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U.S. Air Force News

  • Families to join Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Fifteen Airmen assigned to U.S. Air Forces Central Command, the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing are taking advantage of a two-year accompanied tour opportunity -- and numbers continue to grow. In the next few years a total of 60 families will be here.

  • Elite Afghan soldiers complete training

    Fourteen Afghan air force members of the Kabul Air Wing Quick Reaction Force Company graduated from Ground Combat Skills Course in a ceremony May 29 at Kabul International Airport here.The graduation marked the completion of 50 hours of advanced upgrade training for the newest members of the QRF

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Dog Handler brings her values to career

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It's 6 p.m., and Chrach, a military working dog whose name is pronounced "Crash," is anticipating his evening meal.His handler has been feeding him twice

  • Families of fallen find caring support in family liaisons

    June 9 will mark three years since Master Sgt. Marisa Flores lost her husband, Tech. Sgt. Michael Flores, when he and four other pararescuemen died from injuries received during a HH-60G Pave Hawk crash in Afghanistan. Some days are still a challenge. Every now and then, Flores said she comes across

  • Astronauts attend Maxwell Leadership Reaction Course

    In a collaborative training effort, a group of six American and international astronauts participated in an abbreviated version of the Air University Leadership Reaction Course here May 22-23.Designed to develop leadership skills, the LRC is a field exercise consisting of a series of obstacle course

  • Today's Air Force visits the Boneyard, takes glimpse at aviation history

    Air Force Television News released a new, special edition of Today's Air Force on May 31.Featured in this episode is a visit to the Boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., taking viewers for an inside look at what happens to Air Force planes after they've flown their last mission. Here,

  • Afghan airmen gain new airpower capability

    As the 2013 fighting season continues in Afghanistan, the Afghan National Security Forces can add yet another airpower capability to their ever increasing list: air attack from an Afghan air force Mi-35 HIND attack helicopter.Members of the 377th Rotary Wing Squadron from the Kabul Air Wing fired 23

  • Officials reaffirm DOD's commitment to fighting sexual assault

    At an open house marking the Defense Department's launch of a new peer-support service for sexual assault victims, senior Pentagon officials today reaffirmed the department's commitment to eradicating sexual assault in the military.The Defense Department has joined with a private organization to

  • Hagel, in Hawaii, praises 'value added' force integration

    The tight integration in Hawaii between active-duty service members, civilian defense employees and National Guardsmen points to the future of the overall force, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told troops at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam here May 30."That's as much value added as I think we can get

  • Special ops commanders seek intel, data-sharing assets

    Senior commanders recently called on the defense industry to provide technologies that give special operations forces more situational awareness, better networking and communications and more precise location and targeting capabilities.Officials from across U.S. Special Operations Command, including

  • AF secretary to Class of 2013: Next chapter of your story begins today

    A total of 1,024 cadets graduated from the Air Force Academy May 29, following a commencement address by Secretary of the Air Force Mike Donley.Donley congratulated the graduates on overcoming the stringent physical and mental challenges they faced through their four-year Academy

  • Live to ride, ride to live another day

    Commentary: Some memories are Kodak moments - the kind you want to recall again and again. Others are more sinister, hanging around unwanted, as a reminder of life's darker side. One such ominous memory combines one of my greatest joys and my greatest fear into a valuable life lesson.On a beautiful,

  • Air Force OCC chopper retires

    After more than five years of service, one of the Air Force's mobile marketing assets, the F-22 Raptor-themed chopper, retired and moved to its new home in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Designed by the Orange County Choppers, the chopper

  • F-35B celebrates 1 year at Eglin

    The Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron-501 celebrated the one-year anniversary of flying the F-35B Lightning II here Wednesday, May 22, by continuing to train up the pilots and maintainers on the nation's newest fifth-generation fighter."This is a once in a lifetime chance to get to write the

