Eagles, Falcons face off in air exercise

Eagles and Falcons, the Air Force's premier "birds of prey," are currently facing off here in a two-week air-to-air exercise called Sentry Aloha.F-15 Eagles from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron and F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Texas Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing

Charleston photojournalist featured on national magazine

An aerial combat photojournalist with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron here will be featured on the cover of a national professional women's magazine. Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall's self-portrait flying in a helicopter over Iraq in 2003 was chosen for the cover of the October issue of Pink, which hits

Secretary, chief send Air Force birthday message

The following is a message from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley on the Air Force's 59th birthday Sept. 18. "Over the course of the past 59 years, the United States Air Force has established itself as the dominant force in air, space

Spangdahlem F-16 was in controlled crash landing

The F-16 Fighting Falcon that crashed near Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, had a landing gear problem that forced its pilot to do a controlled crash landing. The crash was not an accident, 52nd Fighter Wing commander Col. Darryl Roberson said. The colonel held a press conference Sept. 16 near the

Airmen compete in training challenge

Airmen from nine major commands gathered here this week to compete and train in the CBRN Challenge. The challenge, which covers chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, is being held for the first time as an Air Force-wide event. The week-long event ends Sept. 15 with a banquet and

'Bone' makes evolving mark on war on terrorism

It can strike at a moment's notice. It is a lethal injection for the war on terrorism. It is a combat commander' s weapon of choice. The B-1B Lancer, sometimes called the "Bone," has made a name for itself for nearly 20 years and continues to make its mark in the fight for freedom. Since the war

Army vet recalls horrors of POW camp

Dec. 23, 1944. "It was the saddest day of my life," said Guillermo Serrano. It was a numbingly cold night with Christmas Eve just hours away when young Army Private Serrano was captured and imprisoned by Germans during the early stages of World War II's Battle of the Bulge. The battle began Dec. 16,

CMSAF McKinley gets firsthand look at Offutt missions

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley met with Airmen here and saw firsthand the diverse missions accomplished in support of the nation's defense. While at Offutt AFB Sept. 5 to 8, the chief took the opportunity to speak at an "all hands call" at U.S. Strategic Command and an enlisted

Reservists honored for rescue efforts

More than 40 members of the 943rd Rescue Group here were honored Sept. 10 here for their service during rescue efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.Members of the 305th and 306th Rescue Squadrons, 943rd Maintenance and other support units were honored by military leaders and public

Dover AFB readies for arrival of C-17s

Distinguished visitors from around the state gathered together with members of the Dover Air Force Base community Sept. 11 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new C-17 training facility and the arrival of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to Dover. The ceremony was a celebration of nearly a decade of

Changes to acquisition processes reduce delivery time

Changes in the Air Force's acquisition community have already resulted in quicker delivery of capability to the warfighter, according to the assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. The Air Force acquisition community is changing the way it does business to deliver capability faster and

USO to honor service heroes

The United Service Organizations will present its "Service Member of the Year" Award to an enlisted member from each branch of the armed forces at the 2006 USO World Gala Sept. 28 in Washington, D.C. The award recognizes individuals for extraordinary heroism. This year's recipients are: Staff Sgt.

Officials award $589 million Weapon System Integrator contract

Officials with the Electronic Systems Center's 350th Electronic Systems Group awarded a $589 million contract Sept. 12 to Lockheed Martin Corp. to serve as the Air and Space Operations Center Weapon System Integrator.With this contract, Air Force specialists will be able to aid the government's

World War II vets receive Bronze Stars after 62 years

Reunited in a hotel ballroom just outside Washington, D.C., a small group of former Army Air Corps members were presented with long-overdue medals in a ceremony Sept. 9. Gen. Ronald E. Keys, Air Combat Command commander, presented Francis Goldberg, John Bucko, John McCurdy and Eugene Peterson

