NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Multinational officials plan for Cobra Gold 2012

    Military planners from more than 24 nations are in Thailand making a plan to deal with aggressive Arcadian military forces that took over a portion of neighboring Khuistan and Free Mojave on the subcontinent of Pacifica. The countries, timeline and scenario of the Arcadia situation are make-believe,

  • Athletes vie for spot on Air Force Warrior Games team

    More than 25 wounded, ill and injured athletes participated in the 2011 Air Force Team training camp here Feb. 7 through 11. In January, Air Force Services Agency officials invited 32 athletes to the training camp. Twenty-five athletes will be chosen to be part of the Air Force team in the 2011

  • Air Force 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal training detailed

    Air Force officials will soon begin training Airmen in anticipation of the repeal of the law and policy commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This training will help Airmen understand what is expected in a post-repeal environment, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz."I know our

  • 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 March 3.The four-year program specializes in Air Force leadership development by providing an opportunity for line officers outside of the

  • 34 Airmen selected for Tops In Blue

    Air Force Services Agency officials here recently announced the names of 34 Airmen selected for the 2011 Tops In Blue tour. In December 2010, 73 Airmen competed as singers, dancers, musicians and technicians for Tops In Blue slots during the annual Air Force Worldwide Talent Search at Lackland Air

  • Nuclear policy official visits Malmstrom

    The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs obtained a close-up view of the Air Force's nuclear deterrence mission while visiting with Airmen and local civic leaders Feb. 6 through 8 here.Andrew C. Weber highlighted the Defense Department's responsibility

  • Afghan C-27 maintenance cadre begins building towards the future

    The initial cadre of Afghan air force C-27 maintenance trainers recently began teaching a second group of C-27 maintainers Feb. 9 at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul. The development of Afghan C-27 maintenance instructors further propels the "year of the Afghan trainer" initiative being

  • AFSO21 event helps plan fuel conservation initiatives

    Members from the 100th Operations Group, the 100th Maintenance Group and the 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron recently used the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century process to help design fuel conservation initiatives here.The goal of these initiatives is to help achieve the secretary

  • ANG director: Equal opportunity is critical downrange

    The importance of leadership in equal opportunity was highlighted in the  Air National Guard director's message delivered to 87 National Guard and Reserve graduates of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute's Equal Opportunity Adviser Reserve Component Program Feb. 4."Our service members

  • Airmen conduct coalition training with Slovenian soldiers

    Airmen from Aviano Air Base, Italy, partnered with members of the Slovenian army  to conduct a NATO coalition combat-capability training exercise Jan. 31 to Feb. 4 at Pocek A-G Range here. The exercise consisted of close-air-support training between nine 8th Air Support Operations Squadron Airmen

  • Photo essay: Airmen participate in aircrew decontamination training

    Airmen with the 700th Airlift Squadron participate in chemical and biological decontamination training here Feb. 6. The training takes them from start to finish through an Air Force decontamination line and provides preparation for staying safe after a chemical attack.View the slideshow.

  • General Schwartz talks past, present of special ops

    The U.S. has the world's most competent and most capable special operations forces thanks to the selfless dedication of countless U.S. special operations professionals over the years, according to the Air Force Chief of Staff.Gen. Norton Schwartz discussed the past and present of SOF at the National

  • New training simulator debuts at Schriever

    At first glance the Standard Space Trainer Integrated Training Center here appears to look like a normal operational control center. Large, high-definition monitors dominate the walls, while multiple computer workstations provide telemetry and other important data to would-be users. The desks,

  • Photo essay: 'Spooky' training at Hurlburt Field

    Members of the 4th Special Operations Squadron participate in a training mission aboard an AC-130U Spooky here Feb. 3. The AC-130U is the primary weapon for members of Air Force Special Operations Command. The gunship's primary missions are close-air support, air interdiction and armed

