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U.S. Air Force News

  • New 3-D retina imaging equipment improves care

    Members of the 23rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron optometry flight here recently conducted training with a new piece of equipment that helps them diagnose ocular diseases and announce Airmen as ready for duty. The high-definition optical coherence tomography machine allows optometrists to clearly see

  • 820th Base Defense Group heads to Afghanistan

    A group of Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group recently deployed to Afghanistan for the first time under the new unit name.The hand-selected group of Airmen will deploy to an air base in Afghanistan for about six months.The 820th BDG is the first Air Force unit designed specifically to provide

  • 'Portraits in Courage' Vol. V highlights Air Force heroes

    The latest "Portraits in Courage" released Dec. 10 highlights 18 Airmen who demonstrated bravery and heroism in the crucible of war as they repelled air and ground enemy fire, led convoys through perilous terrain and assisted injured comrades.The stories describe ordinary Americans who accomplished

  • Spice illegal for Airmen, produces dangerous side effects

    Although it is banned from use by Airmen and scheduled to soon become illegal for all U.S. citizens, not much is known about the drug known as "spice."Spice, considered by some to be a marijuana alternative because it has the same effects, is a mixture of potentially dangerous herbs coated with

  • Combat rescue officers celebrate 10-year anniversary

    Officials celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the creation of the combat rescue officer career field Dec. 8."Our personnel recovery forces need to be organized, trained and equipped to operate across the full range of military operations, including humanitarian operations, irregular warfare and

  • Stanley: Pentagon must do better in hiring disabled

    Defense Department officials are doing a "pretty good" job at hiring talented, disabled people for their civilian work force, but they needs to do much better, the Pentagon's top personnel official said Dec. 8 here during his keynote remarks at the 30th annual Disability Awards Ceremony and Forum."I

  • US, Japanese servicemembers partner for Keen Sword 2011

    Airmen from across the Pacific Air Forces are teaming up with their Japan Air Self-Defense Force counterparts in support of a Japan-wide, week- long exercise Dec. 3 through 10 here. Airmen from Misawa and Yokota Air Bases, Japan, and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, arrived here, where they will

  • U.S., Japanese servicemembers partner for nationwide training exercise

    Airmen from across Pacific Air Forces are teaming up with their Japan Air Self-Defense Force counterparts at this central-Japan air base in support of a Japan-wide exercise Dec. 3 through 10. Airmen from Misawa and Kunsan air bases in Japan, and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, arrived at Komatsu AB

  • Airmen connect US, Japan during Keen Sword 11

    More than 25 members of the 644th Combat Communication Squadron from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, are working to provide communication capabilities to Airmen here. The Andersen AFB Airmen are teaming up with Airmen from Osan Air Base, Korea; Misawa AB, Japan; and Langley AFB, Virginia. Together,

  • Air Force rugby team continues successful streak

    The Air Force men's rugby team won its seventh consecutive Armed Forces Rugby Championship tournament  Nov. 6.Players on the team are active-duty, Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen of all ranks and career fields from across the Air Force. They all play in local rugby clubs and on base intramural

  • Aircrews provide training for weapons school

    Flares popped from the side of C-17 Globemaster IIIs and C-130 Hercules aircraft and fell to the desert floor, filling the skies with smoke. Pilots weaved their way through mountainous terrain to avoid threats along an airdrop route trying not to get blown out of the sky. Fortunately for the 535th

  • Airmen acquire MQ-9 maintenance responsibility in Afghanistan

    Airmen assumed responsibility of MQ-9 Reaper maintenance operations Dec. 1 here.Nearly 75 Airmen replaced a civilian contract force, making them the first servicemembers to maintain MQ-9s since they entered combat operations in Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom."We're really excited to be

  • Keen Sword exercise sharpens US-Japan alliance

    About 10,500 U.S. servicemembers and their Japan Self Defense Force counterparts are participating in exercise Keen Sword 2011, Dec. 3 through 10, on military installations throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa and in the water surrounding Japan.Keen Sword is a regularly-scheduled exercise designed to

