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  • Fuel savings officials plan to broaden impact with AF-wide summit

    Members of the Air Force's Fuel Efficiency Office plan to host their first service-wide Aviation Operations Energy Steering Group summit here Feb. 16 and 17.Representatives from all Air Force major commands were invited to attend the summit. The event will be the first major meeting across the

  • DOD officials ask service members to kiss the spit goodbye

    When the Department of Defense weighs in on kissing and spitting, it's with good reason - two good reasons, in fact: love and health. Using smokeless tobacco - spit, dip, chew, snus, etc. - can pose a stinky, unsavory obstacle to sharing a kiss with a loved one, parent, child or sweetheart. It also

  • Missile agency seeks funds for defensive systems

    A ground-based system for homeland defense and interceptors for regional defense highlight the Missile Defense Agency's portion of the Defense Department's fiscal 2012 budget request.The agency requested more than $8.6 billion for fiscal 2012, compared to last year's requested $8.4 billion,

  • Iraqi airmen train on tool calibration system

    Iraqi airmen expanded their maintenance capabilities at New Al-Muthana Air Base, Iraq, after wrapping up a three-week U.S. Air Force training session on a new torque-wrench calibration system.Iraqi air force officials recently purchased the calibration system so maintainers here could become

  • Officials issue first report on homeless veterans

    For the first time, officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development published the most authoritative analysis of the extent and nature of homelessness among veterans. According to HUD and VA's assessment, nearly 76,000 veterans were homeless on a

  • Efficiencies, balance main focuses of FY12 budget

    Air Force officials said despite a reduction in the top line request, combat capabilities and balance will remain focal points in the Air Force's portion of the president's fiscal 2012 budget presented here Feb 14.The total Air Force budget request for FY12 is $166.3 billion, down from $170.8

  • Deadline Feb. 22 for scholarship applications

    Applications for the 2011 Scholarships for Military Children program must arrive at a commissary by close of business Feb. 22. Eligible students must complete and deliver their application materials by that date. Scholarship applications are available in commissaries and online at

  • Air Force officials warn: 'Spice' harmful to health, career

    A recent spate of incidents involving service members abusing the herbal mixture "spice" has prompted uniformed service leaders to stress the ramifications of using the drug and other prohibited substances, officials said here Feb 11. Marketed and sold as incense, and closely resembling potpourri,

  • Air Force undersecretary lauds deployed Airmen, addresses force management

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton discussed the importance of regional partners, professionalism of Airmen and the service officials' ongoing efforts to maintain manning within congressionally authorized limits during a visit Feb. 8 through 9.Ms. Conaton's visit marked her first here as

  • Afghan C-27 maintenance cadre begins building towards the future

    The initial cadre of Afghan air force C-27 maintenance trainers recently began teaching a second group of C-27 maintainers Feb. 9 at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul. The development of Afghan C-27 maintenance instructors further propels the "year of the Afghan trainer" initiative being

  • AFSO21 event helps plan fuel conservation initiatives

    Members from the 100th Operations Group, the 100th Maintenance Group and the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron recently used the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century process to help design fuel conservation initiatives here.The goal of these initiatives is to help achieve the secretary

  • Officials certify first aircraft for biofuel usage

    The C-17 Globemaster III was recently certified for unlimited usage of hydroprocessed blended biofuels known as hydrotreated renewable jet fuels, officials said here Feb. 9. "This certification marks the Air Force's first platform to be fully certified using an HRJ blend," said Dr. Kevin Geiss, the

  • Officials announce enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 200 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the February 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

  • New training simulator debuts at Schriever

    At first glance the Standard Space Trainer Integrated Training Center here appears to look like a normal operational control center. Large, high-definition monitors dominate the walls, while multiple computer workstations provide telemetry and other important data to would-be users. The desks,