  • Today's students compete using ancient skills

    "Add 6, add 9, subtract 10..."As the announcer read off his numbers, all that could be heard in the large hall was the sound of wooden abacus beads tapping and the scribbling of pencils from students rushing to find a solution.The event was the 31st Kanto Plains Department of Defense School Soroban

  • Volunteer aviators salute Academy grads with vintage flyover

    Historic World War II aircraft performed flyovers for the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2013 graduation events here May 27-29.Traditionally, the Air Force Academy's graduation ceremony flyover is conducted by the Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, while other Air Force aircraft

  • Tinker AFB reservist survives monster tornado

    What started out as a sunny, routine day for one member of the 507th Force Support Squadron and the estimated 250 staff and patients at the Moore Medical Center took a sudden turn for the worse on Monday, May 20, as a mammoth 1.3 mile-wide tornado bore down on them. Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Nikki

  • SecAF: Sequestration hits AF readiness, modernization

    Sequestration has hit the Air Force particularly hard, impacting its force structure, readiness and modernization, senior Air Force leaders said here today.Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the chief of staff, said Congress must provide a solid budget number so the

  • AF provides special counsel to sexual assault survivors

    Often, when survivors of sexual assault are "put on the witness stand, they can feel like they're being attacked," said Capt. Dustin Kouba, a special victims counsel attorney. "I feel like I'm almost defending them ... I'm like their big brother."The Air Force is taking the lead on providing special

  • Afghan air force improves casualty evacuation capability

    While the Afghan air force continues to take the lead and ownership of combat operations, they have also rapidly risen to the challenge of improving casualty evacuation, or CASEVAC, procedures by using both the Mi-17 helicopter and Cessna 208 aircraft. Between December 2012 and April 2013, CASEVAC

  • AF leaders remind force to be safe this summer

    With Memorial Day kicking off this year's Critical Days of Summer Safety campaign, Air Force senior leaders have asked Airmen to be as intense about safety as they are about accomplishing the mission.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Mark Welsh, and the Chief Master

  • New under secretary visits Joint Base San Antonio

    Eric Fanning visited with Airmen at Joint Base San Antonio May 16 and 17 during his first base trip as the under secretary of the Air Force.   His two-day visit to JBSA included stops at Randolph, Lackland and Fort Sam Houston, where he met with Airmen and got an overview of the military

  • KC-46A training, operational bases, alternatives selected

    Air Force officials announced today Altus Air Force Base, Okla., as the preferred alternative for the KC-46A formal training unit (FTU).McConnell AFB, Kan., was selected as the preferred alternative for the first active duty led KC-46A main operating base (MOB 1) and Fairchild AFB, Wash., and Grand

  • First enlisted Airmen graduate from new Weapons School course

    The first class of six enlisted students graduated the Advanced Enlisted Mission Planning Course, the first course for enlisted intelligence professionals, at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School here May 17.When these Airmen return to their home units, they will work closely with their intelligence

  • Hannah Dake wins Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship award

    Senior Hannah Dake was named the recipient of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's National Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the 2012-13 academic year, May 21.After winning the Mountain Region award last week, Dake was on the national ballot with 11 other regional winners.The

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Chaplain overcomes adversity, delivers hope

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)As the proud owner of three master's degrees and a doctorate, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Tillery has dedicated his life to service in the U.S. Air Force.

  • F-35A instructor pilots qualify in aerial refueling

    The initial cadre of F-35A Lightning II instructor pilots qualified in aerial refueling last week, adding another capability for student pilot training at the 33rd Fighter Wing's F-35 Integrated Training Center here."Eleven pilots had flown 14 refueling missions across the boom with the help of a

  • VA, veteran groups announce initiative to reduce claims backlog

    The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion today announced a new partnership to help reduce the compensation claims backlog for veterans.The effort, called the Fully Developed Claims Community of Practice, is a key part of the VA's overall

