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  • DOD aircraft join firefighting efforts in Texas, Northwest US

    Under the direction of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander for Air Forces Northern here, six Defense Department C-130 Hercules equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems will deploy in support of the National Interagency Fire Center to supplement wildland

  • Continuous bomber presence restructuring saves DOD $12 million

     Air Force Global Strike Command and Pacific Air Forces officials teamed up recently to restructure logistics support and aircraft rotations for the continuous bomber presence in the Pacific.The restructuring is estimated to save the Defense Department more than $12 million annually."The continuous

  • Yokota Airmen 'connect' to help fellow Airman

    When an Airman here needed his room renovated to support a device that would monitor his heart, several squadrons came together to lend a helping hand.After experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest during a physical training exercise, Airman 1st Class Tan Nguyen, from the 374th Medical Operations

  • Reserve streamlining plans adjusts manpower in 3 states

    Air Force Reserve officials announced plans to streamline unit structures and adjust manpower in California, Georgia and Texas by fiscal 2012.The biggest changes will affect the Air Force Reserve's three numbered air forces: 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, Calif.; 10th Air Force, Naval Air

  • Officials announce enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 850 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the September enlisted supplemental promotion process. The enlisted supplemental promotion release announces those Airmen selected for promotion who tested outside of their required cycle due to an extended

  • Memories of 9/11 resonate with Dover Port Mortuary staff

    A decade ago, less than a dozen people worked in a modest building that sat on a few acres of land behind the fence at the end of Atlantic Avenue.That's how William Zwicharowski described the facility where the solemn duty of honoring the fallen was performed. Zwicharowski, an embalmer at the time,

  • CSA card personal use unauthorized

    Policy changes concerning the use of the Air Force's new Controlled Spend Account cards were spelled out in a policy letter from Headquarters Air Force Aug. 26. Effective immediately, personal use of the CSA is not authorized. The CSA is the program the Air Force implemented this year to replace the

  • CSAF visits 70th ISR Wing Airmen

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz attended a chaplain-sponsored dormitory dinner with Airmen from the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Aug. 31 here.During his visit, Schwartz was given a tour of the wing's dormitory, where he was shown recently-made improvements

  • Department officials seek balanced 'cloud' computing solution

    Defense Department officials are looking to balance efficiency, effectiveness and security while moving away from the department's decentralized network of computer servers and data centers and into "cloud" computing, the DOD's deputy chief information officer said Sept. 7."We must balance all

  • Panetta to visit 9/11 attack sites

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will spend Sept. 6 honoring those killed during the Sept. 11, terrorist attacks on the United States, as he travels to New York and Pennsylvania.The secretary will visit ground zero in lower Manhattan, where hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 and United

  • Kunsan Airman wins Air Force IDEA cash

    An Airmen here was awarded an Air Force Innovative Development Through Employee Awareness Program cash award of $1,875 Aug. 30.Senior Airman Jason Devore's idea to add a tire rotation plan to the scheduled maintenance of vehicles saved the Air Force money and increased the mission-capable rates for

  • TRICARE portability reduces moving stress

    With a single phone call, TRICARE's "Moving Made Easy" option will take some of the stress out of moving, a top TRICARE official said Aug. 26. Using this option, service member and family beneficiaries under TRICARE Prime can ensure that when they arrive at a new duty station, their medical records

  • COMPACAF presented Order of the Sword

    Enlisted Pacific Air Forces Airmen gathered here Aug. 26 to induct the PACAF commander into the command's Order of the Sword.Gen. Gary North distinguished himself by dedicating nearly $150 million to improve PACAF Airmen's quality of life while cultivating and fostering command-wide, total-force

  • Services officials 'refresh' dining menus

    Airmen will soon have more variety and availability of nutritious meals thanks to a new initiative to 'refresh' dining facility menus.Air Force Services Agency officials here partnered with industry chefs to implement a new program called "Operation Refresh." The program infuses new items into

  • Air Force Iraq mission likely to increase before it ends

    As the American presence in Iraq draws down, the Air Force mission in the nation likely will increase, said Maj. Gen. Russell J. Handy.Handy, the commander of the 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force and director of the Air Component Coordination Element in Iraq, discussed the Air Force

  • Printing delay for enlisted guide won't delay promotion testing

    Distribution of the printed version of the 2011 Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241, Professional Development Guide, will be delayed until late December. Promotion cycles, including the upcoming 12E8 senior master sergeant promotion cycle Dec. 5-16, will not be affected by the distribution delay. The delay

