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U.S. Air Force News

  • DFAS begins recouping separation pay soon

    Recouping military retirees' voluntary separation incentive special separation benefit and other separation payments by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will resume in August. Separation payments and others, such as severance pay, were offered to active-duty servicemembers to reduce

  • Earth Day: Taking action for a greener tomorrow

    Members of the Air Force family, in uniform and out, will join millions of people across the nation and around the world in observing the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, said the service's assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and logistics."We are dedicated to the

  • AETC commander selected for Order of the Sword

    Air Education and Training Command enlisted members recently selected the AETC commander for induction into the Order of the Sword. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz is set to accept the honor in a formal ceremony July 16, at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor and

  • Airman gets NASCAR 'Royal' treatment

    It's not every day the morning starts with a phone call from a NASCAR driver, but that's exactly how a 56th Maintenance Group Quality Assurance inspector began work April 8 here.Staff Sgt. Damon Thurman's supervisor handed him the phone and Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Crown Royal Black car,

  • Department hailed as leader in 'green' movement

    In a prelude to this week's Earth Day events, a major independent research group April 21 called the Defense Department a leader in energy conservation."The department is doing more than sounding an alarm; it has enacted energy goals and is inventing, testing and deploying new technologies and

  • Inaugural warrior and survivor care conference held

    "Care beyond duty" was the theme for the Warrior and Survivor Care Conference hosted by Air Force Personnel Center officials here April 6 through 9."The goal for this conference was to bring three major groups together: the recovery care coordinators, base level community readiness consultants and

  • Air Force officials unveil new rescue aircraft model

    A new model of an aircraft used in Air Force rescue efforts since 1956 was formally presented to the Air Force in a ceremony April 19 here. The HC-130J Super Hercules combat rescue tanker is configured to provide support to special operations missions and will become a backbone of Moody Air Force

  • Airmen deliver new Army helicopter to Europe

    A C-17 Globemaster III loaded new Army light utility helicopters for delivery to the warfighters April 12 here.This marked the first time UH-72 helicopters were transferred directly overseas via Air Force transport. The C-17 assigned to the Mississippi Air National Guard's 172nd Airlift Wing in

  • Air Force officials cancel officer training boards

    Air Force Recruiting Service officials here announced April 14 that they are canceling the upcoming summer Officer Training School board and possibly other future boards until further notice. The board is being canceled due to the Air Force's recently announced overall Force Management program to

  • New AF dining program opens doors for retirees, base employees

    Air Force Services Agency officials are implementing a new Food Transformation Initiative, enabling base employees and retirees living near six bases to use military food service establishments previously reserved for active-duty Airmen. Retirees and base employees will pay the same menu price as

  • Chief of staff kicks off Caring for People Forum

    As Airmen from throughout the Air Force gathered here April 20 through 22 for the 2010 Caring for People Forum, the chief of staff of the Air Force underscored the importance of their participation.Approximately 250 active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen and civilians gathered for the second annual

  • Capital-area medical centers set for reorganization

    With a reorganization of units overseeing military medicine in the national capital area under way, interim steps are in place to maintain good care and emergency preparedness during the transition.As part of a Base Realignment and Closure Commission action announced in 2007, Walter Reed Army

  • Air Force space officials prepare to launch first Minotaur IV

    The first launch of the Minotaur IV Space Launch Vehicle is scheduled to occur April 20 at noon PDT from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The Minotaur IV is the newest variant in the Minotaur family of rockets built by Orbital Sciences Corporation. It is a four-stage solid rocket vehicle consisting

  • Sheppard members start new combat fit program

    The staff of the Health and Wellness Center here recently started a new exercise program, titled Combat Fit, to help Sheppard people get physically prepared for the combat environment.Combat Fit is a circuit-training program designed by HAWC fitness professionals to strengthen core muscles and build

  • New unmanned spacecraft set to launch

    Air Force officials are scheduled to launch the U.S.'s newest and most advanced unmanned re-entry spacecraft April 22 at Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla.The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle will provide a flexible space test platform to conduct various experiments and allow satellite sensors, subsystems,

  • Keesler chief to compete in Warrior Games

    A chief master sergeant here is one of only 20 Airmen and Air Force veterans to participate in the inaugural Warrior Games, May 10 through 14, in Colorado Springs, Colo.Chief Master Sgt. Damian Orslene, the 81st Training Support Squadron superintendent, will represent the Air Force and compete with

