NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Official debunks myths about military recruits

    Recruits entering today’s military are head and shoulders above their contemporaries, a top Pentagon official said. Myths that imply otherwise reflect the Vietnam-era -- not today’s -- military, Bill Carr, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy, said of today's

  • General Hobbins takes USAFE helm

    Gen. William T. Hobbins took command of United States Air Forces in Europe from Gen. Robert H. “Doc” Foglesong today at a ceremony here. General Hobbins begins his term just five years after he left the command as its director of aerospace operations. The general was the Air Force deputy chief of

  • Program promotes healthy lifestyles for children

    Kaitlyn Mayor prefers to hula-hoop while her brother, Tyler, skateboards to gain fitness points for a new Air Force Services Web-based program that promotes healthy lifestyles for children. The Florida siblings are among more than 5,300 Air Force youngsters between the ages of 9 and 18 to sign up

  • CENTAF releases air power summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 46 close-air support missions Dec. 5 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Moody rescue crews receive Mackay Trophy

    Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrews received the Mackay Trophy from Gen. John D. W. Corley, the Air Force vice chief of staff, at a ceremony here Dec. 5. The 13 Airmen earned the award for rescuing five Soldiers whose helicopter crashed in a sandstorm near Kharbut, Iraq, in April 2004. The

  • Wilford Hall to evaluate Tourette syndrome program

    Wilford Hall Medical Center received a $3 million multi-site National Institutes of Health grant to evaluate a behavior therapy program to help control tics in adults who suffer Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by enduring motor and vocal tics. “A growing

  • Americans, Germans ink Ramstein support agreement

    German and U.S. Air Forces in Europe leaders signed an agreement that continues the Ramstein support arrangement between the two nations. The agreement covers logistical and administrative support provided to the German support unit at Ramstein, including housing and work space. Lt. Gen. Horst

  • Health care providers need new national identifier

    To improve electronic transactions for health care, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is now assigning a new provider identifier to standard transactions. The National Provider Identifier will be the single provider identifier, replacing those currently used for different systems and

  • Admiral Lippert: DLA changes will take team effort

    Defense Logistics Agency Director Vice Adm. Keith Lippert said the agency’s transformation will be take a team effort. The admiral spoke of the change and other topics to more than 600 people Nov. 29 at the annual North American Defense Logistics Conference here. “The transformation is not going to

  • Immersion turning out culturally savvy officers

    Traveling to a foreign country, speaking the native tongue and understanding the culture are dreams to some people. But thanks to an Air Force program, line officers have the opportunity to turn those dreams into reality. Language and Area Studies Immersion is a program designed to build a force of

  • Supplemental deployment health assessment starts in December

    Airmen returning from deployment now have two opportunities to let healthcare workers know of their mental and physical health status. Beginning in December, the Air Force will require all Airmen returning from deployments to complete a post-deployment health reassessment. The PDHRA needs to be

  • Symposium keys on space support

    The theme for this year’s Air Force Association National Symposium was “Space – Enabling the War Fighter.” With this in mind, Space and Missile Systems Center commander Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel and other Air Force leaders, and industry partners met in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Nov. 18 to discuss their

  • Americans open their hearts to servicemembers

    As the traditional gift-giving season gets under way, American people, corporations and service groups are showing their gratitude to American servicemembers, especially those who are deployed, in combat zones or wounded. "The outpouring from the public of goodwill, compassion and recognition for

  • Major convicted for cocaine use, possession

    An officer at the Air Force Institute of Technology pleaded guilty to possession and use of cocaine in a general court-martial Nov. 14 and 15. Maj. John R. Foresman was sentenced by a panel of officers to four months confinement, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and a dismissal. The charges

  • Second chance: Active-duty father donates kidney

    It’s evening, and the Pitman family is playing Candyland in their living room. Devin, 5, bounces from the sofa to the gameboard and pulls a card. “Ice cream!” the blue-eyed boy shouts, and moves his yellow pawn toward the end of the trail. “My turn,” his father says, leaning over the board to pull a

