HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • July 6 airpower summary: Tanker crews put in long hours

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fired warning shots from

  • Officials mandate base housing for military families at Okinawa

    U.S. military leaders on Okinawa approved a policy to require all incoming military families to reside on base beginning Aug. 1. The change comes as an effort to save money as military family housing on Okinawa sits at just more than 50 percent capacity while families living off base are given an

  • Air mobility, tanker support key elements of Global Thunder

    Air Mobility Command airlift and tanker support were key contributors to Exercise Global Thunder 2009 that ran June 24 through 30, AMC officials said recently. Global Thunder 2009, a U.S. Strategic Command-led exercise, provided training opportunities for various service components, units and their

  • Band performs on 'Today' show

    Members of the Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass performed in New York City July 4 on NBC's "Today" show. The band has performed on every Independence Day since 1998 on the "Today" show, which reaches an estimated 5.38 million viewers each morning and more than 17 million on the Fourth of July. When

  • Photo essay: inspecting the mail

    A team from the 447th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron must inspect mail that comes into Baghdad that is improperly labeled, doesn't have a return address or gets lost in the system.  The Iraqi government returns the mail to the Joint Military Mail Terminal, or JMMT,  on good faith, but the

  • Airmen train with Army to become JTACs

    Rain and mud may not have been forecasted for radio operators, maintainers and drivers' training in the wilderness, but Airmen geared up anyway to practice combat lifesaver skills, convoys, air-assault egression, and improvised explosive device reaction with one goal in mind: to become combat

  • Commissary officials raising the bar on customer service

    Even with customer satisfaction at an all-time high, the Defense Commissary Agency's leaders are raising the bar and sending every one of their 18,000 employees to Dale Carnegie Training on World Class Customer Service. "We are focused on building upon our strengths so we can provide the very best

  • July 5 airpower summary: Helicopters rapidly transport patients

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 5, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornado conducted a strafing run

  • Operation Pacific Angel set to begin

    The United States will join local authorities in three Pacific nations in July and September to provide medical, dental, and engineering assistance as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2009. More than 150 Airmen and Soldiers will fly via C-17 Globemaster IIIs, C-130 Hercules, and KC-135 Stratotankers

  • Airmen rescue aids in 'Golden Hour' recovery of coalition forces

    Racing against the clock, rescue flights launch into action to retrieve wounded servicemembers and other battlefield casualties. As the helicopters hover over a hostile area, the Guardian Angel team rushes out to retrieve the wounded - often risking their own lives "so that others may live." The

  • July 4 airpower summary: Predators protect friendly units

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force trooops in Afghanistan during operations July 4, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer used guided bomb unit-31s to

  • July 3 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornado used a Paveway guided

  • July 2 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a coalition aircraft executed a strike with a guided

  • July 1 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs employed 30mm Avenger

  • Innovative maintainers save time, lives of front line troops

    Maintainers here have come up with an innovative phase maintenance process to keep as many close-air-support aircraft airborne in theater that is being hailed by U.S. Central Command senior leaders. A-10 Thunderbolt II maintainers deployed from the 23rd Maintenance Group at Moody Air Force Base,

  • 86th AGE flight shows benefits of AFSO 21

    In March 2006 when former Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne called for a new way to evaluate how the Air Force operates, called AFSO 21, he encouraged the elimination of unnecessary steps. He suggested the Air Force leverage on technology, using the right tools and techniques to see any

  • AMC commander visits Airmen in Southwest Asia, highlights mobility's role

    Like clockwork, an Air Mobility Command aircraft departs on a mission within the area-of-operations every two minutes every hour of every day. Providing the three cornerstones of the command's mobility mission -- airlift, aerial refueling and aeromedical evacuation -- AMC Airmen have provided

  • Air Force officials name 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

    Air Force officials here July 2 selected the service's top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2009. An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center here considered 33 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating

  • Hurricane Hunters prep for upcoming storm season

    Members of the Air Force Reserve Command's 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron deployed to their detachment here recently to fly training missions over the Caribbean in preparation for the 2009 hurricane season. Unit Airmen are part of the 403rd Wing located at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., and

  • Air Force reservists 'tweet,' blog, post their way to cyberspace

    A couple of times a day, Master Sgt. Collen McGee logs onto the 433rd Airlift Wing's Twitter account and "tweets" updates to 675 followers from around the world. Using the twitter handle of @AFRC_433, Sergeant McGee condenses messages to 140 characters, often including links to related Web sites.

