HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Afghans graduate from first Mi-17 "Train the trainer" course

    Seven Afghan Mi-17 instructors graduated from the first Mi-17 "Train the Trainer" upgrade course May 4 taught by AAF and U.S. Air Force instructors at the Afghanistan Premier Flight Training Center here."Afghan aircrew instructors are pivotal to growing independent combat flying forces, ultimately

  • U.S., Congolese military complete MEDLITE 11

    Airmen and Democratic Republic of the Congo service members finished a joint-medical exercise here May 5.The MEDLITE 11 exercise focused on aeromedical evacuation to improve the readiness of personnel. According to Lt. Col. June Oldman, the director of MEDLITE 11, the exercise focused on five key

  • U.S. will defeat terrorists, Obama tells troops

    The skill and courage of countless American military and intelligence professionals are why Osama bin Laden can never threaten America again, President Barack Obama told a cheering group of 101st Airborne Soldiers May 6 at Fort Campbell, Ky.President Obama told them about meeting yesterday with

  • Force management explained

    A group of mostly captains sat in on a recent briefing here to find out more about the 2011 Force Management Program.In February, Air Force leaders announced another round of involuntary force-management programs to reduce personnel, and this time it affects mostly officers.For some of the officers,

  • Secretary of Defense thanks Airmen at Seymour Johnson AFB

    With two months left as theSecretary of Defense, Robert Gates visited with active duty and Reserve Airmen here May 6.The visit marked the first time Secretary Gates visited here since he took office in December 2006. He presented the Bronze Star to Senior Master Sgt. Arnel Abad, a 4th Fighter Wing

  • Aeromedical evacuation saves lives in Afghanistan

    An aeromedical evacuation capacity unrivaled anywhere in the world is saving the lives of wounded warriors in Afghanistan, said the officer here who oversees the effort at the combat theater's busiest aeromedical evacuation point.Equipment and procedures are being improved continually to move

  • President proclaims military spouse appreciation day

    President Barack Obama has declared May 6 Military Spouse Appreciation Day. In his proclamation issued May 5, the president said: "Military spouses serve as steady and supportive partners to the heroes in uniform who protect and defend our great Nation every day. Across America and around the world,

  • Chief of staff addresses issues, surveys tornado damage

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz visited here May 4 and 5 to meet with Airmen and see the damage caused by recent tornadoes.During an all-call meeting, General Schwartz discussed several issues, including recent force management actions by Air Force officials, the repeal of the law

  • Renovations enhance warfighter training

    Members of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Warrior Preparation Center here have performed renovations that are estimated to save the Air Force $250,000 and 12,000 man hours annually.The WPC is a training compound for U.S. and coalition forces, providing live, virtual and constructive environments seen

  • Civic leaders visit Air Force Expeditionary Center

    A group of U.S. citizens hand-picked to participate in a civic outreach program visited the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center here May 4 as part of the Defense Department's Joint Civilian Orientation Conference program.Approximately 50 citizens, ranging from town mayors to professional sports

  • Memorial honors fallen warriors

    Hundreds of military and civilian personnel packed a dimly-lit hangar April 30 to pay their final respects to eight Airmen and one retired Army civilian contractor killed April 27 when a gunman opened fire during a meeting with NATO trainers."We come together to mourn the loss of nine brave

  • Report outlines progress in Afghanistan

    READY FOR REVIEWLast year's surge of U.S. and coalition forces into Afghanistan, with the simultaneous growth of Afghan forces, is leading to tangible progress for peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, according to a biannual Defense Department report recently released.The final component of 30,000

  • Air advisers' feedback to shape future deployment training

    Representatives from the air adviser course at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., were in Iraq recently to query course graduates on the effectiveness of the course. Their efforts are intended to help shape future education and training the Air Force provides to Airmen who will engage in

  • Locals send big 'thank you' to Offutt Airmen

    Every year, a message appears in local fields near Offutt Air Force Base for Airmen to read as they fly overhead.Although the fields are covered by snow for most of the winter and filled with soybeans for the majority of the summer, the message is written to make sure Offutt AFB Airmen know the men

  • Exercise preserves U.S., Bulgarian partnership

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base's 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, as well as U.S. Army jumpmasters teamed with Bulgarian armed forces to conduct Exercise Thracian Spring 2011 April 26 to May 6 here. The bilateral training exercise brought U.S. and Bulgarian military forces

