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  • Air Force Week Cocoa Beach begins with proclamation ceremony

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin C. Conaton and Florida Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp helped kick off Air Force Week Cocoa Beach during a proclamation ceremony here Oct 26. "We rely upon the public, who are here and in other parts of the country, to help us succeed," Ms. Conaton said to the more than

  • Air Force officials announce civilian service award winners

    Air Force officials have selected their nominees for the 55th Annual Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award.The award is the highest honor given by the secretary of Defense to career civilian personnel. It is presented annually to a small number of DOD civilian employees whose

  • ROTC cadet receives engineering award

    Air Force officials here recognized an ROTC cadet during this year's Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Corporation convention in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 7 to 9. Cadet Jose Gutierrez, from the ROTC Detachment 645 at Ohio State University, earned the HENAAC 2010 Military ROTC Cadet Award

  • Hickam Airmen 'deploy' during readiness exercise

    Airmen tested their ability to respond to contingency operations in the Pacific during Beverly Kahuna 2010-F, an initial response readiness exercise Oct. 20 and 21. For the first time since Pearl Harbor Naval Base and Hickam Air Force Base joined their borders to become a joint base, the efforts of

  • Chief Roy issues call for action in latest 'Perspective'

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted Airman wants everyone's help to stem the alarming increase in the number of suicides among the total force Airmen,  active duty, guard, reserve and civilians. "We've had a drastic increase this year in the number of suicides among

  • 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

  • American air forces participate in Exercise Cooperacion 1

    The air forces of 12 countries of the Americas participated in an exercise aimed at using multinational air assets from SICOFAA member nations (Sistema de cooperacion de las Fuerzas Aerias de las Americas) in support of humanitarian civic assistance missions, Oct. 4 to 14 in Chile.The Cooperation 1

  • Airmen, Sailors train together for future relief efforts

    Airmen from the 36th Mobility Response Squadron and Sailors from the Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO FIVE partnered during a field training exercise to foster a better working relationship Oct. 13, at Northwest Field, Guam.The joint training consisted of a series of 9-Line medical

  • Honor Guard exhibits excellence, represents service

    For Airmen assigned to the United States Air Force Honor Guard here, excellence isn't a trait to be desired, it's expected. "We are in the public spotlight day in and day out," said Staff Sgt. Eric Allen, the media librarian for the USAF Honor Guard. "So every time we do our job we have to make sure

  • Program Fills Gap for Returning Guard, Reserve

    Though the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program has eased the post-deployment process for thousands of Guard and Reserve members and their families over the past two years, officials are hoping thousands more take advantage of the Defense Department program in the coming months, the program's

  • US, Bulgarian medics forge successful partnerships

    Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as well as other U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen, participated in Exercise Thracian Fall 2010 Oct. 18 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The three-week, combined exercise was designed to provide both U.S. and

  • LEAP program grows with second selection board

    Air Force Language and Culture Center officials added 260 participants from more than 400 active duty officer and cadet applicants to the Language Enabled Airman Program during their selection board in September, they said here Oct. 15.The Air Force program has grown since its first board, when 192

  • Officials seek nominees for Pitsenbarger Award

    Officials at the Air Force Sergeants Association are seeking nominations for the 2011 Pitsenbarger Award.The AFSA Pitsenbarger Award is presented annually to an Air Force enlisted servicemember who has performed a heroic act, on or off duty, that resulted in saving a life or preventing serious

  • Gen. McKinley: Collaboration saved Minnesota fighter wing

    Collaboration between Duluth, Minn., and the Minnesota Air National Guard officials saved the 148th Fighter Wing from closure and will help it grow in the future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said Oct. 22."You don't see many chambers who recognize their local military," Gen. Craig R.

