Total force in action with Predator operations

The U.S. Air Force Warfare Center’s implementation of total force initiatives continues as more Guard and Reserve members integrate into Predator operations here. In an Air Force first, the center selected Reserve Lt. Col. John Breeden, to command the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, one of three

In any weather

Program speeds up complaint processes

Air Force officials here recently extended an Equal Employment Opportunity pilot program from 31 test bases to all installations worldwide. The program, called the Compressed Orderly Rapid Equitable process, or CORE, focuses on cutting EEO’s case-processing time. In conjunction with the General

Advertising team spotlights special ops

An aircrew displays teamwork while firing 105 mm artillery from their gunship at night. Special operators freefall toward Earth at terminal velocity. Battlefield Airmen descend from hovering helicopters by rope, pilot small unmanned aerial vehicles and call for close air support. The Air Force’s

U.S. military brings cheer to children’s home

Christmas came in February for the Children’s Home of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as about 20 members of the U.S. and Philippine military brought smiles and gifts with them Feb. 26. Located outside Clark Air Base, the home is for abandoned girls 6 to 16. The servicemembers, participating in

Air Force realigns combat search and rescue ops

Administrative control for select active-duty Air Force combat search and rescue assets is transferring from Air Force Special Operations Command to Air Combat Command. “Our military must always have the combat capability to rescue its people ... our warriors ... wherever and whenever required,”

Vehicle operators return home after teaming with Army

Seven vehicle operators with the 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron returned to work Feb. 21 after driving the war-ravaged roads of Iraq for nearly six months. “We were the last medium to light (Air Force-operated) gun trucks solely responsible for providing security to convoys,” Staff Sgt. Scott

Weapons cache discovery

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 48 close-air-support missions Feb. 27 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Air Force vision embraces warfighters, heritage

Heritage, future innovations and focus on the joint warfighter are three key points in the newly released Air Force Vision document, “Lasting Heritage…Limitless Horizons: A Warfighter’s Vision.” This vision document, released to Airmen worldwide Feb. 28, replaces the older “Vision 2020” version,

First deployed civilian sexual assault response coordinator arrives in region

Airmen already know the pace here is much different than home. “Frenetic” is the word Donna Rathbun uses to describe the operations tempo on base. “The mission is always in the forefront,” she said. “There isn’t time for outside distractions or mistakes. Airmen are working long hours, and there’s

Tiger team tackles operational security violations

A couple of Airmen sat in the base food court chatting about their return to the United States the next day. Excited to be going home, they compared flight times. Meanwhile, 3 feet away, a third-country national took mental notes. He knew someone who would pay for flight information. The aircraft

No typical day for OSI agents

For many people, the three letters “O-S-I” conjure up images of intrigue, adventures, glamour and risk. However, for agents assigned to the Office of Special Investigations, the federal-level investigative service represents long days, serious work and countless hours of writing. “In a deployed

Post-deployment program shows early promise

Although in its fledgling stages, a program designed to accurately identify post deployment physical and mental health issues has already produced promising results, a senior Defense Department official said Feb. 27.“The post deployment health reassessment is a way to show servicemembers we care

Defense Department working to prevent sexual assault

Defense Department leaders are committed to preventing sexual assault, said the commander of the Department of Defense's Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response. "To achieve this goal, in 2005, we have vigorously implemented a comprehensive sexual assault prevention and response

Air Force symposium promotes better environmental stewardship

The 2006 U.S. Air Force Environmental Training Symposium, an educational training program for nearly 2,000 members of the Air Force, other government agencies and national academia began Feb. 27 and runs through March 3 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. "The United States Air

Flightline access goes high-tech

Security measures have soared to new levels since the global war on terrorism began. The nation and most of the world has seen everything from expanded intelligence and law enforcement capabilities to bolstered transportation security and airline passenger screening. While the Department of Homeland

New Horizons 2006

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions Feb. 28 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Special operations focus of senior leader discussion

Senior leaders from the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Air Force Air Staff met recently to discuss the role of airpower in special operations. The talks involved 16 senior leaders, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Army Gen. Bryan Brown, commander of SOCOM. The