  • ORIs evolve with modern war fighting

    Airmen today can face deployment with increased confidence after practicing modified operational readiness inspection scenarios that reflect current wartime conditions. According to Air Combat Command's Inspector General Col. Tom Jones, with the expeditionary nature of today's Air Force, it is

  • Leaders visit Travis for AMC orientation

    A group of Air Mobility Command mission support group commanders and an AMC general visited Travis recently as a part of AMC’s Excellent Installation Orientation. The team toured five AMC bases, including Dover Air Force Base, Del.;  Andrews AFB,  Md.; Charleston AFB, S.C.;  McConnell AFB, Kan.; and

  • Mishap investigation training changes course

    Figuring out what causes an airplane to crash is no easy task. But many flight surgeons, aerospace physiologists and some psychologists will be part of an aircraft mishap investigation at some point in their careers. So the more they know about what to do, the better. To better prepare students for

  • NORAD: No ‘gaps and seams’ secures North America

    Identifying and eliminating “gaps and seams” within North American Aerospace Defense Command is key to preventing future terrorist attacks, the command’s director of operations said. “Since 9-11, the operational environment is much more complex,” said Canadian Maj. Gen. Brett Cairns, during a visit

  • PME boosts civilian leadership opportunities

    In the Air Force's current climate of shared leadership, civilians are being provided opportunities to fill positions that have historically been held by military officers. For goal-oriented civilians, there are many opportunities to attend professional military education courses to prepare for

  • AFIT honors 2005 distinguished alumni

    The Air Force Institute of Technology honored three 2005 Distinguished Alumni for their pioneering roles in science, engineering and education. The institute honored Dr. Anthony K. Hyder, retired Army Lt. Gen. Leo Pigaty and retired Col. Howard M. McCoy Nov. 18. “The title of ‘distinguished alumnus’

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today’s airpower summary. Coalition aircraft flew 40 close-air support missions Nov. 21 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

  • Rex the dog sporting gold canines

    Most dentists here have performed dozens, if not hundreds, of root canals in their career. But none have ever risked losing a limb for sticking their hand between the jaws of a patient. That is, until now. Enter Rex, a 5-year-old military working dog. The dog could have easily removed a few poking

  • Women Falcons down Northern Colorado, 67-60

    The Air Force women’s basketball team -- fighting off a second-half rally -- made six free throws in the final 40 seconds of their season opener to beat Northern Colorado, 67-60. The Falcons' Nov. 18 win was their first opening-day win in three years. The Falcons won the game on the foul line,

  • NSPS implementation date moves to Feb. 1

    The Department of Defense will delay implementing the new National Security Personnel System until Feb. 1, acting Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said. Mr. England, and other defense and Office of Personnel Management officials, provided an update on the system matters to members of the

  • Building Iraqi air force is tough job

    Building a nation's air force from the runway up is never going to be easy, a fact one can see at first glance. Dig a layer deeper, and the issues increase dramatically. For the Coalition Air Force Transition Team -- a U.S. Central Command Air Forces think tank of 28 specialists assisting with the

  • Leaders say Cope India 'great success'

    Exercise Cope India ‘06 ends Nov. 20, but U.S. and Indian air force leaders have already said the training has been a resounding success. The exercise, which began Nov. 7, involves Indian Airmen and about 250 U.S. Airmen from Pacific Air Forces bases. “Such exercises not only help in promoting

  • Airmen, Sailors supporting Dubai air show

    Airmen and Sailors are here to support the Dubai Air Show -- the third largest in the world -- over the next week. About 300 Airmen and Sailors, and more than 20 different Air Force and Navy aircraft from bases in the Persian Gulf region, Europe and the United States, will support the air show from

  • Colonel’s bone marrow helps save baby girl’s life

    More than a decade ago, then-Capt. Marilyn Kott spent a few extra minutes at the end of a mobility processing line to learn about a program that matches Air Force volunteers with persons who need bone marrow transplants. Three assignments went by and her life went on as usual. Then one day this

  • Big bangs destroy 2,000 munitions

    Airmen from the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight detonated 2,000 munitions, keeping them the out of the hands of insurgents. It took four detonations to destroy the weapons, which members of the Iraqi national guard had captured. After each big bang,

  • Tuskegee Airmen get Air Force update

    Members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen visited the Pentagon to learn about today's Air Force and visit with the secretary of defense. The Airmen visited Nov. 10. One pioneering Airman, retired Lt. Col. Howard Baugh, took time to reflect on the changes in the military since the day he joined in 1942.