Airman celebrates different KC-135 anniversary

As people here join in the base's 50th anniversary celebration of the KC-135 Stratotanker, many are reminiscing about their own experiences with the aircraft. Few have a story like Chief Master Sgt. Steven and Justine Robinson.Fifteen years ago, they married on a KC-135 somewhere over Indiana. Both

Missouri Air National Guard gets sneak preview of B-2

Missouri Air National Guard Airmen got a peek at a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber when it visited the 131st Fighter Wing here Sept. 9. Col. Greg Biscone, 509th Bomb Wing commander, piloted the B-2 from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to St. Louis. It gave the Missouri Guardsmen an opportunity to see the

Andersen members return from USNS Mercy mission

Members from the 36th Medical Group, 36th Wing and the U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 returned home Sept. 10 following a 72-day humanitarian and civic assistance deployment on the USNS Mercy.While embarked on USNS Mercy, servicemembers and civilians participated in theater security

USAFE sets course with AFSO 21

To best meet the challenges of the road ahead, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander assembled leaders throughout the command here to initiate USAFE-wide implementation of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. "We're going to determine where we're going in the future, and AFSO 21 will

ESC awards $627.8 million task order

The Electronic Systems Center's 554th Electronic Systems Group awarded a $627.8 million task order Sept. 7 to Computer Sciences Corporation for systems integration support.The order includes configuring, deploying and conducting training and change management activities for the Expeditionary Combat

Pentagon crash-site memorial inspires gratitude, emotions

They were young and old, college students and retirees, rural visitors and city natives, government employees and private-sector workers, uniformed military personnel and civilians, black and white, Asian and Hispanic; but they all shared a common sense of purpose. They all wanted to see the

Air Force trains to fill Army deployments

Located about an hour north of Biloxi, Camp Shelby has a reputation for weather that could make the devil sweat. The harsh weather ratchets up the realism of the training that some Air Force people receive before deploying to locations like Iraq and Afghanistan. The camp is one of the

Rising fuel costs tighten Air Force belt

The growing cost of crude oil combined with increasing fuel demands of the war on terrorism are forcing Air Combat Command officials to brace for a budget crisis while looking for future fuel alternatives. The Air Force paid approximately $4.2 billion for petroleum in fiscal 2005 -- almost $1.4

Pacific nations enhance airpower cooperation

Forty-nine participants from 19 nations met here during the Pacific Rim Airpower Symposium Sept. 4 to 8 to build and enhance cooperation among the air forces of Pacific nations.Co-hosted by the Indonesian Air Force and U.S. Pacific Air Forces' Kenney Headquarters, this year's event included the most

First wave of Airmen deploy from Ellsworth

The first wave of about 550 Ellsworth Airmen deployed to various locations throughout Southwest Asia to support ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.The majority of the Airmen, from operational and maintenance units, left earlier this week to join the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and serve

Propulsion shops work together, eliminate waste

In the name of increased combat capability, the 388th and 419th Fighter Wing propulsion shops are working side by side to take advantage of expertise from active-duty and Reserve technicians, while eliminating redundancy."The move enables us to work leaner, meaner and more concise, as well as

Dragon phase team provides key link in 'kill chain'

Every successful hit of a target by the Air Force comes at the end of a long line of events commonly referred to as the "kill chain." The team members of 380th Air Expeditionary Wing play various roles as part of nearly all kill chains in this area of responsibility. One critical link in the kill

Teams seek fresh, creative ideas to resolve problems

With violence at deployed military checkpoints a reality, U.S. and coalition forces often have to make tough decisions when drivers ignore warnings to stop. Insurgents often attack these guarded locations, sometimes with car bombs.Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, the Air Force Research Laboratory commander,

Small Diameter Bomb I delivered ahead of schedule

The culmination of more than five years of extraordinary teamwork was realized when the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb was successfully delivered to the warfighter ahead of schedule and under cost. "This achievement represents an unparalleled team victory for the combined Air Armament Center and

AFMx21 defining, creating future of Air Force maintenance

Maintenance leaders from the Air Staff and major commands met in Dayton, Ohio, to discuss the current state of Air Force maintenance, trends, fiscal realities and vision through the year 2016.Known as "Air Force Maintenance for the 21st Century," or AFMx21, the program is championed by Brig. Gen.

