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  • B-2 pilot surpasses 1,000 hours mark

    A routine flying mission became a major achievement for the Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing when Maj. Luke Jayne surpassed 1,000 flying hours in the B-2 Spirit Sept. 14.

  • 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year shine at gala

    The Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year earned praise at a dinner hosted by the Air Force Association as part of the 2013 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 16.

  • U.S., Cambodian Airmen support Pacific Angel

    Twenty engineers from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have spent the last four days working alongside 16 engineers from U.S. forces to provide engineering assistance to the citizens of Takeo.

  • Team works to heal, help injured ARC Airmen

    Air Reserve Component members who are injured or develop an illness while on active duty orders now have a centrally located team of specialists working to help them get well, get their benefits, and get back to their life.

  • Deployed Airmen trailblazers of Reaper world

    At Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, the men and women of the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron are building the heritage of Reaper Airmen as they develop the institutional knowledge for one of the nation's newer air warfare assets.

  • Broncos run away with 42-20 win over Falcons

    Air Force kept pace with the powerful Boise State Broncos in the first half but ran out of gas in the second, allowing Boise State to stampede to a 42-20 win at Bronco Stadium Sept. 13.

  • AFA Air & Space Conference comes to AF.mil

    The AFA’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition brings Air Force and industry leaders. The Defense Media Activity and www.af.mil will be bringing coverage conference’s most important events right to your screen.

  • AF schedules closing for Continental Group housing

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Center has completed the transaction closing for the Continental Group Housing Privatization project with Corvias Military Living. On Sept. 1, Corvias assumed full housing operations at all six Continental Group bases: Edwards Air Force Base, Calif; Eglin AFB, Fla.,

  • Aviano couple receives first same-sex join spouse assignment

    Master Sgt. Angela Shunk and Tech. Sgt. Stacy Shunk received the news they had been longing for on Sept. 3, 2013, when the two Aviano Airmen were informed that they had received an assignment together under the join spouse program - the first of its kind in the Air Force since a Supreme Court

  • Airman saves teen during remote outing

    Sunday afternoon, Sept. 1, Maj. Jaesin White and his family set out on a hike to a popular swimming hole in the Sierra foothills of Northern California. They never suspected the path they followed into the woods that day would lead them into the heart of a grateful stranger.

  • DOD officials announce missile defense siting study

    Pursuant to the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense Department has initiated a study to evaluate five candidate sites in the continental United States for the potential future deployment of additional ground-based interceptors, Pentagon officials announced Sept. 12

  • Colonel promotion rate to drop

    Air Force officials decreased the promotion opportunity to the rank of colonel to 48 percent for November’s Colonel Line of the Air Force, or LAF, Central Selection Board.

  • Dover AFB firefighters unveil 9/11 memorial

    The Eagle Firefighters' Association unveiled Delaware's first public 9/11 memorial on the 12th anniversary of the attacks at the Air Mobility Command museum at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Sept. 11.

  • Virtual fitness kiosks set up at 66 locations

    To help improve total force fitness levels, the Air Force is installing "Fitness on Request" kiosks at 66 locations by the end of September, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.Part of the Operational Fitness Program, the kiosks are available to all Airmen, including retirees and family

  • $20 solution solves 14K problem

    12th Flying Training Wing T-38C pilots and maintainers will begin using multi-function display, or MFD, covers this month, saving the wing $182,000 a year in broken MFDs all for only $3,600 - just a little more than a quarter of the price for a repaired MFD.

  • Civilians must create eOPF account to access records

    Air Force Personnel Center officials are reminding Air Force civilian employees that they need to create their Office of Personnel Management electronic Official Personnel Folder account in order to access their personnel records.

