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  • What can you do about identity theft?

    Identity theft is an increasingly common occurrence. Two studies concluded that there were 7 million victims between June 2002 and 2003. The Federal Trade Commission number is closer to 10 million but also includes credit card takeover. According to the FTC, identity theft is the most common form of

  • Commander declares 2006 ‘Rebirth of SMC’

    Stressing processes, partnerships and people, the Space and Missile Systems Center commander told about 100 Aerospace Corporation employees they play a vital role in the “rebirth of SMC” and continued mission success. Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel spoke Feb. 16 as part of The Aerospace Corporation’s

  • Tiger team tackles operational security violations

    A couple of Airmen sat in the base food court chatting about their return to the United States the next day. Excited to be going home, they compared flight times. Meanwhile, 3 feet away, a third-country national took mental notes. He knew someone who would pay for flight information. The aircraft

  • Civilian sector the biggest space customer

    The head of Air Force Space Command said people might be surprised to learn that corporate America is the biggest user of Air Force space products. Gen. Lance W. Lord said the main reason for this is the reliability of space-based assets and because the technologies -- which are giving coalition

  • Bolling Airmen share Valentine’s Day with veterans

    Ninety Air Force and civilian volunteers from Bolling and the Pentagon visited the Department of Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System Medical Center in Baltimore and the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation Center Feb. 14 as part of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week. Before the trip,

  • Airmen to pay tribute to hospitalized veterans

    Airmen worldwide will be visiting Veterans Affairs medical centers, nursing homes, state veterans homes and other facilities this week to pay tribute to hospitalized veterans. They are helping celebrities, youth groups, community leaders, members of the general public and veterans service

  • Medical orchestra composes tribute to the troops

    U.S. servicemembers deployed worldwide will get a special Valentine's Day serenade from the largest medical musical group in the United States. The nonprofit Veterans Administration-National Medical Chorale and Symphony Orchestra performed a selection of classical, popular and patriot music before a

  • New contract begins for Tricare dental program

    Tricare Management Activity will begin its new Tricare Dental Program, or TDP, contract with United Concordia Companies Inc. Feb. 1. United Concordia will continue to furnish worldwide, comprehensive dental coverage to include preventive, diagnostic, restorative and maintenance services to all

  • Official outlines voting guidelines for overseas citizens

    U.S. servicemembers and federal employees stationed overseas need to act quickly to request absentee ballots for this year's primary and general elections, a Defense Department official said here Jan. 25. This year, U.S. citizens will elect 34 senators, the entire House of Representatives, 37 state

  • Services Airmen handle record-breaking ‘invasion’

    More than 3,000 transient servicemembers invaded this desert base recently. These travelers broke the base’s records for lodging and dining. "They came in droves, hungry and tired," said Lt. Col. David Preston, the commander of the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron. "But, Services was up for the

  • DOD encourages overseas voters to register for 2006 elections

    In 2006, U.S. citizens will elect 34 senators, the entire House of Representatives, 37 state governors and hundreds of state and local officials. Overseas voters and military personnel have a variety of means that will enable them to participate in the 2006 elections, starting with the primaries

  • Security forces transformation to affect total force

    As the Air Force continues to adapt for the future, changes to the security forces career field will affect the total force. Brig. Gen. Robert Holmes, director of security forces and force protection, calls these transformations a “refocus” on how his people train and fight. “We’re not in the Cold

  • Tips offered for tax season

    Tax season has once again arrived, and military personnel should know several things to make their returns easier and more beneficial, a military official said here yesterday. One of the most notable changes to the tax code this year is the addition of provisions for victims of hurricanes Katrina,

  • Billing date changes for government travel card

    Air Force government travel card billing cycles for individually billed accounts will begin closing out on the 22nd of each month beginning in March. The current cycle ends the third day of every month, so cardholders will experience a long cycle running Feb. 3 through March 22. Bank of America will

  • Squadron breathes new life into old aircraft bodies

    Back in 1973, the 1553 multiplex data bus was the wave of the future for military aircraft. It replaced bulky equipment in passing data between sensors, computers, indicators and other aircraft equipment. It reduced weigh and was simpler and more flexible. That was more than 30 years ago. The old

