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  • Marine takes helm of Air Force wing at Eglin

    A Marine assumed command of the Air Force's 33rd Fighter Wing here recently while the commander attends a professional military education course.Marine Col. Arthur Tomassetti will lead the 33rd FW as he has been the vice commander of the joint unit of Airmen, Sailor and Marines who will train

  • Pope members support Operation Unified Response

    Members of the 43rd Security Forces Squadron here have amplified their operations tempo in support of Operation Unified Response since the surge of relief effort to the eartquake-ravaged Haiti.Every Air Force aircraft landing at the Toussaint L'Ouverture International in Port-au-Prince Airport is

  • First lady's priority: Taking care of military families

    First lady Michelle Obama was the featured speaker at the Joint Armed Forces Officers' Wives Club's 32nd annual luncheon Jan. 26 at the Bolling Officers Club here.About 400 spouses from all branches of the military gathered to hear Mrs. Obama share her insights on military families, and announce a

  • 'Tricare University' offers benefit education

    If you are new to Tricare and eager to learn about your health care benefits or an old hand who wants to know the latest changes, Tricare University is the place to go.Tricare University offers free online courses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at www.tricare.mil/tricareu."The

  • Academy fencers ranked in national points standings

    The U.S. Fencing Association point standings were released Jan. 26 for epee, saber and foil. Five Academy fencers are nationally ranked in the USFA point standings. Leading the way for the Air Force Academy fencing program is senior Peter French. French is currently ranked fifth in the nation with

  • Luke opens combat PT center

    Luke Air Force Base officials opened a combat physical training center Jan. 21 here, unveiling the fourth combat-oriented physical training venue the base has built or renovated in the past year. The new venue adds 8,000 square feet of indoor physical training space to Luke Air Force Base."This is a

  • Military families gain access to free, online tutoring

    Defense Department officials here launched a free, online tutoring service for servicemembers and their families. The site -- http://www.tutor.com/military -- offers round-the-clock professional tutors who can assist with homework, studying, test preparation, resume writing and more. Marine Corps

  • Deadline approaches for 2010 scholarships

    The Feb. 17 deadline for students to apply for the 2010 Scholarships for Military Children Program is fast approaching. All students interested and eligible to apply are encouraged to gather their materials and submit their applications as soon as possible. One of the materials needed includes an

  • Call for warrior games coaches

    If you have ever wanted to follow the footsteps of legendary coaches like John Wooden or Ed Owen, staff members in the Air Force Services Agency Fitness Branch are looking for you.The Air Force team for the first Warrior Games needs coaches for shooting, swimming, archery, volleyball, cycling, track

  • First lady announces family program budget boost

    President Barack Obama's fiscal 2011 budget request calls for a record $8.8 billion for military family support programs, First Lady Michelle Obama told military spouses Jan. 26 at Bolling Air Force Base here. The request represents a 3 percent increase over current funding, and includes more money

  • Mapping tool aids in depot maintenance career advancement

    A career development tool initiated by an Air Force Materiel Command member here could be the driving force behind helping depot maintenance workers at AFMC's air logistics centers excel in their careers."I always felt we were lacking in our ability to help individuals plan their careers, and so

  • Reaper exhibit opens at Air Force museum

    Air Force and industry officials joined National Museum of the U.S Air Force officials for the opening of the museum's new MQ-9 Reaper exhibit Jan. 25 here.As a medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft, the Reaper locates and destroys time-critical and highly mobile targets and

  • Researchers examine video gaming's benefits

    Think interactive video games are a waste of time or more suited for children? Think again. Research under way by the Office of Naval Research indicates that video games can help adults process information much faster and improve their fundamental abilities to reason and solve problems in novel

  • Chairman cites need for rapid health care solutions

    Defense Department officials must work quickly to surmount a stigma that's preventing servicemembers from seeking help for the signature wounds of today's wars, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Jan. 25. "We are clearly just beginning to deal with the long-term effects of the signature