  • Deployed Airmen remember Dominguez, serve on 9/11 anniversary

    Sept. 11 is never too far from the hearts and minds of the 105th Security Forces Squadron deployed here from Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. Through mementos and each other, they remember one unit member who was killed during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.Nearly 3,000 people

  • Memory’s requiem: 12 years after 9/11

    She held the Airfone receiver close to her mouth and spoke in a clear, concise manner.“The cockpit’s not answering,” the flight attendant said as her voice wavered slightly. “Somebody’s stabbed in business class, and um, I think there is mace that we can’t breathe. I don’t know, I think we’re

  • Airman makes a splash while giving back to community

    In 2011, Lance Thornton, then a Buffalo (N.Y.) State College student-athlete, hung up his goggles and swimwear to join the Air Force and eventually sharing his aquatic skills with the Montgomery YMCA Barracudas swim team.

  • Wounded warrior adopts four-legged partner, friend

    From the moment Staff Sgt. Brian Williams arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to begin his recovery, he had only one request. Carly. Williams was deployed from the 87th Security Forces Squadron when he sustained serious injuries after an roadside bomb detonated while he was on a

  • C-130s return from fighting Western blazes

    Two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s from the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing, aircrews and maintainers returned Aug. 30 after providing support to U.S. Forest Service aerial firefighting operations in the Western U.S.

  • Responder demystifies calling military crisis line for help

    When someone is in crisis and feeling despondent, reaching out for help is a stronger step to take than doing nothing, which can lead to a worsening state, a Military Crisis Line responder told American Forces Press Service Sept. 9.

  • Serving country, African wild animals part of routine for ANG Airman

    For one Missouri National Guardsman, life as a Citizen-Airman is far from the wilds of her civilian career. Airman Casey Self, a zookeeper at the Kansas City Zoo, joined the 131st Bomb Wing to expand her resume from taking care of animals on land and water to people in the sky as well.

  • 'Aggie-ny of Defeat': Utah State thumps Air Force, 52-20

    The Utah State Aggies used a 28-0 third quarter to give the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons their worst thumping in seven seasons under coach Troy Calhoun, 52-20, at Falcon Stadium Sept. 7. A stingy Aggie defense and clumsy Air Force offense combined to hand the Falcons, who are playing without

  • Program gives Airman opportunity to attend Academy

    For most cadets, this represents their initial basic training experience and the beginning of their path to becoming an Air Force officer, but a few cadets in each class have taken the long road to Jacks Valley.

  • Airman helps deliver daughter, deploys same day

    Airman 1st Class Timothy Pledger was scheduled to depart for his six month deployment Aug. 30 in the early hours of the morning, but an aircraft malfunction pushed back his departure.

  • USAFE-AFAFRICA medical units conduct EMEDS

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa medical units participated in expeditionary medical support training to challenge their medical readiness skills Aug. 25 - 30 here. The EMEDS training included realistic scenarios for the Airmen, where they had to perform emergency medical treatments

  • Airmen awarded Distinguished Flying Cross with valor

    Five 33rd Rescue Squadron Airmen were recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with valor for their heroic actions during a deployment mission in 2012.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III presented Capts. Michael Kingry, Gavin Johnson and Matthew Pfarr, Tech. Sgt. Scott Lagerveld

  • Airman's talents 'brighten' wherever he goes

    The Air Force did not teach him these skills, but his gift has been recognized, and the units he has been assigned to have benefited from it. When he talks about his craft, he smiles in a way, which can only be expressed when talking about a true passion.Because of this, Senior Airman Sean Connolly

  • Official notes progress in suicide prevention effort

    Making sure people know where to turn for help during a time of crisis is the continuing goal of the Defense Department's suicide prevention program, the Pentagon official in charge of the effort said here Aug. 30.

  • California ANG deploys Predator to support firefighters

    With wildfires continuing to rage around Yosemite National Park, the California National Guard has deployed a remotely piloted aircraft that improves the incident commander’s ability to monitor conditions on the ground.

  • Help for hatchlings on the beach

    The 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Natural Resources monitors and protects the sea turtles that come to Tyndall AFB's beaches to nest. They also compile data for Florida's monitoring system on these nests including; where the nests are located, what species of turtles laid the nest and how many

  • Technicians coengineer cost-saver with a spin

    Staff Sergeants Alex Aguayo and Michael Rogers, aircraft metals technicians with the 6th Maintenance Squadron, co-engineered a way to centrifugally mount a KC-135's nose and main landing wheel on a rotating base to allow the entire part to be painted in a single step.

