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  • Cadets win Boeing design challenge

    A year of hard work paid off for team of cadets recently, when they won the Boeing CrewSystem 2035 challenge. CrewSystem 2035 was a year-long design competition sponsored by Boeing. Teams from the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy were tasked to design the

  • PACAF demo team certified to showcase F-16's aerial maneuvering might

    A crew from the 14th Fighter Squadron at Misawa Air Base, Japan, was certified as the Pacific Air Forces F-16 Fighting Falcon Demonstration Team May 16.Lt. Gen. Burton Field, the U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force commander, certified the crew. The crew includes one pilot, two narrators and a

  • Officials launch U.S. International Cyber Strategy

    White House officials yesterday launched a strategy that the administration says unifies U.S. engagement with international partners on a range of cyber issues for the first time.The International Strategy for Cyberspace was presented here by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Attorney

  • Golden Age Games coming this month

    The largest sports and recreation event for military veterans age 55 and older, the 25th National Veterans Golden Age Games are coming here May 26-31.Nine hundred athletes from across the nation are expected compete.The games are co-sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Canteen

  • Nominations open for Grateful Nation award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2011 Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs Grateful Nation Award.This award recognizes one member from each of the military branches and U.S. Special Operations Command for superior performance and service in the war on terrorism.Nominees

  • McConnell's 349th ARS named best Air Force air refueling unit

    The 349th Air Refueling Squadron has been named the most outstanding air refueling squadron in the Air Force. This is the second time members of the 349th ARS have received the Gen. Carl A. Spaatz Trophy within three years. "I am extremely proud of the 349th ARS," said Col. Jamie Crowhurst, the 22nd

  • Combat Talon ends career as historic monument

    Exactly one year after making its final operational flight, the MC-130E Combat Talon I 64-0567 reached the end of its 47-year journey with a stirring dedication ceremony here May 6.The Talon, or as it came to be know by 919th Special Operations Wing Airmen, "Wild Thing," will now be a historic

  • Two Air Force officers inducted into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

    Two Air Force officers who served as astronauts with NASA were inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at Kennedy Space Center, Fla., May 14.Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, the 14th Air Force commander, and retired Col. Karol Bobko were inducted in a ceremony at KSC a little less than an hour after an

  • Air Force officials announce civilian hiring controls

    Air Force leaders announced that hiring controls were instituted May 12 to reduce projected growth of the civilian workforce.The Air Force-wide efforts to stem the civilian personnel growth are a result of Secretary of Defense Robert Gate's efficiency initiatives to maintain civilian manning at

  • USTRANSCOM wins 2011 Government Organization Defense Architecture Award

    The Association for Enterprise Information recognized U.S. Transportation Command as the winner of its 2011 Government Organization Defense Architecture Award.The award highlights the command's USTRANSCOM Joint Deployment and Distribution Architecture - Enhanced as a model for policy and practice

  • Travel website helps determine risks when planning events

    Returning from deployment, getting ready for marriage, a promotion and three-day weekends are just some of the occasions in which Airmen take the time to plan and schedule leave.Planning for a good time on leave is not only limited to the destination, however. The element of safety can be properly

  • Airmen ready Romanian airport for U.S. multi-modal shipments

    Members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., arrived here May 9 to extend the airfield's capability to support "multi-modal operations" during a U.S. Transportation Command proof-of-principle evaluation.USTRANSCOM applies the term "multi-modal" to the

  • Expeditionary Center's 422nd JTS hosts airfield operations TTP conference

    Nearly 20 airfield operations and air traffic control subject-matter experts met with 422nd Joint Tactics Squadron members here recently during a planning conference to develop a product consolidating tactics, techniques and procedures for Airmen operating worldwide.According to some of the Airmen

  • Air Force honors 2010 Sijan award winners

    For demonstrating outstanding leadership, four Airmen received the 2010 Lance P. Sijan USAF Leadership Award during a ceremony May 11 in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes.Named in honor of the first U.S. Air Force Academy graduate to receive the Medal of Honor, the award annually recognizes officer and

  • Odierno: Services must partner to weather lean times

    Defense Department officials must expand joint service, interagency and allied partnerships during tight fiscal times, and avoid the pitfalls of "doing more with less," Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said May 11. "We must avoid the trap of doing more with less, which is a recipe for creating a hollow