  • Pacific Unity concludes in Vietnam

    In an effort to foster friendship and improved relationships between the U.S. and Vietnam, more than 60 military civil engineers, construction workers and volunteers from both countries came together Aug. 9-29 to renovate three medical clinics in Ha Tinh Province.The 624th Civil Engineer Squadron

  • JTAC shot, keeps calling in critical close air support

    American heroes have shone time and time again during the war in Afghanistan, earning accolades from their branches of service and even the president of the United States, but most recently a joint terminal attack controller from the 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron proved it yet

  • Financial services return to local centers

    The processing of military pay transactions will move from the Air Force Financial Service Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., to base-level financial services offices beginning in August.The return of military pay transactions to local level is a part of the Secretary of Defense Leon

  • Guard supports joint response, thousands deploy

    National Guard support to the joint response to Hurricane Irene was in full motion Aug. 27 as thousands of Soldiers and Airmen rolled out in multiple states to support civilian authorities.Guard officials at the National Guard Coordination Center here were tracking the storm and working with other

  • Walter Reed closes, legacy lives on, commander says

    An ambulance carrying the last inpatient from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here slowly made its way out of the Georgia Avenue gate Aug. 27, pausing briefly for the crowd of flag-waving troop supporters and shouts of "Thank you for your service! We love you!"As the ambulance turned north on

  • JB MDL prepares for Hurricane Irene

    Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst is actively preparing for Hurricane Irene, officials here said.The base entered Hurricane Condition III on Aug. 25, which is declared when the weather forecast predicts the arrival of 58 mph or greater winds within 48 hours."Hurricane Irene is expected to be a

  • Photo Essay: Basic Military Training -- where it all begins

    Military training instructors at Lackland Air Force Base, known as "The Gateway to the Air Force", conduct the Air Force's only enlisted recruit training program, ensuring orderly transition from civilian to military life. Recruits are trained and educated in the fundamental skills necessary to be

  • Hurricane Irene stops moves to Langley, Dover

    Travel to Langley Air Force Base, Va., and Dover AFB, Del., is prohibited until further notice as the installations prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Irene, officials announced Aug. 26. In addition, Airmen with travel orders to other installations along the eastern seaboard are advised to keep an

  • 20th EBS Airmen assume continuous bomber presence in Guam

    More than 300 Airmen assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrived here recently to replace the 96th EBS in support of U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence.The rotation of bomber aircraft is specifically designed to enhance regional security

  • Hospital consolidation going smoothly, commander says

    A large-scale realignment of military health care facilities is nearing culmination, and officials recently said they are pleased with the progress.Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical was created in 2007 to oversee a base realignment and closure law mandate to close Walter Reed Army

  • CMSAF visits 11th OG

    Members of the 11th Operations Group here provided a special tour Aug. 16 for the Air Force's highest-ranking enlisted member to take a candid look Airmen here do every day.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke with members of the U.S. Air Force Band, Air Force Honor Guard and the

  • ACC Airmen prepare for Hurricane Irene

    National Hurricane Center officials issued a number of advisories for the East Coast Aug. 25 in preparation for Hurricane Irene.Airmen, civilian personnel and their families at Air Combat Command units and installations near the projected path of a hurricane should take steps to adequately prepare,

  • SJAFB evacuates jets as Irene approaches

    As Hurricane Irene approaches, the 4th Fighter Wing and 916th Air Refueling Wing began evacuating approximately 60 F-15E Strike Eagles and eight KC-135R Stratotankers to Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 25.In addition to the aircraft sent to Barksdale, the base also sent approximately 350 aircrew

  • Smart bases, electric vehicles key energy independence components

    The Air Force and other Department of Defense agencies are aggressively pursuing plug-in electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid infrastructure technologies, DOD leaders told industry representatives at an Electric Vehicle Industry Day here Aug. 23."We are here to tell you three things," said Terry A.

