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  • Khobar Towers victims remembered on 15th anniversary

    Airmen, Marines, Sailors and family members gathered here to remember 19 brave warriors and 12 valiant 33rd Fighter Wing Airmen on the 15th anniversary of the Khobar Towers bombing June 24."I'm humbled to be a part of this ceremony," said Col. Andrew Toth, the 33rd FW commander. "It reminds us, as a

  • DeCA officials announce Commissary Gift Card program

    Extending the gift of groceries to authorized commissary patrons soon will be a lot easier thanks to the new Commissary Gift Card. The gift cards, available in denominations of $25 and $50, will be available June 30 for purchase in stateside stores or online through http://www.commissaries.com.

  • Civil Air Patrol cadets experience pilot training

    Airmen here recently hosted members of the Civil Air Patrol cadet program as they learned about undergraduate pilot training.CAP was by the Department of Defense in 1941 to help the U.S. during World War II. After the war in 1947, Congress declared the mission of CAP to focus on aerospace education,

  • Mullen endorses Afghanistan drawdown plan

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Congress June 23 he endorses the president's plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen testified before the House Armed Services Committee following President Barack Obama's announcement June 22 that 33,000 U.S. troops now in

  • Air Force officials host joint library workshop

    DOD library professionals will communicate, collaborate and connect during a library tri-service training workshop June 21 through 24 in New Orleans. The Air Force, Navy and U.S. Marines Corps Librarians' Training Workshop will feature speakers from the non-profit military organization Blue Star

  • Fairchild Airmen help save homes from flooding

    Forty student candidates and instructors from the 336th Training Group Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape School here filled roughly 10,000 sandbags in Pend Oreille County, Wash., June 9, reportedly saving three homes from being flooded and making elderly homeowners extremely grateful and

  • Partnership links military spouses with employers

    June 23, 2011 - Defense Department officials are launching a new partnership June 29 that's intended to expand job opportunities for military spouses by connecting them with employers actively seeking to hire them.Microsoft, Home Depot, Starbucks and the Navy Federal Credit Union are just a few of

  • AF clubs offers scholarships

    For the 15th year in a row, the Air Force Services Club Program will award $25,000 in scholarship funds. The Air Force Services Club Membership Scholarship Program is a club member-only program intended to help club members and their families defray the cost of higher education. Twenty-five winners

  • Officials announce E-6 selection stats

    Air Force officials selected 8,545 of 34,257 eligible staff sergeants for promotion to technical sergeant, for a selection rate of 24.94 percent.The average score for those selected was 320.48, with an average time-in-grade of 5.55 years and an average time-in-service of 10.61 years. The average

  • Minot Airmen aid community affected by flood

    For the second time in a month, city officials have ordered citizens of Minot, N.D., including more than 950 Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen and their families, to evacuate downtown homes here.Minot Mayor Curt Zimbelman, said water levels are expected to reach the highest volumes ever in

  • Arrival ceremony welcomes fallen U.S. military members home

    Three unidentified American heroes returned from war June 17. They were greeted here by friends and fellow service members, with full military honors. Although their return was sad because they were ones who had paid the ultimate sacrifice, their return also was joyful because they are fallen heroes

  • IAAFA continues to expand security cooperation initiatives

    The Air Force has implemented education and training institutions such as the Defense Language Institute English Language Center and the Inter-American Air Forces Academy to meet the demand for security cooperation initiatives, officials said here June 20. "Graduates of IAAFA build relationships

  • Nominations open for GEICO Public Service Awards

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2011 Government Employees Insurance Company's Public Service Awards. The GEICO Public Service Awards were established in 1980 to recognize the contributions of hard-working and talented government employees.This award is open to both civilian and

  • Senate confirms Panetta as defense secretary

    The U.S. Senate voted unanimously June 21 to confirm Leon E. Panetta as the next secretary of defense.Mr. Panetta received broad bipartisan support following his June 9 confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in which he said his foremost mission as defense secretary would be

  • C-130s maintain steady ops in Afghanistan

    Every day there are Airmen here supporting combat airlift missions for Operation Enduring Freedom through the use of the C-130 Hercules. The C-130s at Bagram Airfield are deployed with the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, which is part of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing. Its Air Force fact

  • Marines keep an eye on the sky in Alaska

    Marine Air Control Squadron One, from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., recently ventured to Alaska for the first time to participate in the U.S. Pacific Command exercise Northern Edge 11. The Marines, who normally train at their home station, plan to take advantage of the unique training