  • DOD must train for 'degraded' environments, official says

    The military needs to do a better job of training to conduct operations in less-than-perfect conditions, the chairman of the Defense Science Board said here Feb. 9.Paul G. Kaminski said that given the cyber and space threat environment that exists today and likely will grow in the future, commanders

  • Barbershop quartet creates 'buzz'

    When Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Tillman of the Alaska Air National Guard deployed to Southwest Asia last fall, he went with the goal to start a barbershop quartet. But how it fell into place, and the impact his deployed quartet is making, has created quite a buzz."Whenever I hear the national anthem

  • Women learn to fight stress from home front

    During a week in which White House officials pledged a whole-of-government approach to supporting military families, 11 women worked diligently a few miles away to learn to cope with the stresses of their husbands' multiple deployments and the post-traumatic stress that affects many of them when

  • Mullen: Military must plan for future transition

    Special operations forces today are the best the U.S. has ever had, and are a good example of the military's need to plan now for continued success in the future, the nation's highest-ranking officer said Feb. 8.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke during the

  • Hornets nest in 'Draggins'' lair

    Members of the 25th Fighter Squadron, known as the "Assam Draggins", hosted members of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.The squadron members visited Osan Air Base as part of a six-month deployment to bases across the Pacific, which provided a unique training

  • Saving lives: Afghan air force medic team learns 'critical' skills

    The Afghan soldier was in trouble. With his eyes sitting heavy and glazed-over in their sockets, the soldier's condition had worsened. He now had to be removed from the C-27A Spartan aircraft that had been flown to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to transport him and other Afghan National Security

  • Dyess cantonment honors Airman

    Airmen and family members of Staff Sgt. Ray Rangel, a 7th Civil Engineer Squadron fire protection craftsman, gathered at the cantonment area here, for the unveiling of a sign renaming a piece of Dyess Air Force Base after the fallen hero Dec. 14.The cantonment area, used to host exercises and

  • ISOC class helps turn Airmen into air commandos

    They all come from different careers fields, but have one thing in common -- they work in, or with, special operations. More than 1,200 students fill the U.S. Air Force Special Operations School auditoriums annually to participate in the Introduction to Special Operations course. Students spend

  • Photo essay: Water survival training

    Aircrew members from the 94th Airlift Wing participate in water survival training at the Cobb Aquatic Center here Feb. 4. Crewmembers are required to receive this type of training once every three years to stay proficient with the equipment and techniques used in various water survival

  • Airmen vie for slots in Army Air Assault course

    The sound of 12 Airmen chanting "air assault, air assault, air assault" over and over with every left step as they marched double time through the woods was audible from a distance.They'd been on duty since 4:30 a.m., completed an Army physical training test, and were about to face "The Tough One,"

  • Buckley Airman, bystanders save man's life

    Recently, a Buckley Air Force Base Airman rendered aid to a car accident victim. Staff Sgt. Kristin Porter, from the Air force Technical Applications Center, Det. 45, was stopped in a driveway near the base making a phone call when she heard a loud sound."I was talking and I heard an accident behind

  • National Security Space Strategy targets safety, stability

    The National Security Space Strategy released Feb. 4 responds to the realities of a space environment that is increasingly crowded, challenging and competitive, senior Defense Department officials said."The National Security Space Strategy represents a significant departure from past practice," said

  • 316th Training Squadron wins award two years in a row

    Officials recently announced the 316th Training Squadron at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas, earned the Command Language Program of the Year award for the second consecutive year. The squadron will go on to represent the Air Force at the Department of Defense level.The 316th TS is responsible for

  • Force shaping board details announced

    Officials are convening the 2011 Force Shaping Board May 9 at the Air Force Personnel Center here to consider officers for retention as part of the service's force management efforts to meet its end strength. This board is one of a variety of voluntary and involuntary measures being taken by service

  • Housing seminar focuses on responsive customer service

    Housing professionals and leaders from across the Air Force recently met in New Orleans to celebrate successes of the Air Force's housing programs, and reaffirm their commitment to providing responsive customer service and quality housing for Airmen and their families.At the Professional Housing