  • Unit's flight clearances initiative wins DOD recognition

    The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center here was awarded first prize for the best operational improvement initiative during the Department of Defense's Second Annual Continuous Process Improvement Symposium June 1 to 3 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Va. All military branches were

  • Twelve-nation consortium ready for first C-17

    Officials of the12-nation Strategic Airlift Capability, or SAC, consortium will celebrate the activation of the operational unit, known as the Heavy Airlift Wing, and arrival of the unit's first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Pápa Air Base, Hungary, in a ceremony on July 27. The wing's

  • New PTSD program answers need for comprehensive treatment

    Symptoms of combat stress and post-traumatic stress disorder for wounded warriors include continual nightmares, avoidance behaviors, denial, grief, anger and fear. Some servicemembers battling these and other symptoms, can be treated successfully as an outpatient while assuming their normal duties,

  • Wounded warrior program assists Airmen, families

    Air Force officials here have developed a new program to assist Airmen in need because wounded warriors and their families remain a top priority. The recovery care coordinator is designed to be an "ultimate resource" for seriously wounded, ill, or injured service members. RCCs work closely with

  • June 28 airpower summary: C-130s deliver for warfighters

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flying cover for a

  • June 29 airpower summary: KC-135s fuel the fight

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-31s in

  • June 30 airpower summary: Reaper hits enemy forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper employed a guided bomb unit-12

  • Cadets experience deployment tempo

    Cadets from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Military Academy spent the month of June here with members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, tenant and coalition units for career shadowing, mentoring and familiarization. Nineteen Academy cadets deployed from Colorado Springs, Colo., as part

  • U.S. servicemembers withdraw from Iraqi cities, move to main installations

    Under the Security Agreement signed between Washington, D.C., and Baghdad, Iraq, officials in November 2008, U.S. servicemembers are to withdraw from Iraqi cities, villages and localities by June 30.As a result of the agreement, some servicemembers are moving onto main installations such as Sather

  • Crewmember stable after Airmen assist in rescue over Atlantic

    A crewmember who required immediate medical attention on board a ship 400 miles off the coast of Ireland is reported to be in stable condition after three U.S. Air Force units participated in his rescue June 26. Officials from the United Kingdom Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center contacted

  • Air Force officials name Sijan award winners

    Air Force officials here recently recognized four Airmen with the service's 2008 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. The Sijan award annually recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities. The senior officer category winner is Maj. James Hughes Jr., who is assigned to

  • Pentagon official: Iraqi troops ready for added responsibility

    The withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from all Iraqi cities and towns was completed over the weekend and ahead of the June 30 deadline, a Pentagon spokesman said on a cable TV news show June 29. "Overall, the security situation is stable enough for Iraqi security forces to take on this added

  • June 27 airpower summary: Predator employs Hellfire missile

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a B-1B Lancer used guided bomb unit-38s to target

  • June 26 airpower summary: B-1B targets insurgent facility

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a coalition aircraft carried out strikes using guided

  • Vandenberg officials launch Minuteman III

    Vandenberg Air Force Base officials launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly from North Vandenberg at 3:01 a.m. PDT June 29. The launch was an operational test to verify the weapon system's

  • Airmen in Europe test threat responses

    Airmen from six U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases competed in the 2009 USAFE Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Challenge June 22 through 26 here. The full-spectrum threat response strike teams were tested in six scenarios based on real-world hazardous material events in a rodeo-style

