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  • 33rd Rescue Squadron wins 2009 Verne Orr Award

    The 33rd Rescue Squadron here was named the 2009 Verne Orr Award winner recently. Established by the Air Force Association in honor of Verne Orr, a former secretary of the Air Force, the award is presented annually and highlights any unit, regardless of size, that excelled above all others in using

  • Total force impact evident at Rodeo

    The Air Force's total force concept is clearly on display at Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 here. Not only are lessons learned from interaction with Marine Corps members and international counterparts participating in the competition, but also from the coordinating components within the Air Force -- the

  • July 20 airpower summary: C-130s transport troops, cargo

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Qalat, Navy F/A-18E-F Super Hornets and Air Force B-1B Lancers

  • Humanitarian assistance team completes evaluation at Andersen

    After three days of simulations and exercises, the Humanitarian Assistance Rapid Response Team, or HARRT, successfully completed its first operational utility evaluation here July 13 through 17. Combining the capabilities of the people in the 36th Contingency Response Group and the 36th Medical

  • Air Force to hire civilians to manage unit programs

    Squadrons with more than 50 military and civilian members could start seeing relief in managing their additional duties as early as this fall, with a 1,200 newly created civilian unit program coordinator positions. Feedback from the 2008 Airman's Time Assessment revealed Airmen were being pulled

  • July 19 airpower summary: Pave Hawks save lives

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 19, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Konduz, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II's provided shows of force on

  • July 18 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 18, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Lashkar, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II's strafed an enemy position

  • Mother Nature never takes breaks, neither do weather Airmen

    Even with today's modern aircraft technology, one uncontrollable factor -- the weather -- is often the deciding factor as to whether an aircraft gets off the ground. But uncontrollable doesn't mean unpredictable. Here in Southwest Asia, the eight-member weather flight of the 379th Expeditionary

  • British cadets nurture 'spirit of adventure' at Ramstein

    England's Air Training Corps sent numerous cadets to Ramstein Air Base in July in hopes to guide their cadets "to foster the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship."As one of the goals for cadets according to the Air Cadet Organization's Web site, cultivating

  • Remote ground radar keeps AOR personnel safe

    Danger is ever present in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. In Southwest Asia, there is a squadron dedicated to keeping Airmen safe by providing a complete snapshot of the battlespace. The more than 100 personnel from the 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron keep U.S. and coalition

  • Air Force officials establish core team for Nuclear Surety Inspections

    Air Force Inspection Agency officials here recently created a new team to increase the standardization and consistency of Nuclear Surety Inspections across the Air Force. The establishment of a centralized team of nuclear inspectors, known as the Air Force NSI Core Team, is another critical

  • ACC commander visits Airmen at Joint Base Balad

     The commander of both Air Combat Command and the Air Component of Joint Forces Command visited the base July 17 to thank Joint Base Balad personnel for their service and survey various missions here. Gen. John D.W. Corley shared his perspectives on emerging missions, joint integration and the role

  • Commander says Rodeo 2009 competition will be 'best ever'

    With the shouts and sounds of the fit-to-fight competition resonating in the background, Maj. Gen. Brooks Bash, Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 commander, said he believes this year's edition of Rodeo will be the best ever. "That's because of the great spread of international partners and U.S. teams we have

  • July 17 airpower summary: B-1Bs strike enemy forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 17, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Surkhabad, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and B-1B Lancers released

  • UAS sensor operator training to begin at Randolph

    Air Force officials recently gave Randolph Air Force Base instructors the green light to begin training the next generation of enlisted sensor operators to support unmanned aircraft systems. Stemming from the high demand for unmanned aircraft and operators, the 1UOX1 Air Force Specialty Code career

  • Defense Department must end business as usual, Gates says

    Defense spending and program priorities cannot be divorced from the very real threats of today and the growing ones of tomorrow, the defense secretary told hundreds of members of the Economics Club of Chicago here July 16. "We stand at a crossroads," Robert M. Gates said. "It is time to draw the

  • July 16 airpower summary: F-16s support warfighters

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.Near Surkhabad, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons demonstrated a show of

  • AFOTEC members put unmanned aircraft through paces

    It's no secret that unmanned aircraft are widely used in today's war to provide information, surveillance and armed reconnaissance. What's not widely known is the evaluation process these aircraft go through before they are delivered to the warfighter. Members of Detachment 5 of the Air Force

  • USAFE officials stand up air ground operations wing

    The stand up of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's first wing solely dedicated to supporting battlefield Airmen took place during a July 16 ceremony at Ramstein Air Base. The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing takes over the mission previously performed by two 86th Airlift Wing units here -- the Contingency

