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  • AFSO 21 improves cargo process more efficiently

    Experts from Vandenberg's Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program here are in middle of a month-long process alongside 30th Logistics Readiness Squadron officials to plan ways to make the cargo area of Building 5500 a more efficient work environment for its Airmen and management. The

  • SECAF, CSAF announce 2008 safety award recipients

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz have announced the recipients of the 2008 Air Force safety awards. "We're grateful for the hard work of these award-winning individuals and organizations, and all Air Force safety professionals throughout the service,"

  • Moving beyond the F-22

    This op-ed piece appeared in the Washington Post on April 13, written by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.The debate over whether to continue production of the F-22 Raptor has been one of the most politically charged and controversial budget

  • Congresswoman visits Altus

    Officials from the 97th Air Mobility Wing here welcomed the 5th district congresswoman of Oklahoma April 9 as she toured Altus Air Force Base for her assessment of the state's military readiness. Rep. Mary Fallin is currently the only Oklahoma member of the House Armed Services Committee in

  • New 'eMagazine' informs servicemembers, families

    All the support programs in the world won't do any good if no one knows about them, so the Defense Department's principal director for military community and family policy started the office's new "eMagazine." "What I found when I came up here was they have great programs and so forth, but they

  • 'Voices of Men' gives unique insight on sexual assault

    Nobody would expect a guy dressed like Austin Powers to educate people about sexual assault awareness. But as part of the nationwide observance this month to raise awareness about one of the country's most under-reported crimes, Defense Department officials here developed fresh initiatives and

  • Academy space fleet continues to grow

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's space fleet grows even larger this year with the launch of one satellite, continued operations of a second satellite and design work underway for a third. The newest addition will be FalconSAT-6, which is on the drawing board now. The FalconSAT space fleet is a series of

  • 'Today's Air Force' features dignified transfers

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the new policy for the transfer of fallen military members, a Purple Heart Medal recipient, a winter sports clinic for the disabled and a smoldering type of training: firefighting. A new policy has been approved by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates

  • Space Station module name to be announced April 14

    NASA's newest module for the International Space Station will get a new name on April 14. Agency officials plan to make the announcement with the help of Expedition 14 and 15 astronaut Sunita "Suni" Williams on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report." The program will air at 11:30 p.m. EDT. The name,

  • Airmen make pledge to prevent sexual assaults

    While American and coalition forces continue fighting the war on terrorism, there are silent criminals among the warriors who cause battle wounds of another kind: sexual assault. There were 165 sexual assault reports in Iraq and Afghanistan during fiscal 2008, a dramatic increase compared to the 131

  • Pararescuemen conduct water test of new NASA capsule

    Six pararescuemen from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., conducted recovery testing on a mockup of NASA's next-generation spacecraft March 8 at the Trident Turn Basin here. The team of pararescuemen from the Air Force Reserve's 920th Rescue Wing deployed an inflatable flotation collar during the test of

  • VA budget adds mental-health services for combat vets

    The proposed Department of Veterans Affairs funding request will provide more post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury services to combat veterans, as well as other mental-health care and services for wounded warriors, President Barack Obama said April 9. "The nightmares of war

  • Reading program reaches out to military families

    Through the program's military initiative, doctors and nurses at 20 military hospitals, including one in Germany, soon will receive training on how to promote early literacy for children. They also will be provided with free books to present to parents with children ages 6 months to 5 years when

  • Ceremony to recognize vets not eligible for Vietnam Wall inclusion

    One-hundred twenty-three American heroes from the Vietnam War era will be honored posthumously this month during the annual In Memory Day ceremony, according to Jan C. Scruggs, founder and president of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. In Memory Day was created to pay tribute to the men and women

  • Tiered construct defines future expeditionary skills training

    A guarantee to eliminate duplicate expeditionary skills training requirements for all Air Force personnel through a four-tiered construct is now in effect by officials here. "This new construct ensures Airmen receive appropriate expeditionary education and training at the appropriate time," said

  • Developmental education application deadlines set

    Civilians and officers considering intermediate or senior developmental education in academic year 2010 to 2011 have until May 1 and May 6, respectively, to submit their applications for consideration by the selection board here. Officers apply using a Web-based application, while civilians submit