Airmen sailing to Wake Island for damage check

Airmen and Sailors from Andersen will sail 1,500 miles to Wake Island to see how well the U.S. territory survived Super Typhoon Ioke. The Air Force evacuated all 188 island residents on two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Aug. 28 before the typhoon arrived Aug. 31 with 155 mph winds and gusts to 190

Airmen take Red Flag plunge

Parachutists from around the Air Force took a plunge Sept. 1 into local Lake Mead drop zone in support of Red Flag 06-2. U.S. Air Force C-130 and Singapore Air Force Ch-47 Chinook crews provided Red Flag airlift operations in support of the jumps. Nellis Airmen also supported the mission by

CENTCOM air commander: supporting ground troops top priority

When describing the vast scope of the air mission in support of ground troops waging the war on terror, the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces paints some graphic images. In addition to its daily average of 74 close-air support missions in support of combat missions in the region, Air

Bagram C-130s drop high-tech cargo delivery system

The same global positioning technology that helps fighter and bomber pilots deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy now allows cargo bundles dropped from cargo planes to steer themselves to drop zones. A C-130 Hercules from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here dropped supplies to a U.S.

Military members transition into life after deployment

Fourteen military couples from across the U.S. left their homes Aug. 24 for a different kind of mission at Lantana Lodge, a lakeside resort at Jordan State Park in northern Denton County, Texas. The couples, who had been separated for months due to deployments in combat areas around the

After Katrina: ACC's intel team applies lessons learned

The men and women of Air Combat Command's intelligence directorate haven't been stocking up on distilled water and plywood, but they are prepared for the busy part of the 2006 hurricane season or any natural disaster that might affect the United States. "We're light-years ahead of where we were this

Reservists ready to fight wildfires in Pacific Northwest

Air Force Reserve Command's only airborne fire fighting unit is back on the road and ready to fight fires again. Twenty-one members of the 302nd Airlift Wing boarded a C-130 Hercules Aug. 27 and headed for Klamath Falls, Ore. There they will stage Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or

CAP proves worth during Katrina relief

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast a year ago, the nation went into immediate humanitarian mission mode. Along with the efforts of countless organizations came help from a 57,000-strong force often overlooked. While the debris settled and devastation became evident under clear skies, the

Air Force lieutenant breaks Army push-up record

The installation record for the most push-ups in the gas chamber without wearing a mask was 162. And thus a challenge was made to the Airmen attending combat skills training here. Without a second thought, 1st Lt. Stephen Maddox picked up the gauntlet. He had certainly done more than 162 push-ups

Airmen experience tip of expeditionary spear

Most Airmen have experienced the expeditionary air and space force, but for about 170 Airmen serving in the military personnel exchange program, the term "expeditionary" takes on a whole new meaning. Officers and senior NCOs serving in the MPEP are assigned to nearly three dozen foreign air forces

Vice president thanks servicemembers for vigilance

Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a message of thanks and support to the 7,000 Airmen, Sailor, Marines and Soldiers here during a visit Aug. 29. "I'm here today because the president and I want you to know how much we appreciate everything you do on behalf of the United States," the vice

Rescue wing gears up for Tropical Storm Ernesto

Air Force Reserve Command's rescue unit here is taking measures to prepare for Tropical Storm Ernesto as it heads toward central Florida. The 920th Rescue Wing will evacuate its aircraft to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., Aug. 29. Wing aircrews will fly their HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters and HC-130P/N

New intel squadron turns aerial eye on terrorists

Terrorists and their supporters around the world soon will be under the gaze of a powerful "unblinking eye" providing information on their whereabouts to a "brain" here. The reactivation of the 11th Intelligence Squadron here marks a milestone for Air Force Special Operations Command, which gains