  • Survivors call bin Laden's death 'Bittersweet'

    When Wendy Duffman first heard that Osama bin Laden, al-Qaida's leader and the mastermind behind 9/11, was dead, she said she felt a sense of elation, and then relief.Her brother, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott Eric Duffman, died four years ago in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. And as an American

  • Mrs. Mullen spotlights family issues in new blog

    Building resilience and providing long-term support are keys to strengthening military families and better equipping them to weather the frequent, multiple deployments so prevalent in this decade of war, the wife of the nation's top military officer said."We've never asked a generation of families

  • 36th AS helps map Japanese water currents

    In an effort to help track the movement of seawater along northeastern Honshu, members of the 36th Airlift Squadron, in coordination with the Japanese government, dropped seven Davis Drifter buoys off the coast of Japan April 29.The buoys will aid scientists from the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office

  • 33rd RQS wins third straight "Jolly Green Rescue Mission of the Year" award

    A split second after a two-man rescue team touched ground, the ear-shattering explosions of rocket-propelled grenades, or RPGs, rang out overhead. Capt. Koa Bailey and Master Sgt. Roger Sparks, a combat rescue officer and a pararescueman from the Alaska Air National Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron,

  • Clinton: U.S. will redouble antiterrorism efforts

    The U.S. will not become complacent in the aftermath of killing Osama bin Laden, but will continue its efforts to stamp out terrorism with new resolve, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said May 2. "We must take this opportunity to renew our resolve and redouble our efforts," she said. "Our

  • Pilot killed in Afghanistan

    An Airman assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing here was killed April 27 in Kabul, Afghanistan, when a shooter opened fire at the Kabul International Airport, killing eight U.S. service members and one contractor.Maj. Jeff Ausborn, a 99th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, was deployed

  • Troops explore emerging energy solutions

    As officials work to shrink the military's operational energy footprint, experts in solar power, microgrids and "smart" generators recently took that technology to a crucial jury: the troops.Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who deal hands-on with battlefield power converged here April 12

  • Academy military trainers receive mark of distinction

    As long as there's been an Air Force Academy, an elite group of NCOs has played a key role in the development of future leaders for the Air Force, and now those NCOs wear a formal mark of distinction.Academy Military Training NCOs, more commonly known as AMTs, were recently authorized to wear an

  • Counselor presented national drug/alcohol abuse prevention award

    An Airman assigned here received the Government Employees Insurance Company Military Service Award at a ceremony April 18 in Washington.Tech. Sgt. Jeannie Washington was selected as the Air Force recipient of the award, which recognized service members from each branch, as well as the guard and

  • Travis civil engineers inspect, repair 17 generators for use in Japan

    Recently, the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency's Civil Engineer Maintenance Inspection Repair Team here was tasked to inspect and repair 17 generators, which will be used to help power Yokota and Misawa air bases in Japan.Due to the earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March and caused

  • Obama declares 'Justice has been done'

    "Justice has been done," said President Barack Obama in announcing the death of Osama bin Laden in a U.S. military operation in Pakistan.An American counterintelligence and counterterrorism team killed bin Laden yesterday during a firefight near Islamabad, the president said during a short statement

  • U.S. kills bin Laden in intelligence-driven operation

    An intelligence-driven U.S. operation in Pakistan killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden yesterday, President Barack Obama announced in a nationally televised address from the White House late last night."Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound

  • Senior Air Force leaders, scholars discuss national security challenges

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and several other senior Air Force leaders participated in the third annual National Security Scholars Conference at the University of Southern California campus here April 26. The conference provided an opportunity for foreign policy and international

  • Food transformation continues to see positive results

    The Air Force Food Transformation Initiative was launched Oct. 1, 2010, at six installations, with a goal of better serving the dining needs of today's Airmen. Air Force officials said they are pleased with the pilot program's initial results, which are aligned with the Department of Defense's

  • Services officials strike down barriers for wounded warriors

    As part of continuing efforts to support wounded warriors, Air Force Services Agency officials recently purchased and distributed 85 remote-controlled bowling balls and ramps for installations worldwide.The purchase makes the Air Force both the single largest purchaser of the bowling balls and the

  • Logistics Airmen play crucial dual-role before Kirkuk transition

    As U.S. military forces pack up their things and transition out of Iraq, Airmen from the 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron have their hands full.With less than eight months remaining before the security agreement deadline, 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen are