  • Airmen defend against rabies menace

    Against the backdrop of a rising sun, a small group of Airmen make their way stealthily around the in search of the enemy. Their mission is safeguarding the Airmen, Soldiers and Department of Defense contractors assigned here from some dangerous intruders: stray animals. Team of pest management

  • Airman says manual, training saved his life

    When he went to sleep one night, Staff Sgt. Stephen Jones felt tingling in his fingers and toes and had a high fever and chills. Sergeant Jones remembered from reading his Airman’s Manual -- and from his pre-deployment self-aid and buddy care training -- that those signs were serious. He realized he

  • General Smith takes helm of joint forces, NATO transformation commands

    Gen. Lance L. Smith took command of NATO's Allied Command Transformation and U.S. Joint Forces Command during an assumption ceremony aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Norfolk Naval Station here. General Smith assumed his duties Nov. 10. He thanked the personnel of both commands for their

  • Cadets designing, building unmanned aerial vehicles

    At the Sensor-based Intelligent Robotics Laboratory in the department of electrical and computer engineering here, cadets and faculty are designing and building more sophisticated autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles. These UAVs will able to communicate with each other and search, track and destroy

  • General Myers receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

    President George Bush presented retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony today. General Myers, who stepped down as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Sept. 30, was one of 14 Americans honored with the nation's highest civilian award.

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary report

    Officials at U.S. Central Command Air Forces released today's airpower summary report.Coalition aircraft flew 58 close air support and armed reconnaissance sorties Nov. 9 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. These missions included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction

  • McConnell testing new Air Force personnel initiative

    The Air Force is testing a new organizational structure at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., designed to improve convenience and timeliness for customers worldwide.The Personnel Services Delivery, or PSD, Transformation initiative allows Airmen to complete transactions online or through contact

  • Changes on horizon for PME

    The Air Force professional military education process has developed grade-related education and education opportunities that support specific jobs for officers. "On the enlisted side, the Air Force has long had a continuity of PME programs that are associated with rank advancement, but you also have

  • VA program promotes employment among new vets

    The Department of Veterans Affairs is promoting job opportunities for those leaving military service with a new program. R. James Nicholson, the VA secretary, spoke to the American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel in anticipation of National Veterans Awareness Week, which began Nov. 6

  • Health program will help returning troops

    Servicemembers returning from deployments will now participate in a post-deployment health reassessment program that all the services are instituting. Defense Department officials said the new program will assess the health -- both physical and mental -- of servicemembers from 90 to 120 days after

  • Special ops reservist helping rebuild Iraqi air force

    During a deployment to Iraq, Brig. Gen. Frank Padilla led a team of Air Force and coalition partner experts to plan for and help to rebuild a more robust and effective Iraqi air force. The group’s mission is to help the Iraqis establish the very best air force possible with the resources they have

  • Job fair highlights veterans' skills and commitment

    Employers anxious to tap into the skills and discipline military service instills in its members converged at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center here during the first Salute Our Heroes Veterans Job Fair and Career Expo. There were also thousands of job-seeking veterans at the Nov. 3 event.The

  • Elections, security will determine size of force in Iraq

    Iraqi security forces are now shouldering more security burdens, said Marine Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, director of operations for the Joint Staff. "Iraqi security forces continue to grow in capability and confidence," he said. The Iraqi army and police have more than 210,000 members trained and