  • Guard, active-duty Airmen provide dental care to remote Alaskan village

    Three Airmen providing care to remote villages here is proving to be a productive way to conduct much-needed training.The Airmen, deployed from bases across the country in support of Operation Arctic Care, a joint innovative readiness training exercise aimed at providing medical care to remote

  • Child becomes pilot for a day

    With his dad squarely in his sights, a 9-year-old boy pulls the trigger in the cockpit of an F-15 Eagle simulator. "Don't worry dad, I'm just going to do a practice landing," Isaac Ezell said jokingly as he searched the simulated sky for his father's jet. Isaac participated in the Tyndall Air Force

  • Elmendorf lieutenant gives back to college

    The 3rd Comptroller Squadron Financial Management Flight commander, has offered a $750 scholarship to the University of Alaska Anchorage's ROTC program.First Lt. Christina Geller is scheduled to present her first check for the scholarship April 23 at the ROTC's leadership lab; however, the winner of

  • Air Force officials name Flemming Award nominees

    Air Force officials have announced the nominees for the 61st Annual Arthur S. Flemming Award April 15. The award honors outstanding men and women in federal government each year who performed outstanding and meritorious work to encourage high standards of performance; enhance appreciation of our

  • Lynn details Defense Department's space strategy

    From the commander in chief in the White House to an Airman manning an observation tower on Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, space is the domain that ties them together.Space provides critical capabilities for the Defense Department and the organization must change its space strategy as the

  • Northwest Field critical to training, ecosystem

    Andersen Air Force Base's Northwest Field has, over the years, become a critical training asset to support current operations.Along with essential contingency training, the area is also important to the future of Guam's ecosystem, with several endangered species calling the area home.Northwest Field

  • Air Force officials reduce Palace Chase obligation

    Air Force officials here recently reduced the Reserve commitment for officers and enlisted members participating in Palace Chase temporarily as part of Air Force management measures to balance the force while meeting a congressionally mandated end strength. The three-to-one officer and two-for-one

  • Luke Airmen train for combat

    Twelve Airmen from various career fields began a three-week military combative training course taught by Marine Corps instructors April 1 here. The training is designed to teach Airmen skills used in combat, for self defense and work on physical training. Some of the training includes learning

  • Education activity launches interactive resource

    Officials with the Department of Defense Education Activity's educational partnership have launched an interactive educational resource for military families, military leaders and school leaders.The resource, "Students at the Center," provides information on important policies, procedures and best

  • Cancer survivor to compete in Warrior Games

    It's been two years and three months since Senior Master Sgt. Michael Sanders overcame an aggressive form of cancer. Despite undergoing extensive treatment and recovery efforts, Sergeant Sanders has made sure to keep fitness a part of his lifestyle, achieving perfect scores on physical training

  • Air Force officials announce annual comm-info awards

    The chief of Air Force Warfighting Integration and Chief Information Officer has announced the 2009 Air Force Gen. John P. Jumper Awards for Excellence in Warfighting Integration and the 2009 Air Force Communications and Information Awards. "The superb quality of the nominations we received confirm

  • Air Forces Africa officials take part in cultural training

    Air Forces Africa's personnel directorate staff has been working with Air Force Culture and Language Center members at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., in recent months to tailor a training program for people charged with building and maintaining relationships in Africa. AFCLC officials had the

  • Nuclear Security Summit set to kick off in Washington D.C.

    President Barack Obama is hosting a Nuclear Security Summit in downtown Washington, D.C. April 12 and 13. The summit may decide the future of global nuclear proliferation policy. It involves 1,800 distinguished visitors arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., from more than 45 countries over a

  • Compact helps military children transition into their new school

    In four years, Cait Horner, a Peterson Air Force Base family member, attended four different schools in two different states and one foreign country. Each time she moved, she was retested for placement in the gifted and talented program. Sometimes she was placed in the gifted program, sometimes she

  • 'Today's Air Force' features ways families enjoy time together

    Featured in this edition of "Today's Air Force" is a segment dealing with a hidden enemy in the war on terrorism:  traumatic brain injuries. Plus, watch fighter pilots face off against their wingmen to hone their air combat skills. And, take a look at how different families find different ways to

