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  • Airmen participate in RIMPAC 2010 international maritime exercise

    The 613th Air and Space Operations Center here is serving as the central hub for data and voice communications during the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise June 23 through Aug. 1. The state-of-the-art facility enables a multinational team to provide command and control of air and space assets

  • Medical readiness center opens at Camp Bullis

    A new era in military medical readiness training opened at Camp Bullis June 25, as Air Force officials cut the ribbon on an $18 million Medical Readiness Training Center.Center officials will host all initial, sustainment and future medical readiness training. The center will also allow officials to

  • Three Airmen earn career enlisted aviator award

    Air Force officials announced the selection of three Airmen for the 2009 Staff Sgt. Henry E. "Red" Erwin Outstanding Career Enlisted Aviator of the Year Award July 1.The recipients are:--Senior Master Sgt. Michael A. Morris, of the 54th Air Refueling Squadron at Altus Air Force Base, Okla.,--Tech.

  • New military working dog facility built to highest "green" standard

    In an effort to be environmentally friendly, members of the 56th Security Forces Squadron military working dog section are currently undergoing green construction, which began in January with an estimated completion date at the end of July. While the project did not cost enough to be required to be

  • Air Force, Navy officials partner on unmanned aircraft systems

    In a signed memorandum of agreement, Air Force and Navy officials partnered to maximize commonality, eliminate redundant effort and increase interoperability between the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aircraft systems and the RQ-4 Global Hawk system.Signed by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen.

  • AFIT handbook wins engineering book-of-the-year award

    The Military Industrial Engineering Handbook, authored and co-edited by two Air Force Institute of Technology professors, Dr. Adedeji Badiru, head of AFIT's Department of Systems and Engineering Management, and Dr. Marlin Thomas, the dean of the AFIT Graduate School of Engineering and Management,

  • Database provides mission readiness information

    The Defense Department's readiness reporting system, designed to provide a comprehensive overview of a unit's manpower, skill sets, equipment and capabilities as well as mission requirements, is nearing full operational capability, a top official said.Development of the Defense Readiness Reporting

  • Hurricane Hunters show Alex strengthen into Category 2 storm before landfall

    Hours before an aircrew from the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron left for an after-midnight flight into Hurricane Alex, the storm had just been upgraded from a tropical storm to a hurricane. By the time the crew returned from more than seven hours inside the storm, the data they gathered showed

  • Labor Department officials award $5 million to aid homeless veterans

    Labor Department officials are awarding more than $5 million in grants to help homeless female veterans and veterans with families find jobs and work toward a "bright future," the secretary of labor announced June 30."Millions of hard-working, responsible families are at risk of losing their homes

  • General Schwartz recommends reading selections

    The Air Force chief of staff announced his latest reading recommendations July 1, all from the CSAF reading list. "Defining events across the globe continue to shape our service in very consequential ways," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said. "Rising regional tensions, the oil spill

  • Air Force trauma care center consolidates with Army

    As part of the move to the San Antonio Military Medical Center, Wilford Hall Medical Center, the Air Force's only level 1 trauma center, will discontinue trauma care beginning July 1.All severely injured trauma patients from San Antonio, Bexar and surrounding counties, and South Texas, will go to

  • Robots bring Ramstein warehouse into 21st century

    Air Force officials have replaced a conveyor belt system in the 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron warehouse with the United States Air Forces in Europe Command first laser automated guided vehicle system, saving time and money.Today, according to Larry Head, that conveyor system has been replaced by

  • Ukrainian airmen visit Ramstein, gain knowledge of AF capabilities

    Airlifters from the Ukrainian air force visited here June 21 through 25 to participate in an engagement focused on airlift interoperability. The five-day trip showcased the 86th Airlift Wing's operation and support capabilities to the Ukrainian airmen."The goal of the visit was to assist the

  • Aviation fuel savings: AMC leading the charge

    Air Mobility Command has the largest fleet of the biggest airframes in the Air Force and they are the Department of Defense's largest aviation fuel customer, consuming 28 percent of DOD's aviation fuel use, but AMC Airmen are leading the charge in making energy a consideration in everything they do.