  • Nine medevaced from PRT Zabul after tragic accident

    It was 9:10 a.m. when the notification came to Forward Operating Base Smart, Afghanistan.A civilian bus headed south on Highway 1 rolled over, leaving seven dead and more than 30 injured just outside Qalat city.Within 15 minutes, medical personnel from Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul were on

  • Digital close-air support improvements on the way

    Airmen on the ground whose mission is to help deliver close-air support will soon receive a set of tools that will help them do their jobs better while lightening the loads they're required to carry.Tactical air control party Airmen are assigned to Army units that engage in all levels of operations,

  • Remembering Virginia: Captain uses CFC to honor friend

    "I will not let fear rule my life. I will not be consumed with cancer. I will go on and live my life as fully and with as much joy as I possibly can ... I ask that you keep me in your prayers and thoughts. I ask that when you think of me, you picture me healthy, vital, whole, cured. I plan on

  • Airmen prepare for Antarctic climb

    Two Hurlburt Field Airmen are putting the 1st Special Operations Wing motto to the test.While most of their friends and colleagues are indulging in the family, food and football of the Thanksgiving holiday, Capt. Rob Marshall, with the 8th Special Operations Squadron, and Capt. Graydon Muller, with

  • Missing F-22 pilot update

    Air Force officials here announced that search and rescue teams have found conclusive evidence the pilot of the F-22 Raptor missing since the night of Nov. 16 did not survive the crash.Capt. Jeffrey Haney, assigned to the 3rd Wing's 525th Fighter Squadron, has been missing since the crash, however,

  • Kadena Airmen wrap up largest avionics training relocation

    Twelve F-15 Eagles and about 180 from here are wrapping up two weeks of bilateral training with Japan Air Self Defense Force members at Chitose Air Base in northern Japan. The aviation training relocation program is designed to increase operational readiness and interoperability between U.S. and

  • Airmen travel to Rwanda, teach maintenance management

    Members of the Rwanda air force paid a visit to the leaders in C-130 maintenance training at the 373rd Training Squadron Det. 4 at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., which is part of the 982nd Training Group here, which turned into a follow up visit for two Det. 4 members to help build up the

  • Hickam aircrew participates in training opportunities

    A 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III aircrew trained in unrestricted-descent assault landings, airdrop, combat offloads, air refueling, night-vision-goggle training, low levels, mountainous terrain, threat responses and multiple-ship formation training during a five-day training mission

  • Officials announce officer selection boards results

    Air Force officials announced Nov. 17 their selection of 73 lieutenant colonels, 179 majors and 331 captains in health profession fields for promotion.The 2010A Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel and Major Medical Corps and Dental Corps and 2010B Colonel Medical Service Corps central selection boards

  • AETC commander to retire after 37 years of service

    The commander of Air Education and Training Command, Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, will retire in the grade of general effective Jan. 1, 2011, Air Force officials have announced, culminating more than 37 years of commissioned service. His retirement ceremony is Nov. 17.Among his many accomplishments as

  • Academy firefighters win 3 world titles

    Air Force Academy firefighters added three world titles to their trophy collection, this time from the World Firefighter Combat Challenge XIX Nov. 8 through 13.During the 2010 firefighter challenge season, the Air Force Academy firefighters won first place in three categories: women's relay team,

  • Air Force officials seek Warrior Games participants

    Air Force officials are seeking 25 warriors to compete in the 2011 Warrior Games, an Olympic-style competition open to wounded, ill and injured military members and veterans.The Warrior Games were developed through the partnership between the United States Olympic Committee and the Defense

  • 28th Bomb Wing participating in Green Flag East

    Airmen of the 28th Bomb Wing here are participating in a joint-service exercise at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Nov. 5 through 14. The exercise, known as "Green Flag East," will hone the combat skills of B-1B Lancer aircrews and maintainers."The focus of GF East will be on close-air support

  • 'Real Warriors' campaign works to save lives

    Members of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury "Real Warriors" campaign are working to deliver the message that resources and tools are available for veterans seeking treatment for invisible wounds of war."My mission through the Real Warriors