  • Lynn: U.S. must preserve its defense industrial base

    Competition, a global defense market and targeted research and development spending will be critical in preserving the nation's defense industrial base during the slowdown in Pentagon spending, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here May 11.In keynote remarks at the Intrepid Sea, Air

  • Officials announce E-7 selection stats

    Air Force officials selected 6,618 of 19,538 eligible technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant for a selection rate of 33.87 percent.The average score for those selected was 335.21, with an average time in grade of 4.58 years and an average time in service of 15.91 years. The average

  • Keesler AFB, Vandenberg AFB Airmen build missile maintenance trainer

    Airmen from the 81st Training Support Squadron Simware section here are partnering with Airmen from the 532nd Training Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to build an ICBM maintenance virtual trainer.The importance of this training system can't be overstated as acquisition of the IMVT is

  • AFOSI personnel pay tribute to their latest fallen hero

    Hundreds of military and civilian mourners packed Chapel One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., May 9 to attend a memorial service honoring the latest Air Force Office of Special Investigations fallen hero. Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown, 33, of New York, died Apr. 27 of wounds sustained when an Afghan

  • Building a better tomorrow, one NCO at a time

    Airmen serving with the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air and 447th Air Expeditionary Group are focused on building the foundation of the Iraqi air force. Equipment transfer and technical training are important, but a small group of NCOs are also teaching enlisted professional development as

  • Successfully launched satellite ushers in new era of overhead surveillance

    An Air Force team successfully launched the first Space Based Infrared System geosynchronous satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle May 7.  The GEO-1 satellite will provide missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence products to

  • AF lodging officials announce new payment procedures

    As part of the Air Force's recent implementation of the new Citibank controlled spend account travel cards, funding for lodging costs will be pre-loaded on the card once authorization is approved in the Defense Travel System.As a result of the CSA travel card implementation, Air Force Inns guests

  • ESC trifecta will enable autonomous Iraqi air defense

    Because a strong Iraqi air force capable of flying and fighting starts with a solid foundation of planning and control of forces, an Electronic Systems Center team has taken on three major projects of an ESC master plan to ensure the Iraqi air force is capable of providing its own air

  • Air Force firefighting operations conclude in Texas

    After performing 81 sorties and dropping 243,000 gallons of fire retardant over the wildfires that have been burning in South and West Texas, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve personnel and their Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped aircraft headed home May 6.Officials from the

  • Aeromedical evacuation saves lives in Afghanistan

    An aeromedical evacuation capacity unrivaled anywhere in the world is saving the lives of wounded warriors in Afghanistan, said the officer here who oversees the effort at the combat theater's busiest aeromedical evacuation point.Equipment and procedures are being improved continually to move

  • President proclaims military spouse appreciation day

    President Barack Obama has declared May 6 Military Spouse Appreciation Day. In his proclamation issued May 5, the president said: "Military spouses serve as steady and supportive partners to the heroes in uniform who protect and defend our great Nation every day. Across America and around the world,

  • Officials announce personnel annual award winners

    The deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, or A1, recently announced the 2010 award winners for the A1 community.This year's winners are:Installation awards:Gen. Curtis E. LeMay Award, for best large-category force support squadron:1st Special Operations FSS, Air Force Special

  • Renovations enhance warfighter training

    Members of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Warrior Preparation Center here have performed renovations that are estimated to save the Air Force $250,000 and 12,000 man hours annually.The WPC is a training compound for U.S. and coalition forces, providing live, virtual and constructive environments seen

  • Proposal would save $3.2 billion in health care costs

    The Defense Department's proposal to reform the TRICARE health plan and the military health system would save at least $3.2 billion between 2012 and 2016, the Pentagon's chief financial officer told Congress yesterday. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee,

  • Officials announce AF fuels management awards

    The 87th Air Base Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., recently received the Air Force's 2010 American Petroleum Institute Gold Award.The other award winners were:Silver Award - 86th Air Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany Bronze Award - 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Air

  • The Million Veteran Program: VA's genomics game-changer launches nationwide

    An unprecedented Veterans Affairs research program that promises to advance the sophisticated science of genomics goes national May 5, according to the VA's top official. "It is my honor," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki, "to join with so many fellow veterans in keeping VA at the

  • Air Force announces enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 60 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the May enlisted supplemental promotion process.The enlisted supplemental promotion release announces those Airmen selected for promotion who tested outside of their required cycle due to an extended temporary

  • Five military installations receive top honors

    Teams from five military installations around the world received top awards today for excelling at their mission despite the demands of war and recent natural disasters.At a Pentagon ceremony, Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, lauded the