  • Tricare makes traveling within the U.S. carefree

    Preparing for a road trip or vacation requires planning -- what to pack, where to stay and what to do -- but taking a few minutes to think about health care before hitting the road can save a lot of hassles. To reduce the chance of health care problems while traveling, beneficiaries should see their

  • Space command officials embark on many firsts with tactical satellite

    The transition of Tactical Satellite 3 from experimental to operational mode June 18 marked the beginning of many significant firsts as U.S. Strategic Command accepted the hyperspectral satellite for operational use.During its first year in orbit, flown by officials from the Air Force Research

  • Polish team observes inspection

    Polish air force members visited here during the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Phase I Operational Readiness Inspection to gain an upper hand in inspection processes and procedures.Next year, Polish units will undergo a NATO tactical evaluation, and members from different specialties observed several

  • Air Force ramps up for Pacific exercise

    A C-17 Globemaster III from here dropped supplies to Marines on the island of Hawaii June 24 as part of the Rim of the Pacific exercise.This is the first year that C-17's are participating in RIMPAC, the largest maritime, biennial exercise in the world, which is in its 22nd year of existence.

  • CMSAF visits Bagram Airfield, engages Airmen

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy met with Airmen here June 24 and 25. Chief Roy toured the base and spoke with Airmen of all ranks to see what Air Force officials are doing to support warfighters on the ground, and to discuss how senior leaders can make sure Airmen are properly

  • 13th AF hosts international engineering exchange summit

    The 13th Air Force hosted seven civil engineers from countries throughout the Asia-Pacific region during a subject matter expert exchange summit called Pacific Unity here June 3 through 17. The summit is a joint and combined military information-sharing forum that provides mid-level officers from

  • Social visit helps fight wars

    Sixteen general officers from 16 different countries joined Pacific Air Forces leaders June 17 in their premiere multinational large force employment exercise while building partnerships with senior airpower leaders from the global community.The hosts of this year's Red Flag-Alaska Executive

  • Air Force cell phone plan changes to save $2 million per year

    Officials from the Office of Management and Budget have developed a plan to save the Air Force an estimated $2 million a year on government-issued cell phones.The plan is based on a suggestion for the President's SAVE program by the Air Force Information Technology Commodity Council. Beginning in

  • Military parents voice education concerns to leaders

    Top U.S. and military leaders took part in a roundtable discussion with parents at the elementary school here today to gain greater insight into the education challenges military families face. Among the participants were Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III; Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice

  • Air Force takes steps against suicides

    The Air Force vice chief of staff testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee June 22 to address steps the service is taking to stem the rising suicide numbers. Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, in testimony alongside the other service vice chiefs and the assistant commandant of the Marine

  • Air Force civilians set for transition from NSPS to begin in July

    The majority of Air Force civilians will begin to transition from the National Security Personnel System to the General Schedule beginning July 4 and continuing through Sept. 12. Mandated by the Fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, the conversion to the GS by the end of this fiscal year

  • Services work to learn more about brain ailments, suicides

    Post-traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury and suicides among servicemembers are interrelated problems requiring holistic prevention methods and more scientific study, military leaders told a Senate panel June 22. "The reality is, the study of the brain is an emerging science, and there still is

  • New officer course boosts cyberspace transformation

    A new undergraduate cyber training course for officers launched here June 15.Air Force officials allocated $11.7 million to establish the course, and about $7.6 million has already been spent to upgrade facilities and purchase the computer infrastructure, simulators and laboratory networks to

  • Know before you go

    The first time Tech. Sgt. Christina Gamez's husband deployed, she wanted to do everything herself, frustrating friends who wanted to help her. This time, she knows she will need her support network. She too is scheduled to deploy soon after her husband leaves this fall.Master Sgt. Rodolfo Gamez of

  • Accountability system proves vital during natural disasters, crises

    With hurricane season under way, the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System continues to help leaders take care of Airmen and their families affected by any natural disaster or crisis. Implemented in April 2009, AFPAAS aligns Air Force reporting with Department of Defense

  • Air Force's top enlisted leader visits NASIC Airmen

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited the National Air and Space Intelligence Center June 11, as part of a tour, focusing his visit on learning about the diverse missions across the base and engaged in conversations about the health and well-being of Wright-Patterson Air Force

  • Puerto Rican troops, families need new birth certificates

    Servicemembers and their families who were born in Puerto Rico will need to obtain a new birth certificate starting July 1, although the Defense Department will honor the certificate they used to establish their identity and to enroll for military benefits prior to that date, a defense official

  • Air Force chief of staff collaborates with counterparts at CONJEFAMER 2010

    The Air Force's top uniformed officer hosted the 50th annual Conferencia de los Jefes de las Fuerzas Aereas Americanas, or CONJEFAMER, here June 13 through 17.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz served as president of CONJEFAMER 2010, which brought together air chiefs from 17 member