  • VA officials to begin recovery of GI Bill advance payments

    Veterans Affairs Department officials are beginning the process of recovering advance payments made available during the fall 2009 semester to veterans and servicemembers who applied for education benefits. "The advance payments were a huge success and helped thousands of student veterans during the

  • Barksdale 'dePLAYment' program keeps children active

    Barksdale Air Force Base officials are participating in a program for families of deployed Airmen that allows them to enjoy base activities for free or reduced fees.To do so, the families receive "dePLAYment tags" that are used at Barksdale AFB facilities including the youth center, arts and crafts

  • VA to begin recovery of GI Bill advance payments

    The Veterans Affairs Department is beginning the process of recovering advance payments made available during the fall 2009 semester to veterans and servicemembers who applied for education benefits. "The advance payments were a huge success and helped thousands of student veterans during the first

  • 'Today's Air Force' features Haiti relief

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," Airmen leap into action to rush supplies and food to the people of Haiti. Also featured in this edition, Air Force units begin to draw down in Iraq while ramping up in Afghanistan and a rookie flight nurse goes through aeromedical evacuation training. In the

  • Simulator provides risk-free training at Eielson

    The 354th Security Forces Squadron training instructors here recently received training on a new simulation system that will train Airmen in marksmanship, collective and judgmental firing skills. The Engagement Skills Trainer 2000 is a small-arms training system used to increase deployment

  • Air Force officials select Airmen for physical therapy training

    An Air Force board here selected two Airmen to attend the U.S. Army-Baylor University Doctoral Program in Physical Therapy at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.First Lt. Ronald Miller of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and Tech. Sgt. Aaron Butler of Moody AFB, Ga., were selected to attend the 28-month academic

  • Taking care of caregivers

    Deployments are a way of life in today's Air Force. Accordingly, Air Force members plan ahead and anticipate all contingencies while they are deployed.One plan that is required by all Air Force members with families is a family care plan that reasonably covers all situations, short and long term.

  • Multinational aid delivered to Haiti

    As relief continues to pour into Haiti, aid packages being delivered by one military organization reflects the multinational effort to assist the people of the stricken island nation.A load of aid equipment and supplies was delivered to the Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport in

  • Officials announce change to C-17 sustainment plan

    Air Force officials announced Jan. 21 they will establish an integrated C-17 Globemaster III Program Office and lead the product-support integration efforts at Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. with support from the Boeing Company. Additionally specialists at the

  • History in the making: First Canadian student pilots to train with ENJJPT

    Two young Canadians made history at the 80th Flying Training wing when they became the first two Canadian student pilots to train in the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program here. Although Sheppard has had Canadian instructor pilots in the past, the two lieutenants are the first Canadian

  • Guard uses chat room to support relief effort

    With the recent earthquake destroying so much of Haiti's infrastructure, communication between military units remains vital to supporting the relief effort. A readily available chat client is being used to relay critical information between the services and is proving to be a powerful communication

  • VA officials reaching out to students and schools to speed benefit payments

    In a coordinated effort to speed up the processing of Post 9/11 GI Bill education benefits this spring, Department of Veterans Affairs officials announced Jan. 20 that they have been reaching out to student veterans, servicemembers, university officials and other partners to meet a commitment to an

  • USNS Comfort arrives in Port-au-Prince

    Haitian patients began arriving on the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort even as the ship approached its anchorage this morning. As the ship approached shore in the capital city here, Sailors aboard the Comfort felt the magnitude 6.1 aftershock. The jolt collapsed a pier in Port-au-Prince that medical

  • Air Force officials extend deadline for warrior games applications

    Air Force officials are accepting applications until Feb. 15 for the inaugural Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo.Wounded, ill and injured servicemembers will compete across all branches of the military in a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Olympic Committee.