  • Abandoned paintings make Air Force history

    Nine paintings depicting the evolution of air and space, which are displayed in the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station technical support building lobby, will be adopted into the Air Force Art Program this year. The paintings were rescued years ago after being abandoned inside a storage closet at

  • SMART scholars visit D.C. to learn about their new jobs

    Students ranging from undergraduates to PhD candidates will visit Joint Base Andrews, Md., in June, to learn more about their future with the Department of Defense.The students, as Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation program scholars, represent a $50 million investment in the DOD

  • U.S. military, aircraft highlighted at international air show

    U.S. military pride, strength and technology are on display at the 49th International Paris Air Show at the Le Bourget Airport here June 20 through 26. Held every two years, the Paris Air Show provides an opportunity for the U.S. to showcase the best the Department of Defense has to offer in people,

  • Enlisted members selected for nurse commissioning program

    Twenty-four enlisted Airmen will head back to the classroom in August following their selection for the 2011 Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program.The NECP selection board meets annually in May to review records and identify the top applicants for a commissioning opportunity in a critical career

  • Chief Roy visits 438th AEW Airmen

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force, on a tour throughout the area of responsibility, visited and spoke with members of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing here recently. While visiting the wing, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy had lunch with wing enlisted leaders, visited the

  • Mobility teams gearing up for Air Mobility Rodeo 2011

    Air Mobility Rodeo 2011, sponsored by Air Mobility Command officials, is set to take place July 24 to 29 at McChord Field on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. Rodeo is a readiness competition that "focuses on improving our worldwide air mobility forces' professional core abilities," AMC officials

  • Officials seek input to update MWR services

    Defense Department officials intend to use input gained from customer satisfaction surveys to bolster morale, welfare and recreation programs and meet the up-to-date needs of service members and their families, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy said

  • Fiscal crisis requires responsible approach, Lynn says

    A fiscal crisis that's putting the squeeze on defense budgets and related industries requires difficult choices for leaders and a responsible approach that manages the spending slowdown while retaining military effectiveness, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here June 19.In a

  • Military leaders discuss past, future ops at Air Boss Conference

    Leaders from around the world met here June 15 through 16 to discuss one important mission - strategic airpower in Korea."The Air Boss Conference is an annual conference that's hosted by the (Air Component Command commander)," said Col. James McGovern, the 607th Air and Space Operations Center

  • Academy cadets get taste of deployed life

    Approximately 60 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets are in Southwest Asia, observing deployed operations first hand and meeting deployed Airmen.Cadets receive leadership training, but it can become limited to what happens in the Academy's training environment. However, the opportunity to experience Air

  • Okinawan intern hones English skills at Kadena

    For the second year, an intern from Okinawa, Japan, is working with the Airmen and locally hired staff at the fitness center here.Ryo Oshiro, a17-year-old student from Kagamigaoka Special Education School, is working for the base to gain further knowledge of American customs and the English

  • Airmen pick up pieces before historic handover

    More than 35 Airmen and Soldiers volunteered to clean up the Victory Over America Palace at Camp Slayer June 5 through 7. The palace, which is one of 70-plus palaces Saddam Hussein built throughout the country, will soon be returned to the Iraqi government. The three-day cleanup effort was

  • TRICARE does not retire when you do

    When beneficiaries retire from active duty, they may have big plans for how they are going to spend their time. Along with choices about where to live and their next great adventure, they must make choices about their health care. Understanding these choices will help beneficiaries and their

  • Gates, Mullen support 'Stand up for Heroes'

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke for the need for enduring support for service members at a fundraising event for wounded warriors and their families.The Defense Department leaders spoke before a crowd of about 800 who gathered

  • Dr. Biden urges cable industry to support military families

    Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, called on the cable television industry June 16 to use its vast reach to help educate the public about military families and rally national support for "the very best of our country."Dr. Biden, speaking at the National Cable and

  • Lynn outlines new cybersecurity effort

    Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III outlined a pilot program here June 16 in which the government helps the defense industry in safeguarding the information their computer systems hold.In a keynote address at the Center for Strategic Decision Research's 28th International Workshop on Global

  • Obama salutes military dads

    With Father's Day nearly at hand, President Barack Obama took time to single out military dads yesterday, thanking them for their service to the nation."Thank you for your dedication," he told the dads gathered for a special screening of the Disney-Pixar movie "Cars 2" on the White House complex.