  • First lady visits Pentagon, salutes military families, wounded warriors

    First lady Michelle Obama visited the Pentagon April 9 to thank military members, their families and civilians for their ongoing sacrifices in service to the nation.Defense Secretary Robert Gates introduced Mrs. Obama, who emerged before hundreds of spectators in the Pentagon courtyard. "She

  • Presidential award recognizes best installations

    Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, as one of the five winners of the 2010 Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence April 9 here. The Commander in Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence recognizes the outstanding and

  • Automation to improve Post-9/11 GI Bill processing

    With 153,000 veterans enrolled in the Post-9/11 GI Bill this semester, and new automation tools to arrive this month to improve processing procedures, the Veterans Affairs secretary declared the program "on track" and headed toward greater efficiency. Secretary Eric K. Shinseki acknowledged that the

  • Cadets, students 'CANVAS' networks in hacking challenge

    Seventy college and high school students hunted down design and implementation weaknesses for a fictional social networking site during the 2010 Computer and Network Vulnerability Assessment Scenario April 2, here. College students from Colorado State University, the University of Colorado at

  • Wright-Patterson unit earns Dr. James G. Roche Sustainment Excellence Award

    Air Force and contract organizations teamed up to garner an Air Staff-level award recognizing the Air Force Materiel Command program office with the most improved aircraft maintenance and logistics readiness performance.Members of the 702nd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force

  • Air Force Services officials launch Month of the Military Child programs

    Air Force Services officials are highlighting a variety and scope of programs in partnership with base agencies for Month of Military Child and Year of the Air Force Family in recognition of military children and their families."Stay Connected" is among several Air Force-wide initiatives designed to

  • Newly renovated USO opens in downtown San Antonio

    USO officials unveiled a newly renovated, state-of-the-art facility for military members and their families April 7 at the USO San Antonio Riverwalk Center.The renovated facility features a children's play area, a computer area with six new stations, free Wi-Fi, refurbished pools tables, an

  • Air Force officials launch language program for Airmen

    Officials at the Air Force Culture and Language Center here recently launched a program designed to identify Airmen with foreign language abilities and foster those skills throughout their careers. The Language Enabled Airman Program is the first career-long program designed to offer

  • Air Force officials honor top Public Affairs communicators

    Air Force Public Affairs Agency officials here announced the results of the 2009 Air Force Media Contest in writing, photography and broadcasting April 7.Winners in writing and broadcast categories advance to represent the Air Force in the annual Department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Awards

  • Official offers tax guidance as deadline looms

    With the April 15 tax deadline around the corner, a defense official has offered guidance on how troops can file their returns, and reminded servicemembers to submit their forms on time. Servicemembers have two options for filing: they either can seek advice from a legal assistance office on their

  • Vice chairman expresses comfort with nuke production freeze

    The nation's second-ranking military officer said April 6 he's comfortable with a new U.S. policy that halts future production of nuclear weapons. The freeze on developing new nuclear platforms, save for extraordinary cases requiring presidential approval, is an element of the Nuclear Posture

  • Veterans Affairs officials tackle root causes of homelessness

    No one who has ever served the United States in uniform should ever end up living on the street, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki insisted. So he and VA officials are committed to ending homelessness among America's veterans within the next five years, and said he's already seeing signs

  • U.S. military officials contribute to Kyrgyz deworming conference

    Three U.S. military medical experts including two colonels from the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan, attended a conference here on mass deworming April 2 to contribute American health care concepts to the health program this country's medical representatives have successfully started and plan to

  • Airmen complete month-long training in Pacific region

    Airmen from the 19th Fighter Squadron from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, recently completed two back-to-back training exercises in Thailand and Hawaii. The squadron interacted with Thai and Singaporean air forces at Cope Tiger in Korat, Thailand, while also training here with the 199th Fighter

  • Shinseki vows to reduce VA's claims backlog

    Prioritizing the work ahead shortly after his first anniversary on the job, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said his focus for the year ahead is on reducing the disability claims backlog. "We are going to break the back of the backlog this year," Secretary Shinseki said during an

  • Nuke review takes comprehensive look at strategy

    The Nuclear Posture Review, released April 6, is the first overarching look at U.S. nuclear strategy since the end of the Cold War, a senior defense official briefing reporters on background said April 5. The review builds on President Barack Obama's promise to take concrete steps toward the goal of

  • Airmen rescue injured sailor in Pacific Ocean

    Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here completed a four-day rescue mission April 4 for a sailor injured at sea.Officials from the 129th RQW sent two HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue helicopters and one MC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, accompanied by one Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules

