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  • 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

  • Aviano Air Base hospital receives ENERGY STAR rating

    The Aviano Air Base hospital has received the Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR rating, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. The base hospital is the first U.S. facility overseas to receive this distinction, and joins 96 other hospitals in the

  • Holiday Notes from Home airs Dec 23-25

    Several stars join the Air Force bands in this year's Holiday Notes from Home concert on the American Forces Network and the Gospel Music Channel this holiday season.The hour-long special will air on the Gospel Music Channel Dec. 23 at 10 p.m and will feature Amy Grant, Brian McKnight, Take 6, the

  • Air Force officials debut first 3-D commercial

    The Air Force became the first military branch with a 3-D commercial when it premiered its new "Space" spot before the movie "Avatar" Dec. 18 here. The Palladium IMAX theater in San Antonio hosted a special screening of the movie and commercial for Randolph Air Force Base, Texas members."The

  • Two brothers from Dayton taught the world to fly

    Aviation enthusiasts, Air Force officials and local government leaders gathered here Dec. 17 to remember how two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, changed the world.The brief ceremony, held adjacent to the Wright Brothers Memorial on base, recognized the 106th anniversary of the first powered flight at

  • Doctors perform groundbreaking surgery at Walter Reed

    Doctors from Walter Reed Army Medical Center here and the University of Miami collaborated to perform the first pancreas islet cell transplant Thanksgiving Day on an Airman whose pancreas was injured so severely in Afghanistan that it had to be removed.While serving with an Army unit in Afghanistan,

  • Homeless find hope at closed California bases

    In California, as the temperature drops and the number of homeless people climbs, former Air Force bases around the state offer warm relief. Transitional housing is one of the many ways communities are using property on closed military bases for local benefit. These villages of hope offer the

  • DePLAYment tags coming soon

    Air Force Services Agency officials will be offering DePLAYment tags to families of deployed members starting Dec. 21 through July 31, 2010, as part of the Year of the Air Force Family.Eligible members can log on to http://www.myairforcelife.com to see if their installation is participating and find

  • Air Force nurses welcome Iraqi colleagues, share skills

    Seventeen Iraqi medical care providers recently attended the December installment of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group's Iraqi Nursing Partnership Program here.As the responsible drawdown of U.S. forces from Iraq continues, the program is intended to further the medical capabilities of local

  • Weapons school grad marks a first

    An Air National Guard MQ-1 Predator pilot marked the beginning of a new era Dec. 12 as the first unmanned aircraft pilot from a reserve component to graduate from the Air Force Weapons Instructor Course at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School here.Maj. Tammy Barlette, from the Arizona Air National

  • Football: Falcons' Chris Thomas selected to play in East-West Shrine game

    Air Force senior safety Chris Thomas has been selected to play in the 85th annual East-West Shrine Game at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., Jan. 23.Thomas was an honorable mention all-Mountain West Conference selection. He is the Falcon's active career leader in tackles with 287. This season, he

  • Tricare program for 'gray area' reservists coming

    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, or TRS, retired National Guard and Reserve personnel did not have Tricare health

  • Researcher shares cold safety tips for servicemembers

    Researchers at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine are coming up with ways to sustain servicemembers' performance in environmental extremes, a research physiologist at the institute said Dec. 17. "Our job is to help (servicemembers) do their job better in rough environments,"

  • 11 Air Force agencies to colocate

    Upon completion of an estimated $65 million renovation, a building here will house more than 2,800 workers from 11 Air Force agencies. Various agencies including the Air Force Real Property Agency, the Air Force Medical Operations Agency, the Air Force Center for Engineering, and the Environment and

  • Military housing allowance rates set for 2010

    Military members will see an average raise of 2.5 percent in housing allowance rates in 2010, a BAH program analyst for the Defense Department here said Dec. 16. The increase comes to average of around $37 per month for the more than 900,000 servicemembers expected to draw the basic allowance for

  • Photo essay: Volunteers honor veterans with wreaths

    Volunteers from Buckley Air Force Base joined Civil Air Patrol members and volunteers from Schriever and Peterson air force bases and the Denver Metropolitan Area for a day of remembrance at the Fort Logan National Cemetery here for the Wreaths Across America program. View slideshow.

  • Opportunities available in financial management

    Air Force line officers interested in applying for the Financial Management Leadership Program must submit their nominations to the Air Force Personnel Center by Jan. 5.The four-year program specializes in Air Force leadership development by providing an opportunity for line officers outside the 65F

  • Armed forces 'strong, healthy, ready,' survey says

    Members of the armed forces are strong, healthy and ready to accomplish their mission, a survey of their health-related behaviors has revealed. Defense Department officials Dec. 16 announced the final results of 2008's survey of health-related behaviors among active-duty military personnel.