  • DeCA, farmers markets to offer fresh fruit, veggies July 1-3

    Fresh fruits and vegetables are often part of the menu for many commissary customers as they plan their Fourth of July celebrations. As a result, the Defense Commissary Agency is offering farmers-market sales events July 1-3, said its sales director."This is the first time the commissaries are

  • Donley congratulates grads, marks strategy school's 20th anniversary

    The graduation of the 20th class of the School of Advanced Air and Space Studies June 15 also marked the 20th anniversary of the school's founding, a fact highlighted in the commencement address by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley.Secretary Donley said the ceremony honored not only this

  • Controllers step it up a notch during Northern Edge

    Every two years, the U.S. Pacific Command exercise Northern Edge brings nearly 150 aircraft together to hone pilots' aerial combat skills in Alaska. The largest exercise in the state also brings additional challenges to the base's air traffic controllers.The controllers must adapt to stressful

  • 'Biggest Loser' brings success to determined Airmen

    Several headquarters-based Airmen recently credited the health and wellness center's "Biggest Loser" program for helping them lose weight and bond with each other along the way.The program is inspired by the hit television show that features contestants vying to shed the most pounds in a specified

  • Felts Field open house displays AMC lineage

    The Experimental Aviation Association shared a piece of Air Mobility Command history with the local community here recently.One of 12 flight-capable B-17 Flying Fortresses rumbled through the sky and landed for tours for aviation enthusiasts and two World War II B-17 pilots during Felts Field's

  • Mullen discusses fiscal 2012 budget proposal with Senate committee

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told the Senate Appropriations Committee today that he supports the fiscal 2012 budget proposal, and that it funds service members in harm's way in Afghanistan and Iraq.The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said the proposed 2012 budget fully funds deployed service members,

  • Gates calls for superb military, not hollow force

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he'd rather have a smaller "superbly capable" military than a hollow force.Secretary Gates told the Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee June 15 that even as the department looks for savings, there has to be an admission that reductions will

  • Gates, Mullen protect family programs from budget cuts

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the service chiefs to "fence" two areas in the budget options the military is contemplating: training and family programs."I don't want any money taken out of those," he told the Senate Appropriations Committee June 15.Secretary Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen,

  • 50th Space Wing completes GPS constellation expansion

    The 50th Space Wing successfully completed a two-phase GPS constellation expansion known as "Expandable 24" June 15. The expansion increased global GPS coverage and is now providing civil, military and commercial GPS users with a more robust signal and a higher probability of signal acquisition in

  • Macedonian general officially closes MEDCEUR 11

    The 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe officially closed during a ceremony here June 15.MEDCEUR, an annual chairman of the joint chiefs of staff-sponsored regional and multilateral exercise, was designed to provide medical training and operational experience in a deployed

  • Deadline near for National Public Service Award

    The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2012 National Public Service Award to the Air Force Personnel Center is Aug. 1.The National Public Service Award recognizes individuals with agency-wide responsibility who exhibit the highest standards of excellence, dedication and accomplishment over

  • Pros, families ride in 2011 Air Force Cycling Classic

    Hot and humid weather didn't deter the more than 2,300 cycling enthusiasts from around the world and the approximate 600 on-lookers, who came out to cheer for teams and riders in the 2011 Air Force Cycling Classic held June 11 and 12, in Northern Virginia.The goal of the two-day event was to foster

  • Lynn: Energy strategy will help forces adapt for future

    Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III released the Defense Department's new operational energy strategy June 14, saying it is consistent with efforts to adapt the forces to emerging threats.Mr. Lynn said he and Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates have been consistent in speaking of the need to

  • Defense Department leads nationwide food drive

    The Defense Department is taking a leading role in a nationwide campaign challenging federal employees to donate to their local food pantries.The "Feds Feed Families" campaign, announced by the Office of Personnel Management on May 26, will run through the end of August, said Pat Tamburrino Jr., the

  • Mullen discusses Afghanistan, Iraq, on Letterman

    America's top military officer explained what members of the U.S. military have gone through during 10 years of war to the audience of the "Late Show with David Letterman" June 13.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told David Letterman that the American people need to

  • Energy strategy improves capabilities, savings, official says

    The Defense Department's new operational energy strategy challenges assumptions about battlefield energy usage, paving the way for a more secure, agile and flexible fighting force, the Pentagon official who oversees the strategy said June 9.The strategy, included in the last Quadrennial Defense