  • Academy cadets get lunch-time treat, witness history

    The new secretary of the Air Force was sworn in at the academy’s Mitchell Hall cadet dining facility today during the cadet noon meal. Michael W. Wynne was sworn in by acting Secretary of the Air Force Pete Geren. Secretary Wynne said he accepted the mantel with great pride and added he could not

  • Center redesign promises to improve production

    Continuous process improvement is alive and well at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center. For proof, look no further than the 76th Maintenance Wing's new F100 Business Unit being stood up as part of a landmark $500 million, 10-year process of transforming maintenance, repair and overhaul, or MRO,

  • 7th Fighter Squadron vet receives medals

    Sixty years after serving in the Army Air Corps, a 7th Fighter Squadron pilot received a Distinguished Flying Cross and an Air Medal. First Lieutenant James Costley, a P-38 pilot in World Word II, received the last of his military decorations in front of three generations of his family, friends and

  • Military postal agency offers advice for holiday mail

    "Pack it well" and "mail it early" are two tips a military postal official offered today for holiday mail being sent to servicemembers overseas. The Defense Department announced recommended holiday mail dates Oct. 31. The first deadline occurs Nov. 12 for parcel post items headed overseas to APO and

  • New SECAF sends 'Letter to Airmen'

    The following is a "Letter to Airmen" from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne:"It is an honor to serve as Secretary of the Air Force, and I look forward to working alongside you in keeping our Nation safe. Because of your dedication, skill, and sacrifice, the U.S. Air Force gives an

  • Transportation commander discusses separation of commands

    Change, not only in the delineation of command responsibility among Air Mobility Command and U.S. Transportation Command, but also in the way USTRANSCOM projects military power, was the theme of the opening address at the 37th Annual Airlift/Tanker Association Conference here Oct. 28. Gen. Norton

  • Air Force must stay the course with FTF, AEF

    The Air Force must transform through Future Total Force and stay the course with the Air and Space Expeditionary Force concept, said the directors of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. The Future Total Force concept is the Air Force's plan to better integrate the Air National Guard, Air

  • CSAF reading list announced

    Officials announced the new Chief of Staff of the Air Force reading list Nov. 1. "Our Air Force has an incredible heritage… a heritage built on courage, valor, brilliance and perseverance," said Gen. T. Michael Moseley. The reading list focuses on history and heritage. Understanding history allows

  • Air Force authorizes Berlin Airlift streamers

    Nearly 60 years after the operation, Air Force units involved in the Berlin Airlift are now authorized a new streamer to add to their unit guidons. “A question was raised to Dick Anderegg (the Air Force historian) a couple months ago if the Berlin Airlift was a campaign, and if so, do we have a

  • Third Air Force inactivates

    Headquarters 3rd Air Force inactivated today during a ceremony here as part of a larger U.S. Strategic Theater Transformation. Although 3rd Air Force was inactivated, the Air Force will leave a general officer in country. Maj. Gen. Paul Fletcher will remain at Royal Air Force Mildenhall as U.S.

  • Recruiters, enlistees highlighted at A/TA Convention

    Pledging one’s devotion to their country and reciting the Oath of Enlistment can be inspirational to most. This first step to becoming a member of the nation’s military is special in itself, but 10 enlistees from the 330th Recruiting Squadron had this moment made even more memorable during this

  • Enlisted aide career field continues to improve

    From preparing meals to arranging official social events, enlisted aides have long proven themselves invaluable to general officers. But over the last three years, their career field has evolved to include better training, recognition programs and the chance to earn a Community College of the Air

  • Edwards' commanders test wheelchair accessibility

    The Air Force Flight Test Center has a long history of testing aircraft and parachutes, but one little known fact is that each year leaders here also "test" wheelchairs. Edwards' annual Wheelchair Test Day is held during National Disabilities Awareness Month in October. Organizers said the intent is

  • Air Force introduces new helicopter for pilot training

    The Air Force will rollout the TH-1H helicopter at the home of pilot instructor training and Headquarters Air Education and Training Command on Nov. 5 in conjunction with the base's 75th anniversary and 2005 air show. The TH-1H, the latest version of the UH-1H Huey, has undergone an extensive