  • School takes students to new heights

    Airmen take off into a high-flying career upon graduating from a classroom that hovers 500 feet above the ground.Students training at the 23rd Flying Training Squadron in Fort Rucker, Ala., are the Air Force's primary source of helicopter pilots for special operations, combat search and rescue,

  • Specially trained officers support Haitian relief efforts

    Responding to and supporting post-earthquake relief efforts in Haiti is expected to be the one of the most challenging humanitarian operations in the history of the National Security Preparedness directorate, according to Col. Michael Hare, NSEP director.Colonel Hare, who oversees Air Forces

  • 2010 AETC Symposium reaches new heights with seminars, displays

    More than 3,700 people attended the 2010 Air Education and Training Command Symposium Jan. 14 and 15 in downtown San Antonio, the largest showing to date. The symposium featured nearly 100 academic seminars on a variety of Air Force topics, a technology exposition hosted by the Alamo chapter of the

  • Developmental opportunities in WMD for civilians/officers

    Officials are requesting nominations for a professional military education course in the study of weapons of mass destruction.The Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction at the National Defense University announced recently the call for nominations to the 2010 program for emerging

  • F-15 rewire flight to save money, manhours

    A new rewire flight at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., is playing a key role in keeping the aging F-15 Eagle flying for years to come. The flight will perform a complete rewire on 122 F-15s during the next five years. The rewiring will be done on C and D models, and when complete, the flight will spend

  • 'Today's Air Force' features A-10 Thunderbolt II

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the A-10 Thunderbolt II is featured getting a new lease on life. Plus, viewers get an inside look at the coordinated effort of providing security for a base in Iraq.  And, F-16 maintainers show how they prevent a small screw from creating a big headache.

  • ESC group aids Haitian response efforts with critical imagery

    The 950th Electronic System Group's Eagle Vision imagery collection team here sprang into action within hours of the 7.0 earthquake that shook Haiti to its core Jan. 13.By about 9 p.m. that evening, program officials began working to order commercial satellite imagery of the island nation from a

  • Space team achieves key ground-segment milestones

    A joint Air Force and Lockheed Martin team developing the Space-Based Infrared System program, known as SBIRS, has achieved two key milestones: a testing milestone demonstrating the ground system is on track to support launch of the first SBIRS geosynchronous GEO-1 satellite in the constellation;

  • VA, DOD officials expand ranks of federal recovery coordinators

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the hiring of five new federal recovery coordinators, bringing to 20 the number of professionals coordinating care for the most seriously injured servicemembers."Our federal recovery coordinators are key members of a team of health care

  • Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus provides Airmen incentives

    Air Force officials have recently updated the Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus policy. All Airmen, regardless of career field, are now eligible for FLPB in a broad range of languages including those identified as "dominant in the force" such as Spanish, Tagalog, French, German, Italian,

  • Air Force officials participating in summer program

    Air Force organization officials have the opportunity to begin hiring students March 17 for temporary, funded positions as part of the 2010 Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities.Air Force officials are participating in the annual program sponsored by the Department of

  • Select bases to implement new civilian application procedure

    As early as mid-February, the rollout of a civilian hiring test initiative will require current Air Force civilian employees to follow new procedures when applying for jobs at select bases. Air Force civilians who want to apply for jobs at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas; Osan Air Base, Korea; or

  • Program brings languages to senior officer PME

    As special guests of the Air Force Culture and Language Center staff, 20 instructors from the Defense Language Institute in Washington, D.C., and Monterey, Calif., are helping Air War College and Air Command and Staff College students cultivate basic language skills as part of the Strategic

  • Mullen voices concern with military suicide rate

    Suicide is a growing problem in the military community, and its leaders must be committed to reversing that trend, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here Jan. 13.In an address to an audience of more than 1,000 military and other government agency health-care workers and officials

  • Air Force seeking athletes for warrior games

    The deadline for submitting applications to compete in the inaugural Warrior Games at Colorado Springs, Colo. is Jan. 15.Approximately 200 wounded active duty members and military veterans will compete in the Warrior Games May 10 to 14. Air Force officials are seeking approximately 25 wounded