  • Family, friends say goodbye to a 'hero'

    An Air Force Special Operations Command pararescueman was laid to rest here Aug. 23.Tech. Sgt. Daniel Zerbe, 28, died Aug. 6 in the Wardak province of eastern Afghanistan when the Chinook helicopter in which he was traveling crashed. Zerbe was one of 25 U.S. Special Operations Command operators who

  • Reserve pilot spearheads Air Force's efforts to go green

    A historic agreement, introduced by a Reserve pilot from the 317th Airlift Squadron, between the Department of Defense and Federal Aviation Administration establishes procedures for pilots called optimized profile descent, which will reduce noise, fuel costs and emissions effective Aug

  • CMSAF visits Offutt, speaks about tough decisions on horizon

    During a visit here Aug. 18 and 19, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy met with the enlisted members of Air Combat Command's largest wing and Offutt's tenant units. Roy took time to dispel some rumors and explain to Air Force members what's on the horizon. Understandably, one of the

  • 16th SPCS breaks ground for new global capability

    In a combined effort, the 16th Space Control Squadron and its Reserve associate unit, the 380th Space Control Squadron, broke ground July 28 for a Rapid Attack, Identification, Detection and Reporting System site in Hawaii.Lt. Col. Roger Sherman, the 16th SPCS commander, Lt. Col. Bob Claude, the

  • Air Force awarded for energy savings

    The Air Force was announced as the recipient of almost half of the U.S. Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program's 2011 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards earned by Department of Defense entities, and a quarter of awards overall. The awards are scheduled to be presented during

  • ESC awards contract for lightened instrument landing system

    Officials at the Electronic Systems Center here issued an $8.8 million contract award to Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Network Systems Division Aug. 12 to provide the Air Force a deployable precision approach landing capability to support contingency operations or humanitarian missions across the

  • American, Kyrgyz service members partner to enhance communication

    Airmen from the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing here and Kyrgyz soldiers gather twice a month to practice foreign language skills. For the soldiers, speaking English offers a chance to exercise a skill they learned in school. For Airmen deployed here, it's a chance to learn the language of their host

  • 50th Space Wing gains control of newest GPS satellite

    Officials from the 50th Space Wing 2nd Space Operations Squadron accepted command and control of the second Global Positioning System Block IIF satellite Aug. 19. The Space and Missile Systems Center GPS Directorate, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., remained in control of the satellite

  • New commander, president takes over Air University

    The change of command ceremony Aug. 12 was unique for Air University, as Lt. Gen. David Fadok became the organization's first president and 29th commander."We produce the future and must never forget how important that mission is," Fadok said after assuming command from Lt. Gen. Allen Peck, who

  • Panetta: Any retirement changes won't affect serving military

    In his clearest statement on the subject to date, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today that if the military retirement system changes, it will not affect serving service members."I will not break faith," the secretary said during a roundtable meeting with military media representatives in

  • Recent grad's astro feats regarded as research crown 'joule'

    Look out, Richard Dean Anderson. There's a new MacGyver in town.His name is 2nd Lt. Michael Trubilla, and a prestigious award is in the 2011 Air Force Academy grad's very near future: Trubilla is scheduled to receive the Air Force Science and Technology Cadet Research Award Aug. 25 at

  • Hawaii joint base trains for emergency preparedness

    Twenty-eight members of the emergency operations center here participated in incident management team training, including earthquake and flood drill scenarios, Aug. 9 to 12. This training, the first since the installation joint based, will ensure the IMT members know exactly what to do in case of

  • Officials offer peek into officer promotion boards

    Air Force officials offered a peek into the officer promotion board process recently to explain how they are conducted. "The promotion system is clear-cut and extremely fair," said Col. Ramona Dolson, chief of the Air Force Selection Board Secretariat. "The Air Force has done a great job in making

  • Cap back in new, free comic

    On the heels of its 116th anniversary, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is once again joining forces with Marvel Comics to distribute free, military-exclusive comic books at its stores around the world.The 11th issue in the Exchange/Marvel series, titled "The First Avenger," revolves around

  • Space ops squad calls on reliable spare for active service

    The 2nd Space Operations Squadron here is set to swap out an underperforming satellite with a handy spare this week. During late May, 2nd SOPS analysts began noticing signs that SVN-30, a Global Positioning System IIA vehicle, was no longer maintaining the gold standard of performance. Engineers in

  • Program supports military families with special needs

    About a year ago, Maj. Nicholas Sabula received word of an upcoming assignment following his deployment in Afghanistan.He became concerned, however, when he learned that his new duty station and the local area didn't have adequate services for his son, who was diagnosed with autism in 2006. But

  • Space Command retires workhorse satellite

    Members of the 3rd Space Operations Squadron, along with their counterparts from the 53rd Signal Battalion, waved a fond farewell to a trusted old friend Aug. 12. Lt. Col. Kevin Mortensen, 3rd SOPS commander and Lt. Col. Benjamin Jones, 53rd SB commander, took the honors, shutting down the final