Air Force legend passes away at 86

Retired Brig. Gen. Robert F. McDermott, U.S. Air Force Academy dean of the faculty from 1956 to 1968, died Aug. 28 in San Antonio. He suffered a stroke Aug. 17 and died at Brooke Army Medical Center. He was 86. The namesake of the academy's McDermott Library, he began his military career as a combat

C-17 crew delivers vital supplies to Soldiers

A C-17 Globemaster III crew from Manas completed the base's first combat airdrop mission when they dropped vital supplies to Army units engaged in combat in eastern Afghanistan Aug. 23. Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron delivered 28 containers of ammunition weighing

Whiteman B-2s complete successful Andersen deployment

After more than 140 sorties and 330 released weapons, B-2 Spirit aircraft, pilots, maintainers and support staff from the 509th Bomb Wing are returning home having completed another successful deployment here.Aircraft and Airmen from the 393rd and 13th Bomb Squadrons and 509th Maintenance Group at

JTF Lebanon establishes air-land and sea task forces

The commander of Joint Task Force Lebanon has assigned two task force commanders to lead critical elements of the newly formed organization as part of assuming authority for U.S. military operations here Aug. 23, officials announced.Air Force Col. Brad Webb will command Task Force "Alpha,"

Defense Department set to kick off 'Why We Serve' tour

In an effort to help the American people understand why U.S. servicemembers choose to serve their country and what the experience entails, the Defense Department has launched a program it calls "Why We Serve." "Essentially, Why We Serve is an armed forces-style grassroots movement to reconnect with

Airmen, Soldiers say farewell to comrade in Iraq

Honored as a hero, leader and friend, a member from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, was remembered here by Airmen of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and Soldiers of Logistics Support Area Anaconda Aug. 24. During the memorial service, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Stan Giles, the 732nd Expeditionary Mission

Flight arms the fight

Airmen here maintain the F-16 Fighting Falcon's armament system, a complex matrix of pylons, launchers, adapters and other equipment used to hold bombs and missiles in place until they are released and fired.The Airmen are assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Armament Flight. The

Ulchi Focus Lens kicks off in Korea

Exercise Ulchi Focus Lens '06 kicked off Aug. 21 across the Korean peninsula. UFL, as the exercise is commonly known, takes place each year in the late summer. The command post exercise is designed to provide simulated combined training for U.S. and Korean forces and to strengthen the alliance

Letter to Airmen recognizes Air Force transformation

In his latest "Letter to Airmen," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley discusses measures that will shape and transform the Air Force.  General Moseley said Airmen today are engaged in a vast array of missions from operating satellites in deep space to applying air power to the surface

Combat mission

B-52 Stratofortress ages like wine

First deployed in 1955, the B-52 Stratofortress is already twice the age of many Airmen who maintain it. Despite its age, Airmen assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing here have an affinity for flying and maintaining this Air Force legacy aircraft and recognize its relevance today. "She gets finer with age

Ceremony honors combat controller killed in Afghanistan

A memorial service here Aug. 25 will honor a 23rd Special Tactics Squadron combat controller who was killed in action in Afghanistan Aug. 19.Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, who was working side-by-side with the Afghan National Army as part of a special operations forces team, died when his convoy was

AF automates Korean medal process

Officials from the Air Force Personnel Center have recently added the Korean Defense Service Medal to its list of personnel processes automatically updated in the Military Personnel Data System. The new process automatically updates an Airman's record in the data system for those who served in Korea

Airman dies supporting Operation Enduring Freedom

An Air Force combat controller from Hurlburt Field Fla., died Aug. 19 when his vehicle came under hostile fire in Afghanistan's Uruzgan Province.Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, 23, of Onalaska, Wis., was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field. He deployed to Afghanistan in

Bagram A-10s surge for summer offensives

Six U.S. and coalition troops peer out from a remote position on a ridge top in Afghanistan. At sunset on the third day of their vigil, a large force of Taliban extremists carrying heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades surround and pin down the team.By design, an Air Force joint tactical

