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  • Air Force officials release first enlisted LEAP selection board results

    The U.S. Air Force Culture and Language Center recently released the results of the first Language Enabled Airman Program selection board solely for enlisted Airmen. The selection of 199 applicants nearly triples the number of enlisted Airmen in the program.The program aims to sustain, enhance and

  • Hagel calls DOD education support a strategic priority

    The Defense Department's commitment to military families and to quality education for military children is a strategic imperative that leaders will maintain, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in remarks July 9.During closing remarks at the Military Child Education Coalition's 15th National Training

  • Air Force brothers make fitness a family affair

    While fitness is an important part of Air Force life, two brothers have turned a passion for running and fitness into a lifestyle that impacts just about every facet of their and their families' lives. Lt. Col. Ryan Novotny, and his younger brother, Maj. Reid Novotny, have taken the sport of long

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman saves lives, delivers twins

    (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 was a typical day for Senior Airman Rainier Jeffrey as he rode to the Upolu Hospital in Samoa. As a medical technician deployed out to sea with the

  • New manual covers mentoring program

    A new Air Force manual that provides detailed information on mentoring within the Air Force, including the definition, program benefits and objectives, has been published.Air Force Manual 36-2643, Air Force Mentoring Program, incorporates information from, and supersedes, AFI 36-3401, Air Force

  • K-9 Airmen deploy with 'best friend'

    One of the most difficult parts of a deployment for service members is leaving behind friends and family. Security forces Airmen in the Military Working Dog section, however, have a unique opportunity when they deploy. "We get to deploy with our best friend," said Senior Airman Andrew Hanus, a 379th

  • AF leaders stand behind civilians during tough furlough times

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III send the following furlough message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force:As you all know, Department of Defense civilian furloughs begin this week. With few exceptions, our civilian Airmen face

  • Naples-based wife named Air Force 'Spouse of the Year'

    Sonya Rayford Cage, spouse of Allied Joint Force Command Naples member, Maj. Ernest Cage, was awarded the 2013 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year for her outstanding support to local military personnel and their families. This honor follows closely on the heels of her US Air Force NATO spouse of

  • 'Check Six' teaches deployed service members combatives

    When faced by an attacker, sometimes the only means of defense are ones instincts and ability to fight back. To hone those instincts, deployed service members are armed with basic, defensive fighting skills at the weekly Check Six combatives classes offered at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing

  • Joint STARS: Deployed maintainers saving lives

    U.S. and coalition ground forces deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations depend on many different airframes and assets to complete their day-to-day operations. That includes the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System maintained by the 7th Expeditionary Aircraft

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: On the Road to Recovery; A Wounded Warrior Story

    (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.)The cool breeze and darkening night slowly embraced the German landscape. Everything seemed to be perfect and in place. However, events quickly turn

  • Recent Academy grad now DOD's top women's triathlete

    Her heart beats faster and faster and beads of sweat drip down her face, as she sprints toward the finish line just seconds ahead of several other competitors. This race earned her the title of fastest woman triathlete in the Department of Defense.At the age of 15,  2nd Lt. Samantha Morrison, recent

  • Training for joint, U.K. F-35 programs heat up

    The largest fleet of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters ramped up to 28 aircraft June 25, bringing in new capability for the F-35 Integrated Training Center as the team trains to provide combat operations capability in the years ahead.The U.S. Navy's Strike Fighter Squadron-101 received a

  • Iron Airman challenge promotes fitness resiliency

    All Airmen must maintain fitness standards as a mission readiness requirement. However, fitness can also be used as a great motivator for people to achieve higher levels of resiliency. The Iron Airman Challenge, which consists of timed push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups and a distance run, is a new program

  • Maintaining the maintainers

    Maintainers fix and keep aircraft flying; we all know what they do. But, how are our maintainers able to solve complex technical problems and keep our more than 50 year old tanker fleet in the air?Ask any maintainer and they will probably tell you the Maintenance Qualification Training Program is

  • Air Force JAG turns 20

    Celebrating 20 years of providing the Air Force with trained and qualified judge advocates, civilian attorneys and paralegals, the Air Force Judge Advocate General's School recently commemorated the historic occasion."The 20th anniversary of the JAG School building dedication is a momentous day in

  • Voluntary retraining application window closes July 7

    Enlisted Airmen in overmanned career fields who want to retrain into an undermanned field have until July 7 to submit their application under Phase I of the fiscal 2014 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials reminded Airmen.The two-phase program is used to

  • ADL creator adds to AF e-learning

    Learning. For John Hawk it often starts here with someone needing to train thousands of Airmen as effective and easy and economical as possible.Hawk is the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center's creator of Advanced Distributive Learning products for the Air National Guard. He sorts though loads