  • Massive tornado hits near Tinker AFB

    Nearly 250 members of the Oklahoma National Guard, as well as members of Tinker Air Force Base are assisting with victim search and security in Moore, Okla., where a tornado left at least 24 dead, including nine children, authorities said.The twister hit Monday, May 20, about 3:15 p.m. CDT, just

  • USAFE-AFAFRICA infrastructure under pressure

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa is seeing the ripple effect from sequestration. Budget cuts for this fiscal year to facilities sustainment and restoration are expected to cause readiness issues now and into the future. Lt. Gen. Tom Jones, the USAFE-AFAFRICA interim commander, said these

  • Memorial Day: Remember our veterans

    The Civil War ended nearly 150 years ago on May 9, 1865, marking the beginning to a new era. However, many lives were lost during the more than four-year war; and, as a result, the Grand Army of the Republic established what was then called "Decoration Day" three years later on May 5, 1868.It wasn't

  • NCO attaché position applications due June 10

    Active duty staff through senior master sergeants interested in attaché duty could find themselves on an international affairs team in Argentina, Taiwan, Russia and other countries, but those interested must submit their applications by June 16 to be considered, Air Force Personnel Center officials

  • AF surgeon helps Belizean boy get 'new hand'

    An Air Force surgeon deployed here performed surgery on a 4-year-old Belizean boy May 2, to improve the usability of the boy's hand.The boy, Isai Carrillo, underwent surgery May 2 to correct syndactyly, otherwise known as hand fusion, in his right hand. The surgery took three hours and consisted of

  • Unit deployment manager now special duty position

    Unit deployment manager is now a two-year-controlled special duty assignment (identifier 8U000); a change Air Force officials say will help professionalize the position and improve deployment program continuity. In past the UDM retained his or her Air Force specialty code, and even though UDMs were

  • Cadets earn praise for cyclogyro project

    Aeronautical Engineering cadets have presented their award-winning design of a search and rescue and medical evacuation aircraft for the year 2045 to Academy and industry leaders at the Aero Lab here May 13.Nine cadets collaboratively designed "The Night Owl," a futuristic cyclogyro that can direct

  • Warrior Games 2013: AF earns silver, bronze archery medals

    Retired Tech. Sgt. Corey Carter narrowly lost to the Army's Jessie White in the Warrior Games archery competition at Clune Arena here May 15.White scored 27 to defeat Carter, ending the bronze compound match, 107-106."I had the lead, and I should have kept it," said Carter, who also competed in the

  • Air Force Reserve submits construction plans to Senate

    The top leaders from the Air Force's active and reserve components went to Capitol Hill May 15 to provide statements and answer questions about their plans for new construction projects in fiscal 2014.Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., chairman, and Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., the ranking member of the

  • Warrior Games 2013: Air Force wins 11 medals in track and field competition

    Air Force athletes took home one gold, four silver and six bronze medals in the Warrior Games 2013 Track and Field competition at the Academy's Outdoor Track Stadium May 14.Staff Sgt. Lara Ishikawa took first place in the Women's 100 Meter Open Relay, winning the Air Force's gold medal for the day.

  • 2 Airmen earn spots to compete on world stage of soccer

    Two Airmen from Lajes Field have earned the opportunity to participate in the 2013 International Military Sports Council (CISM) 1st World Football Trophy July 2 to 14.According to its official website, the International Military Sports Council is one of the largest multidisciplinary organizations in

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Following dream as American, Academy cadet

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)When Senior Airmen Shujie Yan immigrated to the United States from China in 2006, she was a freshman in high school. One year later, she had big dreams

  • GPS IIF-4 successfully launched from Cape Canaveral

    A U.S. Air Force Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite built by Boeing was successfully launched May 15. The fourth GPS IIF satellite, Space Vehicle Number (SVN) 66, was carried aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Launch Vehicle at 5:38 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