Phoenix Warrior prepares security forces

More than 100 security forces Airmen participated in Phoenix Warrior 06-1, a program run by the Air Mobility Warfare Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, Aug. 5 to 17. The 13-day predeployment course prepares security forces in areas such as weapons and live fire training, convoy operations,

CV-22 testing accelerates in August

The CV-22 Osprey, an aircraft unlike any other, is now in the midst of a test unlike any other.In the developmental test and evaluation phase, CV-22 testing has primarily been conducted by Bell-Boeing. However, when the Naval Air Systems Command requested an electronic warfare integrated assessment

Malmstrom, Patrick, Peterson tops at Guardian Challenge

Inside Hangar 140 here, the air was thick with anticipation as teams from across Air Force Space Command maintained nervous conversation over dinner Aug. 17, awaiting the announcement of the Guardian Challenge 2006 winners. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, reminded a highly motivated crowd

Unit fires first live air-to-air missiles in South Korea

With the call "Fox 2," pilots here employed AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on Aug. 16 for the first time in the history of 7th Air Force in Korea, serving as the driving force behind implementing a weapon system evaluation program here.The initiative by the 80th Fighter Squadron here to shoot live,

COMUSAFE concludes Russian visit

Improved relations and future operational cooperation between U.S. and Russian air forces was the goal of a four-day visit to Russia by the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.Gen. Tom Hobbins, who visited Moscow and Lipetsk Air Base Aug. 14 to 17, said the military-to-military relationship

Convoy Airmen face challenging duties

For more than two years Airmen have been driving convoys for the Army on some of the most dangerous roads in the world. From their Army camp to the border of southern Iraq and to the most northern reaches of a country roughly the size of California, members of the 586th Expeditionary Logistics

Viper Lance pilots trade rides

Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here

AETC preparing for reduced civilian authorizations

Air Education and Training Command officials are looking at ways to streamline organizations to smaller, more agile forces and organizational structures to reduce the effect of reductions in the civilian workforce next spring.The Air Force plans to reduce its civilian workforce strength by 2,000

Air Force recruiting meeting its goal for 7th year

The Air Force is on track to make its recruiting goal this year, marking the seventh consecutive year the service has brought in the right number and mix of new Airmen. To date, 25,645 people have enlisted in the Air Force and entered active duty in fiscal 2006. That puts the Air Force on pace to

California Air National Guard embraces new mission

The sun heats a Nevada desert landscape as a small group of warriors focus on computer terminals. These men and women know their actions directly support others facing the heat of another desert half a world away. Members of the California Air National Guard's 163rd Air Refueling Wing have spent the

Raptor meets new challenges, expands capabilities

For the men and women taking care of the Air Force's newest and most lethal fighter aircraft, the F-22A Raptor, firsts seem to be a common occurrence. Along with milestones by the 27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons have come new challenges in places such as Alaska, Utah and Florida that have left

B-2 Spirit exceeds mission standard

The B-2 Spirit exceeded Air Combat Command's fully mission capable rate standard of 51 percent in June, a feat not achieved since September 2004. Keeping the B-2 ready for war is an effort that requires the hard work and support of everyone who works on base, said Col. Bob Dulong, 509th Maintenance

COMUSAFE boosts U.S.-Russian relations with visit

The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe is in Russia to bolster relationships and security cooperation between U.S. and Russian Air Forces during a visit Aug. 14 to 17. Gen. Tom Hobbins' visit is reciprocal for one taken by Gen. Col. Aleksandr Zelin, deputy commander in chief of the Russian

Guardian Challenge under way

More than 150 competitors from throughout Air Force Space Command are being graded on their readiness and combat capabilities as part of Guardian Challenge here.  The competition runs Aug. 14 to 17."Guardian Challenge is all about raising the bar," said Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, of the