  • 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,

  • Yokota Airmen participate in low-cost, low-altitude training drops

    Airmen here used low-cost, low-altitude training to practice new airdrop techniques Oct. 7 at the Fuji Drop Zone.Yokota Air Base Airmen were supported by Soldiers from the Product Manager Force Sustainment Systems from Natick, Mass. PM FSS provided the training equipment and technical assistance as

  • 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

  • Second SBIRS satellite successfully completes panel integration

    The U.S. Air Force's second geosynchronous Space-Based Infrared Systems satellite successfully completed the integration of its two equipment panels onto the spacecraft core module on Oct. 6 at the development site in Sunnyvale, Calif. This is a major milestone in the GEO-2 program and represents

  • Photo essay: Barksdale Hawgsmoke crews 'ham' it up

    Members of the 917th Wing and 47th Fighter Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., compete in Hawgsmoke 2010 here Oct. 13. The competition involved 40 jets and 72 pilots from 18 different units and was hosted by the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Wing.View the slideshow.

  • Warfighters meet in second coalition virtual battle

    The United States rarely goes to war on its own now. More than ever U.S. servicemembers work with coalition partners to win on the battlefield. In order to train for this, the 705th Combat Training Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. spent the last year preparing to host the second Coalition

  • Hurlburt Field intelligence flight earns AF level award

    The 1st Special Operations Support Squadron received the 2009 Outstanding Operations Group Intelligence/Operations Support Flight Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit of the Year award Oct. 14 here for their tremendous accomplishments at Hurlburt Field. Brig. Gen. Robert "Bob" P. Otto,

  • 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

  • Nominations open for civilian humanitarian award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2011 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award.The Fisher Award is presented annually to an individual or organization outside the Department of Defense that has demonstrated exceptional patriotism, generosity and

  • Officials seek nominations for aerospace awards

    Air Force officials are soliciting nominations in a variety of fields for the 2011 Air Force Association Aerospace Awards for outstanding contributions to national defense.These awards include:The Theodore Von Karman Award for contributions in the field of science and engineering relating to

  • Officials seek Vanguard Award nominees

    Air Force officials are soliciting nominations for the 2011 Noncommissioned Officers Association Vanguard Award.Nominees must be between the rank of senior airman and chief master sergeant who have performed a heroic act, on or off duty, which resulted in the saving of life or the prevention of a

  • EOD team trains with new response vehicle

    Technicians from the 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight here displayed the effectiveness of a new, four-wheeled weapon that helps improve their response time and capabilities during a training scenario Oct. 13.Known as the BSERV, the 36-foot long bomb squad emergency

  • 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

  • Air Force museum director to receive national award

    The director of the National Museum of the Air Force was recently selected as a recipient of the National Aeronautic Association Wesley L. McDonald Elder Statesman of Aviation Award.Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf is one of four recipients this year who will be honored at the NAA Fall

  • Jordan, U.S. commence exercise in Southwest Asia

    Falcon Air Meet 2010 officially kicked off Oct. 19 at Azraq Royal Jordanian Air Base in the country of Jordan. The two-week exercise brings servicemembers from various countries together to share doctrine and procedures, strengthen relationships, and improve regional security. A friendly competition

  • Senior Pentagon official: Military must reduce use of fossil fuels

    The Defense Department's current reliance on expensive, difficult-to-transport and finite fossil fuels affects cost-reduction efforts as well as war-fighting operations, a senior Pentagon official said."Certainly, for current operations and for the future, one of the things we're really focused on

  • 8th Fighter Wing Airmen take on Max Thunder

    Members of the 8th Fighter Wing and Republic of Korea Air Force are participating in the fourth annual Max Thunder exercise, hosted by Kwangju Air Base officials Oct. 15 to 22.Max Thunder is a bilateral training exercise intended to increase interoperability between Republic of Korea and U.S.

  • LEAP program grows with second selection board

    The Air Force Language and Culture Center added 260 participants from more than 400 active-duty officer and cadet applicants to the Language Enabled Airman Program during its selection board in September, officials said here Oct. 15.The Air Force program has grown since its first board, when 192

  • Defense Cyber Crime Center officials host challenge

    Airmen and civilians are now able to submit solutions for the 2010 Defense Cyber Crime Center Digital Forensics Challenge to compete against more than 975 teams for a chance to win 11 different prizes.The DC3 Digital Forensics Challenge is a public, online, and international Challenge held annually