  • Academy's wave energy research faces major test in 2011

    If a U.S. Air Force Academy scientist's idea is proven correct, his research could tap into energy from ocean waves that could supply a large chunk of the world's electricity needs. A typical North Atlantic deep ocean wave is about 126 meters long and 3.5 meters tall, which could yield 100 kW per

  • Bagram C-130 crew airdrops GPS-guided supplies in Afghan valley

    Earlier this month in Afghanistan, a small unit of coalition ground forces traveled a great distance to support an operation aimed squarely at the Taliban and exhausted their food and water. While, navigating through a deep gorge in a mountainous river valley, the situation was quickly

  • CWID tests latest in communications for warfighters

    Airmen and Soldiers brought their experience from Afghanistan and Iraq to test the latest communications systems in the Colorado Springs portion of the joint Coalition Warrior Interoperability Demonstration on June 16.The demonstration is designed to improve and enhance command and control;

  • Gates reviews military spouse career program

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is grappling with the best way to reopen the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program to new applicants, concerned that the program has morphed beyond its original intent and cost estimates, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said June 18.Secretary

  • Scott agencies join to test new airframe

    More than 20 Airmen from Scott Air Force Base continued production qualification testing on the C-27J Spartan here June 8 and 9. The C-27J was originally an Army development program until April 2009 when Defense Secretary Robert Gates shifted the program to the Air Force. As such, Air Force-specific

  • Air Force officials announce OTS selection board results

    Air Force Recruiting Service officials announced the selection of 123 applicants as part of Officer Training School Selection Board 10OT03 here June 17. Of the 132 selected, 26 enlisted members earned the chance to attend OTS and trade their stripes for gold bars as second lieutenants. As part of

  • Airmen reach 250K flying hours with remotely piloted aircraft

    Members of the 62nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here reached a significant milestone recently when the Air Force's remotely piloted aircraft flew their 250,000th hour in Afghanistan at the end of May.The 62nd ERS is home to the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper aircraft at Kandahar Airfield.

  • SecAF discusses Minuteman III, space at Vandenberg

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited Vandenberg Air Force Base June 15 to 16 to tour the base and observe the Minuteman III test launch.Secretary Donley visited the 14th Air Force Joint Space Operations Center. Lt. Gen. Larry James, the 14th Air Force commander, briefed Secretary Donley

  • Gates: Budget request reflects Pentagon's reform agenda

    The fiscal 2011 defense budget request continues and builds on the reforms of the fiscal 2010 budget, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on defense June 16.The proposed base budget request is $549 billion, a 3.4 percent increase over the current

  • Patient care top priority during Pacific Angel in Bangladesh

    A total force of military doctors, dentists and optometrists participating in Operation Pacific Angel have provided medical care for more than 1,000 patients over the first three days of medical operations at the Monirampur Regional Training Center here. Operation Pacific Angel, scheduled here

  • Air University educational computer system partially restored

    Air University officials here announced June 15 that most functions are restored to a computer system responsible for the majority of Air Force distance education.The Course Development, Student Administration/Registrar system crashed in mid-May and with it went the ability to support much of

  • In-flight emergency safely managed by Balad C-130 crew

    After overcoming multiple mechanical problems, a C-130H Hercules crew from 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron safely landed their aircraft with 34 passengers aboard June 9 here. The four-engine tactical airlifter was dispatched from Joint Base Balad to transport passengers on a half-hour flight

  • New systems make military moves more efficient

    With the busiest season for permanent-change-of-station moves under way, officials at U.S. Transportation Command are encouraging servicemembers to take advantage of new systems designed to make the process more convenient and efficient.Transcom launched the new Personally Procured Move, or PPM,

  • Officials announces initial test transmissions from GPS satellite

    Officials from the Space and Missile Systems Center's Global Positioning Systems Wing announced that the first GPS IIF satellite, launched May 27, has begun test transmissions of the new safety-of-life (L5) navigation signal. The L5 signal is a key element of efforts to modernize the GPS

  • Air Force officials select 45 Airmen for nurse program

    Air Force officials have selected 45 Airmen to attend the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program.The May 2010 NECP Board met at the Air Force Personnel Center to consider 53 applicants. Those attending training in fall 2010 are: Master Sgt. Sheniqua D. FortuneTech. Sgt. Pamela A. BradshawTech. Sgt.