  • DOD must train for 'degraded' environments, official says

    The military needs to do a better job of training to conduct operations in less-than-perfect conditions, the chairman of the Defense Science Board said here Feb. 9.Paul G. Kaminski said that given the cyber and space threat environment that exists today and likely will grow in the future, commanders

  • Dyess cantonment honors Airman

    Airmen and family members of Staff Sgt. Ray Rangel, a 7th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection craftsman, gathered at the cantonment area here, for the unveiling of a sign renaming a piece of Dyess Air Force Base after the fallen hero Dec. 14.The cantonment area, used to host exercises and

  • Home-use programs provide software to Airmen

    Even after approximately eight hours of work per day, some Airmen are still compelled to bring their projects home. Because of this, Air Force officials have partnered with major software companies to provide Airmen with a variety of software products, such as anti-virus, middleware and desktop

  • Airmen vie for slots in Army Air Assault course

    The sound of 12 Airmen chanting "air assault, air assault, air assault" over and over with every left step as they marched double time through the woods was audible from a distance.They'd been on duty since 4:30 a.m., completed an Army physical training test, and were about to face "The Tough One,"

  • Edwards flight engineers perform first X-47B flight

    Testers from Northrop Grumman and the Navy successfully conducted the first flight of the X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstration aircraft here Feb. 4.The fighter-size unmanned aircraft took off and successfully flew for the 29 minutes planned for its first test flight. This event marks a

  • TRANSCOM provides America's greatest advantage, commander says

    The greatest advantage the U.S. has over any potential enemy is the ability to project and sustain forces anywhere in the world, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command said here Feb. 7."No other nation can do what we do," Gen. Duncan J. McNabb said at the Center for Strategic and International

  • Vandenberg officials launch Minotaur I

    A Minotaur I rocket was launched from here Feb. 6. The rocket carried a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.Col. Richard Boltz, the 30th Space Wing commander, was the launch decision authority."I am extremely proud of the large group of professionals that came together

  • Air Mobility key to outpost sustainability

    For service members assigned to small military outposts strategically placed throughout Afghanistan's most rugged landscape, air mobility is the key to mission success."We have outposts all over the place here," said Army Lt. Col. David Preston, a member of a support battalion for Task Force

  • Rubber removal begins at Bagram Airfield

    Since Jan. 30, Airmen who work on the flightline here have seen a new vehicle crossing the runway. The vehicle, a TrackJet TJ-24, is a surface-treatment system with high-capacity vacuum suction capability. It looks like a water tanker with a vacuum attached to the front. Since its arrival, the

  • Officials to conduct DOS rollback

    Air Force officials announced Feb. 2 plans to conduct an enlisted date of separation rollback as part of its ongoing measures to manage the force and maintain a quality enlisted corps.The DOS rollback affects enlisted members in the grades of senior master sergeant and below with fewer than 14 or

  • Center officials award Space Fence preliminary design contracts

    Electronic Systems Center officials have issued two competitive contract orders, each worth $107 million, for preliminary design of the Space Fence program. They awarded the contracts to Raytheon Corp.'s Integrated Defense Systems and Lockheed Martin Corporation's Mission Systems & Sensors Division.

  • AOC Weapon System moves toward single computing environment

    Electronic Systems Center officials recently put out a request for proposal to modernize the Air and Space Operations Center Weapon System."We're looking to have a single computing environment for the AOC Weapon System," said Lt. Col. John Barrette, AOC WS 10.2 program manager. "Right now, there are

  • Government officials unite to improve child, youth programs

    The government's new military family-support effort will have a resounding impact on resources and programs for military children and youth in the months and years ahead, a Defense Department official said."It is earth-shattering," said Barbara Thompson, the director of the Pentagon's office of

  • Chaplain assistant bolsters morale, mission focus from a unique perspective

    While the chapel staff here offers worship services and a seemingly endless supply of steaming hot coffee, there's one thing that sets it apart from all the rest. As the 447th Air Expeditionary Group's only chaplain assistant for the hundreds of service members here at Sather Air Base, Staff Sgt.