Ramstein Airmen train Iraqis to fly, fix C-130s

Ramstein Airmen deployed to Iraq to train Iraqis on the C-130 Hercules aircraft -- standing up the first Iraqi airlift squadron under the country’s new regime. A Ramstein pilot, navigator and enlisted maintainers deployed from August through January to train their Iraqi counterparts to fly and

Troop movement

U.S. Men's National Soccer Team

Maintenance troops

Bird flu -- fact and fiction

A global outbreak of disease -- that is what many people think when they hear the words “bird flu.” But is it really the next pandemic or just fowl play? Properly named avian influenza, this virus has spurred global awareness and growing concerns about the possibility of the virus mutating into a

Hospital lab provides life-saving products, procedures

The Air Force Theater Hospital here can do amazing things every day and is able to save lives through the hard work and dedication of the entire staff. But many of the life-saving procedures they perform would not be possible without the information and blood products the laboratory provides. “We

Protein study a real eye opener

Warfighters will never have the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but a specialized whey protein supplement under study here could enhance mental and physical performance. A double-blind Air Force Research Laboratory study was launched Feb. 3 as part of an operational readiness

Air Force announces preferred F-22A locations

The Air Force's preferred alternatives for the third and fourth operational F-22A beddowns are Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, said Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, today . “Although we must still complete the environmental analyses required under the

Maintainers prepare for Raptor

The F-22A Raptor's unequaled capabilities bring some unique challenges to Air Force maintainers here. Not the least of which is gearing up a support machine to handle the maintenance workload when the first Raptors arrive for modifications in April. About 18 of the 21st century fighter aircraft will

Order of Friendship Medal

Big leap forward in detecting ground targets from cosmos

When launched in 2010, a football-field-in-length demonstrator radar antenna, weighing more than 5 tons, will serve as the forerunner for the future of America's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets in space. Administered by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles

President Bush makes surprise visit to troops in Afghanistan

President George W. Bush and the First Lady, Laura Bush, made a surprise visit here March 1 to remind troops their mission in Afghanistan is still an important fight in the global war on terrorism. “You are fighting an enemy and bringing them to justice so they won’t hurt our fellow citizens again,”

Guard tests world’s first multi-person rescue basket

An Air National Guard rescue unit successfully tested the world’s first multi-person rescue basket, a cage-like device that, once certified, can carry up to 15 people. “We really could have used this after hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” said Lt. Col. Brad Sexton, a program manager in the Air National

Live fire provides realistic training scenarios

As black smoke towered skyward and flames shot from a building engulfed in fire, a crowd of onlookers gathered to watch the base fire department save the day and the building. What they found instead was the 332d Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s fire and emergency services flight deployed

General Scott, “God Is My Co-Pilot” author, dead at 97

Brig. Gen. Robert L. Scott Jr., World War II fighter ace and author of the 1943 book “God Is My Co-Pilot” has died. The general passed away Feb. 27 in Warner Robins after a stroke. He was 97. Though the general retired from the Air Force in 1957, for the following decades he continued to serve the

Preparing for a contingency

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 50 close-air-support missions March 1 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Force shaping issues explained to Congress

The Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel testified on force shaping and its effect on Airmen before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee March 1. Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady's testimony was presented to the committee that ensures servicemembers have the resources needed

Major dies in training accident

Maj. Bryan Adrian, a student with the 342nd Training Squadron, died during training here Feb. 15. He was transported to Wilford Hall Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 1:55 p.m. Major Adrian, a 41-year-old from Anchorage, Alaska, was taking part in water confidence training as part of

Air Force football schedule released

A visit to Falcon Stadium by Notre Dame Nov. 11, a season-opening game at national power Tennessee Sept. 9 and conference home games against BYU, Colorado State, New Mexico and Utah highlight the Air Force football schedule, released March 2 by the Mountain West Conference. The Falcons sandwich the

Colorado College students study Schriever’s falcons

Although wildlife on and around the “little base on the prairie” seems scarce, if people were to roam the base’s acreage, they would see a landscape teeming with animal life. While a visit to Schriever Feb. 8 did not result in a wildlife encounter for a Colorado College group, it did offer an

More personnel actions available online

Like MyPay and LeaveWeb before, the Air Force is bringing even more military personnel flight actions online. The process, called personnel services delivery transformation, takes effect March 31, and will encompass even more options than those of the Virtual MPF site already on the Internet. “We’re