  • Charleston officials provide dignified transfer training for Army chaplains

    More than 170 Army chaplain candidates gathered on the flightline here July 14 to receive training in the honors given to fallen servicemembers during dignified transfers of human remains. Last August, officials at the Army Chaplain Center and School at Fort Jackson, S.C., began coordinating with

  • July 15 airpower summary: Reaper provides topcover

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Qalat, an Air Force MQ-9A Reaper released several guided bomb

  • 12-nation Heavy Airlift Wing takes flight with first C-17

    Twelve nations saw their dreams of strategic airlift come true as the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing they've built from scratch in less than a year received the "keys" to its first C-17 Globemaster III July 14 in Long Beach, Calif. During a ceremony at Boeing's final assembly facility, Col. John

  • Air Force leaders roll out UAS flight plan

    Air Force leaders ushered in a new era of airpower capabilities with the approval of the Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan June 23 by Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.The plan, which was developed by the Air Force's UAS Task

  • RAF communications leader visits Global Cyberspace Integration Center

    The Royal Air Force assistant chief of staff for communications met with the Global Cyberspace Integration Center director to gain a better understanding of missions and issues faced by military forces from the U.S. and England July 14 here. RAF Air Commodore Mark Neal talked with Stan Newberry as

  • Weapons loaders arm jets for the fight

    Without the work of Airmen who load munitions on aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcons in the fight here would be no different than any commercial airliner in terms of strike capability. Combat missions occur around the clock here and weapons loaders from the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance

  • July 14 airpower summary: F-15Es hit enemy positions

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 14, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Asmar, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted shows of force to

  • Hobby earns Spangdahlem Airman $10K

    Simpler, easier to use and saves time. This is not an ad for a new cleaning product, these are qualities being used to describe a new Web-based program the intelligence office here is employing to track training requirements. The new program dubbed "SpIDER System" is the creation of Master Sgt.

  • July 13 airpower summary: A-10s protect coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Ghazni, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs conducted shows of force to

  • 17th Air Force members support presidential visit to Ghana

    Before President Barack Obama could land in Accra July 10, Airmen, Sailors and Marines were on the ground days in advance preparing for the visit.More than 150 Airmen in Accra and more than 1,000 Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima came together to form a task force to support the

  • 1st Combat Comm Airmen support presidential visit to Ghana

    More than 150 Airmen of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron set up forward communications for the President Barack Obama's visit to Ghana in July. The Airmen joined Marines in Accra and more than 1,000 Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima to form a task force to support the president's

  • July 10 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, near Lashkar Gar, several Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles

  • July 11 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Tarin Kowt, an Air Force B-1B Lancer conducted strikes and destroyed

  • July 12 airpower summary: B-1B deters enemy

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Badikhel, an Air Force B-1B Lancer released flares in a show of

  • Total force cross-cultural competence examined at DEOMI symposium

    About 100 Defense Department and government leaders, practitioners, operators, and researchers joined together at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute here to discuss the importance of cross-cultural competence relating to the effectiveness of the total force June 30 and July

  • Airmen improve base in Iraq

    Airmen of the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron are changing the landscape of Contingency Operating Base Basra rapidly. Some buildings already have been built by engineering specialists from 76 bases throughout the United States have improved the operational capability of Multinational Division

  • Officials announce Predator, Reaper additional formal training location

    Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico will be the new location for an additional MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper formal training unit, announced the commander of Air Combat Command here July 13. Gen. John D.W. Corley, with concurrence from the chief of staff of the Air Force, announced the additional

  • Airpower Summary for July 8

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, near Kandahar, an Air Force B-1B Lancer stopped an

  • New Air Force sexual assault prevention, response Web site announced

    To reinforce the Air Force's commitment to eliminating incidents of sexual assault, officials here have debuted a new Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Web site to raise awareness and provide prevention training, education, and victim advocacy. "Sexual assault is absolutely inconsistent with

  • Rescue Coordination Center officials help save 3 lives

    Air Force Rescue Coordination Center officials here helped coordinate three separate search and rescue operations in Utah, Washington and Colorado July 8 with local and state agencies saving the lives of three American citizens. The Beaver County Sheriff and Utah Department of Safety contacted the

  • July 7 airpower summary: A-10s end enemy attacks

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 7, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, in the vicinity of Gereshk, an Air Force B-1B Lancer

  • ESC, MITRE officials take hands-on approach to terminal management

    Officials at Electronic Systems Center and MITRE Corp. are taking a hands-on approach to managing a major satellite communications terminal program, especially now that they have purchased and set one up in their own backyard. More specifically, a team from the 653rd Electronic Systems Wing's Space