  • Immersive training builds small-unit decision-making skills

    Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., got a glimpse recently into what's likely to be the training environment of the future: one that injects live actors, animatronics, projected avatars and other sensory enhancements to replicate the sights, sounds, smells and stresses of combat, and demands the same

  • Hawgsmoke 2010 under way in Idaho

    Hawgsmoke 2010, the biennial A-10 Thunderbolt II bombing, missile and tactical gunnery competition, has begun.  This year's event, which takes place from Oct. 13 to 16, is being hosted by the Idaho Air National Guard's 190th  Fighter Squadron, the 2008 competition's winning unit.  The competition

  • Air Force to quadruple solar energy production

    For nearly three years, a 14.2-megawatt solar array spanning 140 acres at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., has held the title of the largest renewable-energy project in the Air Force. Hundreds of media outlets have published stories featuring the vast display of solar panels, and President Obama visited

  • One step at a time: Airman recovering after crash

    Staff Sgt. Chris Curtis wanted nothing more than to walk through the doors to the 8th Special Operations Squadron building.His friends and colleagues cheered him on as he accomplished that goal Oct. 8; a feat that just a few months ago seemed nearly impossible.Sergeant Curtis was a flight engineer

  • DOD, VA healthcare officials combine specialties to provide 'one-stop shop'

    Through a joint venture between Defense Department and Veterans Affairs officials, medical professionals here are offering DOD and VA patients a combined clinic for heart, lung and vascular care.The Heart, Lung and Vascular Center at David Grant USAF Medical Center, which opened Oct. 13, is the

  • Test center fuses old, new technology for light attack

    Test pilots and engineers here are learning what happens when high-tech systems are combined with low-tech airframes for a new, cost effective, light-attack aircraft.Light attack, a revitalized concept in the Air Force, addresses the need for an airplane that offers surveillance as well as strike

  • C2 conference addresses future structure, training

    The 505th Command and Control Wing hosted its semi-annual Commander's Conference here Oct. 12 through 14.Thirty-one commanders, deputy commanders and superintendents from seven locations across the U.S. converged on Hulburt to discuss command and control, or C2, issues affecting operational-level

  • Jay Leno entertains servicemembers, families

    Thousands of servicemembers, their families and friends attended part of Jay Leno's Tour for the Troops here, sponsored by the Air Force Reserve Command.Mr. Leno hosted the grand opening a new recruiting station for AFRC in Wasilla, Alaska, and spoke to a crowd of hundreds of fans after 13 local

  • 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,

  • Memorial held for fallen special forces Airman

    A memorial service for an Airman who was recently killed in action was held here Oct. 8. Senior Airman Mark Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was killed Sept. 29 while conducting combat operations with his special forces team in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. "Mark believed with all his heart in

  • TRICARE official: Early flu shots key to prevention

    With flu season already under way, the top TRICARE military health plan official encourages the system's almost 9.7 million beneficiaries to get their flu shots as early as possible at a military medical facility or network provider, or at any participating pharmacy.Military hospitals and clinics

  • Interservice rivalry: Air Force athletes claim Ironman military division

    A pair of Airmen pushed the envelope of mental and physical toughness to claim the 2010 Ironman World Championships Kona Military Division on a 140.6-mile grueling course.Maj. Scott Poteet and Capt. Jamie Turner combined for a 20:27:36 time to claim this year's top honors for the Armed Forces. Major

  • 2010 Air Force Climate Survey under way

    Total force Airmen and Department of Defense civilians have an opportunity to voice their concerns to Air Force leaders during the 2010 Air Force Climate Survey.The purpose of the survey is to assess the opinions and perceptions of Air Force active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian personnel on a

  • C-17s vital to aeromedical community in Pacific

    Each C-17 Globemaster III flight out of here in which tons of cargo are loaded, delivered and off loaded to a customer in some corner of the Pacific, deserves the crew's undivided attention to detail. However, when the cargo is a servicemember clinging to life, the crew's awareness can become even

  • Air Force wins back-to-back softball titles

    The Air Force men's softball team won its second consecutive Armed Forces Softball Championship title after out-slugging Army Sept. 23 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. ,19-10. The Air Force won its sixth gold medal in nine years and posted a 7-2 record throughout the five-day tournament. Air