  • Departments cooperate on electronic health records

    The nation may never become entirely "paperless" in the way it documents patient medical records, but the military and veterans health care communities are on the right path and have the technologies in place to one day be very close, officials said last week."There was a time that we didn't have

  • PRT beautifies Afghan girls' school

    Airmen from Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul are partnering with Zabul Province government officials to make school life more pleasant by overseeing improvements for 1,200 Afghan high school and elementary students at the Bibi Khala Girls' School here."Coming out here and seeing the smiling

  • Global Strike Command Airmen respond to incident scenario

    Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen conducted their first-ever Response Task Force exercise here June 1 through 4."We are training and preparing for a variety of contingency scenarios to ensure our readiness for any situation that may arise," said Gary Oldham, Air Force Global Strike Command's

  • Latest 'Perspective' features nuclear enterprise priority

    The Air Force's top enlisted Airman released his latest "Enlisted Perspective" and it focuses on strengthening one of the service's priorities, the nuclear enterprise. Over the last few months, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy has visited some of the Air Force bases involved with the

  • Mullen stresses precision, innovation to graduates

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told graduates of the National Defense University here June 10 that their careers will be dominated by their understanding of the precise application of military force and national power.NDU's National War College and the Industrial College of the Armed

  • Applying for Air Force NAF jobs goes virtual

    A new centralized online tool is making it easier for job seekers to find and apply for federal careers in various nonappropriated fund activities, including Air Force clubs, golf courses, child development centers, youth centers, bowling centers and outdoor recreation centers. On May 24,

  • Tac Sat-3 completes groundbreaking experimental mission

    Tactical Satellite-3 will transition from an experimental demonstration to an operational asset when spacecraft control authority officially transfers June 12 from the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate here to Air Force Space Command at Peterson AFB, Colo.Launched in May

  • Air Force to release technical sergeant promotion list

    Air Force officials here June 10 selected 7,752 of 37,185 eligible staff sergeants for promotion to technical sergeant for a selection rate of 20.85 percent.The average score for those selected was 317.63, with an average time in grade and an average time in service of 5.65 years and 10.69 years,

  • NSPS transition well under way, official tells Congress

    The transition of Defense Department civilian employees from the National Security Personnel System is proceeding, with 75 percent of the workforce expected to be transferred into the General Schedule classification and pay system by late September, the defense official overseeing the effort told

  • Officials announce plans for third DOS rollback

    Air Force officials announced June 8 plans for a third enlisted date of separation rollback with a mandatory DOS of Aug. 31, 2010. This program is part of an overall effort by the Air Force to maintain a quality enlisted force and meet the congressionally mandated end strength.Under the third DOS

  • Veteran wheelchair games begin July 4 in Denver

    More than 500 wheelchair athletes who are all military veterans are headed to Denver to begin competition at the 30th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. The event, presented each year by officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Paralyzed Veterans of America, runs July 4 through July

  • Air Force leaders maintain Community Action Information Boards

    Although the Year of the Air Force Family draws to a close July 2010, senior leaders will continue to provide avenues to care for Airmen and their families through a variety of methods including the Community Action Information Boards. CAIBs provide an important opportunity for senior-level

  • HUD allocates $58 million to help homeless veterans

    A program announced last week by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide $58.6 million to get homeless veterans off the streets this year. Vouchers will be provided to some 8,000 displaced veterans and their families across the country through the department's Veterans

  • Tinker maintained B-1 milestone

    A B-1 Lancer will reach the 10,000-hour flying mark by early June. Initially envisioned with a 20-year service life in 1985, the aircraft wasn't expected to reach such a milestone, Tinker officials said. Through the dedication and hard work of the members of the 76th Maintenance Wing's programmed

  • Tricare records-processing system reaches milestone

    As of May 26, the one billionth Tricare Encounter Data record was processed for Tricare services around the world. This has significance for all Tricare beneficiaries."The fact that one billion records have been processed reflects the value of this program in helping Tricare provide the best

  • AFAF campaign ends in success

    The 2010 Air Force Assistance Fund wrapped up recently with $7,492,512.94 in total contributions. This exceeded last year's contribution record by more than $20,000."This was a phenomenal year," said Bill D'Avanzo, the Air Force voting action officer and fundraising chief. "We have a remarkable Air

  • Air University students, faculty honor past, celebrate Eagles

    "Eagles" from across the history of aviation are sharing their stories with Air Command and Staff College students here this week. The "Gathering of Eagles" program, sponsored by Air University officials and held on site at ACSC, is a weeklong capstone graduation event during which historic figures