  • Games proves not 'end of the world' for wounded Airman

    "It felt like the end of the world," said Scott Palomino, describing what it was like after being wounded when a mortar round exploded in his tent at Balad Air Base, Iraq, in 2004.Among his injuries was the loss of a leg, which was a serious blow to the El Paso, Texas, native who said he thrived on

  • Hagel announces fewer furlough days for DOD employees

    After weeks of review, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has concluded budget cuts will require most of the department's civilian employees to be furloughed beginning in July, but that because of other efforts to deal with the shortfall, only half of the 22 days originally envisioned as temporary

  • EOD tech competes in Warrior Games

    Combat can take its toll on the body both physically and mentally, but for an Airman here his Warrior spirit is not limited by such things. For many wounded warriors, the tolls of combat could have diminished their abilities and reaction times, but the internal fire of the Warrior Spirit remains

  • Warrior Games 2013: Life can change in a split second

    Life can be described as a series of moments, seconds even, strung together to form experiences and memories. A split-second decision can mean the difference between life and death.Senior Master Sgt. Martin Smith knows the impact just one second can make.Smith, a seasoned motorcycle rider and Active

  • Beneficiaries must sign up for TRICARE automatic payment by May 31

    Beneficiaries enrolled in TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve who pay monthly premiums by check must switch to an electronic form of payment by May 31 to avoid losing coverage. TRICARE will only accept monthly premium payments using recurring automatic payments by credit or debit card,

  • Hanscom AFB-managed program helps save Airman's life

     A program managed here that helps get supplies safely to warfighters was recently used in Afghanistan to help save an Airman's life.The Dynamic Retasking Capability Urgent Operational Need provides the ability for C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130J Hercules to be directed to an alternative location

  • Spangdahlem AB Airmen launch final A-10 sortie in Europe

    Airmen here launched the final A-10 Thunderbolt II tactical sortie in Europe here May 14.The airframe belongs to the 52nd Fighter Wing's 81st Fighter Squadron, which inactivates in June."I'm proud to be a part of the last sortie," said Lt. Col. Jeff Hogan, the 81st FS director of operations and a

  • Warrior Games 2013: AF cyclists win 3 medals

    Air Force cyclists took home three medals in the Warrior Games 2013 cycling competition at Falcon Stadium May 12.Maj. Scott Bullis of Peterson Air Force Base took first place in the men's recumbent cycle race to win the Air Force's first gold medal of this year's Warrior Games."This is my first

  • Warrior Games 2013: Airman uses Games to rise above PTSD, injury

    Behind her bright brown eyes, easy smile and contagious laugh there is pain -- both physical and mental.Retired Staff Sgt. Zuleika Cruz-Pereira joined the Army after Sept. 11, 2001, because she wanted to do something to help people."I wanted to go out there and do something big," she said. "I'm one

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Weather Airman survives lightning strike

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)A weather Airman who issues warnings when lightning strikes take place within five miles of an air base here knows the danger: He's a lightning-strike

  • Afghan AF rises to combat test

    An Afghan national army soldier looks up from his post near Tarin Khowt in the Uruzgan Province. He's surrounded by rugged mountains, a flowing river, a green and vibrant valley and Taliban insurgents trying to overrun the area. The soldier, along with 39 other ANA commandos, is running low on

  • Warrior Games 2013: Cancer survivor tackles new challenge

    Staff Sgt. Lara Ishikawa found herself among a trio of female Air Force Warrior Games athletes with a special bond. Ishikawa, Tech. Sgt. Monica Figueroa and Master Sgt. Sherry Nel are all cancer survivors and relied on each other for support and conversation during the team's selection camp at the

  • DOD Comptroller: Sequestration devastates U.S. military readiness

    During a Senate hearing yesterday on President Barack Obama's $9.5 billion military construction budget request for fiscal 2014, Defense Department Comptroller Robert F. Hale said the severe and abrupt budget cuts imposed by sequestration are devastating the U.S. armed forces.Hale and John Conger,