  • Mullen calls veteran support initiative 'terrific beginning'

    The nation's top military officer spoke here June 14 at a press conference announcing the "Community Blueprint," a resource designed to help local leaders focus support to veterans and their families.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, both

  • Reserve Airmen fuel up NATO forces in Iceland exercise

    Air Force Reserve Airmen and KC-135 Stratotankers from the 459th Air Refueling Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md., took part in Northern Viking 11, a biennial NATO air-space and maritime protection exercise here June 3-10, 2011.This year approximately 450 NATO military members from the U.S., Norway,

  • Investigation nabs 30 Air Force spice users

    In April,  the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Det. 114 here completed a two-month Spice-use investigation that resulted in the identification of 30 Airmen. The Airmen, who are assigned to six units within Air Force Materiel Command, Air Combat Command and Air Force Space Command, have

  • Air Force inspector general focus group realizes efficiencies

    In an effort to further minimize the effects of inspections on missions throughout the Air Force, the Air Force inspector general held an Inspection System Efficiencies Conference May 23 through May 26 in Lansdowne, Va., officials said here June 2.Conference participants included approximately 170

  • Air Force organizations win telework awards

    Two Air Force organizations earned the 2011 Telework Exchange Tele-Vision Award for excellence in leadership and for best new initiative, respectively, officials said here June 13.The office of the administrative assistant to the secretary of the Air Force won the award for its headquarters Air

  • Air Force leaders send birthday messages to Army

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Roy salute the Army on its 236th birthday June 14. Secretary Donley wrote a letter to the secretary of the Army stating:"Congratulations to you and all of your

  • DOD libraries launch summer reading program

    Defense Department libraries have launched a summer reading program in the hopes of inspiring children and adults to read throughout the summer.Visitors to libraries on 270 military installations around the world are invited to join "A Midsummer Knight's Read," an activity-packed reading program

  • DOD officials aim to streamline foreign military sales program

    Defense Department officials are streamlining the way they administer the foreign military sales program, including testing a concept to get pre-approvals for requests for high-demand technologies such as unmanned aerial systems, the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said June

  • Iraqi airmen learn to protect leaders

    Prompted by assassinations of Iraqi military leaders, Iraqi airmen are receiving personal security operations training from members of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations here.According to the April 2011 Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction quarterly report, between January

  • Military spouses get help with professional licenses

    A Defense Department organization is making it easier for military spouses to maintain professional licenses as they move from state to state.State Liaison and Educational Opportunity, an office of military community and family policy here, announced June 13 that 16 states have adopted laws, or are

  • 'Lt. Dan' flies high

    Even though he has been a strong military supporter and philanthropist, most remember Gary Sinise by his award-winning role as Lieutenant Dan Taylor from the 1994 film "Forrest Gump."Mr. Sinise visited here June 6 to 9 to document the capabilities of the U-2 Dragon Lady and meet with Airmen to boost

  • Reorganization enhances C2 testing, tactics, training

    The Air Force's preeminent wing for directing the service's operational command and control, or C2, testing, tactics development and training completed a reorganization effort June 10. The restructure will enhance Air Force, joint and coalition warfighter capabilities.Officials at the 505th Command

  • Airmen standardize procedures to ensure patient, aircrew safety

    Similar to walking through security and being searched by TSA at an airport, Airmen at the contingency aeromedical staging facility here have standardized procedures to take security aboard military aircraft to a higher level."We're like a medical airport," said Lt. Col. Barbara Persons, the 451st

  • Mobility Airmen take C-5M on first direct Arctic overflight to Afghanistan

    Fourteen mobility Airmen teamed together to fly a C-5M Super Galaxy on a direct, non-stop mission from Dover Air Force Base, Del., here June 5 and 6, 2011.The flight was the first time a U.S. Air Force plane flew this northern route from the U.S., over Canada and into the Arctic Circle, then back

  • Balloon reconnaissance marks 150th anniversary

    The intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support critical to operations in Afghanistan got its start 150 years ago in June, when a balloonist showed then-President Abraham Lincoln how a gas-filled balloon could help the Union Army prevail in the Civil War.Thaddeus Lowe met with President

  • DOD seeks Input from employers of Guardsmen, Reservists

    Defense Department officials want to hear by July 6 from the civilian employers of reservists and National Guardsmen in a survey intended to measure the impact of service members on the civilian workplace.Announced in March, the Department of Defense National Survey of Employers will indicate how