  • AFRS program provides information on special-duty assignments

    Members from the Air Force Recruiting Service hosted "Recruit the Recruiter" Jan. 27 here.The event was designed to inform prospective special-duty Airmen about the requirements and quality of life for individuals who assume a special-duty assignment. Representatives from the military training

  • Iraqi officials visit Balad to better understand base transition

    The 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander and several Iraqi air force senior leaders toured the flightline and facilities here Feb. 1.Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Rock, the commander of the 321st AEW and the director of the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air, toured the base with General Wamid, the

  • Airmen join Soldiers in Joint Dawn

    About two dozen contracting Airmen trained here to get a taste of contracting operations in a contingency environment. The Airmen came from as far away as Japan, Alaska and Hawaii to participate in the U.S. Army Expeditionary Contracting Command Operation Joint Dawn 2011. When they hit the ground

  • Fallen Marine's family adopts his best friend

    "Whatever is mine is his," Marine Corps Pfc. Colton W. Rusk wrote about Eli, his military working dog, in the final days of their deployment in Afghanistan. On Feb. 3, Private Rusk's family helped prove his words true when they adopted the black Labrador retriever in a retirement and adoption

  • Petraeus discusses troop transition options

    As the start of the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan approaches, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the senior commander of U.S. and coalition forces there, said the transition of forces could take a number of forms."Progressively over time, obviously, we do want to reduce our numbers in specific

  • Leaders call operational Reserve 'a new DOD efficiency'

    The new role and future direction of the Department of Defense's reserve components was the focus of the Reserve Officer Association gathering attended by more than 600 people at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel here Jan. 29 through Feb. 2.Senior DOD leaders here discussed how the Reserve programs

  • McConnell firefighter saves couple

    Casting personal safety aside, one firefighter here rescued a local couple from a potential disaster Jan. 30.The rescue was performed by Senior Airman Jared Adams, a 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, who was off-duty at the time. While driving past a home in Wichita, Kan., Airman Adams

  • Directory links wounded warriors, families to resources

    From benefits and compensation, to education and training, an online directory is providing wounded warriors, veterans and their families a direct connection to thousands of state, local and national resources. "There's so much information on the Web right now; it's nice to have one place to access

  • Government officials unite to improve child, youth programs

    The government's new military family-support effort will have a resounding impact on resources and programs for military children and youth in the months and years ahead, a Defense Department official said."It is earth-shattering," said Barbara Thompson, the director of the Pentagon's office of

  • Chaplain assistant bolsters morale, mission focus from a unique perspective

    While the chapel staff here offers worship services and a seemingly endless supply of steaming hot coffee, there's one thing that sets it apart from all the rest. As the 447th Air Expeditionary Group's only chaplain assistant for the hundreds of service members here at Sather Air Base, Staff Sgt.

  • Air Force fighters prep for Super Bowl XLV

    Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region fighters will be busy well before Super Bowl Sunday preparing to protect the sky around Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.Exercise Amalgam Virgo 11-05A, a NORAD air defense exercise, was held Feb. 2 in the greater Arlington area to

  • Hickam C-17 drops a Navy boat over Pacific

    It was 'zero-dark-thirty' and only the blue line of runway lights met the joint Air Force and Navy crew under the wings of a C-17 Globemaster III.A 535th Airlift Squadron aircrew from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Unit One from Guam teamed up to drop a

  • Air Force officials announce FY11 additional force management measures

    Air Force leaders announced involuntary force management programs Feb. 2 to reduce personnel as a supplement to the voluntary programs announced in December. These measures are part of the Air Force's multi-year Force Management Program aimed at shaping and sizing the force. With more Airmen

  • Air Force Reserve has opportunities for separating Airmen

    Air Force Reserve officials want separating Airmen to consider opportunities as a reservist.  Becoming a traditional reservist or an individual mobilization augmentee offers them the opportunity to pursue a civilian career and still serve their country.Traditional reservists join a Reserve unit,