  • Officials announce Eglin as MQ-1 squadron candidate base

    Air Force officials announced May 3 the Eglin Air Force Base complex in Florida as a candidate for an Air Force Reserve Command MQ-1 Remote Split-Operations squadron. "The selection of this candidate is the result of a deliberate, measured and transparent process," said Kathleen Ferguson, the deputy

  • Photo essay: Service members drop fire retardant in West Texas

    Service members aboard a Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 Hercules drop fire retardant onto a West Texas wildfire April 27 and 28. The wildfires have spread across parts of Texas and have burned more than 1,000 square miles of land.View the slideshow.

  • Exercise preserves U.S., Bulgarian partnership

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base's 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, as well as U.S. Army jumpmasters teamed with Bulgarian armed forces to conduct Exercise Thracian Spring 2011 April 26 to May 6 here. The bilateral training exercise brought U.S. and Bulgarian military forces

  • Airmen assists Kabul girls' school

    Returning from Afghanistan for mid-tour leave April 14, Col. Bob Wicks was excited to share his experiences as the only Air Force O-6 to command one of six Regional Support Commands under the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.Although the mission and the military accomplishments he's seen in the

  • Troops explore emerging energy solutions

    As officials work to shrink the military's operational energy footprint, experts in solar power, microgrids and "smart" generators recently took that technology to a crucial jury: the troops.Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who deal hands-on with battlefield power converged here April 12

  • Academy military trainers receive mark of distinction

    As long as there's been an Air Force Academy, an elite group of NCOs has played a key role in the development of future leaders for the Air Force, and now those NCOs wear a formal mark of distinction.Academy Military Training NCOs, more commonly known as AMTs, were recently authorized to wear an

  • Travis civil engineers inspect, repair 17 generators for use in Japan

    Recently, the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency's Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection Repair Team here was tasked to inspect and repair 17 generators, which will be used to help power Yokota and Misawa air bases in Japan.Due to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March and caused

  • Senior Air Force leaders, scholars discuss national security challenges

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and several other senior Air Force leaders participated in the third annual National Security Scholars Conference at the University of Southern California campus here April 26. The conference provided an opportunity for foreign policy and international

  • AFSOC waste-to-energy system converts garbage to usable energy

    Air Force Special Operations Command became 4,200 tons closer to securing effective alternative energy solutions and even greater environmental stewardship here April 26.Following a ceremony, the transportable plasma waste-to-energy system began converting 4,200 tons of garbage per year to usable

  • Top enlisted leaders focus on families

    Building resilience in families and ensuring they have access to effective support programs are just a few of the steps the services are taking to ensure a high quality of life for troops and their families, the services' senior enlisted leaders said during a town hall meeting here April 28."At the

  • Commissaries continue efficient reporting of taxpayer funds

    When it comes to accounting for taxpayer funds, the Defense Commissary Agency has proven that every dollar counts. For the ninth consecutive year, independent auditors have rated DeCA's financial statements as excellent. In the accounting world, an excellent rating on the review of a corporate

  • Case managers facilitate care for special-needs child

    Braelyn Whitford, who is 3 years old, was born with Kabuki syndrome, a condition that affects about 1 out of 32,000 children. Thanks to Air Force medical case managers, Braelyn and other children can get the medical care they need when military treatment facilities don't have the resources to

  • MEDLITE 11 benefits from experiences of Air National Guard members

    Air National Guard officials are bringing a critical depth of experience and demonstrating its ability to be a seamless player as part of total force during the MEDLITE 11 exercise here, the director of operations for MEDLITE 11 said April 26."MEDLITE is showing that we can execute our mission,

  • Secretary Donley visits ROTC students at Southern Cal

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley met with cadets from University of Southern California's Air Force ROTC Det. 60 April 25 during a visit to the USC campus here. Following a tour of the detachment's offices and dayroom, the secretary took time to talk with cadets and answer their questions.