  • ESC teams with warfighters to bring improved capabilities to the field

    Warfighters will soon have a more complete view of their battlespace with the planned November release of the newest version of an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance planning and management tool. Known as the evolved mission planning interface to raise enterprise-level awareness, or

  • US, Afghan air force partner for security drills

    Airmen partnered with their Afghan air force counterparts  for the pinnacle of a month-long security training sessionNov. 6 through 7.After classroom lessons regarding the laws of armed conflict and weapons discipline, the soldiers of the Kandahar Air Wing Security Kandak, a squadron-level unit,

  • Eye in the sky

    The last 28th Bomb Wing B-1B Lancer received the necessary modifications to operate the Sniper advanced targeting pod Oct. 18.The advanced targeting pod acts as a long-range camera, which can pinpoint targets for precision strikes and close-air-support missions."It's hard to imagine doing close-air

  • 586th Flight Test Squadron hits testing milestone

    The 586th Flight Test Squadron, part of Air Force Materiel Command's 46th Test Group, recently hit an aviation milestone when members of the unit completed flight testing of an inert missile, the LTGM-65 Laser Maverick, currently under development by Raytheon Missile Systems. Air Force testers have

  • Secretary Clinton presents Antarctic airway chart to New Zealand

    During a ceremony Nov. 5 in Christchurch, New Zealand, at the International Antarctic Center, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton presented an Antarctic airway chart to the country.The airway chart was created by Col. Ronald Smith, commander of Operation Deep Freeze from 2005 to 2008, and

  • Air advisers help Iraqi airmen settle at new base

    Airmen from the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force Base Transition Team assisted the Iraqi air force Squadron 70 -- the first Iraqi flying unit to arrive here -- relocate permanently Oct. 17 from Basra Air Base, Iraq. The unit is a CH-2000 squadron that conducts intelligence, surveillance

  • Samurai surge at Yokota

    Seven C-130 Hercules aircraft took off as part of a Samurai Surge exercise here Nov. 4.Launching the fleet is an operation that occurs when Airmen launch as many aircraft available on the ramp simultaneously, known locally as Samurai Surge."The C-130s here at Yokota Air Base are the only tactical

  • Wingmen in right place, right time save lives

    Being at the right place at the right time may have saved the life of a surgical nurse assigned to the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron here Sept. 6. Capt. Scott Thallemer was on temporary duty at the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center when two fellow nurses saved him from

  • Airmen support Antarctica mission

    Active-duty and Reserve Airmen from the 62nd and 446th Airlift Wings at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., spent a few days supporting Operation Deep Freeze at McMurdo Station in Antarctica and related their experiences to the Defense Department's "Armed with Science" blog recently.Among the officers

  • Airman receives hometown promotion

    An NCO born in El Salvador was promoted to master sergeant before family and military representatives from the U.S. and El Salvador in his hometown during a promotion ceremony Oct. 29 here.Master Sgt. Fred Campos, a logistics planner for Special Operations Command South, moved to the U.S. when he

  • Airmen help Soldiers meet airborne school requirements

    Paratroopers sat side-by-side both crushed and cozy from the weight of the massive parachute packs on their laps. Each jumper's eyes squinted from a combination of fatigue and flying dust kicked up by the ferocious winds whirling in from the C-17 Globemaster III's side doors. Loadmasters and

  • Wounded Soldier saved through use of heart, lung machine

    A wounded Soldier incurred an injury that affected his lungs, and was transported on an aeromedical evacuation mission Oct. 21, from Afghanistan to Germany. The mission was carried out aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, with the use of an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation machine. "This is the first

  • Ramstein Airmen host German counterparts

    In the spirit of partnership, members of the 37th Airlift Squadron hosted 11of their counterparts from the German Luftwaffe Oct. 25 through 29 here. The German airmen, along with two C-160D Transall aircraft assigned to the Lufttransportgeschwader 62, traveled from Flugplatz Wunstorf to spend a week

  • Holloman centrifuge takes last spin

    Members of the Physiological Training Center concluded 22 years of centrifuge training here with its final spin Oct. 27.The culmination of the centrifuge training mission at Holloman AFB was directed by the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure of 2005, which announced the consolidation

  • Fairchild Airmen rescue 6 in one day

    Airmen from the 36th Rescue Flight saved six people and a dog during two different operations in Northern Idaho Oct. 28. Unexpected snowfall, up to 3 feet in some places, stranded a father and daughter as well as a group of campers among the 7,000-foot peaks of the densely forested mountain ranges.