  • USO Gala honors servicemembers, families

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen was among the military, government and community leaders and celebrities who gathered to salute servicemembers and their families at the annual USO Gala here Oct. 7.The event featured entertainment, award presentations to five servicemembers and

  • ISR leader passes torch to new generation

    The morning of Sept. 30 saw 20 officers receive intelligence specialty badges upon graduating from the Air Force intelligence officer course here. There are multiple classes held each year, but the Sept. 30 graduation had a special twist: it was the first time the Air Force deputy chief of staff for

  • Services officials announce scholarship winners

    Officials overseeing the Air Force Services Club Membership Scholarship Program recently selected twenty-five individuals to receive $1,000 scholarships.Club members and their families were given the opportunity to submit a 500-word essay on "What does it mean to be part of the Air Force Family?" A

  • Expeditionary center takes UDM training on the road

    Officials are expanding the capability of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center here for training unit deployment managers by deploying mobile training teams across the Air Force.These mobile training teams will consist of pairs of UDM instructors who will travel to major Air Force installations

  • Airmen enhance NATO partners' night vision capability

    Establishing and maintaining solid working relationships with partner nations is a major mission element in the special operations community. This sometimes takes the form of providing training opportunities in order to level the 'playing field' and ensure better interoperability and capability with

  • Scott Airmen teach Iraqi Forces life-saving techniques

    Airmen with the 375th Security Forces Squadron here, who are deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, recently helped create a new training plan for Iraqi guards.Senior Airman Aaron Jennings, a unit trainer with the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, is one of the security forces Airmen who

  • Airman heats up fitness challenge

    A 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron heating ventilation and cooling craftsman transformed his body, passed his fitness test and found the strength and motivation to maintain a healthy lifestyle, all within the span of two months. Staff Sgt. Christopher Jeffcoat, a nine-year Air Force veteran, scored 57

  • Afghan air force adds first honor guard to its ranks

    Afghan airmen from the Kandahar Air Wing posted colors for the first time with their own honor guard at the one year anniversary of the unit's activation Oct. 5 here.For the past year, Airmen of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Honor Guard have posted the colors for KAW ceremonies. The team recently

  • Canadian forces contribute to space mission

    When servicemembers here perform a mission, whether it is space surveillance or launching a payload into space, it is not solely an American effort, but rather a joint effort. One such example is the partnership here between Americans and Canadians. Stemming out of the North American Aerospace

  • RED HORSE meets NASCAR

    Members of the 820th RED HORSE Squadron met with team members from a NASCAR truck racing team as part of an orientation between the Red Horse Racing team and the RED HORSE squadron Sept. 24 here. The Red Horse Racing team currently races Toyota Tundras in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and

  • Busy Afghan mission leads to recognition

    A 919th Special Operations Wing aircrew recently was selected for the Air Force Association's Brig. Gen. Ross Hoyt Award for their efforts on a mission over Afghanistan in 2009.At that time, the 10-man MC-130E Combat Talon aircrew led by pilot Maj. Michael Black, then with the 711th Special

  • Elmendorf couple presented O'Malley Award in Pentagon ceremony

    The commander of the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and his wife received the 2010 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award Oct. 4 at a ceremony in the Pentagon. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presented the award and Sharon O'Malley Burg made a special

  • VA Secretary announces $41.9 million to help homeless

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki has announced that 40 states will share more than $41.9 million in grants to community groups to provide 2,568 beds for homeless veterans this year. "These grants wouldn't have happened without the extraordinary partnerships forged with community

  • Airmen, Misawa residents prep for disaster

    Airmen from the 35th Medical Operations Squadron and 35th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department provided first-responder support during a natural disaster preparedness exercise Oct. 3 at Misawa City Sea Port. The exercise tested civilian and military coordination and response."The scenario was an

  • Air Force officials conducting personnel accountability exercise

    Officials are conducting an Air Force-wide exercise Oct. 6 through 8 to test the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System.An exercise execution order will identify the geographic area of interest in which all personnel assigned to, living in, TDY to or on leave in that area, must be