  • Iraqi air force graduates 247 cadets

    More than 240 cadets graduated from the Iraqi air force officer course basic military training course Jan. 10, here.In the two-month course, the 247 graduates at Iraqi Military Academy-Rustamiyah were educated in professionalism, teamwork, management and the leadership skills required to be an

  • Air Force officials announce enlisted board, promotion schedules

    Air Force officials here have released new enlisted promotion board and testing schedules Jan. 14."The 2010 enlisted promotion rates look promising," said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Long, the enlisted promotions, evaluations and physical fitness chief. "Nearly all 2009 rates slightly increased from 2008

  • Airmen transition into new fitness program

    As Airmen begin transitioning into the new testing cycle in January, officials worked to publish the new Air Force instruction to the Air Force Publications Web site Jan. 12, with an effective date of July 1.Air Force officials unveiled the new fitness program in August while still completing a

  • Budget for 2010 to help Guard equip, modernize

    Increased funding in the fiscal 2010 budget will allow the National Guard to modernize and equip its forces for state and federal missions, Guard officials announced here Jan. 11."This robust funding will constitute a significant strengthening of the Guard's equipment fill and modernization

  • Air Force pilot missing in action from Vietnam War is identified

    Officials with the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced Jan. 12 that the remains of an Air Force pilot, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial.Maj. Russell C. Goodman of Salt Lake City, Utah, will be honored

  • Academy cadets to conduct rocket static fire test

    Cadets in the FalconLaunch program here will conduct a fully integrated static test fire of the FalconLaunch-8 rocket's propulsion system Jan. 15 in Jacks Valley, Colo.FalconLaunch is a two-semester course for cadets to gain hands-on experience, "learning space by doing space." Over the course of

  • Officials urge collaboration in suicide prevention

    There are no clear-cut answers to suicide prevention, but through collaboration and team work from federal and private institutions, the nation can better address the challenge, Defense and Veterans Affairs department officials said today.In a joint Defense-VA conference, titled "Building Strong and

  • Gates will remain as secretary at least another year

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will stay in office for at least another year, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell confirmed here Jan. 7. Secretary Gates met with President Barack Obama before Christmas and committed to another year on the job, Mr. Morrell said. Then-President George W. Bush

  • Joint basing at Charleston moves forward with activation of 628th ABW

    Eighteenth Air Force officials activated the 628th Air Base Wing during an assumption-of-command ceremony Jan. 8 at Charleston AFB.The activation of the 628th ABW is the latest step toward the stand up of Joint Base Charleston Jan. 31. The joint base stand up in late January will begin the next

  • Wings of Blue cadets jump into Rose Bowl

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's Wings of Blue, the Air Force parachute demonstration team, jumped into the Rose Bowl as part of pregame activities during the Citi Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game, Jan. 7 in Pasadena, Calif.Wings of Blue members dropped into the stadium of 93,000

  • Toolkit helps answer servicemembers' health care questions

    One in five servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from major depression or post traumatic stress disorder, according to officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.To help servicemembers affected by a behavioral or other

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a look back at 2009

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," a look back is taken at the top stories of 2009. Stories covered range from the creation and stand-up of the Air Force's newest major command, to a heartfelt story about the Year of the Air Force Family.   Also featured are changes in the Post 9/11 GI Bill in

  • Air Force secretary visits Lackland, addresses priorities

    The secretary of the Air Force toured Lackland Air Force Base and presided over the latest Basic Military Training graduation here Jan. 8.Secretary Michael Donley toured the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills and Training complex, talked to base Airmen and discussed some of his top priorities for

  • USO plans family centers at Bethesda, Belvoir

    United Services Organization officials plan to build family centers at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda, Md., and Fort Belvoir, Va., to continue the USO's tradition of bringing troops a piece of home. The project was inspired by the Army Community Services center at Brooke Army Medical

  • Laws change for military, overseas voters

    Servicemembers and overseas voters shouldn't assume they automatically will receive ballots for the 2010 elections just because they have in the past. Previously, voters would receive absentee ballots for up to two cycles following their request, Bob Carey, Federal Voting Assistance Program

  • Air Force officer becomes namesake for prestigious award

    The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy recently named an award after an Air Force officer who commanded the 732nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and provided leadership for the first Air Force detachments conducting convoy escort missions at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.Established in 2009, the Lt.