  • Reservists act as ‘Santa’ for Veteran’s Home residents

    Santa visited the residents of the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis Dec. 13, but this time he came in the form of the Air Force Reserve. Reservists from the Minneapolis-based 934th Airlift Wing purchased presents for 71 of the home’s residents and donated 73 miscellaneous gifts through the

  • AFPC changes AMS access procedures

    In a recent change to improve security and standardize access controls, access to the Assignment Management System is now controlled by the Air Force Personnel Center's Secure Web site. Airmen can access the AFPC Secure site through the public Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/ by establishing a

  • Fuel oil for the kids

    Servicemembers at Film City in Kosovo raised more than $1,200 to keep a Pristina community center operating this winter. The money will buy enough fuel oil to keep the center’s generator running during the coldest time of year. The generators provide electricity and heat. To show their appreciation,

  • Standard federal ID to replace common access cards

    A new, standardized identification card is being developed for all federal employees. The new card will replace the common access cards that military personnel, government civilians and contractors now hold, said Mary Dixon, deputy director of the Defense Manpower Data Center. The new cards will

  • Americans open their hearts to servicemembers

    As the traditional gift-giving season gets under way, American people, corporations and service groups are showing their gratitude to American servicemembers, especially those who are deployed, in combat zones or wounded. "The outpouring from the public of goodwill, compassion and recognition for

  • Second chance: Active-duty father donates kidney

    It’s evening, and the Pitman family is playing Candyland in their living room. Devin, 5, bounces from the sofa to the gameboard and pulls a card. “Ice cream!” the blue-eyed boy shouts, and moves his yellow pawn toward the end of the trail. “My turn,” his father says, leaning over the board to pull a

  • Falcons upset Lobos, 42-24

    Air Force played its most complete game of the year, crushing the University of New Mexico Lobos, 42-24, in the Mountain West Conference regular season finale for both teams. Air Force traded in training camp wristbands with the motto “Every Play, Every Day,” for ones that sported its playbook for

  • Soldiers win first Camp Bucca Raft Race

    Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors traded their military vehicles and weapons for homemade boats and paddles to take part in the first-ever Camp Bucca Raft Race. The Air Force-sponsored race, held Nov. 13 on a small pond here, matched the talents and ingenuity of 17 teams vying for the top prize and camp

  • Labor Department launches veterans employment program

    Military personnel and veterans will receive 300,000 wallet-sized cards and key charms with critical employment and job-training information in the next six months, the U.S. Department of Labor said. The department also unveiled the recovery and employment assistance lifelines -- REALifelines --

  • CFC opened new frontiers for NASA scientist

    Terry Morris was about 4 years old when his parents pushed him out the front door into the snow-covered streets of Chicago. They didn't want him to come back. In that world, the Windy City's newest homeless child found towering drifts, more ash gray than white and more ice than snow, instead of the

  • Military postal agency offers advice for holiday mail

    "Pack it well" and "mail it early" are two tips a military postal official offered today for holiday mail being sent to servicemembers overseas. The Defense Department announced recommended holiday mail dates Oct. 31. The first deadline occurs Nov. 12 for parcel post items headed overseas to APO and

  • Virtual commissary opens for business

    Defense Commissary Agency shoppers looking for a different kind of gift can let their fingers do the clicking at the new Virtual Commissary. Commissary officials said Virtual Commissary will open up new options of Internet shopping for authorized users. “We’re excited about DeCA’s first adventure

  • DOD announces recommended holiday mail dates

    The Department of Defense announced Oct. 31 the recommended mailing dates to ensure that holiday cards and packages for service members arrive overseas in time for the holiday season. "To ensure delivery … to military APO/FPO addresses overseas and to international addresses, we suggest mail be sent

  • Turtle patrol volunteers give baby sea turtles new life

    Fifty eight newly hatched baby green sea turtles got their first taste of life and the Gulf of Mexico after the Eglin’s sea turtle patrol volunteers released them to the wild Oct. 27. While this was deemed a great day of success for the volunteers, the prospects of the baby turtles surviving to see