  • Airmen spend time with students during deployment

    Nine deployed Airmen from the 525th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit spent their off-duty time assisting three teachers with 60 students in the Machananao Elementary School summer program here June 19. The Airmen deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, are from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, to

  • Airborne Early Warning Commanders' Conference attracts worldwide audience

    Commanders from around the world gathered for the Executive Multinational Airborne Early Warning Commanders' Conference June 16 and 17 at Tinker Air Force Base. The EMACC is an annual event where air force leaders from nations that operate AWACS or similar airborne early warning and control aircraft

  • Hurlburt Field unit transfers to Cannon

    Officials from the 16th Special Operations Squadron held a squadron flag-transfer ceremony here June 19 to mark the official transfer of the squadron from Hurlburt Field, Fla., to Cannon Air Force Base. "The mighty (AC-130H) Spectre has arrived," said Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster, the Air Force

  • World War II vet honored on Father's Day

    It took the tenacity of a daughter, the insistence of a politician and the presence of 27th Special Operations Wing members here June 21 to properly recognize a World War II Soldier who sacrificed his leg in combat. In a Father's Day ceremony in Portales, N.M., Col. Stephen Clark, the 27th SOW

  • Tinker Airmen make mark in 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'

    Airmen of the 552nd Air Control Wing's E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System here had a unique mission recently: helping Autobots fight off Decepticons in support of worldwide security. As seen in the newly released movie, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," an E-3 Sentry aircrew played an

  • Combat controllers support Northern Edge

    Air Force combat controllers are a rare breed of elite specialists who accompany U.S. ground troops to serve as a liaison between those forces and the air support they rely on. Each combat controller is a fully qualified air traffic control expert, able to manage the complex air operations above a

  • Honduras airshow aids local hospital

    An international air show united aviators, air forces and Hondurans to share their love of flying to help save lives at a local hospital June 20 and 21 here. More than 30 U.S. Air Forces Southern Airmen, a KC-135 Stratotanker, two F-16 Fighting Falcons and an F-16 demonstration team deployed to the

  • June 25 airpower summary: A-10s target anti-Afghan forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs strafed anti-Afghan forces

  • June 24 airpower summary: C-130 airlift keeps mission going

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a coalition aircraft engaged anti-Afghan gunmen in a

  • Airmen contribute to rescue effort at sea

    An international rescue effort is underway June 26 to a ship in the Atlantic approximately 700 miles off the west coast of Ireland as a crewmember on board the container ship "Pascha" has fallen seriously ill and needs urgent medical attention. The ship's distance from land makes it impossible for

  • Civil Air Patrol realigns with Holm Center

    Civil Air Patrol-U. S.Air Force realigned under the Jeanne M. Holm Center for Officer Accessions and Citizen Development in a ceremony held at the center's Leadership Hall June 11. Lt. Gen. Allen Peck, Air University commander, said the realignment is part of the evolution of Air University and

  • Bomber crews improve mission skills at Northern Edge 2009

    The 96th Bomb Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., deployed here for exercise Northern Edge 2009 to practice mission planning and war-time procedures. The 96th BS brought three B-52H Stratofortress long-range bombers to train in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and over the Gulf of

  • ESC officials award contract to meet urgent need

    Electronic Systems Center officials here awarded a contract June 24 to Northrop Grumman Corp. to field and deploy an airborne communications system that provides real-time battlefield information to warfighters. The center awarded the $276 million, 18-month contract to incorporate the Battlefield

  • Pilot dies in F-16 accident

    Hill Air Force Base officials confirmed an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot was killed at about 10:25 p.m. June 22 after the aircraft crashed on the Utah Test and Training Range about 35 miles south of Wendover, Utah. The pilot, Capt. George Bryan Houghton, 28, from the 388th Fighter Wing here, graduated

  • Airmen calibrate for mission success

    Airmen who work in the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory here play a vital role for warfighters as the calibrate and test equipment critical to mission accomplishmentThey service equipment from approximately 320 units in the area of responsibility