  • Air Force fighters prep for Super Bowl XLV

    Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters will be busy well before Super Bowl Sunday preparing to protect the sky around Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.Exercise Amalgam Virgo 11-05A, a NORAD air defense exercise, was held Feb. 2 in the greater Arlington area to

  • Hickam C-17 drops a Navy boat over Pacific

    It was 'zero-dark-thirty' and only the blue line of runway lights met the joint Air Force and Navy crew under the wings of a C-17 Globemaster III.A 535th Airlift Squadron aircrew from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Unit One from Guam teamed up to drop a

  • Air Force officials announce FY11 additional force management measures

    Air Force leaders announced involuntary force management programs Feb. 2 to reduce personnel as a supplement to the voluntary programs announced in December. These measures are part of the Air Force's multi-year Force Management Program aimed at shaping and sizing the force. With more Airmen

  • New website promotes military info sharing

    Whether they're moving into a new contingency operation or upgrading operations for an existing one, U.S. forces have a new weapon at their disposal when setting up or reconfiguring their command-and-control architectures.Thanks to the new "C2 Central" website established by U.S. Joint Forces

  • Legends Panel links past, present communications Airmen

    Air Force Network Integration Center Airmen had a unique opportunity to meet with and ask questions of some of the organization's past commanders and members of the Communications and Information Hall of Fame during the AFNIC Legends Panel session here Jan 26.The panel was part of a two-day heritage

  • Air National Guard fighter wing preps for alert missions at Tyndall

    U.S.-based alert pilots train to shoot down enemy aircraft over American soil. They run exercise scenarios on a constant basis, preparing for that call to scramble. But all the dry runs in the world can't prepare a pilot for that moment when a live missile is released from the jet. That's why

  • Officials announce Sijan Award winners

    Air Force officials announced the winners of the 2010 Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award.The Sijan Award annually recognizes four Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities. Officer and enlisted honorees are chosen in senior and junior categories.Lt. Col. Tony Millican of Nellis Air Force

  • VA officials seek opinion of veterans and public and private experts

    Officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs are hosting a public forum in Scottsdale, Ariz., aimed at improving the fairness of payments for veterans who are service-connected for genitourinary, digestive, dental, infectious, immune disorder and nutritional deficiency diseases and injuries.

  • F-15E pilot selected to receive Jabara Award

    An F-15E Strike Eagle pilot and 2004 graduate of the Air Force Academy was selected Jan. 25 to receive the 2011 Col. James Jabara Award for Airmanship.Capt. Michael Polidor, a member of Air Force Global Strike Command, distinguished himself through heroic actions in an Operation Enduring Freedom

  • High-tempo training prepares maintainers for war

    Aircraft maintainers are working day and night during Red Flag 11-2, so pilots can fly the missions needed to prepare for aerial combat, but not only aircrew members benefit from the Red Flag experience.The high-tempo mission requirements of Red Flag provide maintainers an environment that

  • Officials to issue new camouflage uniforms to deployers

    Airmen deploying to Afghanistan in 2011 will see a new uniform issued to them as part of their deployment gear beginning in March. While Airmen have been faced with a slew of uniform changes in recent years, this new uniform is not a matter of image or heritage but instead has resulted from a joint

  • Collaboration is key to family support effort, official says

    Collaboration is at the heart of the government's new military family support directive and is the key to supporting service members and their families in the months and years ahead, a Defense Department official said Jan. 26."We clearly are trying to find in every agency in the government ways to

  • First U.S.-trained Afghan helicopter pilots begin Mi-17 qualification course

    The first two Afghan air force helicopter pilots to complete basic pilot training in the U.S. recently began the initial Mi-17 qualification course meant to convert them into Mi-17 helicopter pilots at the Afghan air force base in Kabul. A hybrid of Croatian and U.S. helicopter training syllabi, the

  • Lynn: Defense budget plans strike 'right balance'

    The Defense Department's plans to cut $78 billion from its budget over five years, and find more than $100 billion in savings for reinvestment, was a collaborative effort and a reasonable balance between military needs and budget constraints, said Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III Jan.