  • AFIT graduates first class of cyberspace warriors

    Officials with the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Air Force Cyberspace Technical Center of Excellence conducted the first Cyber 200 and 300 course graduation here Oct. 28. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, served as keynote speaker for this first class of

  • Airmen train Iraqi air force instructor pilots

    For the past six months, Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force air advisers with the 52nd Expeditionary Flying Training Squadron have been training Iraqi pilots to become T-6 Texan II instructor pilots to rebuild the Iraqi air force."The 52nd (EFTS) stood up this year for T-6 flight

  • Jet arrival marks start of Golden Lance

    A fleet of 10 F-15 Eagles from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, arrived here Oct. 21 for the start of Operation Golden Lance.The objective of the exercise is to build partnership capabilities by conducting joint air-to-air combat training operations with members of

  • Langley AFB nurse earns national honor

    A nurse from the 633rd Medical Group here was recently recognized with a national award during the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Armed Forces Section's 2010 annual conference in Las Vegas.Capt. Marion Collins, a women's health clinic nurse manager with the group, was

  • Special operations members garner awards

    Twelve members of the Air Force special operations community recently received annual awards presented by Lt. Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, the deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements. The awards ceremony recognized the 2009 United States Air Force Combat Rescue Officer of the Year,

  • Contract extension puts communication system on bombers

    Electronic Systems Center officials here awarded a contract Sept. 29 that will enable continued integration of an airborne communication system aboard two key Air Force platforms.The $14 million award to Northrop Grumman Corp. extends a previous contract to develop and test the Common Link

  • Airmen run miles in memoriam

    For many people, running 26.2 miles may seem like a crazy idea. But, for the nine members of the 55th Force Support Squadron's running team, it's just another challenge to overcome.The team, formed in July, after some members of the 55th FSS expressed interest in running the Rock 'n' Roll San

  • Joint STARS demonstrates key network-enabled weapons capability

    An Electronic Systems Center team is wrapping up work on a demonstration here aimed to greatly improve network-enabled weapons capabilities for joint forces. The Battle Management Directorate's E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System Modernization Branch has been participating in the Joint

  • Schriever AFB adventure racers claim Air Force title

    After they crossed the finish line in the 2009 Wilderness Challenge adventure race, Capts. Stephen Toth, Caitlyn Diffley, Joseph Revetariano and Senior Airman Cory Marion felt like they had reached their physical limits. Two days of running, hiking, paddling and biking throughout West Virginia's

  • Jordanian, American fighters refuel above Jordan

    Jordanian and American pilots recently met several thousand feet over Jordan where they exchanged knowledge and fuel. An aircrew operating KC-10 Extender from McGuire Air Force Base, N.J. refueled eight F-16 Fighting Falcons over Jordan as part of Falcon Air Meet 2010 -- a two-week exercise bringing

  • Nellis remembers fallen Airman

    For more than 200 years, individuals have volunteered to serve in the U.S. military. Since 2001 more than 4,900 servicemembers have lost their lives in service to their country. These members took an oath to protect the ideals and freedoms allotted to citizens by the U.S. Constitution and to help

  • One month of construction helps a small island

    Eighteen Air Force civil engineers and Navy Seabees spent 41 days on the outer islands of Yap, Micronesia, remodeling and rebuilding a high school as part of Operation Pacific Unity, a humanitarian civil engineering effort. "The buildings needed a lot of work," said Master Sgt. Marco Thresher, the

  • AFSO21 Rapid Improvement Event streamlines report process

    Officials here are bringing change to the performance reporting process, thanks to a recent week-long Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Rapid Improvement Event.Subject matter experts from the wing gathered with a goal of streamlining the enlisted and officer performance reports