  • Sharing intelligence helps contractors strengthen cyber defenses

    A new pilot program in which Defense Department officials share classified threat intelligence with defense contractors or their commercial Internet service providers is showing promise in increasing their cyber defenses and preventing enemy intrusions into sensitive government networks, Deputy

  • Resilience study can help DOD officials strengthen programs

    The military has a plethora of programs aimed at building resilience in service members and their families, but needs a better system in place to measure their success, a study has revealed.Commissioned by officials from the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain

  • Panetta: Congress must look at whole federal budget for cuts

    Budget concerns and the need for the Defense Department to work with the State Department dominated a discussion at the National Defense University here today with the Cabinet members who lead those departments.Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta talked

  • VA reaching out to rural Vets with Telehealth

    Kenneth Winn, 48, suffered a head injury while deployed in Operation Desert Storm. Since then, he's experienced his fair share of challenges in life. He's been looking for a job now for two years."I want to work," he said. "But if I tell (a potential employer) I have a head injury, they don't hire

  • Fellowship provides broad perspective on Air Force mission

    The Air Force Manpower and Personnel office announced the plans for its annual Strategic Policy Fellowship Intermediate Developmental Education rotations for 2011-2012, which is set to begin mid-August. The program's goal is to develop competitively selected, officers' understanding of air, space,

  • No changes to military retirement anytime soon, officials say

    The military retirement system isn't going to change any time soon, a Defense Department official said recently.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said any changes to military retirement should be studied carefully and should be "grandfathered" so the military doesn't

  • Communications upgrades keep warfighters connected

    The Theater Deployable Communications Team at the Electronic Systems Center here is continuing to ensure warfighters have the key communications infrastructure they need while deployed."We are looking for capability modernization and to update the equipment modules that make up TDC as they get to

  • Officials conduct study of aircraft oxygen generation systems

    Air Force officials continue to conduct an Aircraft Oxygen Generation study, with members of the Air Force Scientific Advisory Board taking the leading role.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley directed the quick look study in the wake of recent F-22 Raptor incidents.Officials seek to identify

  • Medical examiners identify deceased in Chinook crash

    All 30 Americans killed in the Aug. 6 crash of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in eastern Afghanistan have been identified, officials at the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System in Rockville, Md., said Aug. 12.Medical examiners also identified all eight Afghans killed in the incident, said Paul Stone, a

  • Upcoming show to display military land, sea, ground robots

    More than 6,000 experts from 30 countries will be gathering here Aug. 16-19 for this year's largest robot and unmanned systems show.Hosted by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, called AUVSI, Unmanned Systems North America 2011 will feature workshops, panels and

  • Smith Hall medical instruction facility dedicated during ceremony

    A new medical instructional facility honoring the United States Air Force's first Sergeant Major for the Air Force Medical Service was dedicated during a ceremony at the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Aug.12.Smith Hall was named after the late Air Force

  • Kadena Airmen clean up after 60-hour typhoon

    Cabin fever, lock down and boredom.These are just a few of the words that were being used to describe their time during Typhoon Muifa, but not for all Airmen here. More than 125 Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Group were on duty during and after the slow-moving yet destructive typhoon."During

  • Air Force announces enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 800 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the August enlisted supplemental promotion process. The enlisted supplemental promotion release announces those Airmen selected for promotion who tested outside of their required cycle due to an extended

  • NATO countries land successful jump week

    More than 200 paratroopers from six NATO countries participated in airborne jump operations during International Jump Week Aug. 8 through 11.Paratroopers from Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands and the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Army jumped out of aircraft from Papa

  • TRICARE offers transitional health care

    When service members leave active duty, TRICARE offers a transitional health care option for eligible beneficiaries and their families while they look for new health coverage. The Transitional Assistance Management Program, or TAMP, is designed to extend TRICARE eligibility for sponsors and their

  • DOD releases names of Airmen killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash

    Three Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen died Saturday morning when their aircraft, a coalition CH-47 Chinook, crashed in the Maiden Wardak Province in eastern Afghanistan. They were among 25 U.S. Special Operations Command operators who died in the crash, which also took the lives of five

  • Aviano maintenance group earns top DOD award

    The 31st Maintenance Group here was announced as a Secretary of Defense Field-level Maintenance Award recipient Aug. 9. The award is one of six presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance. The 31st MXG competed against 'large' category