  • Ambassador network launches to help military spouses find jobs

    The Defense Department has broadened its reach to military spouses looking for jobs through its new Spouse Ambassador Network, an arm of the department’s Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program, the program’s director said here yesterday.

  • Air Force showcases hot technologies on 'cool' roof

    A year of data collection is nearly complete on the integrated roof system on the base's security forces building at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas. The metal-over-metal retrofit integrates cool roofing, solar-power generation, solar thermal, above-sheathing ventilation and rainwater catchment

  • Working dogs, handlers dynamic duo for base defense

    Deploying in pairs, military working dogs and their handlers share a bond exclusive to their career field; each directly dependent upon each other to accomplish the mission. This bond is strengthened in a deployed environment keeping the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working

  • Aircraft deploy to California to aid firefighting effort

    The U.S. Forest Service, through the National Interagency Fire Center here, has ordered the three MAFFS aircraft operating at the Boise Air Tanker Base moved to McClellan Air Tanker base near Sacramento, Calif., to assist the wildland firefighting effort in the western United States.

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Langley NCO's road to recovery

    In 2002, 1.4 million people were arrested nationally for driving under the influence, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Unfortunately, U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Randall Renaud was part of that statistic. On Oct. 2, 2002, six months after promotion to technical sergeant, he

  • USAFE-AFAFRICA commander talks challenges, change

    Gen. Frank Gorenc shared his enthusiasm for becoming the new U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander and spoke about challenges the command faces and how to overcome them, in an interview here Aug. 16.

  • Curriculum policy changes mark start of new DODEA school year

    Department of Defense Education Activity students, parents and employees should expect quite a few changes in the upcoming school year, the DODEA director said in an Aug. 23 interview. Those changes will be both visible and behind the scenes, but they all are geared toward improving the quality of

  • Chief turns hobby into 500 mile trek

    With less than a year left before he retires, Chief Master Sgt. Alan Onufrak, 460th Medical Group superintendent, rode in the Registers Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa on the Air Force team, all while helping fellow cyclists, recruiting and completing the challenge.

  • What do you mean, 'Back to basics'?

    Last September, in his first speech as the Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Welsh III advocated a back-to-basics approach for the Air Force. He noted that the missions of the Air Force have not changed over time, but rather, the terms by which we identify the missions have changed.

  • Mortuary affairs sends fallen warriors home

    A solemn dignified transfer of remains is conducted upon arrival at Dover Air Force Base, Del., from the aircraft to a transfer vehicle to honor those who have given their lives in service to America. These fallen warriors, however, have stops along the way including the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing

  • Training system brings fight to F-16 pilots

    Groundbreaking advancements to F-16 Fighting Falcon warfare training here arrived during the week of Aug. 12 through 16 in the form of a Joint Deployable Electronic Warfare Range, or JDEWR.

  • Combat arms instructor is third generation Air Force cop

    Staff Sgt. William Delphia said he has gained both strength and wisdom from his father, a former Airman. Delphia, a 633rd Security Forces Squadron combat arms training and maintenance instructor at Langley Air Force Base, Va., has spent his enlistment continuing the legacy of his father, Bruce

  • Former astronaut, AF test pilot dies

    C. Gordon Fullerton, who compiled a distinguished career as a NASA astronaut, research pilot and Air Force test pilot spanning almost 50 years, died Aug. 21. He was 76.

  • Air Force offers potential model for future MWR programs

    For a glimpse into how the military services might provide quality morale, welfare and recreation services and programs despite continuing budget pressures, the transformation program the Air Force Services directorate has been rolling out for the past two and a half years is worth a look.

  • AF physician honored for ground-breaking treatment

    59th Medical Specialty Squadron Dermatologist Lt. Col. (Dr.) Chad Hivnor was recently selected to receive the Air Force Association's Paul W. Myers Award for his work using lasers to improve skin texture and flexibility for wounded warriors.