  • Airmen in EC-130H unit complete 2,000th combat mission

    An EC-130H Compass Call aircrew here completed their unit's 2,000th combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom July 8. The Airmen, assigned to the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, provided direct support to coalition ground forces in Afghanistan on the milestone

  • Remains of 7 troops killed in Afghanistan return home

    The remains of seven American troops killed July 6 during combat operations in Afghanistan returned to their nation during a dignified transfer July 8 here. Twenty-six family members from every region of the country stood on the tarmac witnessing their loved one's return. Subdued voices of the carry

  • Doolittle Raiders to attend Air Mobility Rodeo

    Three of the remaining nine Doolittle Raiders will attend the Air Mobility Rodeo July 19 through 24 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash. The Doolittle Raiders are special guests of Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command, and are scheduled to attend Rodeo competitions,

  • Air Force combat camera team discusses role of media in military

    The media has played a major role in every American military conflict, from the use of newspapers and pamphlets to stoke the American Revolution to embedded journalists in the Middle East. But a story often lost in the mix is that of the military journalists; those men and women in uniform whose

  • Air Force Communications Agency to change name

    The Air Force Communications Agency will be redesignated the Air Force Network Integration Center to more accurately reflect its role in cyberspace operations July 15 here.The name change comes at a time when the Air Force continues to align its cyber forces under Air Force Space Command, located at

  • Hanscom team works to upgrade airborne comm for top U.S. officials

    A Hanscom Air Force Base team is working to acquire a comprehensive system that will provide highly reliable, secure and integrated voice, data and video equipment for airborne U.S. senior leaders. Those leaders include the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, numerous senior

  • Moody A-10s to receive new sniper pods

    Moody Air Force Base A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots operating over Iraq and Afghanistan this fall will be armed with new targeting pods designed to increase the already lethal capabilities. A number of the 23rd Fighter Group's A-10s will be upgraded to the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods, which are

  • Airmen provide presidential support in Moscow

    Two C-130 Hercules aircraft and aircrews from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, hauled a 17-member presidential support team, 10 portable light carts and a utility truck to Moscow's Vnukovo International Airport July 3 in preparation for President Barack Obama's visit to the region. Planning the travel

  • July 6 airpower summary: Tanker crews put in long hours

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fired warning shots from

  • 927th leans forward with AFSO 21 Level II certification

    Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, is an improvement model customized to the unique environment of the United States Air Force which leverages improvement methods from various sources such as Lean, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints and Business Process Reengineering. AFSO 21

  • Defense Education Forum panelists discuss modernization, emerging missions

    Defense Education Forum panelists recently gathered at the Reserve Officers Association headquarters here to discuss the Air Force Reserve's role in modernization and emerging missions. Maj. Gen. Howard N. Thompson, the Air Force Reserve deputy, cited the importance of volunteerism as Reserve Airmen

  • AFPC officials accepting applications for Test Pilot School

    Officers interested in applying for the next annual Air Force Test Pilot School Selection Board should submit their applications to the Air Force Personnel Center here by Aug. 14.The selection board will convene Sept. 28 through Oct. 2 at AFPC for classes beginning in July 2010 and July 2011. "The

  • Flight engineers: Critical component to combat search, rescue mission

    If the actions of a combat search and rescue crew were viewed as a symphony, flight engineers would be the conductors. They are experts on the aircraft's weapons systems, know how to operate the hoist, serve as radio operators and operate the .50 caliber machine gun. In many ways, it's man in

  • Obama, Medvedev agree to reduce nuclear stockpiles

    President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev agreed in Moscow July 6 to reduce U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons stockpiles by up to a third. President Medvedev said during a news conference with President Obama at the Kremlin that the two leaders have forged an understanding on a

  • Russia allows transit for Afghanistan-bound U.S. troops

    An agreement signed in Moscow July 6 permits the United States to transit troops and weapons across Russian territory en route to Afghanistan. The pact, signed during President Barack Obama's visit to the Kremlin, permits 4,500 flights per year through Russian airspace, and saves the U.S. government

  • Air mobility, tanker support key elements of Global Thunder

    Air Mobility Command airlift and tanker support were key contributors to Exercise Global Thunder 2009 that ran June 24 through 30, AMC officials said recently. Global Thunder 2009, a U.S. Strategic Command-led exercise, provided training opportunities for various service components, units and their

  • AFSO 21 improves wash rack ops

    The group was assembled as part of the Air Force-wide implementation plan for Air Force Smart Operations for the 21 Century. Washes are part of a corrosion-control process used to extend the life and reliability of Air Force aircraft. Corrosive stuff is deposited onto the aircraft from various