  • New space badge wear begins today

    Air Force Space Command commander Gen. Lance W. Lord authorized wear of the new space badge to begin today. “We will unify our USAF credentialed space professional community under a single space badge -- a recognizable, distinctive symbol of the unique and challenging space mission and those who

  • Podcasting becomes another Edwards first

    Edwards became the first base to offer news updates through podcasting recently when it launched the service through its public Web site. Podcasting, a method of publishing audio broadcasts via the Internet, allows users to subscribe to a news feed of MP3 files. These feeds deliver audio broadcasts

  • Medical logisticians deliver medical relief

    When warriors are wounded in the field, many rely on the men and women of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Squadron medical logistics flight for the medicine and supplies needed to patch them up. With a staff of seven, the logistics flight works long hours keeping medical supplies flowing to field

  • Air Force depots exceed major maintenance goals

    For the second consecutive year, the Air Force's three air logistics centers exceeded their aircraft production goal and met their engine production goal, putting more hardware essential to the global war on terrorism and peacetime training missions into the hands of U.S. warfighters. The overall

  • Air Force communications directorate expands

    The Air Force chief of staff announced plans today for an enhanced integrated communications capability that will enable the Air Force to better inform the American public about its engagement in the global war on terrorism and support to the nation. The plan eventually calls for a two-star general

  • Airmen help prepare Soldiers for Afghanistan duty

    Airmen from around the Air Force helped prepare 10th Mountain Division Soldiers for their deployment to Afghanistan during exercise Unified Endeavor 06 here. The exercise, which ended Oct. 23, prepared members of the division’s headquarters and staff for their upcoming rotation to head Combined

  • Tuskegee Airmen return to war zone

    The Tuskegee Airmen know about war. They battled the Nazis abroad and racism at home. Now they've made their way back to the front lines to show their support for Airmen fighting the war on terror. Five members arrived here Oct. 25 to interacting with military members, sharing their stories and

  • Air defense continues during hurricane season

    Though it has been busy providing hurricane support over the past 14 months, the 1st Air Force is also busy doing its main job -- protecting America’s skies. The Airmen that work in the combined air operations center continue to maintain the nation’s “steady and robust air defense,” said Col. Kevin

  • Travelers informed of avian flu threat

    The Air Mobility Command surgeon general's office reminds overseas travelers of the risks involved with foreign travel caused by the threat of the avian flu. Avian flu is an infectious disease in birds caused by the type H5N1 strains of the influenza virus, according to the World Health

  • General Regni takes command of U.S. Air Force Academy

    Lt. Gen. John F. Regni became the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 17th superintendent during a change of command ceremony here today. The new superintendent graduated from USAFA with a bachelor of science degree in Biology in 1973. “I am honored and humbled to pick up the torch from General John Rosa,”

  • Being nosey pays off

    Because Sara Simms was nosey, the U.S. government saved more than $424,000. And she received a surprise, too. During a data review, Ms. Simms, a lead human resources assistant, noticed an unusual annotation on a Reservist’s record. Convicted of first degree felony, the reserve officer’s status was

  • Airmen in place for Hurricane Wilma relief

    As Hurricane Wilma rips through south Florida, Airmen from 1st Air Force are already in place today to help storm victims. The rest of 1st Air Force is ready to respond, if asked to provide resources for Wilma relief efforts, said 1st AF commander Maj. Gen. M. Scott Mayes. “If we get the call, we’re

  • Lakenheath opens air dominance center

    The Air Force’s first Joint and Combined Air Dominance Center of Excellence is now open for business here. Lt. Col. Dave Slade, the center commander, said the Air Force established the center in response to the changing security environment in European Command’s area of responsibility with the

  • Conference introduces influential civilians to military

    A group of civilian business professionals and politicians embarked Oct. 17 on a weeklong trip to familiarize them with the military. The Joint Civilian Orientation Conference began here with 45 people touring the Pentagon and Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. The group will travel to Germany, the