  • Air Force fitness program revision rewards excellent Airmen

    Based upon service-wide feedback, Airmen who earn an "excellent" on the new fitness test will now only have to test once a year according to a new revision to the Air Force Fitness Program."We believe this will recognize fitness excellence and serve as an incentive for more Airmen to improve their

  • New cyber chief: People key in meeting cyberspace challenge

    Cyberspace will provide "tremendous opportunities for the future, but also tremendous vulnerabilities," the commander of U.S. Cyber Command said June 3 in his first public appearance since assuming his new post.Citing the explosion in use of the Internet, e-mail, social networking and instant

  • 373 TRS readies international aircrew for flight

    Twelve Royal Australian Air Force aircraftsmen deployed to Joint Base Charleston to train with Airmen here for three months.Airmen from JB Charleston and JB Lewis-McChord, Washington, train foreign nationals from countries that are either buying the C-17 Globemaster III or have some future endeavor

  • B-52s head to Guam for continuous bomber presence rotation

    Six  B-52H Stratofortresses and nearly 350 Airmen here left June 1 for Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to start a six-month deployment.The 5th Bomb Wing's role in U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence mission "is vital to national security," said Col. Charles Patnaude, the 5th Operations

  • New tech-advanced classroom awaits F-35 students

    A foundation for how the first generation of F-35 Lightning II pilots and maintainers trains for the next half century continues to evolve here as 33rd Fighter Wing officials add state-of-the-art technology to the classroom arsenal. "The technology is fabulous. It brings us to a revolutionary new

  • Ramstein Airmen perform in-depth inspection on C-130J

    The first isochronal inspection on Ramstein Air Base's earliest C-130J Super Hercules aircraft kicked off here May 26. A team of about 60 active-duty Airmen from different specialty codes, all familiar with the J model, examined tail number 8601 during the 10-day inspection.An ISO inspection, much

  • DOD certifies 6 programs under Nunn-McCurdy Law breaches

    Department of Defense officials have certified that six acquisition programs, including the F-35 Lightning II and the DDG-1000 destroyer, should continue under Nunn-McCurdy legislation.  The systems also include the block 3 upgrade program for the Apache AH-64 helicopter, the advanced threat

  • Iraqi forces practice lifesaving measures

    Members of the Iraqi air force and army participated in a mass casualty exercise recently at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Iraqi forces from Al-Muthana, Camp Taji and New Al-Muthana demonstrated their abilities to assess and treat several types of conditions that may happen if they were to enter a combat

  • Airmen upgrade GPS constellation

    Airmen from the 2nd Space Operations Squadron and from the 19th SOPS took control of the Air Force's newest GPS satellite following its launch into orbit May 28 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.  The GPS IIF SV-1 satellite represents a substantial upgrade for the GPS constellation. Thanks

  • Units make history with Air Force's first homeland defense ORI

    Three units representing each component of the Air Force made history here May 16 through 23 when they successfully completed the first homeland defense operational readiness inspection.The ORI, held at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center here, was administered by the Air Mobility Command

  • Exercise tests military, civilian response to disaster scenario

    City of San Antonio officials and local Airmen conducted an exercise here May 27 to test both military and civilian responses to a hypothetical tornado occurring in another state, which could cause evacuation of patients to San Antonio.The exercise was a simulated activation of the National Disaster

  • Air Guard successfully tests back-up for messaging systems

    Air National Guard members teamed up with contractors and other industry partners to create and execute a back-up system for their messaging systems."Until now, the survivability of (Non-classified internet protocol router) e-mail was dependent upon restoring data from backup disks and tapes," said

  • Worldwide memorial held for fallen TACP Airman

    A memorial ceremony was held globally May 26 by tactical air control party Airmen to honor a fallen comrade.The ceremony was held precisely at 9:11 a.m. Central Standard Time, to honor Senior Airman Bradley Smith who is being memorialized on the TACP Memorial at Hurlburt Field, Fla. "It's most

  • New security strategy touts partnership efforts

    Military-to-military contacts are a "critical component" of global engagement and support the nation's security, according to the new National Security Strategy presented to Congress May 27. "Our ability to sustain these alliances, and to build coalitions of support toward common objectives, depends

  • Scott AFB converts to new defense accounting system

    Air Force and U.S. Transportation Command officials began a new era of financial management May 27 when Spiral 2 of the Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System, or DEAMS, deployed to users at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. There are nearly 1,100 initial users at or associated with Scott AFB.