Air Force announces promotions to major

Air Force officials selected 2,134 captains for promotion to major in the 2005 line of the Air Force, chaplain, judge advocate general and biomedical sciences corps boards. The list of promotion selects will be posted on the Air Force Personnel Center Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/offprom by

B-52 generation

GPS helps warfighters track ‘bad guys’

When U.S. forces get to Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re finding dry, featureless terrain with no real landmarks or points of reference to use when they travel across these wide-open and often dangerous landscapes. In the past, maps and a compass were the decisive tools used by servicemembers to track

Civil engineers do their part in rebuilding Iraq

Civil engineers wage the war on terrorism by stepping outside the wire and bringing the fight into the streets. They are the only Air Force unit in Iraq who come with armored dump trucks, excavators and concrete, repairing the many craters pitting the roads in Kirkuk and surrounding area. The

Commander declares 2006 ‘Rebirth of SMC’

Stressing processes, partnerships and people, the Space and Missile Systems Center commander told about 100 Aerospace Corporation employees they play a vital role in the “rebirth of SMC” and continued mission success. Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel spoke Feb. 16 as part of The Aerospace Corporation’s

Test wing shadows test-firing of Tomahawk cruise missile

Using both of Eglin Air Force Base’s water and land test ranges, a Navy Tomahawk cruise missile was launched in February from the USS Boise, a Los Angeles-class submarine under way in the Gulf of Mexico. Seconds after launch, the Tomahawk transitioned to cruise flight. It flew a fully guided

'Fastnacht' Parade

Security Forces training

Tent teardown

Fueled and ready

Airmen learn desert survival from SERE

 What would you do if you got stuck in the desert? Twenty Airmen with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing found out when the Kuwait Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape team -- better known as SERE -- taught a one-day desert survival class in February. Tech. Sgt. Joshua Anderson and Senior Airman

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 2 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Guard rescue wing still making mark on history

Amid the quiet picturesque towns sprinkled across Long Island, N.Y., are more than 800 Airmen who are a part of history. They are the men and women of the 106th Rescue Wing -- a unit that battled the “Perfect Storm,” witnessed the TWA Flight 800 disaster, supported response efforts after the

Five wings compete in 'Tanker Winter Games'

Five 18th Air Force KC-135 wings came together for the first “Tanker Winter Games” here Feb. 23 through 26. Crews from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Robins AFB, Ga., MacDill AFB, Fla., Fairchild AFB, Wash., and here gathered not only for some friendly competition, but also for a chance to learn

Keesler infrastructure continues to improve after Katrina

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, people here don’t take things like electricity, drinking water, housing, offices and plumbing for granted. Thanks to a team effort, each day brings improvements in base infrastructure, facilities and utilities, as the base braces for the next hurricane season.

Air Force completes negotiations with St. Louis County Port Authority

The Air Force has completed negotiations with the St. Louis County Port Authority for the transfer of 39 acres in the Lemay community of St. Louis. The property, once home to the National Imagery Mapping Agency, was declared excess to the federal government by the General Services Administration in

Air Force announces selections to senior master sergeant

The Air Force has selected 1,303 master sergeants for promotion to senior master sergeant. The promotion list will be publicly released at 8 a.m. CST March 8, and the complete list should be available by 5 p.m. CST on the Air Force Personnel Center Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/eprom/. The

Air Force seeks new tanker

The Air Force wants a new refueler aircraft, something commercially available now, which can be modified to replace the existing KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. That testimony came from Air Force leaders associated with the tanker replacement program, Feb. 28 in front of the House Armed Services

Paintball wars

Kunsan units deploy to Singapore

More than 70 Airmen from the 80th Fighter Squadron and 80th Aircraft Maintenance Unit deployed from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, March 2 for Operation Commando Sling. The month-long deployment, involving joint warfare operations between the U.S. Air Force and its Singapore counterparts, will

KC-135s serve as enablers providing air bridges

Their mission is critical to the global war on terrorism. They perform maintenance for the KC-135 Stratotankers that enable U.S. and coalition aircraft to sustain flight and take the fight to the enemy. Stratotanker maintainers are the keys to the KC-135’s success in supporting Operation Enduring