  • DOD officials identify Air Force casualties

    Department of Defense officials announced April 29 the names of eight Airmen who were killed April 27 at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.They died of wounds suffered from gunfire. Killed were:Maj. Philip D. Ambard, 44, of Edmonds, Wash. He was

  • AFSOC waste-to-energy system converts garbage to usable energy

    Air Force Special Operations Command became 4,200 tons closer to securing effective alternative energy solutions and even greater environmental stewardship here April 26.Following a ceremony, the transportable plasma waste-to-energy system began converting 4,200 tons of garbage per year to usable

  • Top enlisted leaders focus on families

    Building resilience in families and ensuring they have access to effective support programs are just a few of the steps the services are taking to ensure a high quality of life for troops and their families, the services' senior enlisted leaders said during a town hall meeting here April 28."At the

  • Kadena AB Airmen awarded Japanese community service award

    Members of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron here have recently been named the winners of the Zenko Kai Award, an award given by Japanese government officials to any residents, military included, who have performed outstanding community service. The squadron members were honored for their good

  • Commissaries continue efficient reporting of taxpayer funds

    When it comes to accounting for taxpayer funds, the Defense Commissary Agency has proven that every dollar counts. For the ninth consecutive year, independent auditors have rated DeCA's financial statements as excellent. In the accounting world, an excellent rating on the review of a corporate

  • Secretary Donley visits ROTC students at Southern Cal

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley met with cadets from University of Southern California's Air Force ROTC Det. 60 April 25 during a visit to the USC campus here. Following a tour of the detachment's offices and dayroom, the secretary took time to talk with cadets and answer their questions.

  • New unit adds outreach, education to contingency response mission

    A new air mobility unit activated April 19 in a ceremony here, marking the genesis of a new mission for the expeditionary air mobility specialists of the 621st Contingency Response Wing. By order of the secretary of the Air Force, members of the 818th Mobility Support Advisory Squadron will provide

  • Exchanging aeromedical evacuation training across the continents

    With outside temperatures reaching above 95 degrees and temperatures inside the classroom feeling much warmer than that, the total force instructors of the Air Force active duty, National Guard and Reserve have started their course instruction portion of MEDLITE 11 to the more than 70 Congolese

  • AETC officials announce new professional development guide

    Air Education and Training Command officials have announced the release of the new AFPAM36-2241, Professional Development Guide. The effective date of the new PDG is Oct. 1 and will be available at www.e-publishing.af.mil beginning May 2. Master sergeants testing this December will be the first to

  • Conference to spotlight military family issues

    Nearly 2,000 helping professionals from around the world are gathering in Chicago April 27 to share the latest family-related information and research and to hear from some of the nation's most renowned military family experts.The 2011 Family Resilience Conference will offer participants access to

  • Honor guard provides unique opportunity

    The hurried commotion of people chatting and finding their seats overwhelms the room. A group of five people stand in the background; not one Airman says a word and all stand tall and unwavering. These five Airmen are silent for a purpose. They are the color guard detail for the retirement ceremony

  • Wilford Hall hosts multi-service ultrasound course

    Providers from across the U.S. attended a joint-service ultrasound course at Wilford Hall Medical Center here April 14 and 15.The course's formal title, "Current Concepts in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2011," was offered to 45 Air Force, Army and Navy medical personnel."Similar courses have been

  • Theater security unit stands up at Manas

    Transit Center officials and the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and Reserve affairs stood up the Theater Security Cooperation Division April 23 here as part of an ongoing effort to build and expand relationships with global partners.Daniel B. Ginsberg toured the transit center and

  • Network would link defense functions, people

    To optimize U.S. cybersecurity using a new information-sharing enterprise network in a reduced-budget era, a top Defense Department official gave industry leaders a challenge: "We need your innovation."Robert J. Carey, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for information management integration

  • National resource directory goes mobile

    A version of the National Resource Directory website, which connects wounded warriors, service members, veterans and families with those who support them, now is available for mobile phones.With more than 3,000 new users each day searching for information on the site, it makes sense to have a mobile

  • First lady aims to improve military families' lives

    First lady Michelle Obama stood behind a podium in the White House's East Room, her husband close at hand, as she addressed an audience of high-ranking military and government officials.Although it was a high-powered crowd, the first lady wasn't there for the officials or for the star-studded brass.