  • Original song competition at MyAirForceLife.com

    More than 70 years ago, Capt. Robert MacArthur Crawford, an Airman with the Army Air Corps, won an original song competition with an entry that eventually became the official song for the U.S. Air Force. Captain Crawford wrote the lyrics and music to "Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder."Starting

  • F.E. Warren members help fight brushfire in Wyoming

    F.E. Warren Air Force Base fire and emergency services members responded to a brushfire two miles southwest of the base after a mutual aid request by the Laramie County Fire District March 31.The fire began just before 1 a.m. and took two hours to contain through the combined efforts of the Warren

  • Beale family selected as Air Force FitFamily of the month

    The family of a 9th Support Division Squadron member here was selected as the Air Force's FitFamily of the Month for March after logging more points than any other Air Force family on the program's Web site.The FitFamily Web site provides a venue for families to participate in family activities and

  • Top enlisted leader addresses top issues facing Airmen

    The top enlisted Airman addressed some of the top issues facing Airmen during a visit here March 17 and 18.The role battlefield Airmen play in deployed operations is an area of focus because it ties into one of the Air Force's priorities, said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy. "I am

  • Assistant VA secretary, U.S. Olympians join veterans on ski slopes

    The assistant secretary for Veterans Affairs and two U.S. Olympic athletes joined each other on the slopes during the 24th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic March 31 here.VA Assistant Secretary Tammy Duckworth, Bode Miller and Casey Puckett skied with the veterans as part of the

  • New DVD helps children deal with deployment

    Defense and USO officials joined military families at the U.S. Navy Memorial here yesterday to celebrate the launch of a new DVD created to help military children cope with a parent's deployment."With You All the Way" -- a joint effort by the Defense Department, USO and the Trevor Romain Co. --

  • Pentagon officials may extend tanker bid deadline

    Defense Department officials here March 31 informed companies interested in bidding on the KC-X aerial refueling tanker contract that if the European Aeronautics Defense and Space Co. formally expresses an intention to compete, the bidding deadline would be extended 60 days, the Pentagon press

  • New sexual assault response program created at Sheppard AFB

    A program is now in place that gives Airmen in Training here a bigger role in sexual assault prevention and response.Officials with the 82nd Training Wing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator office recently created the Air Force's first student advocate program. Students against Sexual Assault and

  • Eligible officers may apply for VSP April 1

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here begin accepting applications for voluntary separation pay April 1 from eligible officers.Officers in nine Air Force specialties across five year groups who are being considered to meet the 2010 Reduction in Force Board convening Sept. 20 are eligible to

  • Academy cadet named Truman Scholar

    A U.S. Air Force Academy cadet was named one of 60 Truman Scholarship recipients in an announcement released by the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation March 30.Cadet 2nd Class Jennifer Bandi, a native of Winchester, Mass., is the Academy's 16th Truman Scholarship winner. A political science

  • Operation Purple reconnects children, parents after deployments

    It wasn't a typical cross country skiing race where skill and speed are factors. In this race, it was all about cooperation. Three children and two parents, lined up like a caterpillar with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them, inching along in unison and trying not to trip

  • Air Force officials conclude 2010 NCO retraining program

    The 2010 NCO Retraining Program has concluded with 966 Air Force NCOs identified to transition to new career fields and the successful introduction of two new procedures. Efforts to rebalance the NCO force are being considered a success this year, officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here

  • Radar bound for Bagram will help pilots avoid birds

    A trailer with antennas and wires temporarily parked on base awaiting transit to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, might not look like much, but it could save the military lives and money when it gets shipped later this spring. The trailer contains a Merlin Aircraft Birdstrike Avoidance Radar System

  • An Air Force veteran's story: From combat controller to Paralympian

    In the blink of an eye your life can change forever.That's exactly what happened to Sean Halsted when he fell 40 feet to the ground while fast roping from a helicopter during a training mission at Hurlburt Field, Fla. He went from an active-duty combat controller to a U.S. Paralympian in the 2010

  • Social media sites soon will be open on the Air Force Network

    Air Force officials are opening the Air Force network to allow access to Internet-based social-networking sites. Initial access will be available at five Pacific Air Forces bases March 30, and will begin opening sites Air Force-wide later in April.This change in policy is a result of the Department