  • New unit adds outreach, education to contingency response mission

    A new air mobility unit activated April 19 in a ceremony here, marking the genesis of a new mission for the expeditionary air mobility specialists of the 621st Contingency Response Wing. By order of the secretary of the Air Force, members of the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron will provide

  • Continuing to strengthen nuclear operations: Munitions squadrons to realign

    Air Force officials announced April 27 here plans to transfer munitions squadrons responsible for nuclear mission support from Air Force Materiel Command to Air Force Global Strike Command in the next 12 months.This is another step in continuing to strengthen the nuclear enterprise; under a previous

  • Air Force evacuation team carries wounded warriors home

    By many accounts, 20-year-old Army Spc. Dustin Morrison is a living miracle and a testament to the military medical system that's getting medical care to wounded warriors and moving them to progressively advanced levels of care faster than ever before.Specialist Morrison, an Iowa Army National

  • Conference to spotlight military family issues

    Nearly 2,000 helping professionals from around the world are gathering in Chicago April 27 to share the latest family-related information and research and to hear from some of the nation's most renowned military family experts.The 2011 Family Resilience Conference will offer participants access to

  • Communication helps children cope with deployments

    For service members and their families, preparing for an upcoming deployment is another of the many challenges unique to military life. Letting children know that they can talk about their fears and worries when preparing for a deployment helps them prepare for stressful situations in the

  • Wilford Hall hosts multi-service ultrasound course

    Providers from across the U.S. attended a joint-service ultrasound course at Wilford Hall Medical Center here April 14 and 15.The course's formal title, "Current Concepts in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2011," was offered to 45 Air Force, Army and Navy medical personnel."Similar courses have been

  • Fitness center at Tyndall receives LEED Platinum award

    The fitness center here was awarded the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum level, the highest rating possible as of Aug. 20, 2010, under the group's green building rating system. The fitness center opened Aug. 20, 2010, and is the first building in

  • Air Guard, Reserve continue to fight Texas wildfires

    As of April 25, the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group continues to battle the wildfires that are raging throughout areas of southern Texas. The 302nd AEG, comprising Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units, has assisted with fire fighting efforts throughout the week. The group currently has six

  • Network would link defense functions, people

    To optimize U.S. cybersecurity using a new information-sharing enterprise network in a reduced-budget era, a top Defense Department official gave industry leaders a challenge: "We need your innovation."Robert J. Carey, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for information management integration

  • Post-disaster energy conservation continues with program at Yokota

    Energy conservation measures here recently increased with the start of the No Heat, No Cool program that began April 18. Members of the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron began shutting off the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in facilities and residential housing buildings as part of a

  • Commissary produce managers get 'top' recognition

    Produce industry officials will honor two Defense Commissary Agency produce managers during a convention in New Orleans in May.Jennifer Smith, from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Donald Courtright, from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., were chosen from hundreds of nominations by United

  • DOD officials recognize Air Force for environmental accomplishments

    Each year, Department of Defense officials recognize military personnel, teams and installations for excellent stewardship of natural and cultural resources entrusted to their care. Conservation efforts across the Air Force over the past year were rewarded April 15, when the Air Force was announced

  • Gates: Obama OKs Predator strikes in Libya

    President Barack Obama has approved the use of U.S. armed predator strikes in Libya, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said April 22."The president has said that where we have some unique capabilities, he is willing to use those," Secretary Gates said. "In fact, he has approved the use of armed

  • Wounded warrior returns to serve Air Force

    Gunar Moschner knows the pain and anxiety that follows a work-related injury, but he also knows help is available through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program.Thanks to the program, and his own perseverance, Mr. Moschner is once again serving with the Air Force.His life today is a long way from

  • Air Force on track with KC-46A program

    Air Force and Boeing Company officials met for the KC-46A program post-award conference recently to discuss program specifics, including a technical overview of the program. The discussions, which took place in Harbour Pointe, Wash., featured details of the in-line production process, draft

  • Defense Finance and Accounting Service revamps website

    Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials are rolling out a redesigned website tonight to give the Defense Department's workforce easier, quicker access to the information they need. "We know our online visitors don't want to spend more of their time on our website than they have to," said

  • Satellite supports relief efforts in Japan

    The Wideband Global SATCOM system's unique dual-band and crossbanding capabilities are proving to be critical in the ongoing earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in Japan, officials said. Intended for use with military operations, WGS is now using its capability to communicate across the frequency

  • Doolittle Raiders visit Offutt Air Force Base

    Almost 69 years to the day since their famous air raid on Japan, the five surviving Doolittle Raiders gathered April 14 through 17 for their annual reunion, this year in Nebraska.Included in this year's events, spread throughout Omaha and Lincoln, was a visit to meet the men and women of Offutt Air