  • General Smith to head U.S. Joint Forces Command

    Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced Oct. 20 that President George W. Bush nominated Lt. Gen. Lance L. Smith for appointment to the rank of general with assignment as commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command. General Smith is currently deputy commander of U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air

  • Vandenberg launches final Titan IV

    After five decades of service, the Air Force and the Lockheed Martin Corp. launched the last Titan IV B rocket from here Oct. 19. The heavy-lift workhorse thundered off the pad at 11:05 PST to deliver its final payload to space. It carried a critical national security payload for the National

  • Depot's around-the-clock service better for warfighters

    A new one-stop customer service center here is helping get aircraft replacement parts to “downrange” customers much faster. The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here established the center -- open around-the-clock -- to provide customers timely, accurate and “action-based” service. The center goes

  • Moseley: Air Force needs to bolster intelligence cadre

    The Air Force can do a better job training and maintaining the Airmen that gather, process and distribute military intelligence, the Air Force chief of staff said. Gen. T. Michael Moseley said there are not enough Airmen working in military intelligence. And the Air Force must do a better job

  • Air Force meets 2005 enlisted, OTS recruiting goal

    The Air Force exceeded its fiscal 2005 enlisted recruiting goal by sending 19,222 men and women to basic military training. And while the service had success recruiting for Officer Training School, it fell short in recruiting in some medical fields. "This was a challenging year for Air Force

  • Fisher House Distributes Airline Tickets

    Wounded servicemembers and their families can get a free ticket home through "Operation Hero Miles."The Fisher House organization uses more than a million frequent flyer miles per week to distribute free round-trip airline tickets to war-wounded servicemembers -- as well as their family members --

  • Personnel center will conduct force shaping board

    In an effort to right size and shape its future force, Air Force officials approved an annual board to evaluate officers for continued service at their three-year point. The board will be part of the service's force management program. The first Force Shaping Board is scheduled to convene at the Air

  • Force shaping board meeting in 2006

    A force shaping board will convene in 2006 and continue to meet annually to properly shape the officer corps to meet emerging Air Force needs. Instituted by the Air Force, the board will be a regular aspect of force management and development in the future. Authorized by the Secretary of the Air

  • Space Command presented first-ever missile badge

    A unique ceremony took place here in which the family of a space pioneer presented Air Force Space Command a unique object -- the Air Force’s first missile badge. The family of the late Col. William Erlenbusch presented the first missile badge -- known as the U.S. Air Force guided missile insignia

  • General McNabb takes command of AMC

    Gen. Duncan J. McNabb took command of Air Mobility Command during a ceremony here Oct. 14. During the ceremony, the general discussed the importance of the command now and in the future. "It has been six years since I left here as commander of the (Tanker Airlift Control Center)," said General

  • Electric cars cut fuel costs

    As gas prices soared this summer, the 37th Mission Support Group here searched for something new to help the it lower the cost of official transportation. “With gas prices approaching $3 per gallon, we were looking for something that would be beneficial over the long haul,” said group commander Col.

  • Lifesaving trauma team provides care within one hour of injuries

    Should deployed troops need on the spot surgery, there is a five-person mobile forward surgical team on standby, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice to help them. The team -- an MFST -- can deploy in 24 to 48 hours. It is the smallest forward-deployable surgical team that can do field surgery. The

  • Helicopter pilot is Cheney Award recipient

    An Air Force MH-53 Pave Low helicopter pilot from Fort Bragg, N.C., received the Cheney Award in a ceremony at the Pentagon Oct. 13. Maj. John Groves earned the award for his actions while delivering supplies to Iraq as part of two-ship formation. The major’s wingman was shot down en route. Major

  • Moseley: We are moving towards interdependence with sister services

    The Air Force’s future path requires more jointness and interdependence between the total force, sister services and coalition partners. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley spoke Oct. 11 about this vision for the future of the Air Force, but began with a vision of its recent past. The