  • Shaw dormitory earns national environmental award

    Shaw Air Force Base's newest Airmen's dormitory, building 421, has earned the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. The award was presented in a ceremony here March 16.The building earned the distinction for a number of

  • Clinic provides disabled vets pathway to paralympics

    Air Force veteran Sean Halsted was a decent skier before he fell 40 feet out of a helicopter while on a fast rope during a search-and-rescue training exercise in 1998. Paralyzed from the waist down, he feared his active days were behind him. Three years after his accident, Mr. Halsted reluctantly

  • Kadena Airmen test readines during exercise

    Kadena Air Base Airmen processed cargo and personnel, donned gas masks, launched aircraft and searched for downed aircrew as part of a base exercise March 22 through 26 here.The local operational readiness exercise, Beverly High 10-02, was designed to prepare Airmen to defend Japan and maintain

  • Elmendorf Airmen complete airdrop using 3-D weather technology

    Airmen from Elmendorf Air Force Base completed the first improved container delivery system drop using new 3-D weather technology March 19 over Tin City, Alaska.The new system allows for better drop precision, factors in the altitude, wind speed, wind direction, terrain and other circumstances that

  • Circus entertains, honors military families

    The military and the circus have a lot in common.  They both have people from around the nation and assets from around the world. Both are highly trained units that perform sometimes unimaginable feats and handle unspeakable logistical details in carrying out their mission. And, most importantly,

  • Base study could launch Air Mobility Command closer to energy independence

    A renewable energy study at six installations may result in a different kind of Air Mobility Command "power projection."Conducted by Department of Energy officials, the study will determine whether renewable energy sources, including wind farms and solar panels, could be cost effective; thus

  • Airmen train Afghan C-27 loadmaster

    Airmen from the 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and Afghan soldiers with the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps completed a successful check ride for the nation's first qualified C-27 Spartan loadmaster March 28 here.During an almost two-hour International Security Assistance Force

  • Military families get free access to caregiver network

    Military families now have free access to an online network of quality caregivers who can assist with everything from babysitting to dog walking. Sittercity is the nation's largest online source for local babysitters, nannies, elder care providers, dog walkers, housekeepers and tutors, and contains

  • FitFamily program promotes healthy lifestyles

    Air Force officials launched FitFamily Jan. 30 to encourage and reward children and adults for leading an active lifestyle.The program is designed to increase fitness levels and supplements the Air Force's youth fitness program, FitFactor. "FitFamily promotes the importance of healthy lifestyle

  • Flight tests set course for improved airborne communication

    A series of early March flight tests has validated a two-and-a-half year effort and set the course for significantly enhanced airborne communications capability.A team of specialists from the Electronic Systems Center, MITRE Corporation and MIT Lincoln Laboratory used a 707 test bed aircraft to

  • 20 athletes selected for Warrior Games

    Air Force officials here recently announced the names of 20 athletes selected for Department of Defense's Warrior Games May 10 through 14 in Colorado Springs, Colo.Wounded, ill and injured active duty, Guard and Reserve members, as well as retired members and veterans from the Army, Marine Corps,

  • Defense official hails effect of unmanned aircraft on warfare

    Perhaps no other weapon platform has more significantly transformed the way the U.S. military wages war in recent years than unmanned aircraft, a senior defense official told Congress March 24 here. Since 2006, operations have grown from about 165,000 hours to more than 550,000 hours annually, said

  • Airmen help Afghans fly C-27 mission

    A joint aircrew of U.S. Airmen from the 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and Afghan soldiers in the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps completed an operational C-27 Spartan mission here March 24.Taking off from Kabul International Airport, the four-man aircrew flew Southwest to Kandahar

  • Air Force leaders expand force management options

    Due to the high volume of traffic on the Air Force Personnel Center personnel services Web site following this announcement, Airmen experiencing difficulty accessing the site may direct their questions concerning force management to their base military personnel sections or the Total Force Service

  • Defense secretary to recommend Navy admiral to head F-35 program

    The Defense secretary will recommend President Barack Obama nominate Navy Vice Adm. David J. Venlet to oversee restructuring of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter program, a Defense Department official told a congressional panel March 24 here. Ashton B. Carter, undersecretary of Defense for