  • Raptors return with insight, information

    The familiar sound of flying Raptors will soon fill the Virginia skies again. The 27th Fighter Squadron returns here Oct. 28 from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, ending two weeks of out-of-town training and bringing the first-ever deployment for the F/A-22 Raptor to a close. “Training like this is

  • Staging facility offers more than air evacuations

    Getting troops injured in battle from the war zone to another location where they can receive more definitive care takes careful planning and coordination. Such was the case Oct. 21, when members of the 386th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility at this desert base helped move 16 injured troops

  • Laos duty helps sergeant put her job into perspective

    An Army Golden Knight parachutist landed at Sheppard’s salute to America’s warfighters air show streaming the familiar black Prisoner of War/Missing in Action flag. It was an emotional moment for many of the spectators at the Oct. 15 event. But it was an especially emotional moment for Tech. Sgt.

  • Airmen push to limit with turn of a card

    “Right now, I’m at 15,541.” And counting. As he counts down the days before returning home, increasing his push-up total has become a goal for Lt. Col. Jeff Sheppard, the 28th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron commander at a forward-deployed location. What began as a challenge among several

  • Annual Combined Federal Campaign kicks off

    Following the record-setting campaign of a year ago, the nation’s largest workplace charity campaign is under way for both overseas and U.S. military installations. The 2005-2006 Combined Federal Campaign runs for six consecutive weeks during a designated period between Sept. 1 and Dec. 15 for bases

  • Tricare continues medical support for Katrina victims

    Tricare is continuing its efforts to ensure the more than 136,000 displaced servicemembers and family members in the Gulf Coast region have access to medical care during Hurricane Katrina recovery operations. Tricare is the Department of Defense agency responsible for managing the military’s health

  • Users can log on to Portal with common access card

    Users can now log on to the Air Force Portal using their common access card and personal identification number. This latest change to the Air Force Portal means fewer passwords for users to remember and leads to greater security for Air Force networks, said Maj. David Gindhart of the Air Force

  • Arctic search-and-rescue exercise ends

    U.S., Russian and Canadian pararescuemen concluded a weeklong exercise here Sept. 16 that tested the three countries’ ability to conduct search-and-rescue operations in the Arctic region.Arctic Search and Rescue Exercise 05 concluded with a freefall jump from an Alaska Air National Guard HC-130 P/N

  • Guardsmen activated for Katrina eligible for Tricare

    Guardsmen federally activated for more than 30 consecutive days supporting Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and their Tricare-eligible family members can receive military health-care benefits.The deputy secretary of defense approved funding for use of the National Guard under Title 32 U.S. Code to

  • DOD health care reaches out to military affected by hurricane

    As recovery and relocation efforts continue in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Defense is embarking on an aggressive outreach to nearly 360,000 active duty servicemembers, retirees and their families displaced by the storm.Tricare Management Activity, the DOD agency that

  • Reserve family faces uncertainties after hurricane

    Senior Master Sgt. David Hufton was proud to be the newest member of the Air Force Reserve Command’s 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. An intelligence analyst, he reported for duty Aug. 22, one week to the day before Hurricane Katrina devastated the Biloxi base and everything around

  • Airmen repair helo in New Orleans, spend two days without food

    After a complete electrical failure rendered an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter useless during search-and-rescue efforts near New Orleans on Sept. 1, Air Force officials were quick to deploy two staff sergeants to the scene.When the call came in at 2 a.m., Staff Sgts. Brandon LaFountain and Kevin

  • Little Rock, Tyndall, Guard Bureau helping evacuees

    As recovery efforts continue in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Air Force bases are opening their doors to help evacuees."We will do everything we can to get (families) situated here and to be comfortable," said Brig. Gen. Joseph M. Reheiser, 314th Airlift Wing commander at Little Rock Air Force

  • Air Force Aid Society establishes relief fund

    In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Air Force Aid Society has established a nationwide relief fund to help Air Force families affected by the hurricane.Donations to the AFAS Hurricane Relief Fund will be accepted directly from individuals, corporations and organizations, both military and