  • New website promotes military info sharing

    Whether they're moving into a new contingency operation or upgrading operations for an existing one, U.S. forces have a new weapon at their disposal when setting up or reconfiguring their command-and-control architectures.Thanks to the new "C2 Central" website established by U.S. Joint Forces

  • Air National Guard fighter wing preps for alert missions at Tyndall

    U.S.-based alert pilots train to shoot down enemy aircraft over American soil. They run exercise scenarios on a constant basis, preparing for that call to scramble. But all the dry runs in the world can't prepare a pilot for that moment when a live missile is released from the jet. That's why

  • Rescue Airmen respond to helicopter crash

    Air Force reservists from the 943rd Rescue Group here responded to a Department of Public Safety helicopter crash in a rugged valley northwest of Tucson Jan. 31.Around noon, 943rd RQG Airmen were conducting two rescue helicopter training missions in the local area when they heard radio chatter

  • Nonpartisan group teaches vets how to run for office

    Ask most Americans what they they'd like to see in their elected officials, and they're likely to rattle off a laundry list of characteristics: integrity, leadership experience, an ability to work cooperatively to tackle tough challenges, and perhaps most of all, a willingness to put what's best for

  • Local police help SFS Airmen detect, apprehend drunk drivers

    Master Officers from the James City County Police Department visited here to provide field sobriety test training to 633rd Security Forces Squadron Airmen Jan. 20.The day-long training fulfills the Virginia state requirement for all law enforcement officers working in Virginia to be trained in

  • Kehler succeeds Chilton as commander of Strategic Command

    Air Force Gen. Kevin P. Chilton passed the flag of U.S. Strategic Command to Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler Jan. 28, giving the nation's nuclear deterrent mission a new commander.General Chilton, a pilot who served 10 years with NASA and flew three space shuttle missions, retired after 34 years of

  • VA officials seek opinion of veterans and public and private experts

    Officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs are hosting a public forum in Scottsdale, Ariz., aimed at improving the fairness of payments for veterans who are service-connected for genitourinary, digestive, dental, infectious, immune disorder and nutritional deficiency diseases and injuries.

  • CSAF calls for more collaboration amid budget pressures

    Intense budget pressure, made worse by the failure to pass the fiscal 2011 defense appropriations bill, requires increased joint and total force collaboration across the U.S. military, according to the Air Force chief of staff. Gen. Norton Schwartz made the comments during remarks at the Reserve

  • High-tempo training prepares maintainers for war

    Aircraft maintainers are working day and night during Red Flag 11-2, so pilots can fly the missions needed to prepare for aerial combat, but not only aircrew members benefit from the Red Flag experience.The high-tempo mission requirements of Red Flag provide maintainers an environment that

  • MacDill officials use multi-pronged approach to save aircraft fuel

    Drivers who stay aware of their right foot, keep their engine tuned and adjust their car's tire pressure can save a few cents a day in gas costs. When the professionals who plan the flying missions at here get frugal, it can save thousands of dollars a day. That's why the 6th Air Mobility and 927th

  • STOMP brings together parents, educators of special needs children

    When Tech. Sgt. Emily Smith and Staff Sgt. Todge Smith were blessed with a baby girl nearly six months ago, they immediately recognized signs of Down syndrome and epilepsy in her. With early intervention and physical therapy, their daughter Renee is now meeting all developmental milestones.Sergeant

  • Advisers fight fire with knowledge

    Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air advisers provided critical training to Iraqi firefighters at New Al-Muthana Air Base Jan. 24. The class, spearheaded by NAMAB's Base Transition Team - Det. 3, taught 24 Iraqi firefighters how to safely handle a fire aboard an Iraqi C-130 Hercules. The class is

  • Deployed medical team saves critically injured member

    Medics from the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing provided self-aid and buddy care to a critically wounded patient during a recent attack against Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.The team of four Airmen provided immediate assistance to a critically wounded patient, giving him the chance to receive more