  • Airman earns Male Athlete of the Year title

    Becoming the Air Force Male Athlete of the Year is no easy feat.  It takes a lot of determination and dedication to achieve this status. This year's Air Force male athlete of the year is Capt. Ian Holt, a squadron command post missile combat crew commander for the 319th Missile Squadron.Captain Holt

  • Managed airborne intel system hits field

    The 950th Electronic Systems Group here recently delivered the 500th unit of an airborne intelligence system that enables aircrews to send and receive the most timely situational awareness and threat data.The Combat Track II system, has been in production since 2004. Over time it's become a real

  • Wounded vets to participate in first warrior games

    Approximately 200 wounded active duty members and military veterans will compete in the inaugural Warrior Games May 10 to 14 in Colorado Springs, Colo., Defense Department officials announced Jan. 7. The U.S. Olympic Committee will host the games, and events will include shooting, swimming, archery,

  • Defense, Veterans Affairs step closer to integrated records

    The Defense Department soon will join a Veterans Affairs Department and Kaiser Permanente partnership designed to improve the way military veterans and the nation receive health care, the VA's top health affairs policy advisor said Jan. 6. For the past month, officials at Kaiser Permanente and

  • American servicemembers bridge gap between Afghan provinces, relationships

    Afghan nationals and coalition forces gathered at the Arghandab District Center prior to an opening ceremony of a symbolic bridge Dec. 26, in the Zabul province.  Village elders from the surrounding area were dressed in their traditional garments and sat with their shoes lining the outer edge of the

  • No need to feel SAD during the winter

    Occasionally feeling depressed is normal. Everyone has days when they feel low, irritable or sad, but these moods usually last a few days and disappear.As the season changes and the days get shorter, some people develop symptoms of depression. Sadness and lack of energy and motivation are not a

  • California governor boosts support to combat vets

    California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a new state initiative to better help returning combat veterans land jobs and get whatever assistance they need to secure housing, health care and other veterans' services. The governor unveiled the Operation Welcome Home outreach campaign during

  • Little Rock Airman has $10,000 idea

    A Little Rock Air Force Base Airman received $10,000 by submitting his idea to save the base more than $230,000 through the Innovation Development through Employee Awareness program.Staff Sgt. William Hoessler, a 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron communication navigation system craftsman,

  • Gen. Lew Allen dies

    Gen. Lew Allen Jr., the 10th chief of staff of the Air Force, passed away Jan. 4 in Potomac Falls, Va. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made but burial will be in Arlington Cemetery."General Allen was a visionary leader for our Air Force, a devoted husband and father, and a respected

  • Stop-loss payments continue, but some no longer eligible

    The fiscal 2010 defense budget extends payments to servicemembers involuntarily extended on active duty under the so-called "Stop Loss" program, but those who received a bonus for voluntarily re-enlisting or extending their service no longer qualify for retroactive stop-loss pay. Defense Department

  • General to receive Order of the Sword

    Retired Gen. John D. W. Corley, the former commander of Air Combat Command, is scheduled to be inducted into ACC's Order of the Sword Jan. 13 during a ceremony in Omaha, Neb. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor the enlisted corps can bestow on an individual and recognizes someone for

  • Falcons snatch 6 interceptions, win 47-20

    Six interceptions powered the Air Force Academy to a 47-20 win over the University of Houston Cougars in the Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 31 here.This was the third time the Air Force Academy and University of Houston met on the gridiron in two years. The Academy trounced the Cougars 31-28 during the