  • Breedlove takes charge at European Command

    Gen. Philip M. Breedlove took command of U.S. European Command here today during a ceremony at the command's headquarters with Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter presiding.Breedlove succeeds Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis, the first sailor to hold the command. Stavridis is retiring following a

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Refugee becomes Air Force nurse

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)After escaping the violence of the Iran-Iraq War, a young girl and her family reached a refugee camp in Turkey. One of the things she still remembers

  • Air Force Food Transformation Initiative enters second phase

    Airmen at five installations will see a new era in food service operations as the Air Force Food Transformation Initiative moves into its second phase.The initiative, known as FTI, is a pilot program designed to provide Airmen greater variety, availability, and quality of food, while maintaining

  • Wife of Air Guard Airman selected as Military Spouse of 2013

    The wife of an Air National Guard Airman who created support groups for military families and businesses has been selected as the 2013 Military Spouse of the Year.Alicia Hinds-Ward, the spouse of Tech. Sgt. Edwinston J. Ward of the 113th fighter wing at Joint Base Andrews, Md., was chosen among more

  • Security processes accelerate adoption of commercial devices

    Approval last week of security technical implementation guides for BlackBerry and Samsung Knox devices means that Defense Department organizations will be able to use those devices in conjunction with a secure enterprise mobility environment.The May 2 release of the Defense Information Systems

  • Pediatric patients eligible for messaging health application

    The Air Force Medical Service is now registering children in its web-based secure messaging health application, MiCare.MiCare allows beneficiaries to communicate securely and privately with their health care teams anywhere and anytime. The secure tool is now available to more than 70 percent of Air

  • F-35 fighter takes another step forward

    The Air Force took another step forward with its newest fighter jet when an advanced F-35 Lightning II landed at the service's lead training base, home to the largest fleet of F-35s worldwide.The new stealth fighter kicks off a major training effort at the F-35 schoolhouse on an aircraft with

  • AF energy chief 'service to America' finalist

    The nonprofit Partnership for Public Service announced their 2013 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America medalists, which included a senior Air Force official. Dr. Kevin Geiss, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for energy, was recognized as a finalist May 7 on Washington's Capitol Hill. The

  • C-5M undergoes 'super' upgrade at Edwards AFB

    In 2006, the C-5 Galaxy underwent a "super" upgrade to further strengthen the airframe's worldwide airlift capabilities. Test teams here and at Dover Air Force Base, Del., are showing why the recent software upgrade to the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory -- now known as the C-5M Super

  • DEERS locks down access to some information updates

    Base identification card issuing offices will no longer be able to manually correct or update certain types of personnel information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, Air Force Personnel Center officials said May 9.DEERS is the system used to enroll Airmen and their eligible

  • President selects Academy's next dean of faculty

    The president of the United States has nominated Col. Andrew Armacost to the U.S. Senate for promotion to the rank of brigadier general and to become the next dean of the faculty of the U.S. Air Force Academy.Armacost will assume his new duties and rank later this year. Armacost moves to the dean's

  • National Museum of the U.S. Air Force selected for heritage award

    The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force was recently selected by the U.S. Air Force History and Museums Program as the recipient of the 2013 Air Force Heritage Award for an exhibit titled Destruction from High Above: The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in Southeast Asia.The award recognizes outstanding

  • Airmen behind the scenes of Ironman 3

    Would it be the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat? This was the question on the minds of a select few members of the 916th Air Refueling Wing here as they waited in dark theaters this weekend to see if their faces graced the silver screen in "Iron Man 3," predicted to have the second largest

  • Warrior Games 2013: Airman gets second chance at life

    You only live once, the saying goes. That may be true for most, but for one former jet engine mechanic that is not the case.Former Senior Airman Darrell Fisher had been fascinated with aviation since he was a child growing up in Fayetteville, N.C.  After working in the civilian sector for a while