  • Command and Control ... Total Flexibility

    Airmen employ the Air Force’s other four interdependent and enduring core missions through robust, adaptable, and survivable command and control systems. Using the specialized skills of over 53,000 command and control Airmen, the Air Force provides access to reliable communications and information

  • Air and Space Superiority

    America’s freedom to operate effectively across the spectrum of conflict rests not only on the Air Force’s ability to dominate in the air, but also on its ability to exploit space. Every day, over 15,000 Airmen play a role in ensuring space superiority. As the Nation’s space force, the Air Force

  • Rapid Global Mobility ... Delivery on demand

    American power can be projected quickly to anywhere on the face of the earth as a result of the Air Force’s capability for rapid mobility. The Air Force’s 122,000 air mobility Airmen provide swift deployment and the ability to sustain operations by delivering essential equipment and personnel for

  • Innovative programs keep MWR relevant

    Military fitness centers, swimming pools, lodging facilities and outdoor recreation offices might sound to some like a footnote among competing budget requirements. But Ed Miles, DOD’s MWR policy director, and his counterparts across the military services see a close connection to military

  • Love for Lamia: Retired general devotes life to help Afghans

    It was part of the international relationship building he spoke about to the graduating pilots from Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program, Aug. 9., here that has propelled Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Bradley into a post-military career passion.

  • Bulgarian students complete Air Force PME

    The Paul H. Lankford EPME Centergraduated its first Bulgarian students in a ceremony attended by Tennessee National Guard senior leaders and international guests. Two Bulgarian air force members completed leadership education here through the Tennessee National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

  • New ASVAB pretest available for applicants

    Applicants who hope to join the Air Force can now take the Armed Services Aptitude Battery pretest from any computer with internet access thanks to a new program.

  • Airmen asked to participate in DOD anti-tobacco video competition

    The Department of Defense, Health Affairs, has recently announced a new countermarketing video competition that aims to target tobacco as an enemy of the military that degrades service members' health, fitness, mission readiness and work productivity. The competition entitled, "Fight the Enemy,"

  • Maintaining aircraft integrity one coat at a time

    With a new state-of-the-art Corrosion Control Facility on Aviano, aircrafts are now serviced in-house for a quarter of the cost.Up until last year, all F-16 Fighting Falcons on Aviano were sent to either Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, or a Belgian based aerospace company for repainting, costing the

  • The Power of Airmen

    The effectiveness of Air Force airpower comes directly from thepower of Airmen. While it is natural to define the Air Force interms of its aircraft, missiles, or satellites, in reality, the Service’sunmatched capabilities exist only and precisely because of theimagination, innovation, and dedication

  • Airmen + Core Missions = Global Vigilance, Global Reach, Global Power

    No single core mission offers only one of the three effects of airpower—Global Vigilance, Global Reach, or Global Power—because all five core missions are necessary to provide the integrated global airpower effects that only the Air Force cansupply. And each Airman, regardless of their

  • Air Force Vision

    America is—and always will be—an aerospace nation. To fully realize the Nation’s aerospace potential, President Truman established an independent Air Force in 1947 to better protect America, its citizens, and its allies. From this beginning, we have grown airpower into the ability to project global

  • AF names DOD leadership program participants

    Six officers have been selected for the Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.This program is designed specifically for highly-motivated, active-duty officers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership ability, commitment to

  • AF spouse sings her way into America’s hearts

    When Dawn McClure found out there were openings in the American Military Spouses Choir, she propped her smartphone on the mantel, recorded an audition piece and submitted it to the Center for American Military Music Opportunities for consideration. McClure, whose husband is the housing director at

  • New tuition assistance process eliminates up-front fees

    Air Force Reserve Command officials will implement a new tuition assistance payment process Oct. 1 that will eliminate up-front fees reservists pay for classes by enabling tuition payments to go directly to a university or college.