  • Program helps service retain RPA, rated pilots

    Air Force officials announced their plans Jan. 26 for the fiscal 2011 Aviator Continuation Pay program to help retain active-duty pilots and combat-systems officers who are trained as remotely piloted aircraft pilots.The ACP program allows some active-duty, rated aviators to qualify for a monetary

  • Iraqi Air Force College trains pilots and ground support officers

    For future pilots and ground support officers, the gateway to Iraqi air power opened Sept. 1, 2010, at the Iraqi Air Force College here.There are 143 cadet pilots studying courses in avionics and aviation theory, along with geography, history, and an extensive core curriculum in the English

  • System for military disaster relief takes shape

    A system is being created that is intended to strengthen the ability of service members to contribute to civilian-led disaster response in the Western Hemisphere, a Defense Department official said here Jan. 24.Paul Stockton, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and Americas'

  • Rescue Airmen take on 'Titan' training

    An unused rocket-assembly building here is finding new life as a training facility to teach high-altitude, high-angle and confined-space rescue techniques. Air Force Reserve pararescuemen and combat rescue officers from the Air Force Reserve Command's 920th Rescue Wing here, joined their active-duty

  • Airmen demonstrate capabilities during life-like exercise

    Airmen here recently participated in Beverly High 11-02, a local operational readiness exercise that used scenarios to gauge Airmen's ability to react and respond to different situations and base emergencies.In one scenario Jan. 19, firefighters, security-forces and flight-medicine professionals

  • F-15E flies with new radar system

    Officials took a step forward in the F-15E Strike Eagle's continuous technological evolution as the Air Force's most versatile combat aircraft here Jan. 18.Officials from the 46th Test Wing launched the fourth generation fighter for the first time with a new and improved radar system, the

  • Afghan air force help desk receives upgrade training

    The Afghan air force and the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan advisers recently started a new computer training course here Jan. 17. A+ training provides the basic fundamentals on desktop computers and networking. Upon completion of the course, the AAF technicians or individuals will be able to

  • White House unveils new approach to military family support

    White House officials have released a report that unveils a new, governmentwide approach to military family support and details a sweeping, interagency effort under way to strengthen families and enhance their well-being and quality of life.President Barack Obama announced the results of a nearly

  • CMSAF visits Davis-Monthan AFB

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited Airmen and their families here Jan. 13.During his visit he sat down for an interview and discussed many topics, including the new physical training procedures, the drawdown in Iraq, suicide in the Air Force and other issues and concerns.Fitness

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a look around the service

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the Air Force's "Fit to Fight" culture challenges one Airman to change his lifestyle. Plus, you'll get the lowdown on a new online assignment notification system. And, Airmen in Afghanistan help one Afghan family pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.The

  • Airmen consolidate flying missions, free space for Afghan unit

    Officials from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing recently began moving assets here as part of a long-term project to consolidate the wing's missions and to free space for the expanding Afghan unit. The move of the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron marked the first of 10 units and two groups to be

  • TRICARE officials improve online communication, access

    Additions to the TRICARE military health plan's website are giving beneficiaries easier access to their personal health data, more convenient appointment scheduling and better communication with their health care providers, the top TRICARE official reported.TRICARE Online, the military health

  • TSP contribution limits set for 2011

    Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board members announced the 2011 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions will remain $16,500, and TSP catch-up plan contribution limits will remain at $5,500.TSP is a long-term retirement savings plan that gives investors an

  • Edwards officials developing new parachute system

    Officials here are creating a guardian angel system to help Air Force members who parachute to land safely and softly.Officials are replacing the Air Force's nearly five-decades-old parachute system with a new one, called the Guardian Angel Advance Parachute System, which is designed for safer