  • Air National Guard members visit Polish air base

    Members of the 182nd Airlift Wing arrived at the 33rd Air Base here as part of the Illinois Air National Guard's role in the State Partnership Program. The visit is part of a continual endeavor by National Guard Units and European military forces to facilitate information exchange and

  • June 23 airpower summary: HH-60Gs support medical evacuations

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an F-15E Strike Eagle conducted a strike using a guided

  • 386th AEW conducts dorm fire exercise

    Members of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and 386th Expeditionary Medical Group tested their skills during a simulated dormitory fire exercise here June 22. The exercise coordinators used smoke machines to simulate a dormitory fire and six U.S. Air Force Academy

  • Kirkuk self-help project protects airfield assets, saves money

    Members from every 506th Air Expeditionary Group unit joined forces for a self-help project here to improve airfield security here in June. Security forces members, medics, civil engineers, air-freight controllers, air-traffic controllers and communications technicians united to fulfill one of the

  • Command, control relationships critical to close-air-support mission

    Air Force offensive aerial units operating within the Central Command area of responsibility are focused on one primary task: close-air support. "It is my opinion that close-air support is the most effective fire support asset in Afghanistan right now, and I haven't heard any different from the

  • Airmen take reins on Army cargo movement mission

    As the dust settled after one of the worst sandstorms of the year, a small group of Airmen from the 22nd Movement Control Team took the reins of the Army's 258th MCT mission June 14 here. Sixteen Air Force logisticians are responsible for the processing and management of cargo and passengers

  • June 22 airpower summary: KC-135s keep coalition aircraft in the fight

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 22, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force MQ-9 Reaper conducted a Hellfire

  • A-10 'assembly-line' maintenance concept a model of efficiency

    A-10 maintenance personnel from the 124th Wing are in the early stages of a new "assembly line" maintenance concept that may serve as a model for how Air Force aircraft maintenance is performed in the future. Dubbed the Consolidated Install Program, this program began June 1 and is projected to save

  • Ground equipment Airmen show benefits of AFSO 21

    In March 2006 when former Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne called for a new way to evaluate how the Air Force operates, called Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, he encouraged the elimination of unnecessary steps in any work process. He suggested Air Force people

  • Test cell upgrades capability, reliability

    Another piece of the digital age arrived June 14 at the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron engine-test cell here as the operational test of a C-130 Hercules engine with a new 21D model engine-test cell brought the unit up to par with home station capabilities. The new digital model brought

  • President acknowledges military fathers' sacrifices, contributions

    President Barack Obama recognized in his Father's Day proclamation the sacrifices military fathers make every day, and hosted the Military Father of the Year June 19 at the White House for a town hall session on fatherhood. Navy Chief Petty Officer John Lehnen, the father of four children with

  • New prescription ATM eases patients' wait time

    The 61st Medical Group recently introduced a prescription dispensing machine during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Base Exchange here June 13. The ScriptCenter Express Prescription Refill and Pickup Center is the first of its kind in Los Angeles County, the Air Force, and the Department of

  • Air defense exercise to test NORTHCOM response

    Months of planning and preparations are being tested as Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors participate in Exercise Amalgam Dart '09, a major U.S. Northern Command air defense exercise here June 18 through 20. The exercise is one of several North American Aerospace Defense Command and USNORTHCOM exercises

  • National Guard kicks off Vigilant Guard in Iowa

    It was around this time last year when the Iowa National Guard responded to assist residents overwhelmed by the disaster caused by an F5 tornado and Midwest floods. This week, the National Guard acted as the nation's first military responders to domestic emergencies such as mock chemical spills,

  • June 18 airpower summary: C-17s help sustain ops in theater

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations June 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an F-15E Strike Eagle executed strikes near

  • June 17 airpower summary: F-15Es deter anti-Afghan forces massing attack

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations June 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, B-1B Lancers conducted strikes over Tarin Kowt,