  • Buckley’s AADD volunteers save lives, careers

    In just more than 18 months, the Airmen Against Drunk Driving program here has helped save lives and careers by giving free rides to about 300 Airmen and Department of Defense civilians who may have had too much to drink.The program started in February 2004, and dozens of volunteers have helped

  • Falcons falls 3-1 in soccer season opener, 3-2 against Iowa

    Jessica Zimmerman’s two goals propelled the University of Northern Colorado past Air Force, 3-1, in the soccer season opener for both teams Aug. 26 here.Northern Colorado struck first at the 32-minute mark as Teresa Prais scored off a pass from Zimmerman to put her team ahead 1-0. Air Force struck

  • Family members, survivors receive identification cards

    A permanent U.S. uniformed services identification card will be available in September for all eligible family members and survivors age 75 and over of deceased servicemembers.Currently, uniformed services retirees are the only persons who receive a permanent ID card.Beneficiaries currently in

  • Annual Combined Federal Campaign kicks off

    The 2005 to 2006 Combined Federal Campaign begins Sept. 1 and runs six consecutive weeks through Dec. 15 for bases within the continental United States. The overseas CFC campaign begins Oct. 1 and runs six consecutive weeks through Dec. 15.Exact dates and campaign goals are established in each

  • Agencies ease deployment pains

    With “my upcoming deployment” as the catch-phrase for most of Airmen, several organizations take extraordinary measures to ensure that not only the Airman is ready for deployment, but the families are as well.Family support centers, chapel staffs and many other agencies manage day-to-day efforts of

  • Advance planning key to successful deployment financial management

    Get ready early. This is the common theme among base agencies that assist Airmen preparing for deployment.The preparation can be stressful, time consuming and exciting, but above all, requires planning and thinking ahead to the future.Oftentimes, the focus of deployment is on taking care of the

  • Airmen partner with Soldiers to explode excess ordnance

    Anyone traversing the passenger terminal area at this forward-deployed location, regardless of length of stay, has a passing acquaintance with the amnesty box. Its sole objective is to serve as a “get into country free” card. Airmen are briefed on exactly what items are forbidden: alcohol,

  • Deployed Airmen reflect bravery, selfless determination

    Security forces Airmen here have demonstrated their bravery in the face of the enemy as they work side by side with Soldiers in detainee operations.Col. Jim Brown, 18th Military Police Brigade commander, praised the Airmen with the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron for their noble

  • Critical days continue to take Airmen

    The fatal auto accident that claimed the lives of two Airmen in Germany recently raised the Air Force’s death toll to 24 during this year’s “101 Critical Days of Summer.”While that number is fairly typical for summer fatalities, it is still too high, said Tom Pazell, deputy chief of Air Force Ground

  • Staging facility takes over where hospital leaves off

    It is 10:30 p.m., and the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group’s contingency aeromedical staging facility here is a flurry of activity. The doctors, nurses and technicians are making their rounds while other Airmen are checking in new arrivals, processing movement paperwork, palletizing bags and making

  • Guard supports families through deployment hardships

    Families of deployed guardsmen and reservists face challenges beyond those of active-duty families, and a strong family support network stands behind them to help through those difficult days, the National Guard Bureau chief said."The challenges are considerable," said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven

  • Airman receives support -- lots of it -- through letters

    Servicemembers with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location here are not strangers to receiving letters, mementos and care packages from families, friends and loved ones.However, one sergeant assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group receives enough mail to keep a

  • Air Force District of Washington becomes fully operational

    The Air Force District of Washington, which reactivated provisionally in January, assumed full operational capability in a ceremony here July 7.AFDW was first established in 1985 in response to the post-Cold War reduction in forces as a way to streamline the country’s transition into peacetime. It

  • Airman finds freedom in United States

    Most 12-year-olds are trading baseball cards and feeling hesitant about entering middle school. By the time young Duc Tien Luu was 12, he had been a Vietnamese refugee, attempted to smuggle himself into Thailand more than 10 times, was tortured in prison and sent back to his home country on strict