  • Reserve F-16 pilot helps squelch wildfires across West

    Air Force Reserve F-16 pilot Lt. Col. Paul "Buster" Delmonte flies several types of aircraft as part of his full-time civilian job, but instead of dropping bombs he delivers an entirely different kind of weapon.Delmonte, the 466th Fighter Squadron commander, is an aerial firefighter and aviation

  • Security Airmen take action while under attack

    A quick and efficient response by Afghan and U.S. Air Force security forces personnel helped defeat an attack by insurgents at Kabul International Airport earlier this month, according to U.S. military officials. The attack began at about 4:30 a.m. on the morning of June 10. Within minutes, security

  • A family affair: Former base now home to burrowing owl family

    In the midst of a bustling environmental cleanup project at the former McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, Calif., a family of burrowing owls has carved out a serene existence on a small protected piece of land. Burrowing owls, which on average are slightly larger than the American Robin, are

  • Academy cadets deploy, experience expeditionary life

    More than 40 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets visited the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here to observe deployed operations first-hand and interact with deployed U.S. and coalition forces."Being out here really broadens our horizons, allowing us to truly take in what it means to be an Airman," said

  • Davis-Monthan Airmen work to end veteran homelessness by 2015

    Col Michael T. Rawls, the 355th Fighter Wing vice commander, spoke at a press conference about ending veteran homelessness by 2015 June, 21 in Tucson, AZ.The White House has announced an initiative to end veterans homelessness by 2015, and Tucson is one of 25 flagship cities selected to lead this

  • Jennies to jets to stealth: Bomb wing turns 90

    From Jennies to jets to stealth bombers, the 131st Bomb Wing's history really began with its co-located flying squadron, now the 110th Bomb Squadron, which traces its roots back to the 110th Observation Squadron. The 110th OS was organized by Maj. Bill Robertson and his brothers, Lieutenants Frank

  • Concentration camp survivor to fighter pilot: 'Freedom a beautiful thing'

    "I was pretty young with all this but I was probably, at first, more revengeful than I should have been. When the occasion arose, I did not give the Germans very much of a chance. I took it out on them. I may have been wrong but I guess I was very vengeful so I didn't give them a break, but I

  • Wounded warriors adapt, overcome at Andrews sports camp

    More than 30 Air Force wounded warriors gathered here June 26, to kick off a two-day adaptive sports camp designed to help them overcome challenges and enjoy a physically active lifestyle.This was the first Air Force Wounded Warriors Adaptive Sports Camp, held especially for the patients at here and

  • Pilots, combat systems officers may be eligible for retention incentives

    Eligible active duty aviators have until Sept. 30 to apply for the 2013 Aviator Retention Pay Program, Air Force officials said today. The purpose of the program is to retain highly-qualified aircrew members at a fraction of the cost incurred to train new rated officers, said Lt. Col. Stuart Rubio,

  • 352nd SOG welcomes Osprey to fleet

    The 352nd Special Operations Group resurrected a key capability when two CV-22B Ospreys touched down June 24 here.The Ospreys are the first of 10 slated to arrive as part of the 352nd SOG expansion, which will last through the end of 2014.The CV-22 fills part of the role previously accomplished by

  • Squadron's lone female gunner aims high

    Fresh out of training, the only female aerial gunner assigned to the 66th Rescue Squadron arrived here.After graduating from East Valley High School in 2010, Airman 1st Class Natasha Libby said she realized she couldn't afford college. She found a job at a sandwich shop where she worked for 11

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: One Airman's journey to a brighter future

    (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 a teenager, Airman 1st Class Michael Gray, 86th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, had to support himself. Gray had to pay for everything, from the

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Love, service, sacrifice define Airman's 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.)An Airman here disarms explosive devices for a living, rides a Harley Davidson for fun and has tattoos all over to illustrate stories of love, pain and

  • Hagel vows to prioritize cyber, nuclear capabilities

    Malicious cyberattacks are quickly becoming a defining security challenge "for our time, for all our institutions," Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said June 19 during a speech in Omaha, Neb., at his alma mater, the University of Nebraska-Omaha."They are putting America's economic and technological

  • F-35 is backbone of Air Force's future fighter fleet, Welsh says

    The Air Force's most advanced strike aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, is a vital capability that the nation needs to stay ahead of adversary technological gains, the Air Force chief of staff told a Senate panel here, June 19.Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on

  • Air Force Food Transformation Initiative wins big award

    An Air Force food initiative was recently selected top in its class by a civilian association, as it progresses into its second phase of deployment. The National Restaurant Association recently held its second annual "Operator Innovations Awards," judged by a panel of 11 leading food industry

  • Hagel discusses 'State of DOD' in Nebraska speech

    In a wide-ranging speech given today at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, his alma mater, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel talked about the necessity of adapting the nation's military to operate in a world that's undergoing far-reaching geopolitical, technological and economic change."The world is