  • First all-engine flight using biomass and conventional jet fuel blend set

    An Air Force test pilot is scheduled to fly an A-10 Thunderbolt II jet aircraft at Eglin Air Force Base March 25 on a blend of biomass-derived and conventional JP-8 jet fuel. This will be the first flight of an aircraft powered solely on a biomass-derived jet fuel blend. The biomass-derived fuel

  • Misawa commander named honorary city mayor

    For a few hours March 23, the 35th Fighter Wing commander at Misawa Air Base served as honorary Misawa City mayor. Col. David Stilwell was appointed mayor for a day by Misawa City Mayor Kazumasa Taneichi. Additionally, his wife, Jan, was appointed ambassador to Misawa City and was presented with

  • Yokota maintainers use AFSO21 to improve C-130 inspection process

    Twenty-one Airmen held a weeklong training scenario focusing on improving the C-130 Hercules isochronal inspection process in mid-March here.The inspection is a requirement that has recently changed from a 365-day requirement to a to a 450-day interval and one that requires cooperation from numerous

  • MC-12 aircrews complete 2,000th combat sortie

    MC-12 Liberty aircrews assigned to the 362nd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron completed their 2,000th combat sortie recently from Joint Base Balad.The MC-12 program took off in the fall as Airmen flew the first combat mission in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that

  • Airmen aid medical support mission in Chile

    Two members from the 5th Combat Communications Group deployed to Angol, Chile, in support of relief efforts after the Chilean earthquake Feb. 27. The team left March 7 and arrived in Chile March 11. Staff Sgt. William Kidd and Senior Airman Patrick Walters from the 52nd Combat Communications

  • Air Combat Command leader discusses priorities during visit to Nellis

    The commander of Air Combat Command discussed priorities and focus areas for the command with Airmen here during a visit March 10 through 12.Topping Gen. William M. Fraser III's list of the command's priorities is taking care of Airmen."It's not the hardware or platforms making the mission happen --

  • Former chief of staff laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery

    The 10th chief of staff of the Air Force was laid to rest in a full-honors ceremony March 22 at Arlington National Cemetery, but his legacy lives with today's Airmen through his emphasis on developing camaraderie, pursuing history and recognizing excellence.Gen. Lew Allen Jr. passed away Jan. 4 in

  • Joint team leads Afghan crew chief academy

    A team of Airmen from the 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and Soldiers from the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Falcon, led the first class of Afghan National Army Air Corp soldiers through the Afghan National Security Forces Crew Chief Academy March 6 here.The joint team of

  • Missile Defense Review confirms capability's necessity

    Ballistic missile defense has come out of the world of the controversial and improbable and now is in the realm of the accepted and possible, the deputy Defense secretary said March 22 here.Deputy Secretary William J. Lynn III spoke to the 8th Annual U.S. Missile Defense Conference held at the

  • Air Force officials name 2009 public service award winners

    Air Force officials here recently announced the four Air Force winners and nominees for the 2009 Government Employees Insurance Company Public Service awards.Jeffery Hikes of Barksdale Air Force Base, La., James Ratliff of Scott AFB, Ill., Bill James of Lackland AFB, Texas, and Norman Morrisette of

  • Civil engagement program helps prepare Iraq for future

    As U.S. officials prepare to draw down troops in Iraq, efforts are being made to ensure the effect on the country's infrastructure is minimal. Joint Base Balad's civil engagement program maximizes the base's resources and abilities and helps more than 800,000 Iraqis in the Salah ad Din Province. The

  • Symposium nurtures students in research skills

    A Defense Department program is giving high school students the support and resources to design and conduct original research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics areas. Lynn Smith of the Department of Defense Education activity, director of the Junior Science and Humanities

  • Military gears up for 2010 Census

    Defense Department officials are working with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure that all military personnel are accounted for in the 2010 Census, a defense official said March 19. All servicemembers and their families, whether stationed domestically or overseas, must be counted and attributed to

  • 'Today's Air Force' features taking care of Airmen

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the Air Force takes care of Airmen, while encouraging them to take care of themselves. Plus, with troops from more than 40 nations fighting alongside U.S. Airmen in Afghanistan, bilateral training is as important as ever. Find out how Airmen are teaming up

  • Air Force officials open aviation art gallery in Pentagon

    The World War I Skyfighters of France teamed with modern-day American Airmen in Afghanistan in an art gallery exhibit in the Pentagon dedicated March 18 by Air Force senior leaders. The exhibit showcases the work of the first aviation artist and displays the latest addition to the Air Force Art