  • Iraqi air force leaders thank U.S advisers, celebrate 80th anniversary

    U.S. Air Force and Iraqi officials opened a state-of-the-art air operations center here as the Iraqi air force celebrated its 80th anniversary April 21. The grand opening of a $9 million AOC at Hawk Base here kicked off a series of festivities celebrating the anniversary of the founding of Iraq's

  • Commissary produce managers get 'top' recognition

    Produce industry officials will honor two Defense Commissary Agency produce managers during a convention in New Orleans in May.Jennifer Smith, from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Donald Courtright, from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., were chosen from hundreds of nominations by United

  • DOD officials recognize Air Force for environmental accomplishments

    Each year, Department of Defense officials recognize military personnel, teams and installations for excellent stewardship of natural and cultural resources entrusted to their care. Conservation efforts across the Air Force over the past year were rewarded April 15, when the Air Force was announced

  • AFPC officials to stand up operating location at Robins

    As part of a continuing Air Force initiative to provide on-site civilian personnel recruitment support, Air Force Personnel Center officials will stand up an operating location at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., May 1. This is the fourth of five AFPC OLs to support commanders and missions at Air Force

  • Iraq withdrawal agreement still stands, Mullen says

    All American troops will be out of Iraq at the end of the year in accordance with the security agreement signed in 2008, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today."There are no plans, nor has there been any request from the Iraqi government, for any residual U.S. force presence here

  • Officials eliminate exception to short-tour credit

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz approved rescinding a temporary policy established in 2003 that allowed Airmen to receive short-tour credit for overseas TDYs of at least 181 consecutive days. The effective date of the new policy will be announced at a later date.Although the policy

  • Mullen: World community says Gadhafi must go

    NATO has come forward in a very positive way to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya and protect Libyan citizens from the Moammar Gadhafi regime, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said here today.The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also told service members serving with U.S. Division Center in Baghdad that

  • Air Force on track with KC-46A program

    Air Force and Boeing Company officials met for the KC-46A program post-award conference recently to discuss program specifics, including a technical overview of the program. The discussions, which took place in Harbour Pointe, Wash., featured details of the in-line production process, draft

  • Defense Finance and Accounting Service revamps website

    Defense Finance and Accounting Service officials are rolling out a redesigned website tonight to give the Defense Department's workforce easier, quicker access to the information they need. "We know our online visitors don't want to spend more of their time on our website than they have to," said

  • Mullen: Meeting reaffirms U.S.-Pakistan ties

    Reaffirmation of the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistani militaries was the most important aspect of his meeting last night with his Pakistani counterpart, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today. The meeting at Army House in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad was the first

  • Elmendorf Airmen deploy to Kadena, test capabilities

    A group of pilots and maintainers from the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, deployed here earlier in 2011, along with their F-22 Raptors, to test their capabilities in a new environment, setting records in the process.During their stay here, they

  • Families return to Yokota

    Dependents returning from the voluntary authorized departures gathered for a ReStart briefing here April 21. The departures served as a precautionary measure to help ensure safety of U.S. citizens and also assisted and expedited Japanese recovery efforts by reducing the demand for food, water, fuel

  • Budget cuts demand more DOD buying power

    As Defense Department officials seek additional cost cuts to support President Barack Obama's deficit-reduction efforts, weapons systems and other major procurement programs certainly will be on the table, but won't be enough to achieve the president's goals, the Pentagon's acquisitions chief said

  • 4th SOPS closes the door on operations legacy

    In a ceremony held April 11, 4th Space Operations Squadron members decommissioned the Satellite Mission Control Subsystem, or SMCS, and the Air Force Command Post Terminal, closing the door on a legacy of operations."Today we turn the lights off on the command and control system that has been

  • Steering group leads Reserve Command to energy cost-cutting

    As energy prices continue to increase, Air Force Reserve Command officials maintain their resolve to lead cost-cutting efforts in energy consumption through existing and new initiatives. The Energy Management Steering Group serves as the focal point providing strategic direction for the command's

  • Reservists part of gold medal teams at Armed Forces Triathlon

    Four Air Force reservists helped their U.S. Air Force Triathlon teams win the Armed Forces Triathlon Championship for the second consecutive year. Twenty-four Air Force triathletes, including two men and two women from the Air Force Reserve, represented the Air Force at the Armed Forces Triathlon