  • Innovative parts washer improves environment and health

    An environmentally-friendly parts washer here is getting attention for using oil-eating microbes, which means workers are no longer exposed to the solvents previously used. The system uses bioremediation to avoid the waste streams of liquid found in traditional parts cleaning systems. Bioremediation

  • 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

  • Exercise aims to change game

    A training exercise held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord recently might change how Air Force and Army units conduct close air support.Pacific Strike 2010 demonstrated capabilities that could vastly improve close-air-support operations for deployed units as well as in garrison, said Army I Corps' Chief

  • Website is one-stop shop for deployment-related issues

    Airmen can access information about their upcoming deployment at the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Online website. The AEF Online website, located at https://aef.afpc.randolph.af.mil/, provides a single access point for all AEF-related issues to include reporting instructions, tempo banding,

  • Photo essay: Afghanistan unit shows capabilities

    Pararescuemen from the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron participate with Airmen from the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing in a training mission here Sept. 24. The training mission provided a glimpse of what the 33rd ERQS brings to the fight and the capabilities it provides to combat commanders.View

  • NJ-based CRG assumes alert rotation for global mobility mission

    Airmen from the 621st Contingency Wing here will assume responsibility for a four-month rotation of Joint Task Force, Port-Opening alert Oct. 1.Approximately120 mobility Airmen assigned to the CRW's 817th Contingency Response Group will join 55 Soldiers from an Army Rapid Port Opening Element based

  • Airman dies in combat operations in Afghanistan

    An Air Force Special Operations Command combat controller died Sept. 29 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.Senior Airman Mark A. Forester, 29, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., was killed while conducting combat operations with his special forces team in Uruzgan province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to

  • Global Strike command reaches full operational capability

    Officials declared Air Force Global Strike Command to be at full operational capability Sept. 30, on schedule, and less than 14 months after its initial activation as a command.To reach that milestone, the command accomplished more than 700 action items identified by the secretary and chief of staff

  • McConnell AFB officials host AFSO 21 event

    Officials here hosted their first Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century event Sept. 13 through 17 to further streamline and sustain the KC-135 Stratotanker fleet.The event, called the "KC-135 Points of Use Parts Enterprise Event," involved 16 different units Air Force-wide, and affects the

  • DOD provides continued support for military children

    Department of Defense Education Activity officials are keeping on the cutting-edge of sharing resources and training tools with public schools supporting military families, a Washington education official said."Our goal is to reach military children who attend public schools," said Kathy Facon, the

  • Shaw Airman's quick actions save man's life

    People never know when the things they learn in life may have a drastic effect on someone else's life. For one Shaw AFB Airman, those lessons helped him save a man.On Sept. 17, Airman 1st Class Brandon Horne, a 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels truck operator, was on his way to Seymour Johnson

  • Agreement gives green light to ESC efforts in Kyrgyzstan

    A delegation led by Electronic Systems Center Commander Lt. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds reached an agreement with Kyrgyzstan government officials recently on efforts that will benefit the nation of Kyrgyzstan and U.S. operators who rely on the Manas Transit Center there."This agreement marks the formal

  • Programs help Airmen pick up the pace

    With the new Air Force physical training standards, many Airmen are looking for ways to gain a few extra points on their scores.When it comes to the 1.5-mile run portion of the test, units are setting challenges and Airmen are starting programs designed to motivate testers and help them shave

  • VA officials extend coverage for Gulf War veterans

    Veterans of the Gulf War as well as current operations in Iraq and Afghanistan now have a smoother path toward receiving health care benefits and disability compensation for nine diseases associated with their military service, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced Sept. 29.A

  • Medical staff celebrates advances in ECMO

    The year 2010 marks the 25th anniversary of the 59th Medical wing staff conducting extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation missions.ECMO is a machine that provides cardiac and respiratory support primarily to infants and children whose hearts and lungs are so severely diseased or damaged that they can

  • Balad first base to host resiliency training

    Deployments cause stress and stress, if not managed, can lead to consequences such as arguments, fights, mission failures and possibly suicide.Joint Base Balad is the first base in Southwest Asia to test the Flash Forward Resiliency Training Program, which is one of many programs that will be