  • Policy changes consider troops, families, official says

    The Pentagon office for personnel and readiness and the programs it oversees will not be immune from Defense Department efficiency initiatives, but will keep troops and their families at the forefront in the consideration of changes, the office's top civilian leader said."I joined with an efficiency

  • Multinational students receive training from U.S. medics

    Thirty-nine students from Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, participated in a Defense Institute for Medical Operations disaster planners course here June 6 to 10. This course was part of the 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe, an annual

  • Lynn: U.S. must prepare for future warfare trends

    The Pentagon must factor in major trends likely to shape the national security environment, including many that defy traditional military planning, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here today.The Defense Department must play a part in federal deficit-reduction efforts, Mr. Lynn said

  • Offutt officials brace for flood with heavy preparations

    As the water level rises in the Missouri River, officials here are taking precautions to protect people, equipment and facilities.According to reports from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Missouri River will crest by June 15. Offutt's systems of levees are expected to hold, but the greatest risk is

  • Panetta vows to put national security, troops first

    Leon E. Panetta told the Senate Armed Services Committee June 9 that if he's confirmed as the next defense secretary, his first and foremost mission will be to protect the U.S. and ensure it has the "best-trained, the best-equipped and the strongest military in the world" to provide that defense.Mr.

  • Airlines officials revise policies for troops' checked baggage

    Military members traveling on orders on several major U.S. air carriers can check four, and in some cases, five bags without charge based on new policies the airlines instituted in recent days. Officials from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Continental Airlines announced the

  • Department recognizes environmental stewards

    The Defense Department today recognized its best stewards of the nation's natural and cultural resources at a Pentagon ceremony marking the 2011 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards."The Defense Department has long made it a priority to protect our natural and cultural resources," said Dorothy

  • DOD joins effort to promote healthy habits in children

    The Defense Department has joined a national initiative aimed at ensuring the nation's youngest children, including children from military families, get off to a healthy start.Speaking from a child care center here yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama, accompanied by Marine Corps Gen. James E.

  • Air Force civilian named IMFA Gold Plate winner

    An Air Force civilian was named the 2011 International Foodservice Manufacturers Association's Gold Plate winner here May 23.George Miller, the Air Force Services Agency food and beverage operations chief, is the first military member to receive the 56-year-old award that annually recognizes the

  • Shindand defenders take aim

    Security forces advisers from the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Wing and Italian air force conducted 9 mm pistol training for 20 Afghan airmen here recently.The classroom training, aimed to provide senior AAF officers formal instruction on safety, engaging a target and nomenclature of the weapon.

  • Air Force officials announce enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 330 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the June enlisted supplemental promotion process. The enlisted supplemental promotion release announces those Airmen selected for promotion who tested outside of their required cycle due to an extended temporary

  • Free mobile app for basic military training available to Airmen

    A free mobile phone application geared toward people preparing for life in the Air Force and focusing on physical training was released June 2. The mobile app, called "Fundamentals," is available for download from the iTunes Store and will be available from the Android Market in early July. "The

  • Relocated high school students graduate; first lady awards diplomas

    Nine high school seniors who relocated from Japan and were in danger of not being eligible to participate in their new school's commencement ceremony joined 27 seniors from Quantico Middle/High School on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., for a special Department of Defense Education Activity

  • Air Force officials to host renewable energy symposium at Davis-Monthan AFB

    Air Force officials said here that they will look to strengthen their industry partnership efforts at the Air Force's Renewable Energy Industry Symposium June 28 through 29 at the Lowes Ventura Canyon Resort, Tucson, Ariz.The symposium is an opportunity for industry members to see how they can

  • Obama: Gadhafi must step down as 'Arab Spring' resumes

    President Barack Obama reiterated the need for Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi to step down and hand over power to the Libyan people, emphasizing during a joint news conference today with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that "the pressure will only continue to increase until he does."Speaking to

  • Officials seek input to modernize DOD schools

    Officials in charge of the Defense Department's school system for military children are seeking input from parents, students and teachers in creating a 21st century learning environment by 2016.Department of Defense Education Activity officials want people who use the schools to provide their ideas

  • Reservists complete combat aviation advisor training

    Training with their active-duty counterparts, five 919th Special Operations Wing reservists completed the baseline certification course May 27 that will lead to their recognition as combat aviation advisors.This was the first time Air Force reservists have taken this elite special operations course.