  • Program helps servicemembers transition to civilian life

    The Department of Defense's Transition Assistance Program is working to prepare servicemembers and their families for a successful transition to civilian life. "We are trying to ensure that (servicemembers) transition from active duty back to the civilian community is a smooth and seamless one," Ron

  • Iraqi kids, U.S. servicemembers enjoy another day of fun, education

    U.S. servicemembers hosted busloads of Iraqi children for a day of fun, games and culture sharing Dec. 19, 2009, as part of the ongoing base effort to directly engage the local populace here.The event marked the fifth of its kind in the last four months, each one focused on educating and

  • Air Force medics partner with Iraqi Ministry of Defense hospital

    Members of the Air Force Theater Hospital took the first step in partnering with members of Iraq's Ministry of Defense Hospital Dec. 22, to form the American-Iraqi Air Medical Evacuation and Medical Provider Training Course here. The first installment of training allowed the Iraqis to study burn

  • USAFE Airmen retool to enhance tradition of Building Partnerships

    The Airmen of U.S. Air Forces in Europe are charting new territory in tackling one of the Air Force's newest core functions: Building Partnerships.The lesson that international partnerships are essential to success in war and peace is not new. The Office of the Secretary of Defense directed U.S.

  • Three vaccines now available at Tricare network pharmacies

    Tricare beneficiaries can now receive select vaccines with no out-of-pocket expense at retail pharmacies.For the first time, beneficiaries can visit Tricare retail network pharmacies to receive seasonal flu, H1N1 flu and pneumonia vaccines at no cost. This expanded coverage is available to all

  • Think about family members if considering suicide

    Thirty years ago today, Dec. 29, my father forever changed my life, as well as the lives of his other family members. He took a shotgun and shot himself in the head. His death certificate reads, "Self-inflicted gunshot wound."I can't tell you how many times I've heard people joke about something

  • Tricare officials expanded benefits and customer service in 2009

    The past year has been a busy one for Tricare officials with the introduction of a new Web-based counseling program and major enhancements to several other Tricare benefits.Introduced Aug. 1, the Tricare Assistance Program uses today's constantly evolving Web-based technologies to bring short-term

  • Ophthalmic surgeons employ cutting-edge technology

    Ophthalmic surgeons here are the first in the Defense Department to employ a state-of-the-art laser that will shorten recovery times for corneal transplantation. Members of the ophthalmology department assigned the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, now use a femtosecond laser to

  • Kits help children cope with deployments

    Each year thousands of military children are affected by either a mother or father deploying, and when this happened to the Choate family here, it sparked an idea helps prepare military children deal with deployments. In October, Maj. Eric Choate, an Air Operations Squadron Det. 1 delivery control

  • Ellsworth members support Angel Tree program

    Rows of excited children watched and waited for Santa and Mrs. Claus' arrival on a B-1B Lancer float at the Youth and Family Services child care center in Rapid City, S.D.The float was sponsored by the 28th Operations Support Squadron staff as part of the Angel Tree gift program, and after arriving

  • Air Force secretary visits Airmen at Hickam

    As part of his six-base tour in Pacific Air Forces, Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley visited here Dec. 18 and spoke to Airmen about several Air Force issues. "I'm delighted to be here with Team Hickam and to reacquaint myself with the mission here," said Secretary Donley to more than 600

  • Rocket-motor test supports NASA, DOD and commercial missions

    A high-visibility test on a second-stage developmental rocket motor set a new record in the Arnold Engineering Development Center's J-6 large-rocket motor-testing facility Dec. 9.Joe Migliaccio, the Aerospace Testing Alliance engineer who conducted the test, said the team fired an Alliant