  • Officials urge Airmen to be wary of scams

    “Congratulations! You’re the winner of $6 million. All we need you to do is contact our agent to begin the claim process.”At one time or another, most people have received this type of offer in the mail or by e-mail. This “to-good-to-be-true” offer is in fact a scam to entice people to give up

  • Face-to-face counseling available to Airmen, families

    Sometimes an Airman needs someone to talk to, and although his or her supervisor or friends are available, they are not always the right ones to listen.The Air Force, as part of a larger effort within the Department of Defense, offers Airmen a professional, private, face-to-face counseling as part

  • Being smart with money while deployed

    While deployed, Airmen receive many entitlements. They receive combat zone tax exclusion, $225 hostile fire pay per month, $3.50 per diem and for those with families, $250 family separation allowance per month. Airmen who live in dormitories at their home station also receive basic allowance for

  • Paperless transition of emergency data cards complete

    After decades of Airmen updating emergency contact information in their personnel records, everyone is now required to update the information online rather than visiting their military personnel flights.Effective immediately, personnel flight officials are no longer required to print and file a

  • Myers: U.S. military very busy but healthy

    The U.S. armed forces are in good shape, and servicemembers well understand and believe in what they are fighting for overseas, said Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on May 29."They know what this is all about in terms of this effort against violent extremism," General

  • DOD prepares biometric ID system for U.S. bases in Iraq

    The Defense Department is fine-tuning a $75 million biometric identification system designed to improve force protection at U.S. military bases in Iraq, said officials involved with the project.At a recent demonstration, DOD officials said the state-of-the-art system will use biographical data,

  • Careless recycling causes identity theft concerns

    Postal officials in Europe are asking people to read before they recycle to reduce the threat of identity theft.During the past few years, U.S. Air Forces in Europe postmasters have had great success combating litter problems with post office recycling bins; however, now there is a concern that

  • Exercising right to vote important even in 'off' years

    Servicemembers and citizens overseas should participate in local off-season elections, the director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program said here May 9."I think it's always important for us to exercise our right to vote," Polli Brunelli said. "We've seen from past elections that our uniformed

  • Myer’s wife featured as Mother's Day 'Power Player'

    Military spouses and servicemembers' mothers commit their lives as their servicemembers do, and they love them because they love their country, said the wife of the nation's top military officer on a Mother's Day nationwide television appearance May 8.Mary Jo Myers, wife of Gen. Richard B. Myers,

  • Airmen hunt down problems before having chance to fester

    When a general practitioner performs a routine examination, the doctor thoroughly examines the patient for overall health. With the same loving care physicians provide patients, the Airmen of the 92nd Maintenance Squadron work day and night caring for their KC-135 Stratotankers.Just as specialists

  • Experienced maintainers train active-duty Airmen

    Spending four years on active duty and 26 years in the Vermont Air National Guard, Chief Master Sgt. Tim Brisson has a wealth of experience as an aircraft maintainer. He has just about seen it all -- until April 25.That was when officials at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the Vermont Guard signed

  • Technology unites Airmen in matrimony

    Nearly 7,000 miles of desert and ocean could not keep two Airmen from tying the knot. Maj. Heather Villasenor, who is at a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia, married Lt. Col. Michael Bryant on April 26. The wedding was held in Southwest Asia -- and Virginia. Colonel Bryant, the Joint

  • Lieutenants help nab purse snatchers

    Two lieutenants stationed in northwest Florida came to the rescue after they witnessed a purse snatching in a local parking lot.Second Lts. Justin Herman, from here, and Nick Garvey, from nearby Tyndall Air Force Base, chased two suspects they saw snatch a purse April 8.After shopping at a local

  • Support for wounded warriors reaches across America

    Americans watching news coverage of the war in Iraq are asking, “How can I show my support for our brave servicemembers?”To show their support, many have donated phone cards, frequent flier miles or sent letters and messages.A group of San Antonio area quilters are doing their part to support

  • Kadena children get deployment experience

    With a mobility bag slung heavily over one shoulder, the petite “Tech. Sgt.” Natasha Dumpert stands in a deployment line waiting for her immunizations before setting off for a deployment to Iraq.Oh, by the way, Natasha is 8-years-old and her immunizations are jellybeans.Natasha, along with more than