Global missions all in a day's work

Many people say they joined the Air Force to have exciting adventures and see the world. For a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, those perks are part of their average day. "An average mission can range anywhere from a 12-hour day to a 72-hour

C-5 Galaxy undergoes dynamic runway testing

As part of the C-5 Galaxy's Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, the aircraft is undergoing dynamic taxi testing to check the structural strength and flexibility of the four-engine modification. The main focus of the RERP testing was the C-5 structure's movement when traveling over

Military pays tribute to World War II bomber pilot

A World War II bomber pilot was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug 11. Retired Maj. Gen. Jack I. Posner was one of the last remaining bomber pilots from World War II. His burial site is in a direct line of sight of the new Air Force Memorial. The general's

'Bats' shield Airmen from harm

Their mission is simple: save the lives of troops on the ground in Iraq by providing an electronic shield around them. That is the job of the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron. Known as the Bats, they take to the air every day of the week to actively support coalition warfighters in

Modifications to extend service life of A-10s

At first glance the A-10 Thunderbolt II cockpit looks like a Category 5 tornado just touched down in the middle of it. The chaotic scene, with hundreds of loose wires and instrumentation ripped from consoles, is really the beginning of modifications that will extend the service life of A-10s while

Decorated Vietnam vet back at war

It may be surprising to hear that the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing has a Vietnam era Purple Heart recipient working at the wing. It is even more surprising to hear that the combat veteran is actually a C-130 Hercules deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. On the flight deck of aircraft 63-7865 is

Air Force Theater Hospital doubles surgeries treating Iraqis

Air Force Theater Hospital records here indicate that in the past year the number of combat-wounded Iraqis is increasing while U.S. casualties seen at the hospital are beginning to decrease. In a strange twist, this means more work for the U.S. Air Force and Army surgeons who performed more than

C-130s hit Jackpot over Baghdad

A C-130 unit assigned here is carrying a fairly conventional piece of equipment throughout the skies over the Central Command area of responsibility in an unconventional way. Instead of hauling people and cargo, the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is carrying an airborne command and control

Comm team keeps Viper Lance participants connected

One mile of cable, six pallets of equipment and three days to set up fully functioning communications for a forward base is standard work for members of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron. Thirteen members of the 1st CBCS, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, are here to support Exercise

Air Force combat surgeons see, treat it all

During a 24-hour shift that began at 7 a.m. on Aug. 7, an Air Force surgeon treated 18 patients with injuries that varied from a crushed foot and multiple improvised explosive device penetrations to gunshot wounds through the thigh and head. For Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Steve Barnes, the surgeon of the

Air Force still hiring

Despite rumors to the contrary, the Air Force is still hiring. People interested in joining are always encouraged to apply, even in light of the Air Force's recently released force-shaping initiatives. To match the Air Force's new strength numbers, next year's recruiting goals have reduced by nine

Sather medics treat detainees

Airmen here supported an Army forward surgical team in providing medical treatment to detainees as they transitioned from the Abu Ghraib Theater Internment Facility to a new facility on Camp Cropper near Baghdad.Multi-National Force-Iraq officials established the new facility July 30 to replace Abu

AMC Airmen take part in Tuskegee Airmen convention

Nearly 90 Air Mobility Command Airmen participated in the 35th Annual Tuskegee Airmen National Convention here July 31 to Aug. 4, celebrating the history of the nation's first black combat pilots. The event was particularly memorable for one participant attending his first convention."I found out

33rd Fighter Wing gains F-35 training mission

Air Force officials announced plans to assign the mission of training new Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and allied F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter pilots and maintainers to the 33rd Fighter Wing here. Final planning for the move is dependent on the results of the ongoing environmental impact

History comes full circle for black aviators

The past and present came together Aug. 4 as black aviators from different generations took part in a historic flight aboard a C-17 Globemaster III. An all-volunteer, black aircrew from the 315th and 437th Airlift Wings at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and the 446th AW at McChord AFB, Wash., flew