  • Robins home to southeast's first-of-its-kind solar technology

    The Robins AFB community has consistently been a leader in testing alternative power technologies, but perhaps no other effort has been as visible to the general base populace then a recently installed solar panel.The gleaming panel, about the size of a drive-in movie screen, incorporates

  • Tricare program for gray-area reservists on its way

    A new program will offer "gray-area" reservists the opportunity to purchase Tricare health care coverage.While qualified members of the Selected Reserve may purchase premium-based coverage under Tricare Reserve Select (TRS), retired National Guard and Reserve personnel did not have Tricare health

  • After retirement hang up the uniform, but keep Tricare

    Active-duty servicemembers must use Tricare Prime or Prime Remote, but retirees who are not eligible for Medicare may be eligible for Tricare Prime or choose Tricare Standard or Extra. Each program has advantages pertaining to cost, location and convenience.If space is available, continuing care in

  • Officials seek 10 enlisted for AFIT degree program

    Air Force Institute of Technology officials are offering 10 NCOs the opportunity to pursue an advanced science, engineering or management degree at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and nominations are due to the Air Force Personnel Center here by Jan. 29, 2010. Ten NCOs from around the Air

  • Everybody knows that Santa is a paratrooper

    You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen. But on Dec. 6 at Pope Air Force Base, it was not a team of reindeer, but Maj. Jeff Dasher, a navigator in the 95th Airlift Squadron who guided the mission for the 440th Airlift Wing's C-130 Hercules that flew a group of Soldier Santas across the

  • New program helps Tricare beneficiaries battle lung diseases

    Even after quitting, smoking can lead to serious health problems including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but Tricare officials are committed to helping beneficiaries quit smoking and stay smoke-free.Smoking is the leading cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and exposure to

  • Air Force facility energy program celebrates successes, plans for future

    Do motion detectors control the lights in your building? Does the air conditioner seem to work better these days? Perhaps you can now look out the window and see a large wind turbine generating power for your base. In 2009, the Air Force reduced the amount of energy used per square foot (i.e.,

  • 'America's AOC' tracks Santa this Christmas Eve

    Members of the 601st Air and Space Operations Center here will once again track Santa Claus on part of his journey around the world this Christmas Eve, and media interested in tracking Santa are invited to visit "America's AOC" Christmas Eve.In conjunction with the "NORAD Tracks Santa" program, the

  • President signs 2010 Defense budget into law

    Defense officials are hailing passage of the fiscal 2010 budget that funds military programs and wartime operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and provides a military pay raise. President Barack Obama signed the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act into law Dec. 19 after the Senate approved it

  • Fairchild officials host Single Airmen's Summit

    Fairchild Air Force Base officials recently commenced the Air Force's Single Airmen's Summit to address issues single Airmen. Issues were discussed in focus groups about community, safety, leisure, family, base support systems, personal growth and work and relationship concerns. These focus groups

  • Conference addresses unmanned aircraft systems use for 1st Air Force mission

    Conference attendees addressed issues related to unmanned aircraft systems' access into the national airspace system Dec. 9 through 11 here.The conference focused on ways Air Force officials can consolidate their efforts with other organizations to gain access into the national airspace system.The

  • Joint STARS engineers work sensor integration project

    Members of an Electronic Systems Center team here are using an aircraft identified for parts reclamation, or re-use, to reduce cost, save time and minimize risk during a process to integrate a sensor system on an E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, or Joint STARS, aircraft. In 2008,

  • American surgical team making a difference in southern Philippines

    Five Airmen are operating a fully-equipped trauma center, providing emergency care, basic medical care and educational services to hundreds of Filipino and U.S. troops on the southern island of Jolo, Philippines. The Air Force members are part of the forward surgical team assigned to Joint Special

  • Air Force officials stand up new squadron in Iraq

    Air Force officials held an assumption-of-command ceremony for the 532nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron Dec. 15 80 feet above the flightline standing upon a control tower platform at Al Asad Air Base. The airfield was previously operated by the Marine Corps, but due to the drawdown, Air