  • Skeptical blood donor wins new SUV

    Ron Bagby was a hard sell, even as the voice on the phone tried to convince him to come to an Oklahoma City car dealership and pick up the new vehicle he had won.Mr. Bagby, a mechanic at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center here, laughs about it now. But he was so skeptical about what he was

  • Personal travel card information lost, no evidence of misuse

    About 900,000 Defense Department employees may be affected by Bank of America's loss and the possible compromise of government travel card information, Pentagon officials said Feb. 25.The General Services Administration and Bank of America notified DOD officials that "SmartPay" travel cards are

  • Symposium students complete 32,000 hours of instruction

    Students and instructors said they developed a new appreciation for the word “training” during the 2005 Environmental Training Symposium, which ended here Feb. 11.About 153 instructors taught 111 courses to more than 1,250 students throughout the week-long event.More than 32,100 hours of instruction

  • Pentagon Airman collects valentines for patients

    Where is the love? That is a question often asked, especially on Valentine’s Day. This year, one answer may be found in a small office in the Pentagon.Air Force Pentagon Enlisted Council officials began what they thought would be a small attempt to brighten the holiday for wounded servicemembers

  • Have a healthy Valentine’s Day

    Many Americans plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14. The holiday originally marked the death of St. Valentine who secretly married couples in defiance of Roman Emperor Claudius II. Today, people are more likely to remember message written on tiny candy hearts than St. Valentine. Almost

  • AAFES has been in every major conflict since World War I

    With the birthday cake in place and candles lit, Regina Koenig and a few other Army and Air Force Exchange Service employees sang “Happy Birthday” to a 21-year-old colleague at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.Halfway through the song, a 127 mm rocket exploded on the other side of the main store. As the

  • Air Force box-offs showcase lean, mean card

    The 2005 U.S. Air Force Boxing Championship, known as the box-offs, was on the ropes before the first punch was thrown here Jan. 22.Global operations reduced this year’s boxing trial camp to just 10 available fighters, down two-thirds from 2004. Seven bouts were on the card, which was unofficially

  • Professional wrestlers thank Dyess Airmen for service

    When Airman 1st Class Fred Stewart was deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, the services troop improved the morale at the base by asking World Wrestling Entertainment for anything they might like to send to support the troops.“I’ve always been a die-hard wrestling fan,” Airman Stewart said. “A

  • Scams target tsunami donors

    The tsunamis that hit South Asia are being hailed as the worst natural disaster in this century. With death tolls topping 200,000 and countless people injured, our brethren in Asia are in need of relief -- shelter, food, clothing and other necessities. Americans opening their purse strings to

  • Airman returns nearly $5,000 to wallet owner

    Airmen here continue to be good neighbors including one who recently returned a wallet he found in the snow.Airman 1st Class Robert Humphus, of the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal flight, was on his way to his first delivery for the local Meals on Wheels program when he

  • 'Scholarships for Military Children' application deadline nears

    The deadline to apply for $1,500 scholarships from the Scholarships for Military Children program is Feb. 16, and applications must be delivered to a Defense Commissary Agency store by then.At least one scholarship will be awarded at every commissary location with qualified applicants, agency

  • Small miracle -- Dangerously premature baby defies odds

    The greatest miracles come in the smallest packages. Just ask Tinker’s Nash family. Genevieve Faith Nash, the fifth child and first daughter of Staff Sgt. Gary Nash and his wife, Kelley, will be 5 months old when she celebrates her first Christmas, but she was supposed to be just 6 weeks old.“She

  • Combat personnelists get Airmen in, out of deployment

    They do not fly combat missions, build bombs or conduct perimeter patrols, but the PERSCO team here processes the documents that make it possible for pilots, ammo troops and security forces to do those things supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. From hail to farewell, a two-person Personnel

  • Airmen add ‘information armor’ to Iraq convoys

    When a convoy heads out on the roads of Iraq, it can be a life or death mission. Faced with violent threats from insurgents, the troops are armed and ready. But in this hostile environment, a “protective posture” requires more than mere Kevlar. Airmen of the 90th Information Operations Squadron