C-17 Globemaster III crew doing its part

A long day of loading and unloading cargo off of the C-17 Globemaster III is nothing new to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron aircrew. On this day the crew was able to fly in more than 80 aircraft pallets full of supplies to Balad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "The deployed

Bearing assembly failure caused F-16 crash in Utah

A bearing assembly failure caused an F-16 Fighting Falcon to crash in an unpopulated dry area close to Carrington Island in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, during a training mission March 30, according to an Air Force report released Aug. 7. The pilot ejected safely from the aircraft, sustaining minor

Rescue wing saves 122 people since June 1

The Airmen of the 347th Rescue Wing saved 66 people from potentially fatal injuries and another 56 from critical injuries in Afghanistan since June 1.These numbers not only show deployed Moody Airmen are accomplishing the mission, but that lives are being saved, said Col. Eric Kivi, 347th Operations

Space brings invisible power to the fight

When space professionals deploy, they learn how to better provide combat effects, and warfighters learn more about the invisible power space brings to the fight. "It's not good enough to fly satellites from afar," said Lt. Col. John Shaw, the 4th Space Operations Squadron commander. "We need to

Transformation redefines multi-national exercise

As the Air Force transforms the way it does things, Pacific Air Forces is changing the way it conducts combat training exercises.At the forefront of this effort is PACAF's largest multi-national exercise, Cooperative Cope Thunder, soon to be renamed Red Flag Alaska. The exercise incorporates the

PACAF leaders see flash of future in Georgia

Senior leaders from Pacific Air Forces toured the F-22 Raptor production facility here Aug. 3 and got a look at the command's first 5th-generation fighter aircraft. Raptor 4087, bearing "AK" on its tail, is bound for Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It will be the first of 36 Raptors, in two

Airmen train in ground combat at Camp Shelby

About 170 Airmen have graduated from Camp Shelby, Miss., after four weeks of ground combat skills training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan to support Army embedded training teams. "Very few of us knew each other when we first got here," said Maj. Brenda Frye, support team commander.

Tyndall spearheads F-22 fighter tactics integration

The 325th Air Control Squadron and 43rd Fighter Squadron here are making significant advances integrating F-22 Raptor fighter tactics with command and control operations, enhancing the capabilities of both. One of the new advances is the ability to send free text messages from command and control

Officials prepare for F-22 arrival

As Pacific Air Forces prepares to bring the F-22 to the command next year, the Headquarters PACAF F-22 Program Integration Office is working to ensure no detail is overlooked. The job is not a small task. The integration office staff is responsible for guiding, coordinating and synchronizing the

New AFIT commander focuses on military education system

Brig. Gen. Paula G. Thornhill accepted command of the Air Force Institute of Technology from Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, Air University commander, during a ceremony July 31.  She replaced Brig. Gen. Mark T. Matthews who will become the director of plans and programs at Air Combat Command. "Every

Rescue unit faces moving challenges

It will be a while before the 56th Rescue Squadron fully transitions into operations at this fighter base and begins its new mission in Europe. The combat search and rescue unit arrived here in May from Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, where it served 35 years. It left as part of the U.S.

Wynne: We are logisticians of information

As does its enemies, the Air Force considers cyberspace a warfighting domain. The Air Force has always been in the business of flying and fighting in the air, and in past decades, has included space in that mission. This year the Air Force expanded its mission to include cyberspace -- the domain of

FAA authorizes Predators to seek survivors

Traditionally tasked to hunt for targets, Air Combat Command's Predators are now authorized to seek survivors during disaster relief operations. A certificate of authorization, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration May 18, allows the MQ-1 or MQ-9 to support relief operations by providing

Global Hawk passes 10,000 flight hours milestone

The Global Hawk unmanned aerial system continues to prove its utility and effectiveness in the global war on terror, having flown more than 10,500 flight hours by late July. The Global Hawk achieved 10,000 flight hours in June, with its ratio of combat flying hours to non-combat hours increasing to