  • 2011 Department of Defense Maintenance Awards Winners Announced

    Department of Defense officials announced the 2011 winners of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards for depot and field-level units Aug. 10. These awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance. The 2011 Robert T. Mason

  • Partnered again--Russia and NORAD conduct Exercise Vigilant Eagle 2011

    Within minutes after takeoff, the first fighter aircraft are visible off the left wing and Exercise Vigilant Eagle 2011 is well underway. The Russian Federation Air Force and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) conducted their second Vigilant Eagle cooperative exercise Aug 5-9,

  • ISAF airstrike kills insurgents who caused helicopter crash

    Coalition forces used a precision airstrike to kill Taliban insurgents involved in the Aug. 6 downing of the helicopter carrying 30 U.S. service members and eight Afghans, the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Afghanistan said Aug. 10. In a briefing from his headquarters in the Afghan

  • Army, AF units take aim during joint training exercise

    Army and Air Force units teamed up for a joint training exercise at Jikdo Island Aug. 5, firing AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, rockets and 30mm munitions at the range. Jikdo is a range facility on two islands off the western coast of Korea, near Kunsan. For this training mission, weapon systems officers

  • Reservist reenlists after 19-year break, sworn in by son

    Nineteen years after separating from the active duty Air Force, Scott Long enlisted into the Reserves. Now he's Staff Sgt. Long, with the 476th Maintenance Squadron as a fuel systems craftsman.Sergeant Long's son, U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Brandon Long, 1-169 Aviation Support Battalion liaison officer,

  • AFRI to lead cyber symposium in October

    The Air Force Research Institute here is scheduled to host a cyber symposium Oct. 26-27. The event, titled "Cyber Power: The Quest for a Common Ground," is designed to improve the lack of accepted standards for definitions, data structures, threat assessments and policies both within and across

  • Rescue coordination center team assists in mission that saved 60 hikers

    Severe weather on July 29 flooded a hiking path on Mount Whitney near Lone Pine, Calif., leaving 60 hikers stranded. Officials with the California Emergency Management Agency reached out to the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center here for assistance. "Although there was a large number of

  • Air Force employee one of five selected for special award

    Michael Nakai, an information technology specialist at the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., was selected as one of five recipients of the 2011 Judith C. Gilliom Outstanding Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities Award. He was presented the

  • Air Force Medical Service's first 'Sergeant Major' to be honored

    The late Chief Master Sgt. Raymond T. Smith once told a reporter: "The Vietnam conflict has brought the services closer together. We've got to keep it that way."When he made that remark in 1970, he was serving as the first enlisted senior NCO for the entire Air Force Medical Service. So new was his

  • Wounded warriors, families deserve best care, Chiarelli says

    The military has made great strides in warrior care over the past decade of war, but much work remains to be done, particularly when dealing with the invisible wounds of war, the Army vice chief of staff said Aug. 8.Speaking at the Warrior Transition Command's Warrior Care and Transition Program

  • Cleaner KC-10 engines expected to burn less fuel

    Mobility Airmen may have found a way to conserve Air Force resources and help preserve the environment.Prolonged and repeated KC-10 air refueling operations in desert climates can degrade the aircraft engines. But the Air Force now uses a new KC-10 engine cleaning process, which is projected to save

  • Panetta discusses security challenges in STRATCOM visit

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta spoke to service members about national security concerns and the defense budget during a visit Aug. 5 to U.S. Strategic Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb."It's a challenging time for the United States," Panetta said. "But with regard to our

  • VA quality data released to public on CMS Hospital Compare website

    Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers are now included in the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Hospital Compare website, which measures hospital quality based on what matters most to patients, the outcomes of care. "VA is committed to providing veterans and their family members

  • Joint training builds NATO partnership

    About 230 Sabers recently returned from Campia Turzii, Romania, where Romanian and U.S. Air Force Airmen conducted combined training and strengthened the partnership between the NATO countries.Spangdahlem Air Base officials sent operations, mission support, maintenance and logistics readiness

  • Hurlburt Field preferred for MQ-1 remote split-operation unit

    Air Force officials announced Aug. 4 that Hurlburt Field, Fla., is the preferred alternative for the Air Force Reserve Command MQ-1 remote split-operations squadron. Hurlburt Field will receive a single MQ-1 RSO squadron consisting of 140 personnel and associated equipment. This action does not