  • Organization reaches out to wounded warriors

    In what started out as a pilot program, members of Disabled American Veterans, working with the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments, began visiting wounded warriors at Fort Bragg, N.C., to talk about benefits and services available to them after they leave active duty.Now 40 DAV transition

  • AFPC officials deploy team to improve deployed personnel support

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here are deploying a team to Southwest Asia at the end of April to examine personnel services and support for deployed Air Force members.The six-person Total Force Service Center-Forward team will continue to conduct customer need assessments and provide direct

  • First combat systems officers graduate from training program

    Ten lieutenants, including nine active-duty members and one member of the Wyoming Air National Guard, became the first class of combat systems officers to graduate from the 479th Flying Training Group's CSO training program here April 15. Previously, the Air Force had separate training tracks for

  • Eielson recycling project kicks off

    People here soon will have the opportunity to reduce waste by recycling paper, plastic, tin, aluminum and glass products on base when a new recycling program kicks off in the weeks following Earth Day April 22.Officials in the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Flight have been working

  • Smartphone app helps troops, vets manage stress

    Veterans dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder can turn to their smartphones for help any time with the "PTSD Coach" application created by the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments. "This is about giving veterans and service members the help they earned when and where they need

  • Mullen cites Pakistani cooperation in Afghanistan

    Cooperation between U.S. and Pakistani service members on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is better than it has ever been, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here April 19. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told reporters traveling with him to Afghanistan and Pakistan that the

  • New CPR training wants you to switch your ABCs

    Most Airmen who have gone through CPR training remember being taught the ABCs, or airway-breathing-circulation.However, American Heart Association officials are suggesting people change the ABC sequence to CAB, or circulation-airway-breathing."Changing from ABC to CAB will save more lives," said

  • Falcons bring home Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

    President Barack Obama formally presented the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to seniors from the Air Force Falcons football team April 18 at the White House.The trophy is awarded to the military service academy football team with the best regular season record against the other two teams. The trophy

  • Fiscal 2011 enlisted force management programs conclude after meeting goal

    Air Force officials announced the closure of enlisted voluntary and involuntary force management programs for fiscal 2011 after meeting end-strength goals for enlisted Airmen. Force management programs announced in December 2010 were implemented to size and shape the force to meet congressionally

  • Leaders describe path to peace in Libya

    NATO nations will continue operations against the regime in Libya until Moammar Gadhafi leaves power, the leaders of the United States, Great Britain and France wrote in an article published in their countries April 15.President Barack Obama, Prime Minister David Cameron and President Nicolas

  • Pentagon official addresses WikiLeaks, social media

    The WikiLeaks episode underscores the need for laws and policies that address the unintended consequences of "technology at the intersection of national security," the Pentagon's lead communicator said April 17.Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Douglas B. Wilson told interviewer Vago

  • 50th Space Wing officials accept ground system upgrades

    Officials at the 50th Space Wing accepted two Global Positioning System ground system upgrades during a ceremony here April 14.The ceremony signified a group effort between wing, Air Force Space Command and the Space and Missile Systems Center officials and their continued commitment to improve and

  • Air Force officials announce civilian strategic leader program assignments

    Air Force officials here April 18 announced the placement of the Air Force's newest senior leaders into command-equivalent positions as part of the civilian strategic leader program.The CSLP creates multi-skilled GS-14, GS-15 or equivalent level civilian leaders who navigate complex environments in

  • Department ends voluntary departure authorization from Japan

    The Defense Department's voluntary authorized departures for service members' eligible family members to leave Japan in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake effectively ended April 18."The Defense Department concurs with the State Department's determination that the situation in Japan does not

  • Airmen of Note's 2011 Spring Tour comes to an end

    The Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the Air Force, finished their 2011 Spring Tour through Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas March 30."Touring the U.S. gives the Airmen of Note the opportunity to influence communities by demonstrating the excellence and passion with which

  • Total force 'calico' wing supports world-wide operations

    Airmen serving in the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing at an air base here are from myriad places, but they are "one team."Those Airmen, and the planes they use for air refueling and airlift during Operation Unified Protector, are not only active duty, but also Air National Guard and Air Force

  • Programs help Airmen obtain financial success

    For Airmen wondering if the struggle for total financial success will ever end, there is good news. The Airman and Family Readiness Center's financial advisers help members reach their financial goals. According to James McDaniel, an accredited financial counselor here, financial readiness is a