  • Unique testing helps warfighter, saves lives

    When large transport or rotary-wing aircraft support a mission in a deployed location, there's always the threat of those wanting to harm to the lives and assets onboard. That includes risks from a range of shoulder-fired, vehicle-mounted and other infrared-guided missiles capable of following the

  • PTSD specialist simplifies stress science

    Tania Glenn, Doctor of Psychology and Licensed Clinical Social Worker, delivered a feelings-free, scientific analysis of the human body's physiological response to high-stress situations to help Air Commandos understand their biological processes downrange during a briefing at the Landing Zone at

  • Academy welcomes new superintendent

    The U.S. Air Force Academy logged a new milestone here Aug. 12 when the first woman to hold the position of Academy superintendent assumed command in a ceremony before hundreds of guests, Academy staff and cadets.

  • Leaders discuss roles of reserve components

    Continuing to perform an operational role, while solving manpower costs and dealing with shrinking defense budgets, was one of the challenges discussed by military and civilian leaders at the Reserve Officers Association 2013 National Security Symposium here Aug. 7-10.

  • Time is money at co-op childcare

    For stay-at-home parents, there are no such things as coffee breaks, overtime pay or weekends and holidays off. For them, the duty day never really ends. Safe and reliable childcare becomes a precious commodity for stay-at-home parents who seek the freedom to complete ordinary tasks such as grocery

  • Dog's best friend

    As Pepper leapt over a 5-foot fence to catch up with a "bad guy," his left hind paw was caught in one of the chain links. As the rest of his body catapulted forward, his paw remained snagged in the fence. When he freed his paw out from the fence, his leg hung distorted and lifeless. His handler knew

  • Enlisted Airmen may be eligible for medical prep school

    Active-duty enlisted Airmen who qualify can now apply for a new pilot program designed to prepare them for medical school, but "intent to apply" emails must be submitted no later than Sept. 6, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Aug. 12. The Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program

  • C-17 crew brings warfighters home

    Boarding a C-17 Globemaster III at Kandahar, Afghanistan and headed to Transit Center at Manas here, U.S. Army Maj. Daniel Garcia prepared for the first leg of a special flight: the journey home after several months on his deployment.At the heart of this mission is the 817th Expeditionary Airlift

  • Innovative Airmen modify mobile A/C unit

    Performing in extreme temperatures is the norm for many deployed service members, and adjustments in operations tempos are necessary to complete the mission on time to accommodate heat stress conditions. Two innovative Airmen assigned to the 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron here

  • First ANG bomb wing certified for nuclear operations

    The Air National Guard celebrated a historic milestone this week as the 131st Bomb Wing, the nation’s only Guard unit to fly and maintain the B-2 Spirit, was certified to conduct the nuclear mission upon completion of their initial nuclear surety inspection.

  • Historic airpower database now online

    More than eight years in the making, a new database containing information from U.S. military and coalition aerial bombing campaigns over the last century is now publicly available online.

  • Early retirement application window closes Aug. 19

    Airmen interested in early retirement through the Temporary Early Retirement Authority Program must submit their application no later than Aug. 19, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.TERA, or the 15-year retirement program, is one of several force management programs the Air Force has

  • Changes to BE WELL mean more choices for Airmen

    The BE WELL program, an Air Force-wide program designed to provide Airmen and Air Force leaders with resources to optimize fitness and health, now offers more choices and increased flexibility, thanks to a revamp that went into effect July 1.The Balanced Eating, Work Out Effectively, Living Longer,

  • ANG contingency response, Army units test earthquake response

    Nearly 100 members of the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group and the U.S. Army's 689th Rapid Port Opening Element deployed to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport on Aug. 5, to set up a logistics hub as part of exercise Gateway Relief, an earthquake-response scenario directed by

  • TRICARE moves forward with prime service area reductions

    Defense Department officials will reduce the number of TRICARE Prime service areas in the United States beginning Oct. 1, affecting about 171,000 retirees and their family members. Those beneficiaries, who mostly reside more than 40 miles from a military clinic or hospital, received a letter earlier