  • Leaders praise mobility team for successful Afghanistan surge

    When President Barack Obama announced the surge of an additional 30,000 servicemembers to Afghanistan, mobility Airmen didn't waste a second getting the surge in motion.Within days, units designated to go to Afghanistan were notified and began preparations. Likewise, the DOD's mobility team, which

  • PECI Program funds can increase unit productivity

    In times when budget constraints and cutbacks are prevalent, Air Force members can improve unit productivity by using the Productivity Enhancing Capital Investment program. This program provides units with a resource for purchasing productivity-enhancing equipment, which results in savings that

  • Former NCO fights through PTSD

    Before a nine-month deployment to Camp Bucca, Iraq, an active-duty security forces member stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., was on the fast track. He was promoted below-the-zone to senior airman and selected for staff sergeant on first attempt. Before he was medically retired due to

  • Physician earns AFA top award for health care

    A doctor here has been honored for making the most significant contribution to the continued good health of the men and women of the Air Force last year.Lt. Col. (Dr.) Christopher P. Paulson, from the 96th Medical Operations Squadron, was presented the Air Force Association's Paul W. Myers Award

  • AF civil engineers BEEF up Marine Corps mission

    Airmen and Marines worked together to build sun shades to improve the quality of life for a new F/A-18 Hornet squadron Sept. 23 and 24 at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.The 777th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron, also known as the Base Engineer Emergency Force, provided the skill set and received

  • 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

  • Military chefs to compete in culinary competition

    More than 50 chefs from around the military converged here to compete in the seventh annual Military Culinary Competition, which will take place Sept. 25. The competition, which will take place at the Marine Barracks, is being hosted by the Military Hospitality Alliance and will feature culinary

  • 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,

  • South Dakota Air National Guard wing named top fighter unit

    The Airmen of the South Dakota Air National Guard's 114th Fighter Wing have once again distinguished themselves as the most outstanding Air National Guard fighter unit in the nation. They were selected as the 2010 recipient of the National Guard Bureau's Winston P. Wilson Trophy. The trophy is

  • Medical leaders cut ribbon on BAMC pediatric ward, ICU

    Air Force and Army medical leaders christened the new Brooke Army Medical Center pediatric ward and intensive care unit during a ribbon-cutting ceremony here Sept. 21. Staffed primarily by Air Force personnel, the majority of Wilford Hall Medical Center inpatient pediatric services moved to BAMC in

  • 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

  • Airman inducted into Pentagon's Hall of Heroes

    Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger was posthumously inducted into the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes in a ceremony Sept. 22 following presentation of the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony the day before."Today, we bring honor to Chief Etchberger's memory and our nation's highest tribute to

  • Air Force officials select 2010 team excellence award winners

    Air Force officials recently selected five teams to receive 2010 Chief of Staff Team Excellence awards for finding creative ways to enhance mission capabilities, improve operational performance and create sustained results. The innovations and business solutions the competing Air Force teams

  • 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

  • German partnership enhances mission, saves JTACs money

    From energy conservation practices to Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiatives, Airmen are looking for more efficient ways of conducting business. One task that has Air Force leaders here thinking outside the box is continued support for joint terminal attack controller training

  • Veteran recalls battle leading to Medal of Honor

    In 1968, a battle raged where heroes arose only to be unacknowledged for 18 years. Proper recognition occurred during a White House ceremony Sept. 21 when Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after saving three of his men in a battle that failed to make

  • AETC: Fatality free Critical Days of Summer

    Air Education and Training Command officials announced the command ended its Critical Days of Summer campaign with no fatalities.This year was AETC's first fatality free Critical Days of Summer since 1960.The Air Force campaigns for safety every year from Memorial Day to Labor Day to encourage

  • President presents posthumous Medal of Honor to hero's sons

    President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry to the family of an Air Force chief master sergeant killed in action 42 years ago in Laos during a ceremony Sept. 21. "Today, we present the Medal of Honor to an American who displayed such gallantry more than four decades