the U.S. Air Force said farewell to the T-37 Tweet July 31, they did so knowing they got all they asked for and

  • Goodfellow veteran relives experience for Airmen

    Five years ago a rocket attack in Iraq left a former 17th Security Forces Squadron defender without legs and a right arm. Brian Kolfage Jr., a retired senior airman, shared his story in Airman magazine, numerous newspapers, online magazines, patriotic Web sites and medical magazines. He was also in

  • Commander discusses multinational airlift operations from Hungary

    For the first time, 12 nations have come together, independent of NATO, to fly in support of their national requirements under the provisions of the Strategic Airlift Capability program, a U.S. military officer in Papa, Hungary, said July 29. "While we don't take operational directions from (NATO),

  • July 28 airpower summary: Tankers fuel coalition aircraft

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Surkhabad, coalition aircraft and Air Force B-1B Lancers provided

  • Airmen save Iraqi girl's life after IED blast

    Security forces Airmen, emergency medics and hospital staff here saved an Iraqi girl after an improvised explosive device detonated at her feet in July near Joint Base Balad. The girl and her family had just attended a Joint Base Balad-sponsored clothing-and-toys distribution for local children at

  • Airmen step back as Iraqis take control of mission support

    American Airmen don't run dining facilities for the Iraqi military here. They don't pump fuel and they don't make runs to ammunition storage points. At least not any more. All of these daily tasks that require the utmost attention to detail to supporting mission readiness are handled directly by

  • Photo essay: Raptors at Red Flag-Alaska

    An F-22 Raptor pilots braved a rainy day of flying July 27 during Red Flag-Alaska here. Red Flag is a field training exercise for U.S. coalition forces that provides joint offensive counter-air, interdiction close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment.

  • Bombers fly down under

    Members of the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron here completed 10 sorties flying more than 110 hours while participating in Talisman Saber 2009 July 15 through 24 over Australia. The bilateral command post and field training exercise was designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and

  • Hundreds show for fallen Marine's return home

    About a thousand people lined Harmon Drive from the 12th Flying Training Wing headquarters to the main gate here the morning of July 26 to honor fallen Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Brandon Lara as a motorcade bringing his body home passed. The 20-year-old from New Braunfels, Texas, was on his second tour

  • Lackland officer wins Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award

    The operating room flight commander at the 59th Surgical Operations Squadron here recently was selected the 2009 recipient of the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Military Award at the field grade officer category by the Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated. Lt. Col. Jacqueline Mudd will be presented with the