  • Airmen, Soldiers participate in medical evacuation training

    Approximately 40 Airmen from the 8th Medical Group participated in medical evacuation training here Jan. 19. The Airmen also trained with Army medics and pilots from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.The 8th MDG Airmen, who were mainly flight surgeons, doctors, nurses

  • Officials to issue new camouflage uniforms to deployers

    Airmen deploying to Afghanistan in 2011 will see a new uniform issued to them as part of their deployment gear beginning in March. While Airmen have been faced with a slew of uniform changes in recent years, this new uniform is not a matter of image or heritage but instead has resulted from a joint

  • Gates: Congress must address 'crisis on my doorstep'

    The failure of Congress so far to pass the fiscal 2011 defense appropriations bill, which creates the possibility of funding the department under a year-long continuing resolution instead, is "the crisis on my doorstep," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in an interview Jan. 26.Failure to pass

  • Photo essay: Whiteman's T-38 Talons get ready for flight

    Crew chiefs and maintainers perform final preflight checks on the T-38 Talon high-altitude supersonic trainer here Jan. 26. The T-38 is used by pilots to conduct sorties and accumulate flight hours and training time.View the slideshow.

  • First U.S.-trained Afghan helicopter pilots begin Mi-17 qualification course

    The first two Afghan air force helicopter pilots to complete basic pilot training in the U.S. recently began the initial Mi-17 qualification course meant to convert them into Mi-17 helicopter pilots at the Afghan air force base in Kabul. A hybrid of Croatian and U.S. helicopter training syllabi, the

  • Officials plan first 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repeal briefing

    The first in a series of briefings to describe the Defense Department's progress in implementing repeal of the so-called "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law is coming soon, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Jan. 26.Clifford L. Stanley, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, and

  • Program helps service retain RPA, rated pilots

    Air Force officials announced their plans Jan. 26 for the fiscal 2011 Aviator Continuation Pay program to help retain active-duty pilots and combat-systems officers who are trained as remotely piloted aircraft pilots.The ACP program allows some active-duty, rated aviators to qualify for a monetary

  • Red Flag 11-2 provides combat experience

    The first pilots flew into a simulated combat environment designed to give them the skills needed to survive in war during Red Flag 11-2 here Jan. 24. "The mission of every Red Flag is to expose our combat aircrew to realistic training," said Col. S. Clinton Hinote, the Red Flag 11-2 Air

  • New fitness requirements for deploying Airmen

    Airmen preparing to attend Army-taught Combat Skills Training prior to deploying to a joint expeditionary tasking in direct support of combatant commander or joint task force ground component missions will soon be required to possess a current and passing fitness assessment, according to new Air

  • Gabon commanders visit German bases in security familiarization

    Two Gabonese air base commanders visited Ramstein, Sembach and Spangdahlem air bases in Germany Jan. 17 through 20.The trip, focused on air base defense. "The sorts of threats that exist in Gabon also exist here," said Gabon air force Col. Jean Paulin Asseko Makoka, the commander of Liberville Air

  • Officials announce Air Force Warrior Team training camp attendees

    Air Forces Services Agency officials have invited 32 athletes to the 2011 Air Force Warrior Team training camp Feb. 7 through 11 in San Antonio. Retired Chief Master Sgt. Damian Orslene, one of the members of the 2010 Air Force team, will be at the training camp, hoping to be selected for this

  • Iraqi Air Force College trains pilots and ground support officers

    For future pilots and ground support officers, the gateway to Iraqi air power opened Sept. 1, 2010, at the Iraqi Air Force College here.There are 143 cadet pilots studying courses in avionics and aviation theory, along with geography, history, and an extensive core curriculum in the English

  • Officials extend window for cross-flow applications

    Air Force officials are extending the application period for nonrated line officers in overmanned Air Force specialties to voluntarily apply for cross flow into undermanned career fields until Feb. 4, as part of a newly formalized program announced in January.Air Force leaders announced the