  • More nuke treaties remain on agenda, official says

    With one major arms reduction treaty nearly to the enforcement stage, more work lies ahead to advance the nation's nuclear security, a senior State Department official said Jan. 19.Rose Gotemoeller, the State Department's assistant secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and

  • Reserve C-130 special mission units learn from each other

    Air Force Reserve aerial spray, aerial firefighting and hurricane hunting units gathered at the command's C-130 Special Missions conference learned that they share common issues, though they perform vastly different missions. That was the focus of the two-day conference that ended here Jan 13."This

  • Deadline approaching for Pitsenbarger Award

    The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2011 Pitsenbarger Award to the Air Force Sergeants Association is March 1.The AFSA Pitsenbarger Award annually recognizes an Air Force enlisted service member who has performed a heroic act, on or off duty, that resulted in saving a life or preventing

  • CSAF meets with Airmen during Bagram visit

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz visited the Airmen of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing here Jan. 18 through 19 during a trip to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.The Air Force's 19th chief of staff also took time to present Purple Hearts to Capt. Gil Wyche and Senior

  • McKinley: Relationships vital to National Guard domestic operations

    The National Guard's ability to respond to a domestic response depends largely on relationships established prior to an incident, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said Jan. 19 at the 2011 National Guard Bureau Domestic Operations Workshop here. "You establish these relationships in your

  • McChord crew chiefs 'get the job done'

    Maintainers here say no airlift wing can provide global airlift for America without ready and available aircraft. No aircraft can deliver global airlift without proper maintenance. The 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chiefs here ensure the 62nd Airlift Wing's C-17 Globemaster IIIs are safe,

  • Air Force boxing back on base

    The Air Force School of Boxing is back in session at the boxing gym here.As of Jan. 8, Air Force boxing coach Steven Franco has been leading his pupils through his brand of "boxing 101."For camp veterans, such as All-Air Force light heavyweight Larry Hampp, two-time Air Force boxer Gary Griffin and

  • Hickam aircrew maximizes training in Guam

    It took 23 passes over designated drops zones and a 12-hour tactical duty day of training to finish a single day of airdrop training in Guam.An aircrew from the 535th Airlift Squadron from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, dropped four training pallets, five container delivery system bundles,

  • Air Force officials automate active-duty assignment notifications

    Air Force officials are automating active-duty assignment notifications for Airmen in the ranks of lieutenant colonel and below beginning Jan. 21. Airmen will receive an e-mail notification about their new assignments and have seven days to acknowledge their assignments through the Virtual Military

  • Director calls personnel system transition 'rewarding'

    The Defense Department's transfer of more than 170,000 civilian employees out of the National Security Personnel System since 2009 has been smooth, the transition's director said Jan 13.John H. James Jr. said much of the credit for the transition goes to the services."The components have done a very

  • Air Force officials announce enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 250 Airmen have been selected for promotion as part of the January 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 duty or deployment

  • Civil engineers bring home three Air Force-level awards

    Airmen from the 18th Civil Engineer Group here received three "Best in the Air Force" awards for their accomplishments in 2010. The 18th CEG, which is composed of the 18th and 718th Civil Engineer Squadrons, was awarded the Major General Clifton D. Wright Award, the Harry P. Rietman Award and the

  • Global Observer makes first hydrogen-powered flight

    The Global Observer unmanned aircraft system successfully completed its first flight powered by the aircraft's hydrogen-fueled propulsion system here Jan. 6.This milestone marks the beginning of high-altitude, long-endurance flight testing for the demonstration and operational utility phase of this

  • CMSAF visits Tinker AFB Airmen

    The Air Force's top enlisted Airman came here Jan. 5 through 6 to speak to Airmen about being ready for the joint/coalition fight, building resiliency and developing Airmen. Chief Master of the Air Force James. A. Roy visited areas of the base and met with officers, chiefs and Airmen."There are a