  • Dempsey to Minot AFB Airmen: Nuclear enterprise is top priority

    More than 1,000 Airmen, spouses and local community members turned out here June 17, for a town hall meeting with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said he came to Minot AFB because he wanted a chance to interact with those performing what he called "the vital

  • Fighter squadron inactivation signals end of A-10s in Europe

    The Air Force inactivated the 81st Fighter Squadron June 18, here, in support of force-shaping procedures across the service.The squadron employed the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and the closure signals the end of A-10 operations in Europe."For 71 years, the men and women of this fine squadron have ensured

  • NASA selects Airman for 2013 astronaut candidate class

    NASA officials selected an Airman as one of the eight military and civilian candidates to become an astronaut trainee. After a 1 ½ year search, officials chose Lt. Col. Tyler N. Hague, the Department of Defense deputy chief of the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization, out of more

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Student pilot survives lymphoma, continues dream

    (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.)Capt. Dakota Olsen, a 310th Fighter Squadron student here, envisioned becoming a pilot starting at age 5. As Olsen looked into careers in high school,

  • Joint readiness training wraps up in Hawaii

    Reserve component medical personnel from the Air Force, Navy, Army and Air National Guard came together for medical innovative readiness training June 2-15, on the islands of Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Hawaii.The medics provided free health care clinics and performed community service projects for

  • New Professional Development Guide available

    The new Professional Development Guide, or PDG, AFPAM 36-2241, is now available at www.e-publishing.af.mil. Printed guides will be distributed to all promotion-eligible active duty Airmen in the grades of E-4 through E-8 and airmen first class with at least two years in service. Base and unit

  • Pope Field building 'green' control tower

    Construction crews here are putting finishing touches on a new air traffic control tower with improved environmental controls and a smaller ecological footprint. Many of the tower's improvements stem from its "green" roots as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certified

  • AF stops moves to Colorado

    The Air Force has temporarily halted permanent change of station moves and most temporary duty assignments to Peterson Air Force Base, Schriever AFB, Cheyenne Mountain Air Station and the U.S. Air Force Academy for military members and civilians as the result of wildfires burning in the Black Forest

  • Anatomy of a hurricane hunter: When storms get personal

    During Maj. Sean Cross' first flight into what became Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, he and his WC-130J Hercules crew joked and asked themselves why they were even tasked for the mission. "There was absolutely nothing to it at that point," he said.By his second flight, the jokes stopped and were

  • As Nellis AFB grounds aircraft, training goes virtual

    The sky over southern Nevada is quieter than they have been in quite some time due to the June 1 Air Combat Command directed stand down of flying operations.Despite the stand down, the 64th Aggressor Squadron remains committed to accomplishing their mission, said Lt. Col. Michael Shepherd, the 64th

  • Official outlines challenges in securing DOD communications

    The threat of a cyberattack that would disrupt or deny connectivity is one of many information technology challenges the Defense Department faces, the Pentagon's chief information officer said here June 12."There's nothing that we do in DOD from the standpoint of mission security that does not rely

  • Making the trip: Airmen tackle life at missile facilities

    Senior Airman Jacob Petersen is packing for the "trip." Extra uniforms, underwear, socks, some special snacks. He kneels to give his 18-month-old daughter an extra hug and kiss before heading out the door. But Petersen isn't going on a deployment or an extended TDY or school. On this morning,

  • Official explains tuition assistance quality assurance program

    To increase stewardship and optimize service members' educational experiences, Defense Department officials have developed a multifaceted quality assurance program to improve tuition assistance, the assistant secretary of defense for readiness and force management said on Capitol Hill June 12.In

  • Fleet grows, training increases for F-35

     The largest fleet of F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighters grew to 25 aircraft as the F-35 Integrated Training Center here welcomed two new Air Force F-35A variants of the multi-role fighter to the Emerald Coast, June 5.The expansion gives the 58th Fighter Squadron the ability to fly an expanded

  • Andrews Airmen powered by innovation

    Airmen with the 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron here answered the call to innovate as the Air Force faces a slashed budget this year.The four-member logistics team realized JB Andrews could save more than $10,000 per year by changing the way they acquired cars used to transport distinguished

  • Defense contractors will share burdens of furloughs, Hagel says

    The Defense Department is reviewing all of its contracts, and DOD contractors will share the burden of spending cuts, including the furloughs facing the department's civilian workforce, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told senators June 11.Hagel testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee's

  • Doors open at first AF collocated sexual assault victim support facility

    A collocated Special Victims' Council and sexual assault response coordinator office began operations here June 3, marking an Air Force first and the arrival of a revolutionary Air Force pilot program, providing specialized legal assistance to victims of sexual assault throughout the United

  • Former safety chief heads sexual assault prevention efforts

    Senior officials announced June 6 that they have appointed a two-star general to lead the Air Force's effort to reduce sexual assault within the ranks, and provide victims the support they need.Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward was appointed the new director of the reorganized Air Force Sexual Assault