  • Airmen provide vital link in Japan earthquake and tsunami relief

    From a windowless vault within the Pacific Air Forces headquarters building, Airmen from the 561st Network Operations Squadron, Det. 1, provided the network support required to allow more than 770 sorties to deliver aid workers and supplies to Japan, starting March 12. "I'm excited to be part of

  • 2011 Team of the Year named

    Air Force and Air Force Association officials selected five first sergeants as the 2011 Team of the Year.Each year, the AFA recognizes a specific enlisted career field, as well as Airmen from across the Air Force, in that specialty, who demonstrate professionalism, technical expertise and

  • NASA specialists to descend on Offutt

    More than 20 NASA flight crew, ground crew and technicians are scheduled to arrive here late this month as the base's newest, if only temporary, members. The team will bring a NASA ER-2 to participate in the Mid-latitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment over Oklahoma. This U-2-based platform

  • Budget cuts demand more DOD buying power

    As Defense Department officials seek additional cost cuts to support President Barack Obama's deficit-reduction efforts, weapons systems and other major procurement programs certainly will be on the table, but won't be enough to achieve the president's goals, the Pentagon's acquisitions chief said

  • C-130s continue support of fire fighting efforts in Texas, Mexico

    Under the command of U.S. Northern Command, six C-130 Hercules aircraft, equipped with U.S. Forest Service Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, continue to support firefighting efforts in Texas and Mexico.Two of the C-130s, from the 302nd Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., are

  • 4th SOPS closes the door on operations legacy

    In a ceremony held April 11, 4th Space Operations Squadron members decommissioned the Satellite Mission Control Subsystem, or SMCS, and the Air Force Command Post Terminal, closing the door on a legacy of operations."Today we turn the lights off on the command and control system that has been

  • Steering group leads Reserve Command to energy cost-cutting

    As energy prices continue to increase, Air Force Reserve Command officials maintain their resolve to lead cost-cutting efforts in energy consumption through existing and new initiatives. The Energy Management Steering Group serves as the focal point providing strategic direction for the command's

  • Air Force Climate Survey yields insights

    More than 172,000 Airmen across the Air Force voiced their opinions in the online Air Force Climate Survey from Oct. 8 to Nov. 28. After experts performed a comprehensive analysis, officials have recently released the total force results on the Air Force Portal. The climate survey is designed to

  • Dyess Airmen assist with Texas wildfires

    Members of the 7th Bomb Wing and 317th Airlift Group here are lending a helping hand in support of firefighting efforts throughout South Texas.From logistics to meals to maintenance, Airmen here will support four C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and more

  • B-1B simulators go from 'Mario Brothers to Halo'

    The Air Force is currently upgrading four B-1B Lancer simulators here and at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.The $18.4 million project, which is scheduled for completion in September, will fully update visual and sensor databases, as well as projectors and display screens, of the original system built

  • First combat systems officers graduate from training program

    Ten lieutenants, including nine active-duty members and one member of the Wyoming Air National Guard, became the first class of combat systems officers to graduate from the 479th Flying Training Group's CSO training program here April 15. Previously, the Air Force had separate training tracks for

  • New CPR training wants you to switch your ABCs

    Most Airmen who have gone through CPR training remember being taught the ABCs, or airway-breathing-circulation.However, American Heart Association officials are suggesting people change the ABC sequence to CAB, or circulation-airway-breathing."Changing from ABC to CAB will save more lives," said

  • U.S.-trained Afghan pilots advance in Mi-17 course, designated as co-pilots

    The first two Afghan air force helicopter pilots to complete basic aviator training in the U.S. recently became qualified as co-pilots in the Mi-17 helicopter, the focal point of the Afghan air force's rotary-wing force. The qualification marks the halfway point in their Mi-17 training.In order to

  • Fiscal 2011 enlisted force management programs conclude after meeting goal

    Air Force officials announced the closure of enlisted voluntary and involuntary force management programs for fiscal 2011 after meeting end-strength goals for enlisted Airmen. Force management programs announced in December 2010 were implemented to size and shape the force to meet congressionally

  • Air National Guard units respond to Texas wildfires

    Air National Guard officials in three states sent four specially equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft to Texas on April 18 to support civil authorities battling 32 wildfires.The C-130s, equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, were sent under the direction of the Joint Forces

  • Air Force Reserve C-130s support fight against Mexican wildland fires

    Two Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft conducted three aerial firefighting missions from here April 16 in support of the ongoing efforts to contain the wildland fires the Mexican state of Coahuila.The aircrew dropped about 9,000 gallons of fire suppressant on the effected area, approximately