  • Safety experts spearhead efforts to minimize bird strikes

    Americans witnessed firsthand the severity of bird strikes when U.S. Airways Flight 1549 crash landed in the Hudson River in New York City after hitting a flock of birds in January. Lt. Col. Charles Wallace and his team of seven safety experts with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Safety Office here

  • Top spouse discusses deployment family issues

    The Air Force's top spouse discussed the challenges Air Force members and their spouses face during deployments while she visited the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing April 6 and 7. Suzie Schwartz, wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz, has long been considered a champion of military spouses

  • Center team works to connect new fighters, bomber

    An airborne networking team here is working to connect low-observable aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II and B-2 Spirit with each other, and with the rest of the force. These aircraft rely on a number of technological advantages to defeat adversaries and

  • Heritage Coat production uncertain despite favorable reviews

    Though Air Force officials here have not made a final decision on the new service coat, pre-decisional results show Airmen who sampled the Heritage Coat gave it high marks. Survey feedback showed 92 percent of wear test participants deemed the coat suitable for military uniform, and overall 66

  • AF Small Business officials spread word about innovation

    Air Force Small Business officials spread the word about the innovation, agility and efficiency of small businesses to more than 1,400 contracting professionals attending the National Contract Management Association, or NCMA, World Congress here April 5 to 8. Ronald A. Poussard, director of the Air

  • Helicopter pilots train Japanese forces on air refueling

    A team of HH-60G Pave Hawk pilots here provided a three-day intensive course on air refueling to Japanese Self Defense Forces helicopter rescue pilots in late March over Japan. The training, given by pilots from the 33rd Rescue Squadron, gave JASDF members hands-on helicopter air refueling training.

  • Air Force officials take delivery of first MC-12

    Winning the fight from up high just got more advanced since the recent delivery of the MC-12 Project Liberty special mission turboprop aircraft. The MC-12 is the first of its kind for the Air Force and is set to venture downrange in May. Lt. Gen. David Deptula, Air Force Deputy Chief of Staff for

  • Space education seeks prominence

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's newly-released special area of emphasis, "Space as a Contested Environment," draws attention to the reality that the United States can and will be challenged in space, and that military education needs modification to address this reality. The overall goal

  • Beale AFB land-use deal closer to reality

    An undeveloped stretch of prairie at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., is one step closer to becoming the next premiere commercial development in the Air Force's enhanced-use lease portfolio.Officials with the Air Force Real Property Agency will begin negotiations with representatives of Beale Community

  • Family care forum kick starts Year of the Air Force Family

    Senior Air Force officials and family care professionals set the direction for the Year of the Air Force Family April 2 here. More than 200 Air Force behavioral specialists, chaplains, family advocacy personnel and other family support members separated April 1 into five groups and focused on

  • World War II aviators share stories, experiences

    It's rare today to be able to sit down with living legends and pick their brains of past experiences and commitment during their military aviation careers. Three such individuals provided that opportunity for servicemembers and civilians here March 31 during "Lunch with the Legends" at the base

  • Servicemembers assist Afghans with economic development

    For more than eight years, the government of Afghanistan has been building from the ground up, using millions of dollars in aid from foreign governments and private organizations. These funds impact both the central government in Kabul and the country's 34 provinces. Due to the unique relationships

  • Service demographics offer snapshot of force

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here have released the current demographics report which offers a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force. This data is current as of March 31 and also can be found at the Air Force Demographics Web site.  Statistics are rounded to the nearest

  • Gates lays out defense budget recommendations

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates laid out his recommendations for the 2010 budget during an April 6 Pentagon press conference . The secretary said he included his experiences in national security to make the decisions. To start, Secretary Gates plans to significantly restructure the Army's Future

  • AF Research Lab personnel begin VPP journey

    Building on an already strong culture of safety, Air Force Research Laboratory personnel began the process recently to incorporate the Voluntary Protection Program into all levels of the organization. Since its inception by Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials in the early 1980s,

  • Iraqis provide new line of security for Joint Base Balad

    Another layer of outer perimeter security was added here April 1 to help protect the men and women of JBB, and the new initiative is staffed by more than 100 local Iraqis from the surrounding area. "This contract is a first of its kind," said Lt. Col. Raymond Reyes, JBB Regional Contracting Center