Virginia Guard unit begins integrating with fighter wing

He wears a battle dress uniform and looks just like any other maintainer working on a F-22 Raptor, but this Airman is very different from most others in the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here. He is paid by the hour, reports to a different supervisor and has a 70-mile commute to and from Richmond

Air Force leaders testify on processes used to combat costs

The Air Force has seen a rise in the cost of doing business, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told members of the House Armed Services Committee during testimony March 1."We are experiencing unyielding second order effects that continue to drain our top line -- we are exhausting all our

Senior leaders' testimony on Air Force posture available online

The Air Force’s top leaders testified before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees March 2 about the service’s posture for the coming fiscal year. In the written and opening statements to the committees, the leaders outlined how the new budget will help keep the service focused on winning

Spiral 3 underway for JEFX ’06

Spiral 3 of the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment ‘06 kicked off March 2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. JEFX is an Air Force chief of staff-sponsored, major command-executed series of experiments that combine live-fly, live-play ground and naval forces, simulation and technology insertions into a

Exercise Eagle Flag

Hostage negotiation exercise

Langley unit receive its first Raptors

After two-and-a-half months of waiting, an aircraft with a 94th Fighter Squadron emblem has once again landed at Langley Air Force Base. But this time, the emblems were painted on the sides of two F-22A Raptors. Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, 94th Fighter Squadron commander, and Maj. Kevin Dolata, 94th FS,

Continued vigilance is everyone’s responsibility

The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, taught us that the enemies of the United States are capable of striking high-value targets on American soil, and they’re willing to stop at nothing to do so. While the United States has been safe from terror attacks since that ill-fated day, continued

Iraqi Air Force takes giant step forward

A fully certified aircrew takes flight and a single air base opens its gates. To Iraqi Airmen training alongside U.S. Airmen these feats represent giant steps toward independence and national security. Since November, the Air Force has taken on the mission of standing up the Iraqi Air Force,

General Lord retires from Air Force Space Command helm

After a 37-year career, Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, retired in a ceremony here today. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley presided over the event. There were more than 700 current and former defense leaders, active and retired military members and civic

CENTAF releases combined airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released the airpower summary for March 4 to 6. Coalition aircraft flew 56 close-air-support missions March 5 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter

Heritage flight

Class selected for cyber security boot camp

Forty men and women from across the country will focus on a futuristic "cybercraft" as they participate in the 2006 Class of the Advanced Course in Engineering Cyber Security Boot Camp. A joint selection committee of Syracuse University and Air Force Research Laboratory officials reviewed the

Electronic Systems Center charting 'smart' course with Blue Teams

An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure, according to the old adage, and the Electronic Systems Center has taken that message to heart. Air Force officials have vowed to improve its acquisition timeliness and cost through an initiative known as "Going Green" -- green symbolizing a program that

Operation Deep Freeze finishes

Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze, an annual Antarctic airlift mission in support of the National Science Foundation, completed its final sortie Feb. 28, closing a record-filled season. Flight operations were supported by LC-130s from the New York Air National Guard's

Internet chat leads to confinement, discharge

An Airman here was sentenced to three years confinement, reduction to airman basic and a dishonorable discharge in court-martial proceedings here Feb. 23. Staff Sgt. Brian Malone, a 3rd Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster, pleaded guilty to 21 specifications of violating two articles of

Remote weather system online again at Minot

Maintenance was recently completed on five Remote Automated Weather Stations, or RAWS, located at missile alert facilities throughout North Dakota. The maintenance, which began in fall 2005, was completed Feb. 17 and made the RAWS fully operational after a four-year hiatus. The RAWS have sensors

U.S. medics aid accident victims in Honduras

Airmen and Soldiers treated five Cuban citizens when their car crashed through the base’s perimeter fence March 1. The driver lost control of the car and ran off the road at approximately 6:15 a.m., rolling the vehicle several times and ultimately crashing through Soto Cano Air Base’s perimeter

Forces team up to provide security at Manas

After five months of negotiations between the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and Manas International Airport security leaders, two security forces Airmen took their place beside their Kyrgyz counterparts at the airport entrance gate March 1. The gate, located just north of the

Vehicle managers keep things rolling at Manas

The supply tent in the vehicle management section of maintenance town here is a good illustration of just how busy the flight is right now. Packed from floor to ceiling and wall to wall with spare parts, it doesn’t hold everything needed to keep the base’s fleet of nearly 300 vehicles running.