  • HYDRA '09 prepares Airmen for real world emergencies

    Members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing and 15 other units from around the United States joined together to participate in HYDRA '09. The joint exercise is the 615th CRW's most comprehensive training event, organized to allow Airmen to hone their skills and enhance command, control and joint

  • Kadena Airman named enlisted aviator of year

    A staff sergeant assigned to the 390th Intelligence Squadron was named the Air Force's noncommissioned officer recipient of the 2008 Henry "Red" Erwin Enlisted Aviator of the Year June 12. "It was an honor to even be considered for this award, since there are many other just as, if not more

  • Flight becomes first foster unit to military working puppy

    After three weeks, the newest member of the 37th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Flight knows her way around the three-story building and often bounds through open doors on surprise visits. Aamee, a four-month old Belgian Malinois, is the first puppy to be fostered by a unit at

  • June 15 airpower summary: F-15, A-10 execute multiple strafing runs

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Two Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft supported ground operations as

  • June 16 airpower summary: B-1B provides show of force

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force GR-9 Harrier and a coalition aircraft

  • AFRCC coordinates search and rescue for injured hiker

    The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center here helped coordinate search and rescue operations with local and state agencies to save an injured hiker in the mountains near Wenatchee, Wash., June 15. A group of hikers witnessed a man fall nearly 1,000 feet down Mt. Stuart, the second highest

  • Air Force Reserve unit hosts IRR muster in Alaska

    Reservists from Air Force Reserve Command's 477th Fighter Group hosted an individual ready reserve muster here June 12. The purpose of a muster is to gather IRR members and to maintain their contact information and availability for activation to support a partial, total or full mobilization

  • F-16 pilot receives Kolligian safety award

    One of the most coveted Air Force safety awards was presented by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz to an Air National Guard pilot during a ceremony here June 16. The award recipient, Lt. Col. Booth M. Johnston, received the Koren Kolligian Jr. Trophy for an October 2007 incident in which

  • Air Force Reserve Command gets new command chief

    Chief Master Sgt. Dwight D. Badgett was selected as the Air Force Reserve Command's new command chief master sergeant by Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., AFRC commander, in May. "Chief Badgett is exactly the type of person Air Force Reserve Command needs as our command chief," General Stenner said.

  • General McKinley: International alliances have matured well

    The National Guard's State Partnership Program started as a confidence-building measure between formerly hostile nations and has grown into solid, long-standing alliances, according to the chief of the National Guard Bureau.  "The relationship has matured well," Gen. Craig R. McKinley

  • Altus AFSO21 initiative improves C-17 inspection process

    The Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program office teamed up with the 97th Maintenance Directorate improving the way Altus performs home station checks on C-17 Globemaster IIIs. The team performed a study on maintenance operations and quickly found room for improvement following the

  • June 14 airpower summary: A-10s provide convoy security

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer and a coalition aircraft

  • AFOTEC hosts cadets for summer research program

    The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is hosting the United States Air Force Academy's Cadet Summer Research Program for a second year at locations in California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada and Kirtland. During the program, cadets work on real-world Air Force projects during five-week

  • Airmen take over C-21 maintenance mission

    For the first time in the history of the U.S. Central Command, the C-21s, the military version of the Learjet 35A, are being maintained by Airmen rather than contractors. The 119th Aircraft Maintenance Unit stood up May 30 after 25 Airmen deployed here for 60 days from the North Dakota Air National

  • Weapons school instructors validate first UAS, Raptor courses

    U.S. Air Force Weapons School instructors completed the school's first unmanned aircraft systems and F-22 Raptor validation course June 13. Consisting of 17 squadrons, the weapons school teaches graduate-level instructor courses that provide the world's most advanced training in weapons and tactics

  • AFPC officials seek GEICO award nominations

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here are currently seeking nominations for the 2009 Government Employees Insurance Company's Military Service Awards. The annual GEICO awards recognize enlisted servicemembers from all military service branches, Guard and Reserve for their contributions to