  • 50th Space Wing officials accept ground system upgrades

    Officials at the 50th Space Wing accepted two Global Positioning System ground system upgrades during a ceremony here April 14.The ceremony signified a group effort between wing, Air Force Space Command and the Space and Missile Systems Center officials and their continued commitment to improve and

  • Air Force officials announce civilian strategic leader program assignments

    Air Force officials here April 18 announced the placement of the Air Force's newest senior leaders into command-equivalent positions as part of the civilian strategic leader program.The CSLP creates multi-skilled GS-14, GS-15 or equivalent level civilian leaders who navigate complex environments in

  • Teamwork essential to safely recovering aircraft

    Their job is to get planes in the air as quickly as possible, but once a plane is gone, they wait for it to come back.The more than 130 Airmen who work on ground crews here ensure when an aircraft lands after completing a 10-hour mission over the area of responsibility, it receives the best care to

  • Officials seeks process to fund urgent needs

    The Pentagon's top acquisitions official April 13 asked Congress to help set up a funding system so the Defense Department can more quickly meet deployed warfighters' most urgent requests.Ashton B. Carter, the undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics, thanked the House

  • Gates: America must balance idealism, realism

    Since the beginning of the republic, the United States has had to balance its idealistic impulses with realism, and that remains true today, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here April 14.Secretary Gates was the keynote speaker at the groundbreaking for the National Library for the Study of

  • CMSAF discusses quality-of-life, personnel issues on Capitol Hill

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee here April 13 about personnel and quality-of-life issues impacting the enlisted force.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy, alongside his sister-service counterparts, highlighted the importance of

  • Officials seek input on new consumer protection office

    Treasury Department officials met here April 13 with service members and their families to better understand financial challenges in the military community.Holly Petraeus, the head of the Office of Servicemember Affairs in the Treasury Department's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has been

  • Kandahar Air Wing achieves medical evacuation milestone

    A combined team of Afghan air force and coalition members conducted the first dedicated Mi-17 medical evacuation mission April 11 here. The team moved an Afghan National Army officer, who incurred a compound leg fracture, from Camp Bastion back to Kandahar.The planning for the inaugural mission

  • High school senior assignment deferment program automated

    In an effort to better serve military families, Air Force personnel officials have automated the High School Senior Assignment Deferment program application.  The program increases stability for military family members entering their senior year of high school. Active-duty officers lieutenant

  • Allergy tests covered for TRICARE beneficiaries

    Every year millions of Americans suffer from allergies, with symptoms ranging from irritating to life-threatening. TRICARE beneficiaries are eligible to receive care for the testing and treatment of conditions relating to allergies.According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

  • Loadmaster crashworthy seat intended to increase safety

    In an effort to provide loadmasters with a safer and more structurally sound seat in cargo aircraft, engineers here recently installed a prototype of a new loadmaster crashworthy seat in an HC-130P Combat King. "The goal is to provide loadmasters with a more secure seat," said Senior Master Sgt.

  • Research examines blast impact on human brain

    There's little debate about the risk of a brain injury when a service member gets a blow to the head, whether from an enemy round or from crashing against a wall or being inside a vehicle during an explosion.But some of the foremost academic researchers from around the world, working in cooperation

  • Initial cyber INWT class graduates

    Sixteen Airmen graduated from the first Intermediate Network Warfare Training class here March 31.Members of the 39th Information Operations Squadron developed the nine-week course to serve as initial-qualification training for cyber defense operators. The Airmen created the course in six months,

  • Hanscom team helps 'forge' new path for software development, testing

    Acquisition by its nature is a fairly rigid business, governed by established rules and procedures designed to ensure integrity, fairness and programmatic oversight. This creates a vexing problem for those trying to increase acquisition speed and agility. It's particularly challenging when dealing

  • North to south: U.S. defenders train Iraqi partners

    More than a dozen Iraqi air force security forces students took a step closer toward autonomous base security after graduating from a training course taught by Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air advisers April 7. The two-week course aimed to prepare the initial cadre of Iraqi airmen planning to

  • B-1B Lancer upgrade will triple payload

    Airmen from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron began their first phase of demonstrations of a multiple ejector rack on a B-1B Lancer here March 22.If fielded, 16-carry modified rotary launchers will increase the number of 500-pound joint direct attack munitions and laser-guided JDAMs carried by