  • JET Airmen: 'Fit to fight any given day'

    Airmen often have a reputation of being "behind the scenes," never in the action, but persona is changing with Air Force's heavy involvement in joint tasking operations where Airmen are performing non-traditional jobs and missions alongside sister service members.There are many Joint Expeditionary

  • A different way to take the pain

    Acupuncture has long been a form of medical care, originating in ancient China and moving west through the world. It has only recently started to gain momentum during the last few decades in the U.S.Recently, military medical officials have begun investigating a type of acupuncture and its benefits

  • Base cycling team raises $13K for charity

    Seventeen members of the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Cycling Team raised more than $13,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the annual two-day MS City to Shore Ride 2010. Another 18 joint-base personnel volunteered with ground support.The ride started Sept. 25 in Cherry Hill,

  • Air Force officials reinstate captain central selection board

    Promotion opportunities for active-duty line of the Air Force first lieutenants competing for promotion to captain is being adjusted to 95 percent, Air Force officials announced Oct. 13 here. Since the promotion opportunity to captain will now be less than 100 percent, the Air Force officials will

  • Kadena captain dies near Sunabe seawall

    A captain assigned to the 18th Medical Support Squadron died here around 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9. Capt. Amy Brown went unconscious shortly after surfacing at a dive spot on the Sunabe seawall. The medical readiness flight commander was rushed to Camp Lester Naval Hospital, Japan, by local authorities, but

  • NBA dream becomes reality for Academy grad

    The opportunity of a lifetime only comes once, or so we've been told. But for one U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, it came twice: once when he was accepted into the Academy and again when he realized his childhood dream of playing in the NBA. Capt. Antoine Hood, a reservist who divides his time

  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing goes 'green' with recycling program

    Officials in the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing are striving to go "green" as part of the Air Force's continuing effort to eliminate waste and become more energy efficient.An on-base recycling program, run by 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron officials, collects more than 60 metric tons of

  • Afghan air force members attend fly-away security team training

    Nine Afghan air force security forces members received flyaway security team training here from Sept. 27 through Oct. 4. They are assigned to the quick reaction force and have received previous basic military police and air base defense training. The training provides the Afghan air force an added

  • Airmen make impact with first GBU-54 combat drop in Afghanistan

    Airmen from the 510th Fighter Squadron here employed a guided bomb unit-54 laser joint directed attack munition for the first time in the Afghan area of operations recently.The GBU-54 is the Air Force's newest 500-pound precision weapon, equipped with a special targeting system that uses a

  • Academy Airmen finish strong at Air Force Marathon

    Two Airmen assigned here won big at the Air Force Marathon Sept. 18 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.Capt. Brian Dumm, an Academy English instructor, was the overall male and active-military male winner. Capt. Anne Marie Sibal, a judge advocate here, was the active-military female

  • Pilot takes top spot at Air Force half-marathon

    Although not as fast as the aircraft he flies, a PC-12 pilot from the 34th Special Operations Squadron blasted past the competition in the men's half marathon during the 2010 Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Sept. 17 through18. Capt. Ben Payne finished the 13.1-mile race

  • Joint team restores precision airdrop capability

    Warfighters at forward operating bases have recently begun receiving supplies via a critical variant of the Joint Precision Airdrop System again, due to the combined efforts of an Air Force, Army and contract team.JPADS is a family of equipment consisting of parachutes, mission-planning systems,

  • Airmen participate in Operation Market Garden anniversary

    Nineteen Airmen along with three C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron traveled to Holland Sept. 16 to 19 to participate in the reenactment of the largest airborne assault in history to date. More than 1,000 Dutch, German, British, Polish and American servicemembers

  • 36th LRS Airmen support Valiant Shield

    Airmen from the 36th Logistical Readiness Squadron stepped up their game during Valiant Shield 2010 by acting as master planners for all support, vehicle coordination and aircraft fueling needs.During Valiant Shield, an additional 1,300 personnel were here, and the 36th LRS Airmen ensured

  • Reserve, active duty couple complete African service projects

    For Maj. Jonathan Gration, an active-duty pilot assigned to the 90th Fighter Squadron, and Capt. Julie Gration, a Reservist assigned to the 477th Fighter Group here, the trip wasn't so usual, took them across the world and gave them an opportunity to give back to those who are less fortunate.