  • Guard, Reserve legal communities gather for intense training

    More than 500 judge advocates and paralegals from throughout the Air Reserve component gathered here for two days of training at the annual ARC Survey of the Law Jan. 21 to 22.The legal professionals from the Air National Guard, the traditional Reserve and the individual mobilization augmentee

  • Rescue Airmen take on 'Titan' training

    An unused rocket-assembly building here is finding new life as a training facility to teach high-altitude, high-angle and confined-space rescue techniques. Air Force Reserve pararescuemen and combat rescue officers from the Air Force Reserve Command's 920th Rescue Wing here, joined their active-duty

  • Airmen demonstrate capabilities during life-like exercise

    Airmen here recently participated in Beverly High 11-02, a local operational readiness exercise that used scenarios to gauge Airmen's ability to react and respond to different situations and base emergencies.In one scenario Jan. 19, firefighters, security-forces and flight-medicine professionals

  • Hybrids debut at Spangdahlem

    The 52nd Fighter Wing received its first government-owned hybrid vehicle Jan. 21 here."When our vehicle fleet is replaced, the hybrid is the way to go," said Col. Christopher Weggeman, the 52nd FW commander. "We're sending a message to everyone else that we're conscious about environmental

  • Airmen, Soldiers join to put out fires at Ramstein AB

    Five Army firefighters from the Army Garrison Grafenwoehr, Germany joined some of their Air Force counterparts for joint training here Jan. 18.The Soldiers, assigned to the 18th Combat Support Sustainment Regiment's 23rd Ordnance Company, are working side-by-side with Airmen from with the 886th

  • Nuclear weapons center attains full operational capability

    The commander of the Air Force Materiel Command declared full operational capability for the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center during the change of command ceremony Jan. 20 here.Gen. Donald Hoffman, the AFMC commander, spoke about the center's growth and said the center was the "single bellybutton

  • Afghan air force help desk receives upgrade training

    The Afghan air force and the NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan advisers recently started a new computer training course here Jan. 17. A+ training provides the basic fundamentals on desktop computers and networking. Upon completion of the course, the AAF technicians or individuals will be able to

  • White House unveils new approach to military family support

    White House officials have released a report that unveils a new, governmentwide approach to military family support and details a sweeping, interagency effort under way to strengthen families and enhance their well-being and quality of life.President Barack Obama announced the results of a nearly

  • CMSAF visits Davis-Monthan AFB

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited Airmen and their families here Jan. 13.During his visit he sat down for an interview and discussed many topics, including the new physical training procedures, the drawdown in Iraq, suicide in the Air Force and other issues and concerns.Fitness

  • Assistant Secretary of Air Force visits Baghdad

    Airmen deployed to Iraq in 2011 will play a historic role as U.S. military forces drawdown under the 2008 bilateral security agreement, said a senior Pentagon official."This is a particularly important time in Iraq," said Daniel Ginsberg, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and

  • Air Force secretary honors AETC heroes

    Nearly one thousand Airmen from across the command gathered here Friday to hear Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley during the Air Education and Training Command Ball.The ball, the largest formal event hosted by the command, concluded the AETC Symposium and Exposition. More than 3,500 Airmen,

  • Alaska F-22 AIB on recess

    Accident investigation board officials for the Alaska-based F-22 Raptor crash recessed, Jan. 14, per the direction of Gen. Gary North, the Pacific Air Forces commander. The board is set to resume when weather conditions allow further recovery operations of the crash site located near Cantwell,

  • Commander says headquarters' job is to make wings successful

    Air Force Global Strike Command's new top leader addressed his headquarters staff Jan. 12, less than a week after taking command. His message: the headquarters is responsible for ensuring the success of its subordinate units.Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski visited each of the command's installations Jan. 7

  • TSP contribution limits set for 2011

    Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board members announced the 2011 elective deferral limit for regular Thrift Savings Plan contributions will remain $16,500, and TSP catch-up plan contribution limits will remain at $5,500.TSP is a long-term retirement savings plan that gives investors an

  • LEAD candidates visit Air Force Academy

    More than 25 Airmen from bases in the United States and Europe visited the Air Force Academy Jan. 13-14 as part of the Leaders Encouraging Airmen Development Diversity Visitation Program. LEAD is a commissioning program that allows up to 85 active-duty Airmen and 85 reservists or Guardsmen to enter

  • Photo essay: Static-line jumps over Guam

    Airmen from the 535th Airlift Squadron from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, flew training missions for the 36th Contingency Response Group's static-line proficiency training here Jan. 13.View the slideshow.