  • 'Defend America' helps Americans support troops

    One often-repeated question from forward-deployed Airmen is some form of: "Does America support what we're doing over here?"Judging by the number of Web sites devoted to that support, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!"But as times have changed, so have the ways to support the troops. Just because

  • Vietnam veteran ensures every hero gets proper welcome

    It happened to Steve Cobb during his first tour in Vietnam with the 11th Light Infantry Brigade. He was wounded in combat -- four times."I got four Purple Hearts my first tour and zero my second," Mr. Cobb said. "I finally learned to duck." While learning to duck may have been an extremely

  • DOD launches 'America Supports You' to showcase support

    Department of Defense officials launched a new program Nov. 19 to showcase America's support for the men and women of the armed forces and the myriad ways people are expressing that support."America Supports You" is designed to gather information about the many activities and programs Americans have

  • A breast cancer survivor shares her story

    “I never thought it could happen to me,” she said. Her morning routine April 4, 2001, changed her outlook on life and gave her a new respect for it. Her day-to-day routine of waking up and jumping in and out of the shower now involves taking steps to save her life.After discovering a lump in her

  • Holiday season can be difficult, stressful

    The holiday season is supposed to be a time of fun, family and good food.“Holidays should be happy and joyful,” said Capt. Kimberly Newsom, chief of life skills support center at the 92nd Medical Group. “It should be a celebration of time spent with loved ones.”Unfortunately, with all of the

  • AAFES offers support to servicemembers

    With the holidays quickly approaching, many Americans are searching for ways to reach out to troops stationed overseas. Anticipating a rush of mail from well-wishers, Department of Defense officials remind people that, "Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the DOD no longer

  • Abizaid asks Congress to help stop unsolicited mail

    The commander of U.S. Central Command is asking Congress for help in eliminating unsolicited mail to servicemembers.Army Gen. John P. Abizaid said the military mail service is running at capacity, and he noted the propensity of America to be especially generous during the holidays."I would greatly

  • Falcon men’s soccer ends season with 3-2 loss at Denver

    Despite erasing a 2-0 deficit, the Air Force Academy men’s soccer team could not hold off Denver, as Ben Mendozza’s goal in the 52nd minute propelled the Pioneers to a 3-2 win Nov. 14 at the University of Denver campus here. The season finale was scheduled to be played in Colorado Springs, but was

  • New veterans ID cards help battle identity theft

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have designed a new identity card for veterans that will safeguard confidential information while combating identity theft."The new identification card ensures veterans' personal information is protected," Veterans Affairs Secretary Anthony J. Principi said.

  • Veterans send gifts to deployed Airmen

    Servicemembers and DOD civilians serving here began receiving military assistance communication kit packages Nov. 4.The MACK Packs were donated through a Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary VFW program called Operation Uplink. The packs contained a writing tablet, holiday cards with

  • Deployed Airmen getting new physical training uniform first

    When the Air Force chief of staff announced a new fitness standard in July 2003, he promised Airmen a new physical training uniform in which to prepare. That new uniform is now ready, and Airmen serving in Southwest Asia will be the first to get them, said Senior Master Sgt. Jacqueline Dean, the Air

  • Airman’s American journey spans 13 years, two countries

    “My parents told us we were going to Disneyland, but they told me not to bring any clothes or toys because they would buy us new ones.”That was how Senior Airman Jesus Espinoza Ogarcia, now assigned to the 14th Medical Operations Squadron, was persuaded to leave his home in Puebla, Mexico, when he

  • Utah hands Air Force women’s soccer a 4-0 loss

    Amanda Feight scored a pair of goals to lead the University of Utah to a dominant 4-0 win over the Air Force Academy in Mountain West Conference women’s soccer here Oct. 14. The Falcons are now 3-10-1 overall and 0-3-0 in the conference play.The Utes (8-4-2, 2-0-1) took the lead 17 minutes into the

  • New government Web site offers one-stop financial education

    The Defense Department is part of a multiagency effort that resulted in the debut of a federal government Web site devoted to financial education Oct. 12.The mymoney.gov site has been in the works since March, with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission taking the lead role in its development, DOD