  • Osan Airmen host munitions exercise

    Members of the 51st Fighter Wing are hosting a mass munitions production exercise here through May 28.Combat Ammunition Production Exercise 10 is an annual event conducted by Pacific Air Forces and 13th Air Force logistics staff, and evaluated by munitions Airmen from across the service.The

  • Misawa maintenance Airmen benefit from AFSO21 review

    For many Airmen, the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program is as abstract as its name. For the Airmen of the 35th Maintenance Squadron munitions flight munitions support equipment element here, an AFSO21 review revealed they could cut their work time in half. "Honestly, I was a

  • Joint Chiefs chairman delivers Academy commencement

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff delivered the commencement for U.S. Air Force Academy graduation 2010 here May 26.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen is the first Joint Chiefs chairman to speak at an Academy graduation ceremony in the Academy's 55-year history."Let me be among the first to congratulate

  • Physiologist recognized at national conference

    A physiologist here was honored at the annual Aerospace Medical Association conference held May 10 through 13 in Phoenix.Lt. Col. Lance Annicelli, the Aerospace and Operational Physiology Training Flight commander for the 359th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, was awarded the 2010 Life Sciences and

  • Birdik Village school commemorates with ceremony, surprise

    More than eight months after the reopening of the Birdik Village school, 250 students heard the sound of the last bell of the year during a ceremony here May 25.With Air Force funding, volunteers from the Transit Center here reconstructed the Birdik Village school at a cost of about $540,000.The

  • X-51 Waverider makes historic hypersonic flight

    An X-51A Waverider flight-test vehicle successfully made the longest supersonic combustion ramjet-powered hypersonic flight May 26 off the southern California Pacific coast.The more than 200 second burn by the X-51's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne-built air breathing scramjet engine accelerated the

  • Avionics shop works around the clock

    While many of us are heading to bed at the end of a long day, Airmen from the 437th Maintenance Squadron avionics flight are working around the clock in order to ensure vital repairs are made on parts necessary for C-17 Globemaster IIIs to conduct day-to-day operations.The avionics intermediate

  • Air University education database down

    A computer system managing various aspects of Air Force member's education experienced a serious technical malfunction May 13, impacting Air University distance learning, related education records and test control facilities Air Force-wide.Enlisted and officer distance learning for professional

  • Review panel praises BMT program improvements

    The 22nd Basic Military Training Triennial Review Committee validated the positive effect expanded training has had on BMT graduates during its evaluation May 12 through 14 here.The committee observed program improvements achieved by expanding BMT to 8.5 weeks and adding a week-long Basic

  • Air Force transitions from NSPS to GS

    Most Air Force civilians under the National Security Personnel System will convert to the General Schedule by the end of this fiscal year in support of the Department of Defense goal to convert out as quickly as possible. This conversion out of NSPS was mandated by the Fiscal 2010 National Defense

  • Senior NCO makes difference in Afghans' lives

    A NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan senior NCO recently won the Air Force 2010 League of United Latin American Citizens "Excellence in Military Service Award" for service during his last deployment to Afghanistan.Senior Master Sgt. Limweshe Wright, a NTM-A's combined joint logistics office

  • Guardian Challenge 2010 season a success

    Air Force Space Command officials announced the winners of Guardian Challenge 2010, the command-wide combat competition, during the awards ceremony May 21.The top awards and winners included: - The Schriever Trophy for Best Space Launch Wing: 45th Space Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. - The

  • National Veterans Golden Age Games set to begin

    Hundreds of veterans from around the nation are making their way to Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in the 24th National Veterans Golden Age Games, the largest annual sports competition of its kind in the world. The events run from May 26 through 31."This extraordinary event is a true testament to the

  • Top enlisted Airman addresses quality-of-life issues

    As Air Force leaders work to improve the quality of life for Airmen and their families, suicide prevention is among their top priorities, the service's top enlisted Airman said.The suicide rate for all four services in 2009 was higher than the national average, defense officials said. Air Force

  • Air Force JTAC's support every aspect of combat missions

    Joint terminal attack controllers assigned to the 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron were called into action when their unit came under attack during joint operations near the Afghanistan and Pakistan border May 12 through 15.The mission was a near-border operation to remove any

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

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," security forces Airmen go through a shocking experience during electric taser training. Plus, find out how one man keeps Air Force planes safe with a little help from his feathered friends. And, you'll meet an Airman who's in a class of his own, as he trains