  • 'Gateway to Europe' ends 60-year airlift legacy

    Although 60 years of airlift legacy came to a close, the “spirit” of this base will endure. The long-time airlift hub closed during an Oct. 10 ceremony attended by U.S. and German dignitaries. A C-17 Globemaster III bearing the name “Spirit of Rhein-Main” was unveiled by Lt. Gen. Christopher Kelly,

  • Wright-Patterson celebrates an essential step in aviation

    One-hundred years of practical flight were celebrated Oct. 5 on the grounds Orville and Wilbur Wright used to test their legendary Wright Flyer -- launching an aviation era. Mark Dusenberry, pilot and creator of the world's only exact replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer, re-visited the historic moment,

  • DOD begins earthquake relief efforts

    Department of Defense officials announced Oct. 10 that Navy Rear Adm. Michael Lefever will establish a humanitarian coordination center in Islamabad, Pakistan. Admiral Lefever will coordinate Defense Department support to the State Department, other U. S. government agencies and to the Pakistan

  • Airmen deliver first relief supplies to Pakistan

    The first relief supplies from the United States arrived here on a C-17 Globemaster III less that 48 hours after the devastating earthquake that left thousands dead and injured. The C-17 and its crew, from the 7th Airlift Squadron, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., delivered 12 pallets -- almost 90,000

  • Moseley: C-17 'worth weight in gold' in Pacific

    Basing C-17 Globemaster IIIs in Hawaii will boost Pacific Air Force’s airlift capabilities in the region, the Air Force chief of staff said Oct. 6. Gen. T. Michael Moseley said with the huge transports flying out of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command

  • Reserve wing welcomes change to flying mission

    The 445th Airlift Wing received its first of 11 C-5 Galaxy aircraft Oct. 3. Air Force Reserve Command wings do not change aircraft very often, and the 445th AW is no exception, having flown C-141 Starlifters since the wing’s activation Oct. 1, 1994. All that will soon be history. The C-141s are

  • Intel officer assumes command of Air Intelligence Agency

    A career intelligence officer assumed command Oct. 6 of the Air Force organization charged with providing information warfare capabilities to air component and joint force commanders around the world. Maj. Gen. John C. Koziol became the 28th commander of the Air Intelligence Agency and Joint

  • General Yeager speaks at Smithsonian

    One of the most famous test pilots of all time, retired Brig. Gen. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager, spoke to 500 aviation enthusiasts at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum on Oct. 4. It was the 25th time in the past 26 years General Yeager has held the lecture. Those in attendance watched a

  • Bioenvironmental engineers keep people healthy

    Staff Sgt. Terrence Jaimungal dips a vial into the Back River and comes back up with water, dirt, grass and other visible objects. But it is the things that cannot be seen by the naked eye that Sergeant Jaimungal is concerned with -- things most Airmen will not notice but can do them harm, such as

  • Academy chemistry department leads UAV research

    Future Air Force leaders here are working to produce a stealthier unmanned aerial vehicle powered by an alternative energy source. The research project into fuel cells and hydrogen storage materials started about 10 years ago as a collaboration between the academy, Ball Aerospace Corp in Boulder,

  • Rhein-Main mission ends, but not its legacy

    Bob Keffer is looking for work again. But at age 70, he knows it won’t be easy.But he has no choice. There is no future for him at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany -- outside Frankfurt -- where he worked for the past 31 years. The base closes this year.Still, he’s optimistic. If he can just find a

  • Dividends from OEF, OIF pay off for medics in Katrina aftermath

    The Air Force Medical Service’s response to Operation Katrina drew from a process that began in Operation Enduring Freedom, broadened in volume in Operation Iraqi Freedom and paid dividends in the huge military medical response to a devastating domestic disaster, the Air Force surgeon general

  • Myers retires; Pace takes JCS helm

    Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld hosted an armed forces farewell tribute and hail ceremony in honor of Gen. Richard B. Myers, the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Sept. 30 at Fort Myer, Va. The ceremony