  • Breedlove to take command of EUCOM, SHAPE

    As Gen. Philip M. Breedlove prepares to take command of U.S. European Command and NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, he acknowledged U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Airmen and their importance to the United States' national defense strategy.More than 54,000 American

  • Afghan air university takes dynamic formal stride

    Taking one more step to becoming Ministry of Defense accredited, Afghan air force leaders at Pohantoon-e-Hawayee "Air University" signed six newly developed training decrees May 4 at Kabul International Airport here. The implementation of these decrees marks the first time the school had standard

  • CE Airmen improve life on remote Army outpost

    A small team of deployed civil engineer Airmen traveled to a remote Army outpost to provide much needed infrastructure improvements.The 577th Expeditionary Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force Squadron Consolidated-Small Maintenance and Repair Team visited here April 29 through May 3 to improve life,

  • Airmen learn to cope with homesickness

    First term Airmen are put into a unique position when they are stationed at a base overseas, with some struggling to find ways to overcome adversity from loneliness, learning to live on their own and trying to communicate with family and friends stateside. "Instead of being only 300 miles away from

  • Report Helps Military Deal With Sexual Assault Problem

    Sexual assault is a long-term problem for the military, and it will take time for military efforts to combat it, the director of the Defense Department's sexual assault prevention and response office said."We are not satisfied with where we are at today," Army Maj. Gen. Gary S. Patton said in an

  • Team works to improve precision of high altitude airdrops

    A team here is working to improve safety for warfighters by increasing accuracy of high altitude airdrops with mission planning tools.The Joint Precision Airdrop System, or JPADS, is a family of equipment that consists of parachutes, mission planning systems, global positioning systems and computer

  • Official warns of predatory businesses, offers Airmen finance tips

    Holly Petraeus, the head of the Office of Servicemember Affairs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, discussed predatory business practices and personal financial tips with the military community here May 6.Petraeus visited Yokota AB to hear first-hand of service members' financial hardships

  • CE Airmen keep Afghans safe with new bridges

    Members of the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron installed safe and secure bridges for local Afghans coming in and out of Bagram Airfield, May 2.The 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron entry point controllers requested the bridges to provide safe passage to and from BAF for the

  • C-130 squadron first to perform new airdrop method

    The 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron executed the first combat Extracted Container Delivery System, or XCDS, airdrop April 29, successfully demonstrating the increased accuracy that this new technology provides. The new airdrop method is designed to pull the bundles out of the aircraft at a

  • Warrior Games 2013: Track and field star has 'wings on her back'

    Midway through retired Tech. Sgt. Katie Robinson's first track and field practice at the Air Force Warrior Games training camp, she pulled out a pair of butterfly wings from her workout bag and strapped them to her back. The wings were both comedy relief and symbolized a dramatic change several

  • Eglin AFB munitions unit creates ammo linker for AFSOC

    A new, lighter, mobile 30 mm ammo linker system is set for delivery to Air Force Special Operations Command units here in May.The 89-pound apparatus can feed 15 unattached 30 mm rounds into MK-15 links via a crank system and was created and designed by Eglin Air Force Base's munitions materiel

  • Misawa fighter jets break new training barriers

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon's radar warning emits an eerie, distinct pattern as the jet soars over the Northern Pacific Ocean, moving closer and closer toward hostile territory. The warning tone means one thing -- missiles are inbound. This can end one of two ways: a surface-to-air missile, or SAM, rips

  • AF awards KC-46A aircrew training system contract

    The Air Force awarded a contract to FlightSafety Services Corporation on May 1, taking a major step forward in achieving the service's top acquisition priority - delivering a new aerial refueling capability to the warfighter. The contract, a Fixed Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) and Firm Fixed Price

  • Hagel to make furlough decision soon, press secretary says

    Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will make a decision soon on the scope of civilian furloughs in response to sequestration spending cuts, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.Hagel is reviewing analysis on the budget "and he'll reach a decision in the near future," Little told