  • Moving families can transfer TRICARE Prime enrollment

    Active duty military members and their families who are moving to a new location can now transfer their TRICARE Prime military health plan enrollment with a simple phone call. The enrollment transfer includes a new primary care manager best suited to the location of the service member's work, home

  • Officials release new selective re-enlistment bonus list

    Enlisted members now have 77 Air Force specialties from which they can receive a selective re-enlistment bonus. Officials said this fiscal year's program retains a heavy emphasis on retaining Airmen with 17 months to six years of service, and made adjustments in the 6 to 10 and 10 to 14

  • Air Force spouse, children recall evacuation following Japan earthquake

    The date, March 11, 2011, will never be forgotten by many people. It was the day that a 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan and a day that started the motions for an Air Force family to make a decision to evacuate to Spokane, Wash., or stay and risk their newborn baby's health.The choice for them was

  • U.S., Korean air forces rumble forward in Max Thunder 11-1

    The South Korean and U.S. air forces hosted a joint exercise here May recently to sharpen their ability to work together in a simulated wartime environment. The exercise, held annually, provided bilateral training to more than 320 personnel from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base and the 51st

  • Offutt Airmen join locals to help protect museum items from flood waters

    A call for help started a chain of events that culminated with members of Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.,  joining forces with three Boy Scout groups, more than 20 Omaha park personnel, retired submariners and members of the U.S. Coast Guard responding to rising flood waters at Freedom Park June

  • Former Air Force general sworn in as VA undersecretary for benefits

    Retired Brig. Gen. Allison A. Hickey, a 27-year veteran of the Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve and a graduate of the first U.S. Air Force Academy class to include women, has been sworn in as the Department of Veterans Affairs' undersecretary for benefits."General Hickey is a

  • Multinational exercise kicks off in Macedonia

    Members from seven multinational forces gathered in Macedonia June 6 to kick off the 2011 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe, or MEDCEUR 11. MEDCEUR, an annual regional and multilateral exercise sponsored by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is held in the spirit of

  • Thunderbirds set to kick off 2011 European tour in Turkey

    The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds are practiced and ready to perform the first official demonstration of their 2011 European Tour. The team brought 78 of its nearly 120 Airmen on the six-week, transcontinental trip, arriving earlier this week at Cigli AB, just outside of the western coastal city of

  • Raven Claw forges future warrior-diplomats

    Trainees faced decisions ranging from eating fish heads full of teeth to providing the host nation with night-vision goggles and satellite imagery.Nineteen Airmen tested their powers of diplomatic negotiation and combat readiness in Raven Claw, a week-long exercise devoted to preparing future combat

  • DOD, Homeland Security collaborate in cyber realm

    Recognizing the huge national security implications of compromised U.S. computer networks, a senior Pentagon official said Defense Department officials are working with the Department of Homeland Security officials and others to shore up vulnerabilities against an increasingly sophisticated

  • Officials suggest new role for more capable Reserve force

    Capabilities gained from a decade of combat have transformed military reserve components into a full-spectrum operational force that should be integrated into the active fighting force, a defense official said June 3.Paul Patrick, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs for

  • Pentagon acquisition chief talks 'better buying power'

    The undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics spoke to the electronic systems center workforce May 25 regarding Defense Department budget challenges, efficiency initiatives and their impact. Dr. Ashton B. Carter said the defense budget for the next decade will not be

  • Food safety notice: tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce

    Military commissaries in Europe are not selling or receiving lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers from any European sources until further notice, according to a directive from the U.S. Army's European Regional Veterinary Command.The medical command delivered its directive in the face of the current E.

  • JAG corps announces law school programs

    Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are being accepted from January through March 2012. The number of FLEP and ELP applicants selected in any academic year is determined based on the needs of the Air Force."Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and

  • U.S., Chinese leaders note progress on military ties

    U.S. and Chinese defense leaders said they are pleased with the progress the countries are making in re-establishing good military-to-military relations. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Liang Guanglie held bilateral talks during the Shangri-La Dialogue here June

  • Captain shares Student Flight knowledge to help unit build program

    Capt. Bryan Williams, the Student Flight coordinator for the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., helped establish the new Student Flight training program for the West Virginia ANG's 130th Airlift Wing here.A Student Flight prepares new recruits for

  • Minot Airmen help neighbors as flood water rises

    With the Souris River threatening to break the levies already in place, thousands of Minot citizens, including military members, their families and DOD civilians, have been forced to evacuate the area here June 1.Many have sought shelter with friends and families outside of the evacuation areas. For