  • Survey will assess Air Force community well-being

    Invitations to take the 2011 Air Force Community Assessment will be sent out Jan. 25. The assessment is designed to assist chaplains and people working in installation-level Airman and family readiness centers, family advocacy programs, health and wellness centers, mental health clinics and child

  • F-4 continues long-time service to Air Force with new mission

    The 82nd Aerial Target Squadron officials here are replacing the use of Lear jets for their banner tow missions with the F-4 Phantom, creating an air-to-air target that aircrews in training can safely evaluate, develop and test their weapons systems. "We developed the idea to use the F-4 for the

  • Aviano becomes first USAFE base to begin using AMT

    Airmen at Aviano Air Base are the first in U.S. Air Forces in Europe to begin using the new, revolutionary asset marking and tracking system being implemented at Air Force installations around the world. Once fully integrated, the new AMT system will provide 100-percent accountability for all Air

  • Defense official outlines pay freeze details

    Defense Department civilian employees affected by the federal pay freeze for 2011 and 2012 will still have the opportunity to receive performance awards, promotions and normal longevity increases, a senior defense official said.Pasquale M. Tamburrino Jr., the deputy under secretary of defense for

  • Fielding success enables pilot-to-pilot link

    A team of former fighter pilots from the Electronic Systems Center here is continuing to make sure current fighter pilots -- both U.S. and Allied forces -- can operate the sophisticated communication network known as Link 16.Link 16 takes data from multiple platforms, including Airborne Warning and

  • Health plan to remain free for troops, officials emphasize

    Though Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates seeks modest premium increases for working-age military retirees who use the TRICARE Prime health plan, the benefit will remain free to service members, defense officials emphasized Jan. 7.Secretary Gates unveiled sweeping, cost-cutting initiatives Jan. 6,

  • Another GPS software upgrade completed

    As part of a larger ongoing effort by Air Force officials to improve and maintain the current GPS ground system, Air Force Space Command officials completed another sustainment software release for the GPS operational control segment ground system. Officials from the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at

  • Health plan officials work to improve efficiency, care

    As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates presses for a modest increase in health plan premiums for working-age military retirees to help offset rising health care costs, the head of the TRICARE Management Activity reported progress already made in improving efficiencies as well as the quality of health

  • Air Force officials lift rated requirement for air liaison officers

    Air Force officials announced here Jan. 7 the removal of the air liaison officer rated requirement, allowing any company grade officer, accession candidate or enlisted Airman the possibility of a career change.ALOs, once drawn strictly from fighter, bomber and air battle manager communities, now

  • Antarctica blog connects students with science

    Connecting scientists to elementary and high school students worldwide was one of many accomplishments during last year's Operation Deep Freeze, the military's support of National Science Foundation research in Antarctica.In 2010, Lt. Col. Ed Vaughan spent 50 days as commander of McMurdo Det. 1 and

  • Radiologists see from the inside out

    When doctors need to look inside a patient, they call on a team of radiological professionals to reveal the answers that lie beneath.The eight-person 35th Surgical Operations Squadron diagnostic imaging team, commonly known as radiology, at Misawa Air Base performs an average of 500 image-gathering

  • Holly Petraeus to lead Office of Service Member Affairs

    The wife of the top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan will head up an office devoted to strengthening consumer financial protection for service members and their families, an official announced today.In a White House blog, Elizabeth Warren, the assistant to the president and special adviser to

  • Gates reveals budget efficiencies, reinvestment possibilities

    Defense Department officials have found $154 billion in budget efficiencies over the next five years and will be able to invest $70 billion of that saved money in more-deserving accounts, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Jan. 6.The secretary announced the savings and reinvesting of the

  • Program helps Airmen cope with divorce

    Anyone who has been in the Air Force for more than a year has heard the horror stories about failed marriages and how hard it is to stay in a relationship with constant deployments and work stress. While falling in love and getting married can be the greatest experience of one's life, a divorce can