  • Maintainers keep Galaxies, Globemasters flying through Iraq

    Maintainers with the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group, Det. 5, have kept on their toes maintaining C-5 Galaxies and C-17 Globemaster IIIs passing through Iraq, ensuring they are in "tip-top" shape to keep servicemembers and cargo moving through safely. "We've got C-5s coming in here and we're

  • Air Force Marathon sets attendance record

    A record field of 12,000 runners registered for 2010 Air Force Marathon events Sept. 17 - 18 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. This year's race participation shattered the previous 2009 Marathon record of 9,969 runners, and by Sept. 14, had completely sold out at the pre-determined race cap

  • Former POW inspires audience with experiences, wisdom

    Members of Ramstein Air Base honored prisoners of war and those missing in action at a luncheon Sept. 17 here. Members of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing hosted the event in remembrance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day, featuring guest speaker retired Navy Capt. David Hoffman. "Thank you for

  • Improved weather technology on the way to warfighters

    Officials at the Electronic Systems Center's Aerospace Management Systems Division Weather Systems Branch here are working to provide Air Force decision makers improved weather sensing and viewing capabilities. Officials within the branch are working to bring the Portable Doppler Radar system to Air

  • Cursor on Target conference to feature hands-on challenge

    Officials from the Electronic Systems Center here are slated to the host the Cursor on Target Users' Conference Sept. 22 and 23.The conference will include several presentations, but a scenario-based, 'friendly competition' will dominate much of the event.Officials here are expecting as many as 200

  • McChord hosts first Joint Skies Seminar

    Airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing flight safety office, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration, hosted the first Joint Skies Seminar Sept. 9. The aviation experts teamed during the seminar to share information and resources in an effort to ensure airspace. "The Northwest has been a

  • Deployed air refueling unit helps fuel the Afghanistan surge

    On Dec. 1, 2009, President Barack Obama announced that an additional 30,000 troops would be sent to Afghanistan to help stabilize the country. Whether in support of airlift missions or combat operations, aircraft fuel delivered by members of the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron here is

  • Airmen train in Arctic Circle

    More than 200 Airmen from here arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 20 and 21 to participate in an exercise with some of the Air Force's most advanced operational fighter squadrons.The 209 members of the 391st Fighter Squadron and aircraft maintenance unit will spend

  • Air Force officials seek nominees for Ph.D. program

    Air Force officials are seeking to develop officers as strategic thinkers through a program that will allow them to obtain a doctorate in strategic studies.The Air Force Chief of Staff Ph.D. program will allow officers to attend a top-tier university to complete their doctorate in studies such as

  • SecAF thanks American Legion for care of Airmen, veterans

    The secretary of the Air Force addressed thousands of Legionnaires at the American Legion's 92nd National Convention here Sept. 1 to thank them for their devotion to Airmen and veterans. In his speech to the nation's largest veterans service organization, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said the

  • Airmen respond to Pakistan relief efforts

    Active duty and Reserve aircrews assigned to the 62nd and 446th airlift wings departed here Aug. 23 for Pakistan humanitarian relief operations.Officials said the U.S. has responded immediately and generously to Pakistan's call for assistance following the tragic and devastating floods that started

  • AF announces selections to lieutenant colonel, major

    2010A lieutenant colonel Line of the Air Force-Medical Service Corps and 2010A major Medical Service Corps central selection boards selected 1,236 majors and 63 captains for promotion.The boards considered 6,272 majors and 75 captains for promotion. The results of the boards are as follows:Selection

  • Ramstein Airmen train with sister wing in Poland

    Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Contingency Response Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, traveled to the 33rd Air Base here Aug. 13 through 19 for combined training with Polish military forces. Operation Screaming Eagle, the weeklong off-site training, aimed at sharing knowledge,