  • Hero honored at new William A. Jones III Building

    Joint Base Andrews unveiled a new display in the recently-opened William A. Jones III Building on July 28, both of which honor the life and service of Medal of Honor recipient Col. William A. Jones III. The display dedication, presided over by Maj. Gen. Darren McDew, the Air Force District of

  • Air Force officials release E-5 promotion list

    The staff sergeant promotion list is now available on the Air Force Personnel Center's website and Air Force Personnel Services website under enlisted promotions. Airmen can also access their Weighed Airman Promotion System score notices at the same time on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight

  • Eielson AFB Airmen join university for emergency management exercise

    First responders and plans and programs teams here joined staff members from the University of Alaska and local emergency management teams July 27-28 to conduct emergency management exercise at the UAF campus.The university's first large-scale exercise tested emergency responders the first day and

  • Secretary of the Air Force talks with Airmen while visiting Vance AFB

    "We're committed to ensuring that the United States continues to have the world's finest Air Force for generations to come," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley during his stop here July 27.Donley spent three hours at Vance AFB, accompanied by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy

  • Former CMSAF visits Andersen AFB

    The 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 27 and shared his perspective as the service's former top enlisted member.Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley retired from active duty at the highest enlisted level of leadership in

  • Base mall undergoes changes to save $15M in energy

    Officials at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center here recently started phase II of a cost-saving energy initiative that will save at least $15 million over the course of the building's life.Phase I consisted of removing redundant and unnecessary lighting in and around the KMCC

  • Mullen stresses lessons of jointness

    The men and women gathered in the apse of the Al-Faw Palace here spoke volumes of what the U.S. military has become.Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Defense Department civilians gathered to hear and to ask questions of America's highest-ranking military officer. Their service together in the

  • New defense secretary makes surprise visit to Peterson AFB

    The new secretary of defense, Leon Panetta, made a surprise visit here July 29, taking time to talk to a group of service members who were eager to meet the newest member of the Department of Defense family. While the stay was brief and the group small, Panetta's words to the gathering of Airmen,

  • TRICARE survivor benefits continue upon death of sponsor

    TRICARE will continue to provide coverage for family members if a sponsor dies. Options and costs will vary based on the sponsor's military status when he or she dies and if the surviving beneficiary is a spouse or child If a beneficiary is the spouse of an active duty service member who died while

  • Combined exercise tests interoperability between coalition partners

    Firefighters from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing completed a training scenario with the French and host nation firefighters here July 25 to test their interoperability. The exercise helped break through communication barriers and foster relations between the firefighters."The purpose for this

  • Veterans with disabilities in Pittsburgh for wheelchair games

    More than 600 disabled veteran athletes will compete in a variety of sport competitions at the 31st National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Pittsburgh, Aug. 1st through the 6th. The event is presented each year by officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Paralyzed Veterans of

  • Defense budget cuts must be balanced, Mullen says

    As the pressure increases on the federal budget, the Defense Department must make cuts in a balanced way, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today."There are three dials: the people dial, the operations dial and the acquisition or equipment dial," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said to about

  • First Air Force F-35 pilot part of aviation history

    With the arrival of the joint strike fighter, the military continues setting the historic milestones for the worldwide aviation industry in preparing the first F-35 Lightning II pilots.Lt. Col. Eric Smith became a part of history himself recently as the first Airman to fly the new stealth fighter

  • Kunsan AB Airmen put new firefighting suit through week-long test

    Thirty-three Airmen from here participated in a field test of the new Joint Firefighter Integrated Response Ensemble July 25 - 29, providing data and feedback for researchers from the Air Force Research Lab at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.Kunsan AB firefighters donned the JFIRE suit for a

  • Officials announce E-5 selection stats

    Air Force officials here selected 11,337 of 26,549 eligible senior airman for promotion to staff sergeant for a selection rate of 42.70 percent.The average score for those selected was 275.56, with an average time in grade of 1.88 years and an average time in service of 4.44 years. The average score

  • Professional development key to Airmen's success

    In a culture where deployments are part of daily life and Airmen regularly perform duties above their rank, professional development is an important piece of cultivating the enlisted force to meet mission requirements, Air Force leaders said recently at the 2011 Air Force Sergeants Association

  • Officials say Joint Strike Fighter program is on track

    The Joint Strike Fighter Program Office deputy director expressed confidence in the progress of the JSF program at an Air Force Association breakfast program here July 27.The upgrades and acquisitions, particularly the completion of the new Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., training facility, helps to