  • Satellite program finds savings while providing critical imagery

    An Air Force program at Hanscom Air Force Base that continually provides critical imagery to warfighters and first responders, is also reducing costs.Eagle Vision consists of five deployable satellite downlink stations that collect, process and distribute commercial satellite imagery in nearly real

  • Siblings reunite for brother's retirement

    Being part of a large family is not that unusual, but the Maldonado siblings take being part of a larger family -- the Air Force family -- to new heights.That family got a chance to travel from around the world for Senior Master Sgt. David Maldonado's retirement from Det. 1, 552nd Air Control

  • Maintainers apply innovative protection to C-130s

    Rocks kicked up when landing a C-130 Hercules on unimproved runways can damage the fuselage of the aircraft. To combat this problem, maintainers in the 302nd Maintenance Group here began putting tape on the plane's belly. In January, they took another step by applying protective tape to the forward

  • Today's Air Force visits Academy graduation, Boston bombing victims

    Air Force Television News released a new, edition of Today's Air Force on June 7.On this episode's "Straight from the Top," Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley speaks about the challenges of Sequestration and continuing efforts of Air Force leaders to meet mission needs during this time of

  • New classification submission process now AF-wide

    Air Force hiring officials can track classification requests in real time through a myPers website knowledge article, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. The new process, implemented in April initially for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System employees, is being used for position

  • PyroLance: Water with firepower

    Today's aircraft rescue and firefighting emergencies require a quick response and the ability to access complex composite structures such as the many Air Force airframes protected by the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters here.To do this, firefighters require top-notch tools

  • NCO retraining program application window open

    Staff sergeant-selects through master sergeants in overage career fields can apply for retraining into an undermanned career field during Phase I of the fiscal 2014 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program. Retraining applications will be accepted June 4-July 8.The two-phase program is used to

  • T-1 Jayhawk modifications take electronic warfare training airborne

    The 451st Flying Training Squadron completed the final step of a long journey when a T-1A Jayhawk modified for electronic warfare training took flight on a training sortie June 4. This is the first time in Air Force history an undergraduate aviation program has formally incorporated the fundamentals

  • Green Flag-West readies B-1 aircrews for future deployments

    Airmen from the 9th Bomb Squadron participated in a Green Flag-West exercise May 17-31, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., in order to prepare for future deployments.Green Flag-West is an exercise that provides units training on a scale not available near their home stations. It replicates irregular

  • Cheating Death: A story about second chances

    May 27, 2012, is a day that Tech. Sgt. Mark Hopkins will never forget -- even though it's a day he can barely remember.It was the day he made a choice that drastically altered his life forever, and almost ended it in the process."All I remember is hopping on my motorcycle around noon on my way to

  • Combat communications group and wing inactivate

    Air Force Space Command and 24th Air Force officials announced inactivation of the 689th Combat Communications Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and the 3rd Combat Communications Group at Tinker AFB, Okla. Inactivation of both units is scheduled for September. The inactivations are part of overall

  • Airmen must understand business of cyber, general says

    As U.S. Cyber Command gains strength and steadily extends its range across the newest warfare domain, it has called on all the services over the next five years to contribute trained-up teams of cyber operators to ensure U.S. military freedom of action, defensively and offensively, in cyberspace.For

  • Airmen experience NASCAR first hand

    Some people dream of being able to experience NASCAR up close, but how many can actually say they got the chance to do it? That is exactly what the Airmen from Dover Air Force Base, Del., got to do as honorary pit crew members during NASCAR race events at Dover International Speedway May 31- June

  • Airmen, Sailors tested at Marine leadership course

    The U.S. Marine Corps Corporals Leadership Course opened its door to service members from the Air Force and Navy here May 11-25.The two-week course is designed to equip new, or soon-to-be NCOs with the tools and knowledge to effectively lead their troops, no matter the service.Being able to do joint

  • After 3 decades, maintainers keep B-1 on top

    With a career that spans across three decades and a warfighting reputation that rivals nearly every aircraft in the Air Force's arsenal, the B-1 Bomber has established itself as one of the United States' most crucial assets to maintaining air and ground superiority. This achievement was built on the

  • AF appoints first female chief scientist

    The Air Force appointed the service's first female chief scientist to lead the way in the technology and science fields. Dr. Mica Endsley assumed her new duties and responsibilities as the 34th chief scientist June 3 in support of Air Force senior leaders and Airmen across the service."Having served

  • Airmen show 'cool careers' in new ad campaign

    The Air Force Recruiting Service is currently developing an ad campaign to teach young adults about cool career opportunities in the Air Force community, with the goal to inspire young people to join the Air Force. They also plan to demonstrate that the Air Force offers the same science, technology,

  • 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