  • Air Force filling holes in communication during drawdown

    While convoys are operating in areas where ground communications are limited, joint airborne battle staff crews are stepping in to bridge the gap during the responsible drawdown of forces where communication is critical to ensure U.S. Forces redeploy safely.The drawdown has been a continuous process

  • Air National Guard aircrews aid with Pakistani flood relief

    Air National Guard aircrews have been working to provide relief supplies to areas affected by the flooding of the country of Pakistan since the beginning of the operation in late July.Col. Greg Nelson, the deputy director of mobility forces for Air Force Central Command, is a member of the

  • 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron Airmen participate in ISR demo

    In late July and early August, members of the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron participated in Empire Challenge 10, a live intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance interoperability demonstration. The annual endeavor, sponsored by the undersecretary of Defense for intelligence, aims to enhance

  • New Horizons Airman organizes donations to Panamanian children

    Capt. Aaron Jackson knew before he volunteered to deploy to Panama for New Horizons that he wanted to do something special to improve the quality of life for children in Darien Province, so he sent a message to friends and family back home to see if anyone would donate items.From a simple letter and

  • 480th activated as Spangdahlem's newest F-16 squadron

    The 480th Fighter Squadron was activated as the 52nd Fighter Wing's newest F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron as of 13 Aug. at 1:48 p.m.The new squadron comes after the Combat Air Forces Restructuring plan transitioned 21 F-16s assigned to the 22nd and 23rd fighter squadrons here to the 148th FW at

  • Aircrews practice capabilities during Global Gem

    More than 150 Airmen and 12 F-22 Raptors from the 43rd Fighter Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., arrived here July 31 in support of the Air Force's first Exercise Global Gem joint training.Members of the 389th and 43rd Fighter Squadrons will continue their training through Sept. 2, during

  • 20th FW and Pakistani airmen reunite at Red Flag

    In a symbolic and historical event, Pakistan airmen flew six F-16Bs and 100 aircrew, maintenance and support members more than 7,700 miles from Pakistan to participate in their first Red Flag and Green Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. in mid-July.There, the Pakistani airmen met up with

  • Vice chief describes airpower's key role in Pacific at Tinian symposium

    Sixty-five years after a single bomber launched from a U.S. air base here changed the course of history, airpower continues to play a key role in regional security, the Air Force vice chief of staff said during a speech here Aug. 5.Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler spoke at an educational symposium

  • Medical researchers help wounded warriors

    A team of medical researchers from the 59th Medical Wing Clinical Research division is here working to help servicemembers affected by vascular, or circulatory, injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan."Vascular injury rates in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are five times higher than previously reported

  • Joint Base MDL goes 'green' with automotive fuel

    Officials here held a ceremony at the base service station July 30 to launch the use of E85 fuel in all government vehicles that are designed for ethanol-based fuels.The fuel contains a higher percentage of ethanol than regular fuel, with a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent unleaded

  • Teamwork provides relief

    More than 76 thousand pounds of food was carried aboard a C-17 Globemaster III Aug. 2 en route to the flood-ravaged areas of northwest Pakistan.Those 38 tons of halal meals, ready-to-eat meals that don't contain pork products, were only a small part of the 345 thousand meals that have been

  • Defense Department officials launch 'Lessons Learned' blog

    For anyone who has served in the military, whether in uniform or as a family member, the concept of sharing lessons learned is a familiar one. A new Defense Department blog that launches Aug. 2 seeks to bring those lessons to an accessible online platform.Titled "In Their Own Words: Lessons Learned

  • 22nd Fighter Squadron participates in Allied Strike 2010

    Members of the 22nd Fighter Squadron here will participate in Allied Strike 2010 when they launch two F-16 Fighting Falcons twice a day Aug. 2 through 5.The 16 pilots flying the sorties are part of approximately 200 servicemembers and 24 aircraft from the U.S. and five European nations participating

  • ICBM test launches showcase Global Strike capabilities

    Two Global Strike Command missile crews launched Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test vehicles June 16 and 30, respectively, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.Missile maintenance and operational task forces from F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo., and Malmstrom AFB, Mont., combined with the