Air Force committed to energy-efficient strategies

The Air Force continues its pledge to be a leader in energy stewardship. For the last six months, the Air Force has been working on a strategy to have energy as a consideration in nearly all of its activities, from operations to acquisition. The Air Force is increasing efforts to reduce the demand

Candy Bomber shares Berlin Airlift stories

Like many great events in history, it started simply -- two sticks of gum given to some children who were living in a bombed and besieged city. That act of kindness eventually led to a prominent place in the history books for retired Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, who at the time of the gift was a first

Daring and dedication: that others may live

Man figured out how to fly. Then he left it up to Air Force pararescue jumpers to figure out how to rescue him from the jungle, the ocean, the mountains and hostile territory when a plane crashes. The need for a highly trained rescue force was highlighted in 1943. In a rescue famous in pararescue

Weather squadron keep eyes on sky

Today’s Air Force is the most advanced fighting force the world has ever seen. Its aircraft can fly nationwide to deliver bombs that land within a few feet of the target. The capabilities to wage war during day or night are unparalleled. However, this lethal force is still at the mercy of an even

International Affairs Specialist Program begins second round

The International Affairs Specialist, or IAS, Program is entering its second year of competitive selection. The program will be targeting 117 mid-career line officers for the designation. The program seeks to enhance expeditionary capability by developing regional and international expertise,

Saber patrols extend force protection outside gates

Jostling down the roads outside this base at 30 miles an hour in a Humvee gives an intriguingly candid snapshot of the host nation. As the vehicle rolls through, men and women on bicycles nod, children on horses wave, cattle and sheep stare before ambling out of the way toward field after field of

Airmen keep traveling birds clean

What is left on an aircraft when the cargo, passengers and crew are gone? Trash, filled lavatories and a lot of cleaning to be done. It’s a dirty job, but somebody has to do it. Those brave people are the fleet service representatives. Dressed in blue “frog togs” and equipped with latex gloves, face

Contingency response wing takes baby steps around the world

Helping the relief victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and Pakistan’s earthquake disaster were its baby steps. The infant is the 621st Contingency Response Wing, which celebrated its first birthday on Monday, March 6, 2006 at a ceremony in its contingency response warehouse. “Each person here is

Girl fulfills dream to experience Iditarod

Mush. To an average kid, the concept of the word is probably “icky” porridge. But to one 10-year-old named Katie Powell, it takes on a whole different definition when she uses “Mush!” to command a team of sled dogs to go faster. Katie has Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. The daughter of Senior

Watts up: Shop hardwired to deployed base

Flip a switch and a light goes on. Plug in an electric shaver and it recharges. Push start on a microwave and the food becomes piping hot. These are all easy everyday activities most people go through. But for one shop within the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, it’s an everyday job to

CENTAF releases daily airpower summary

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials released today's airpower summary.Coalition aircraft flew 52 close-air-support missions March 6 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. They included support to coalition troops, infrastructure protection, reconstruction activities and operations to deter and disrupt

Protective “doggles”

U.S. Airmen provide Iraq’s new air force a place to call home

Iraq’s new air force flying operations have received much publicity recently. But a military must have a base to call home. A team of U.S. Airmen spent more than a year helping the Iraqi air force establish its “only” base with a support unit. About a year ago, the New Al Muthana Air Base was just a

Spanish detachment helps with troop movement from Manas

The Spanish detachment here safely moved about a dozen U.S. Air Force officers to Kabul, Afghanistan, March 3. Manas is known as the “Gateway to Operation Enduring Freedom” because all troops moving in and out of Afghanistan stop here first to transfer to civilian or military aircraft. The Spanish

Air Force takes lead on tri-service installation

The Air Force is taking the lead in the nation’s first tri-service installation in the continental U.S. -- which includes McGuire, Fort Dix and Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station. What some media are calling a “Super Base,” the merger is expected to reduce overall manpower and facilities, and

C-17s in snow

Airmen reach out to local Afghan village

More than 40 Airmen here recently visited a local village and gave basic necessities, donated by people throughout the world, to about 500 Afghans. Members of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing drove seven kilometers to the village of Gadia to hand out materials including clothes, shoes, hygiene