  • Roger that: What the Air Force life means to me

    When Chief Master Sgt. Malcolm McVicar answered the question, "What does the Air Force life mean to me," on www.MyAirForceLife.com, he answered, "The Air Force family is the family that grows each day as you meet new Airmen. Like a traditional family, they are always there when you need them the

  • Close encounters of the FalconSAT kind

    Satellites from the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Department of Energy intentionally passed within five kilometers of each other in orbit Dec. 13, with one satellite's sensors trained upon the other.The two satellites are the Academy's cadet-built FalconSAT-3 satellite and the Cibola experimental

  • Multinational wing completes first mission into Iraq

    A recent flight into Iraq marks another unit milestone for the multinational Heavy Airlift Wing based at Pápa Air Base, Hungary.The airlift mission into Iraq by the wing, which comprises 12 member nations, facilitated the deployment for members of the NATO Training Mission-Iraq."Each time we fly a

  • Officials seek feedback on family programs

    Defense officials have launched virtual "listening sessions" in hopes of gaining more insight into the effectiveness of military family programs, a Pentagon official said Dec. 15. The anonymous, online survey solicits feedback from servicemembers and their families on the military's educational

  • Patriot 7 exercise teaches ISR skills to enhance situational awareness

    About 30 Air Force, joint and coalition trainees participated in Patriot 7, an exercise using intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to support irregular warfare missions Dec. 6 through 11, here.The week-long field training prepared servicemembers to use full motion video while conducting

  • Crime lab casts net ahead of cyber criminals

    Public fascination with television's "CSI" forensic detectives and with the virtual reality depicted in the "Matrix" films may be partly responsible for the high level of interest garnered by a Defense Department contest to solve cyber crimes. The Digital Forensics Challenge was created by Jim

  • Airmen distribute donations to orphanage in Kyrgyzstan

    Several Airmen stationed at the Transit Center at Manas here recently delivered more than 60 boxes to a local orphanage that were sent by a dental college in Texas and others throughout America.Kyrgyz children and teachers at the Nizhanchuisk Orphanage and School had no idea what was in store for

  • Year of the Air Force Family short story competition coming soon

    Air Force Services Agency officials are accepting short story competition entries Dec. 20 through Feb. 14, as part of the Year of the Air Force Family.This is an opportunity for Airmen to express what living the Air Force life means to them, their family and their friends. Entries must be be 300

  • Cadets bring holiday cheer to children in need

    U.S. Air Force Academy Cadets sponsored the "Toy Trick," an event to gather toys for less fortunate children, at the Falcons hockey team's match against American International College Dec. 5 in the Cadet Ice Arena here.  After the Falcons scored their first goal, fans tossed donated toys onto the

  • C-27J training operations center opens

    Air Force, Army and community officials celebrated the opening of a new cargo plane schoolhouse Dec. 9, here.The C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft Schoolhouse will be used to train pilots of the C-27J, the new cargo plane used to reduce the need for ground convoys in dangerous areas.After  years of

  • Air Force officials to begin involuntary phase of retraining for NCOs

    In order to rebalance the NCO force, more than 700 Airmen volunteered this fall to retrain through the NCO retraining program. However, more than 300 additional Airmen are needed to retrain to ensure all career fields are equally manned.Phase II, which identifies non-volunteers for retraining,

  • 'Today's Air Force' features changes in tattoo policy

    In this edition of Today's Air Force, Air Force officials do an about face on a controversial tattoo policy. Plus, see how a new driving simulator in Germany prepares Airmen for the Autobahn. And Airmen in Belgium take time to remember some of the heroes of WWII. For two weeks the Air Force had a

  • X-51A WaveRider gets first ride aboard B-52

    The X-51A Waverider was carried aloft for the first time Dec. 9 by an Air Force Flight Test Center B-52 Stratofortressover Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.The test was a key milestone in preparation for the X-51 to light its supersonic combustion ramjet engine and propel the WaverRider at hypersonic

  • Families of deployed Airmen warm up to Hearts Apart holiday party

    Hearts Apart morale program members organized an annual holiday party to help families adjust to seperation from deployments Dec. 4 at Hurlburt Field. With this year designated as the Year of the Air Force Family, many people understand that deployments are a way of military life and there are times

  • USO officials honor 5 Air Force Medal of Honor recipients

    Officials of the Metropolitan New York USO held their 48th Annual Armed Forces Gala and Gold Medal Dinner and honored the only five living Air Force Medal of Honor recipients Dec. 9 in New York City. The USO's Distinguished Service Award was presented to Col. Bernard F. Fisher, Col. James P.