  • Airmen train with Army to become JTACs

    Rain and mud may not have been forecasted for radio operators, maintainers and drivers' training in the wilderness, but Airmen geared up anyway to practice combat lifesaver skills, convoys, air-assault egression, and improvised explosive device reaction with one goal in mind: to become combat

  • Nonlethal capabilities provide alternative to deadly force

    When shouting isn't enough to stop someone who poses a threat, nonlethal weapons provide an alternative to lethal force. "Non-lethal weapons give warfighters crucial escalation-of-force options between shouting and shooting," said Kelley Hughes, strategic communications officer for the Joint

  • July 5 airpower summary: Helicopters rapidly transport patients

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 5, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornado conducted a strafing run

  • Operation Pacific Angel set to begin

    The United States will join local authorities in three Pacific nations in July and September to provide medical, dental, and engineering assistance as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2009. More than 150 Airmen and Soldiers will fly via C-17 Globemaster IIIs, C-130 Hercules, and KC-135 Stratotankers

  • Airmen coordinate smooth transition of wounded to higher medical care

    An Airman with the aeromedical evacuation liaison team looks and shields his eyes as a helicopter touches down just outside of the hospital at Camp Bastion. A litter team rushes forward. A Marine's life is saved. All in a day's work for the aeromedical evacuation liaison team. Getting wounded

  • Airmen rescue aids in 'Golden Hour' recovery of coalition forces

    Racing against the clock, rescue flights launch into action to retrieve wounded servicemembers and other battlefield casualties. As the helicopters hover over a hostile area, the Guardian Angel team rushes out to retrieve the wounded - often risking their own lives "so that others may live." The

  • July 4 airpower summary: Predators protect friendly units

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force trooops in Afghanistan during operations July 4, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer used guided bomb unit-31s to

  • July 3 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force GR-4 Tornado used a Paveway guided

  • July 2 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, a coalition aircraft executed a strike with a guided

  • July 1 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs employed 30mm Avenger

  • Air Mobility Command's 'Rodeo 2009' just weeks away

    Air Mobility Command's premier mobility competition will take place July 19 to 24 at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., AMC officials said.The international competition focuses on improving worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities and features more than 40 aircraft participating in

  • U.S. limits contact with Honduran military

    The American military contingent in Honduras has limited its contact with Honduran forces as the U.S. government evaluates the situation in the Central American country, a Pentagon spokesman said. Roughly 600 U.S. forces are stationed at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, 50 miles northwest of the

  • 86th AGE flight shows benefits of AFSO 21

    In March 2006 when former Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne called for a new way to evaluate how the Air Force operates, called AFSO 21, he encouraged the elimination of unnecessary steps. He suggested the Air Force leverage on technology, using the right tools and techniques to see any

  • AMC commander visits Airmen in Southwest Asia, highlights mobility's role

    Like clockwork, an Air Mobility Command aircraft departs on a mission within the area-of-operations every two minutes every hour of every day. Providing the three cornerstones of the command's mobility mission -- airlift, aerial refueling and aeromedical evacuation -- AMC Airmen have provided

  • Aerial gunners provide cover for lifesaving mission

    Air Force combat search and rescue crews on HH-60G Pave Hawks fly throughout Afghanistan to provide airlift and medical care to servicemembers wounded on the battlefield. More often than not, this requires them to fly into and operate in extremely hostile and precarious situations and locations,

  • World War II vets share wartime stories with Charleston Airmen

    A new generation of Airmen came face-to-face with the "Greatest Generation" when a group of World War II veterans from the 493rd Fighter Squadron visited Charleston Air Force Base June 29. Airmen from the 16th Airlift Squadron hosted the group along with Lt. Col. Michael King, the 493rd FS commander

  • Air Force reservists 'tweet,' blog, post their way to cyberspace

    A couple of times a day, Master Sgt. Collen McGee logs onto the 433rd Airlift Wing's Twitter account and "tweets" updates to 675 followers from around the world. Using the twitter handle of @AFRC_433, Sergeant McGee condenses messages to 140 characters, often including links to related Web sites.