  • First lady, Dr. Biden kick off Sesame, USO tour

    Calling out over thousands of screaming fans, Elmo introduced a few new friends to Sesame Street here April 14.First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, stepped onto the auditorium stage and into the arms of Elmo and friends as a crowd of local military and

  • Carter outlines military acquisition improvements

    The Defense Department has made much progress toward buying and fielding equipment smarter and faster, the Pentagon's undersecretary for acquisitions, technology and logistics told a congressional panel April 13.At a time when President Barack Obama and Congress look for ways to fix the nation's

  • Air Force sexual assault response coordinator earns Federal Service Award

    Dr. Charlotte Moerbe, the Joint Base San Antonio sexual assault response coordinator, was recognized for outstanding work on behalf of crime victims by Department of Justice officials April 8 during the National Crime Victims' Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.Dr. Moerbe received one of two

  • Misawa children roll-up their sleeves, pitch-in with volunteer efforts

    Children from here, accompanied by 16 parents, were part of the first Misawa Helps program family mission April 12 to take place since the volunteer organization stood up in the days following the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami.With spring break and children out of school this week, this

  • Officials seek input on new consumer protection office

    Treasury Department officials met here April 13 with service members and their families to better understand financial challenges in the military community.Holly Petraeus, the head of the Office of Servicemember Affairs in the Treasury Department's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has been

  • Policy permitting media access for dignified transfers two years old

    Two years ago, on April 6, 2009, the dignified transfer of a fallen service member with media in attendance took place under new policy directed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The policy, issued on March 25, 2009, sponsors family members wishing to attend and empowers the primary next of kin

  • Kandahar Air Wing achieves medical evacuation milestone

    A combined team of Afghan air force and coalition members conducted the first dedicated Mi-17 medical evacuation mission April 11 here. The team moved an Afghan National Army officer, who incurred a compound leg fracture, from Camp Bastion back to Kandahar.The planning for the inaugural mission

  • Security forces train Iraqi air force security forces

    Members of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron spent several weeks in March and April training 12 Iraqi security forces airmen from New Al Muthana Air Base on force protection techniques. Fourteen security forces members trained the Iraqis on procedures and techniques used every day by

  • Readiness exercise paves way for Operation Tomodachi success

    For six days in March, Airmen here focused on an operational readiness exercise, working long hours every day to prove that the base's warfighting plan was sound. The 374th Airlift Wing surged demands across the base, ensuring that individuals would be ready to support contingency operations if they

  • Baristas donate tips to Japan relief efforts

    Watching the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that ripped through Japan March 11, cafe workers here have decided to give back."When you're here (in Japan) and you see the damage done, it hits home," said Amy Turner, a barista here. "We have a lot of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and

  • Loadmaster crashworthy seat intended to increase safety

    In an effort to provide loadmasters with a safer and more structurally sound seat in cargo aircraft, engineers here recently installed a prototype of a new loadmaster crashworthy seat in an HC-130P Combat King. "The goal is to provide loadmasters with a more secure seat," said Senior Master Sgt.

  • Military family support a 'national priority,' Obama says

    President Barack Obama today made caring for military families a national priority, calling to action his entire administration and communities across the U.S. on their behalf."The strength and the readiness of America's military depend on the strength and readiness of our military families," the

  • First lady, Dr. Biden urge support of military families

    First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched an "unprecedented" national initiative April 12 that calls on all sectors of society to join forces to support and honor service members and their families. Flanked by their husbands, the first and second

  • Cyber 1.1 kicks off National Space Symposium

    Air Force Space Command Airmen kicked off the weeklong National Space Symposium April 11 here with a day devoted entirely to cyber discussion, the second annual Cyber 1.1 event.Gen. William Shelton, the AFSPC commander, recognized the event as a chance to think about where the Air Force is going in

  • Changed South Korea duty tours aid readiness

    Normalizing U.S. military duty tours in South Korea will increase combat readiness and greatly reduce stress for service members and their families, the top U.S. military commander in the region told the Senate Armed Services Committee here April 12."A force multiplier, tour normalization keeps

  • Research examines blast impact on human brain

    There's little debate about the risk of a brain injury when a service member gets a blow to the head, whether from an enemy round or from crashing against a wall or being inside a vehicle during an explosion.But some of the foremost academic researchers from around the world, working in cooperation