  • Reserve C-130 special mission units learn from each other

    Air Force Reserve aerial spray, aerial firefighting and hurricane hunting units gathered at the command's C-130 Special Missions conference learned that they share common issues, though they perform vastly different missions. That was the focus of the two-day conference that ended here Jan 13."This

  • Air Force chief of staff visits Thunder Lab

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz spent time with members of the Afghan air force and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan members during his visit here Jan. 18.General Schwartz visited the Thunder Lab, an innovative English immersion project located on the base, where he was briefed by

  • 'Virtual world' helps with post-traumatic stress

    Defense Department officials are using virtual-world interactivity to educate and help warfighters and others who are reluctant to seek more direct care to deal with post-traumatic stress, said an official at the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, also known as "T2."During a recent

  • Personnel recovery division stands up at ACC

    In December 2010, Air Combat Command's Personnel Recovery Division, designated A3J and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Va., officially stood up and was created to ensure that the Air Force is prepared for the challenge of rescuing Airmen from hostile deployed environments. The division is

  • McChord crew chiefs 'get the job done'

    Maintainers here say no airlift wing can provide global airlift for America without ready and available aircraft. No aircraft can deliver global airlift without proper maintenance. The 62nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chiefs here ensure the 62nd Airlift Wing's C-17 Globemaster IIIs are safe,

  • Air Force boxing back on base

    The Air Force School of Boxing is back in session at the boxing gym here.As of Jan. 8, Air Force boxing coach Steven Franco has been leading his pupils through his brand of "boxing 101."For camp veterans, such as All-Air Force light heavyweight Larry Hampp, two-time Air Force boxer Gary Griffin and

  • Officials launch Air Force Teen Council

    Officials with the Air Force Services Agency here have created an outlet for Air Force teens worldwide to voice their concerns to Air Force leadership. The Air Force Teen Council Program allows teens to brainstorm solutions and initiate change at the installation, major-command and Air Force levels.

  • Hickam aircrew maximizes training in Guam

    It took 23 passes over designated drops zones and a 12-hour tactical duty day of training to finish a single day of airdrop training in Guam.An aircrew from the 535th Airlift Squadron from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, dropped four training pallets, five container delivery system bundles,

  • Milestone for Afghan air force means better trained pilots

    The Afghan air force reached a new milestone with the opening of the pilot training program recently here. The first Afghan pilots began their eight-week instruction course early in January with a four-day academic schedule before beginning flight instruction on the Mi-17 Hip H. "We are helping the

  • F-16s' arrival brings 'battle rhythm' to joint strike fighter wing

    After 17 months of silence, the 33rd Fighter Wing flightline here finally roared back to life Jan. 13. The 33rd FW received four F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 56th FW at Luke AFB, Ariz. The jets will help establish a "battle rhythm," as the wing stands up the first joint training center for the

  • New vice chief of staff takes office

    Gen. Philip M. Breedlove took over as vice chief of staff of the Air Force Jan. 14, succeeding Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler who held the position since August 2009.General Breedlove most recently served as the Air Force deputy chief of staff for operations, plans and requirements, a position he

  • Air Force officials automate active-duty assignment notifications

    Air Force officials are automating active-duty assignment notifications for Airmen in the ranks of lieutenant colonel and below beginning Jan. 21. Airmen will receive an e-mail notification about their new assignments and have seven days to acknowledge their assignments through the Virtual Military