  • Unit's flight clearances initiative wins DOD recognition

    The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center here was awarded first prize for the best operational improvement initiative during the Department of Defense's Second Annual Continuous Process Improvement Symposium June 1 to 3 at the National Conference Center in Lansdowne, Va. All military branches were

  • Twelve-nation consortium ready for first C-17

    Officials of the12-nation Strategic Airlift Capability, or SAC, consortium will celebrate the activation of the operational unit, known as the Heavy Airlift Wing, and arrival of the unit's first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Pápa Air Base, Hungary, in a ceremony on July 27. The wing's

  • June 28 airpower summary: C-130s deliver for warfighters

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs flying cover for a

  • June 29 airpower summary: KC-135s fuel the fight

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-31s in

  • June 30 airpower summary: Reaper hits enemy forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-9 Reaper employed a guided bomb unit-12

  • U.S. servicemembers withdraw from Iraqi cities, move to main installations

    Under the Security Agreement signed between Washington, D.C., and Baghdad, Iraq, officials in November 2008, U.S. servicemembers are to withdraw from Iraqi cities, villages and localities by June 30.As a result of the agreement, some servicemembers are moving onto main installations such as Sather

  • 'Today's Air Force' features Airmen working in a joint environment

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how U.S. aircraft were put on display in Paris and Southwest Asia, how Airmen are training around the world in both joint and combined environments, and how several fitness tips can help Airmen stay healthy this summer. Showcasing Air Force aircraft

  • June 27 airpower summary: Predator employs Hellfire missile

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a B-1B Lancer used guided bomb unit-38s to target

  • June 26 airpower summary: B-1B targets insurgent facility

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a coalition aircraft carried out strikes using guided

  • Vandenberg officials launch Minuteman III

    Vandenberg Air Force Base officials launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly from North Vandenberg at 3:01 a.m. PDT June 29. The launch was an operational test to verify the weapon system's

  • Air Force officials adopt personnel recovery as core function

    Air Force officials are transitioning their combat search and rescue motto to an over-arching name that encompasses all rescue assets under the same umbrella mindset with a more current operational focus. Personnel recovery fulfills a promise to never leave an American behind and the new slogan

  • Ground, flight tests yield zero interference for interrogator system

    Overseas ground and flight testing on a NATO Airborne Warning and Control System recently demonstrated that a prototype waveform designed to better distinguish friendly forces from foes did not interfere with European civilian air traffic control. This paves the way for 635th Electronic Systems

  • Airborne Early Warning Commanders' Conference attracts worldwide audience

    Commanders from around the world gathered for the Executive Multinational Airborne Early Warning Commanders' Conference June 16 and 17 at Tinker Air Force Base. The EMACC is an annual event where air force leaders from nations that operate AWACS or similar airborne early warning and control aircraft

  • Agreement signed for integrated defense of Alaska

    Joint Task Force Alaska and 17th Coast Guard District officials signed a memorandum of understanding June 23 here to facilitate coordination of the missions under the auspices of JTF-Alaska with those performed by U.S. Coast Guard District 17. The memorandum signals a common understanding between

  • Dover Airman defuses mid-air incident

    "I want to slit the captain's throat," is not what passengers want to hear an irate man, pacing up and down the aisles on an airline flight, shout over and over again. However, in the face of this peril on an international commercial flight to Italy, this is what one Dover mechanic discovered - and

  • June 25 airpower summary: A-10s target anti-Afghan forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs strafed anti-Afghan forces

  • June 24 airpower summary: C-130 airlift keeps mission going

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations June 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a coalition aircraft engaged anti-Afghan gunmen in a

  • Altus team shoots for 'A' rating at AMC rodeo

    Members of the 97th Maintenance Directorate here give great attention to the smallest details everyday, and more recently as the maintainers prepare for the 2009 Air Mobility Command Airlift Rodeo. Larry Melton, KC-135 rodeo team chief, has his crew working diligently to prepare aircraft for the

  • Bomber crews improve mission skills at Northern Edge 2009

    The 96th Bomb Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., deployed here for exercise Northern Edge 2009 to practice mission planning and war-time procedures. The 96th BS brought three B-52H Stratofortress long-range bombers to train in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and over the Gulf of

  • Sather AB renovates runway, paves way for Iraq's future

    Sather's runway recently underwent a major overhaul, improving the quality, capability and safety of the airfield here. Construction on the 10,830-foot runway began Dec. 27 and finished June 16, the day the airstrip re-opened. The renovations included concrete and joint repairs, rubber residue

  • ESC officials award contract to meet urgent need

    Electronic Systems Center officials here awarded a contract June 24 to Northrop Grumman Corp. to field and deploy an airborne communications system that provides real-time battlefield information to warfighters. The center awarded the $276 million, 18-month contract to incorporate the Battlefield

  • Airmen, aircraft on display at Paris Air Show

    Airmen stood alongside aviation industry members and an international mix of civilian and military pilots to parade a host of aircraft, reconnaissance platforms and weapon systems at this year's centenary Paris Air Show here June 18. Le Bourget airfield, located 10 miles north of Paris, drew nearly