  • Chief master sergeant of the Air Force visits Joint Base Balad

    The Air Force's top enlisted Airman visited Joint Base Balad, Iraq Dec. 4, to talk to Airmen and survey the base's missions. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy discussed deployed Airmen responsibilities and concerns during a morning Airmen's call.  There are about 200,000 Airmen

  • Air Force officials launch satellite to enhance military communications

    Air Force officials successfully launched a new-generation military communications satellite from here at 8:47 p.m. EST Dec. 5 when a Delta IV rocket carried a Wideband Global SATCOM into space. WGS satellites are designed to provide high-capacity communications to U.S. military forces and the

  • McConnell 'Heroes at Home' program helps military children

    The Parents as Teachers Heroes at Home program offers servicemembers and military spouses here free family support and education for their children, prenatal to three years old.  The Department of Defense provides funding for the program at installations with high deployment rates. Currently, two

  • Educators explore virtual reality as learning tool

    Some people teleported, others flew and some just walked into the holographic auditorium for the Global Learning Forum event here Nov. 19.Though they arrived by different means, everyone in attendance had one thing in common: they did not really exist. Neither did the lecture hall in which they were

  • Defense officials visit Dover C-5M testing

    The senior adviser to the secretary of Defense on operational and live fire test and evaluation of DOD weapons systems flew on the C-5M Super Galaxy during a local air refueling qualification operational test and evaluation sortie Dec. 7 at Dover Air Force Base, Del.Dr. J. Michael Gilmore, the

  • Entertainers put on a show for troops in Southwest Asia

    A "kid" kept servicemembers entertained for hours here Dec. 6: triple-platinum recording artist Kid Rock.Kid Rock brought his Twisted Brown Trucker Band, along with comedian Carlos Mencia and singer songwriter Jessie James, here as part of Tour for the Troops 2009.The Tour for the Troops 2009 is

  • New Air Force plan targets energy

    Air Force officials here released a new energy plan Dec. 9 to serve as the framework for communicating Air Force energy goals and to further expand a culture shift "where Airmen make energy a consideration in everything we do."Debra Walker, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations,

  • DOD officials host disability awards ceremony, forum

    Defense Department officials highlighted the Pentagon's programs for people with disabilities Dec. 8 and recognized accomplishments of employees with disabilities. Clarence Johnson, acting deputy undersecretary of defense for plans, served as host for the department's disability awards ceremony and

  • Nominations open for 2010 DOD Employee with a Disability Award

    Awards and decorations officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here are seeking nominations for the 2010 Outstanding Department of Defense Employee with a Disability Award.This Secretary of Defense award recognizes the contributions and achievements made by physically or mentally disabled

  • Laughlin Airmen give special opportunity to one of their own

    Laughlin Air Force Base Airmen hosted the Air Force's newest pilot here Nov. 20. Nicholas "Nicky" Pena, 3, was sworn in as an honorary pilot at the 87th Flying Training Squadron. Nicky, who has an anaplastic ependymoma brain tumor, was invited to be a part of Laughlin AFB's Pilot for a Day program.

  • Twitter accounts feed job opportunities, news to customers

    Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr.   The Web is fueling society's digital hunger for real-time information and dialogue, and officials at the Air Force Personnel Center and the Air Force Services Agency are serving up the first course. Two Twitter accounts currently are being managed by the public

  • Kandahar Airmen focus on safety

    Members of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Safety Office here work around the clock to keep safety hazards to a minimum.There are three disciplines: weapons, ground and flight safety, and members of each discipline conduct inspections, program evaluations and mishap investigations. They also

  • Task force finds improvement in sexual assault response

    Defense Department officials have made progress in improving their response to the needs of sexual assault victims, but they need to do more, a special task force has determined. The Defense Task Force on sexual assault in the military services has turned their report over to Defense Secretary

  • NORAD officials ready to track Santa's flight

    It's that time of the year again and North American Aerospace Defense Command officials are getting ready to track Santa Claus.The NORAD Tracks Santa Web site, www.noradsanta.org, is now live and features fun holiday games and activities that change daily. The Web site is available in seven

  • Support improves for families with special needs

    Officials are working to boost the resources and support the Defense Department's Exceptional Family Member Program provides to military families with special needs. "Most people are aware of EFMP as a mandatory enrollment program, but we're working to raise awareness of the family support we can

  • U.S., Malaysian air forces participate in live-flying exercise

    U.S. and Malaysian airmen participated in a live-flying exercise involving air combat training in Malaysia from Nov. 9 through 20.Members of the 67th Fighter Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan, took their F-15 Eagles to TUDM Butterworth, Malaysia, to train with the Royal Malaysian Air Force's

  • Veterans more likely to avoid foreclosure with VA-backed loan

    Despite problems in the nation's housing market, mortgage loans backed by the Department of Veterans Affairs had a lower foreclosure rate than any other type of home loan in the industry, as of the end of the last fiscal year."The dedication of VA's loan professionals, the support of our partners in

  • Top leaders spell out president's strategy

    Top U.S. government and military officials here spelled out President Barack Obama's new war strategy Dec. 6, even as hundreds of Marines launched a new offensive in southern Afghanistan.Both Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton appeared on three major