  • SECAF visits Paris to honor memorial and support air show

    The Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Donley, accompanied a congressional delegation of six senators that arrived in Paris June 13 to partake in a wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial de l'Escadrille Lafayette, in Marnes-la-Coquette. The members of the congressional delegation, who were also on

  • June 13 airpower summary: F-15E targets enemy spotter

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations June 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an F-15E Strike Eagle dropped a guided bomb

  • June 12 airpower summary: Predator targets enemy

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations June 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a B-1B Lancer conducted a strike against an

  • June 11 airpower summary: F-15Es respond to enemy attack

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations June 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, F-15E Strike Eagles dropped guided bomb

  • June 10 airpower summary: C-17s move outsized loads

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations June 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle and B-1B Lancer

  • Merger provides Airmen chance to 'weld' new skills

    Pacific Air Forces vehicle mechanics solder their training skills in a merged career field by learning a new trade at a welding school here. The mechanics undergo an 80-hour course that includes 57 hours of lab instruction and a Community College of the Air Force accreditation after completion.

  • AFRCC coordinates SAR for downed N.M. helicopter

    Controllers from the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center here helped local and state agencies search for a missing helicopter in the mountains near Santa Fe, N.M., late Tuesday night. The New Mexico State Police contacted AFRCC to ask for federal assistance in finding the helicopter and its three

  • Admiral Mullen offers leadership lesson to National Defense University grads

    Flanked by rows of professors cloaked in traditional academic regalia, the nation's top military officer offered one final, brief lecture June 11 to a group of graduating senior military officers at the National Defense University here. But Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

  • Airman honored for ambassadorship, volunteerism

    For her efforts in founding the Iraqi Kids Outreach program, a first lieutenant from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, recently received honors during the Defense Department's annual meritorious service awards banquet in San Antonio. The 366th Services Squadron's 1st Lt. Sarah Flackus was the Air

  • Maintainers keep F-22s ready in Guam

    To support F-22 Raptors deployed here as part of U.S. Pacific Command's Theater Security Packages, a team of maintenance personnel are working behind the scenes to ensure that each flying mission is a success. The team of 150 Airmen from the 525th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Elmendorf

  • MC-12 joins the fight in Iraq

    The Air Force's new MC-12 Liberty aircraft, a manned special-mission turboprop aircraft designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to support coalition and joint ground forces, arrived June 8 to Joint Base Balad. Following the MC-12's arrival, the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance

  • June 9 airpower summary: Reaper targets anti-Afghan forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations June 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an A-10 Thunderbolt II conducted strafing attacks

  • Air Force secretary announces two key unit moves

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley announced June 10 that the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group will beddown at Minot Air Force Base, N.D. Additionally, he announced the transfer of the 498th MUMG headquarters staff from Kirtland AFB, N.M., to Whiteman AFB, Mo.The beddown of the 798th MUMG

  • Mullen: Warfighters, families, wounded warriors drive budget request

    The nation's top military officer told Congress June 9 that the fiscal 2010 defense budget request puts money where it's needed: to recruit and retain the quality troops and their families who form the foundation of the all-volunteer force. But Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

  • Wing surpasses combat hour milestone

    The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing surpassed a milestone after two fighter squadrons deployed here accumulated more than 5,000 combat flight hours in a single month. Aircrews flying A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and F-15E Strike Eagles from the 336th EFS

  • Russians visit Dyess as part of START Treaty

    Dyess Air Force Base officials hosted a 10-person Russian-led team of inspectors who arrived May 29 here to visit the base as part of a Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty inspection. The inspection team updated data relating to the 7th Bomb Wing's compliance with terms of the START treaty. The purpose

  • Air Force officials revise fitness program

    The need for a "clear, understandable and simpler" fitness program will mean significant changes to the Air Force's current fitness program, said the service's top officer during a senior leadership conference held June 4 through 6 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Air Force Chief of Staff