  • Bataan survivor helps celebrate memorial walk

    "Since I didn't bow, he took the bottle and busted my teeth out," he said.A Japanese sergeant dropped a bottle of Coke where John was supposed to walk, so he picked it up and gave it to him. Afterwards, he was punished for his lack of "respect."John Mims, a Bataan Death March survivor, and

  • Any time, anywhere data access coming soon

    In the not-too-distant future, Defense Department personnel will be able to securely access data any time and anywhere, the department's deputy chief information officer for command, control, communications and computers and information infrastructure said here today.The current mobility strategy

  • Faith in captivity: Vietnam War POW inspires Airmen

    With his hands bound in manacles, an imprisoned Air Force pilot watched from his bamboo holding cell as North Vietnamese soldiers moved a wounded American prisoner into the cell across from his. The pilot was shocked at the man's appearance; his fingers were raw and his body was emaciated. His whole

  • USAFE fighter squadrons affected by sequestration

    Nearly half of the fighter squadrons in U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa halted flying operations three weeks ago.The action was a result of the reduction of flying hours Air Force-wide -- one impact of the current sequestration-related budget challenges affecting the Defense

  • Total force readiness topic of Capitol Hill testimony

    Senior leaders from the active-duty Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve were on Capitol Hill here April 24th to discuss the impact of sequestration on Total Force readiness.In written and oral testimony, they reconfirmed the Air Force's commitment to serving America's long-term

  • Dover Airman in 'fight of his life'

    Sometimes a headache is just a headache. Other times it can be the sign of something much worse.Just ask Maj. Shawn Boyle, an Individual Mobilization Augmentee reservist with the 436th Airlift Wing/Judge Advocate office. Boyle, who lives outside of Pittsburgh, Pa., was experiencing what he thought

  • JSTARS: Connecting the dots on battlefield

    After slipping by each other the narrow aisle of an E-8C Joint STARS aircraft, more than a dozen Airmen settle into their seats and begin to flip switches and work through checklists. Their olive-green headsets block out the roar of the jet engines and replace it with busy radio chatter as the crew

  • First Lady announces certification plan for veteran jobs

    First Lady Michelle Obama today unveiled the new Information Technology Training and Certification Partnership to put thousands of service members to work with industry-recognized IT certifications in hand before they leave the military.Obama, who made the announcement at the White House Forum on

  • New under secretary sworn in during Pentagon ceremony

    The Senate confirmed the nomination of Eric Fanning to become the next under secretary of the Air Force April 18 and he began his transition into the office after being sworn in April 29."On behalf of the more than 690,000 men and women of the U.S. Air Force, I want to welcome Eric to our Air Force

  • Eielson AFB youth show 'Purple Up' pride

    Students at Robert M. Crawford Elementary School celebrated Purple Up Day April 19, honoring military children who make unique sacrifices in support of their active-duty mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers. Alaska state officials adopted Purple Up Day last year to show support for an estimated

  • Official discusses Transition Assistance Program at House hearing

    The Defense Department, in concert with the military services and interagency partners are successfully implementing the department's revamped Transition Assistance Program, a senior DOD official told a House Armed Services Committee subcommittee here April 24.Dr. Susan S. Kelly,  the principal

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Thunderbirds crew chief takes to new heights

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)Growing up around small planes, it's no surprise that 23-year-old Staff Sgt. Ben Ayivorh, a dedicated crew chief assigned to the U.S. Air Force Air

  • Senior leaders testify on health of personnel programs

    Air Force senior leaders, along with counterparts from each of the services, testified about the current state of military personnel programs before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee April 24.Daniel B. Ginsberg, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and Lt. Gen.

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: The walk toward flight

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)There's a saying -- "a journey begins with a single step." For a flight engineer assigned to the 8th Special Operations Squadron here, even a single step