  • With new phone system, seeing is hearing

    Thanks to the installation of a new, technologically-advanced device called the Z-150, deaf/hearing impaired employees here now can speak to, and see, one another over the phone. The Z-150 is a video phone system with a camera and monitor that allows communications to travel over the network,

  • Inter-American NCO Academy opens to U.S. NCOs

    Two Airmen are making history as the first Air Force NCOs to attend the Inter-American Air Forces Academy's Inter-American NCO Academy. In addition to earning NCO academy enlisted professional military education credit, Tech. Sgts. Leonardo Cepero Febres and George Nikolakakos are studying alongside

  • Study ties problems to post-traumatic stress

    Service members who suffer mild traumatic brain injuries in combat and then struggle with depression, irritability, alcohol abuse and similar problems after they return home most likely are experiencing post-traumatic stress, rather than brain injury symptoms, according to a new study.The study,

  • Air Guard officials prepare for new medical mission

    Air National Guard members will begin flying a newly assigned critical care air transport team mission from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Jan. 10, the air surgeon said in an interview here Jan. 4.The CCATTs, which consist of a physician specializing in critical care, pulmonology, anesthesiology or

  • Service demographics offer snapshot of force

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here recently published a demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force. This data is current as of Dec. 30 and can also be found on the Air Force personnel statistics Web page at

  • Nominations open for Military Child of the Year Award

    A nonprofit organization is giving Americans the chance to sing the praises of a group often called the nation's unsung heroes: military children.Operation Homefront, a troop- and military-family support group, is inviting people to nominate outstanding military children from all branches of service

  • Operation CCAF Blitz targets technical sergeants

    With the implementation of a new initiative, 23rd Force Support Squadron education center officials here are making an effort to increase the number of Airmen eligible for senior-rater endorsement on enlisted performance reports.Operation CCAF Blitz will be carried out in three phases and encourages

  • AMC Fuel Efficiency Office shows how 'efficiency promotes effectiveness'

    Officials with Air Mobility Command's Fuel Efficiency Office here are putting forth an initiative called precision loading. By refining the ability to maximize available space on mobility aircraft, fewer missions are required and fuel and resources are saved, and Air Force officials find another way

  • Security forces advisers provide advanced training for Iraqi airmen

    Airmen deployed in support of Operation New Dawn recently trained a small detail of Iraqi security forces airmen to teach several advanced techniques for one-on-one confrontations.Master Sgt. Grady Driver, a security forces adviser, is a member of the Iraqi Training and Advising Mission. He said

  • Royal Air Force aircrews to train at Offutt

    Whether it's performing strategic bombing missions in World War II, defending Europe during the Cold War, monitoring Iraqi no-fly zones, or battling the Taliban in Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force and the U.K. Royal Air Force have been close allies for many years.Recently, this partnership was

  • General Klotz reflects on command, career

    Editor's Note: When he enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in 1968 to attend the Air Force Academy Prep School, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz says he never imagined where his Air Force career would take him. Now, after more than 37 years of commissioned service, he took a few minutes to sit down and reflect on

  • Chief Roy visits Kunsan

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader visited members of the 8th Fighter Wing here Dec. 29 and 30 during a year-end tour of Pacific Air Forces bases.During the visit, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy, and his wife, Paula, toured the base, presented stripes to Airmen who were promoted,

  • Networthiness sets standards for DOD, AF networks

    The Air Force soon will have a relatively new term to add to its network operations lexicon: "Networthiness." Air Force Network Integration Center officials recently led efforts to develop the Department of Defense's networthiness concept, an operational assessment that goes well beyond information

  • Nellis Airmen, joint partners prep Marines for Afghanistan

    U.S. Joint Forces Command joint fires experts joined Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and other joint enablers during a mission rehearsal exercise here to prepare Marine Corps Regimental Combat Team-8 for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.Exercise Spartan Resolve, led by MCTOG