  • Precision: Everyday standard at base lab

    Calibrating a weapon system properly is the difference between striking at the heart of an enemy force or possibly hitting the friendly forces engaged with that same enemy. Members of the 46th Maintenance Squadron's Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory here are the purveyors of accuracy and

  • Medics, volunteers help servicemembers recover for duty

    The 379th Expeditionary Medical Group nurses and technicians here join forces with base volunteers in a program to help servicemembers with non-debilitating injuries or non-urgent surgical needs to fully recover and get back in the fight. The In-Theater Care Program was established to treat patients

  • VA secretary expects big impact from post-9/11 GI Bill

    All systems are on track for this summer's rollout of the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, which Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said he expects to have as monumental an impact as the original World War II-era GI Bill of Rights. Secretary Shinseki, who served as Army chief of staff from 1999 to

  • Maxwell legal services wins government-wide award

    The director of the Air Force Legal Operations Agency's Directorate of Legal Information Services, or AFLOA/JAS here, said he was notified March 27 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Graduate School that his organization had won the government-wide 2009 W. Edwards Deming Award. Col. Peter

  • 'Today's Air Force' features RED HORSE units

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how the RED HORSE units are paving the way for progress in Afghanistan and Iraq. Also featured, security forces are involved in a close quarters training exercise and a large inventory for the F-16s in Poland. See what might be the largest construction

  • AF officials look at bigger role for small business

    The Air Force is looking to support small businesses in a big way, two top service officials said during a visit here April 2. David Van Buren, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, and Ronald Poussard, director of Air Force small business programs, said during a

  • New satellite model showcased in dedication ceremony

    Air Force Space Command officials, in partnership with Lockheed Martin representatives, unveiled a one-quarter scale model of the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite here April 1 during a ceremony in the AFSPC headquarters building. "It is phenomenally important to us and the warfighting

  • Fiscal 2010 budget to reflect 'fundamental shift' in defense

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates will make budget decisions this weekend that will indicate a "fundamental shift in direction" for the department, the Pentagon press secretary said April 3. "These are not changes to the margins," Geoff Morrell said. The changes will affect the fiscal 2010 Defense

  • Air Force takes combat air acquisitions priorities to Hill

    As airpower takes on an increasingly critical role in the joint fight, Air Force and Navy officials testified before the House Appropriations Committee March 25 here to outline the services' top combat air acquisition priorities. Lt. Gen. Mark D. "Shack" Shackelford, the acquisition deputy to the

  • Air Force Assistance Fund campaign ends May 1

    This year's Air Force Assistance Fund "Commitment to Caring" campaign, from Feb. 9 to May 1, provides Airmen the opportunity to contribute to any of the four official Air Force charitable organizations. Now in its 36th year, 100 percent of designated AFAF contributions benefit active-duty, Reserve,

  • AFPC officials launch improved Airmen Development Plan

    Active-duty officers, and soon civilians, can now more effectively map their careers with the recent phase two launch of the Airmen Development Plan. The phase II version includes a new audit trail feature and the ability to generate weekly e-mail notifications. The ADP application was introduced in

  • NASA joins 'around the world in 80 telescopes'

    A collection of NASA missions will be involved in a live event April 3 that will allow the public to get an inside look at how these missions are run. "Around the World in 80 Telescopes" is a 24-hour webcast that is part of the "100 Hours of Astronomy" event for the International Year of Astronomy

  • Force support officers represent flexibility

    Responding to evolving needs from the field has prompted several transformations in the manpower, personnel and services community over the past few years, including the recent stand up of an initial skills training course for force support officers. "Our Air Force officers are showing great

  • Air Force officials hold Caring for People Forum

    More than 200 Air Force behavioral specialists, chaplains, family advocacy personnel and other family support members gathered to discuss how to care for the Air Force family April 1 in Arlington, Va. The Year of the Air Force Family: Caring for People Forum started in a hotel in the shadow of the

  • Winter rehabilitation clinic shows veterans potential

    More than 400 disabled veterans this year are pushing themselves to the limits by taking part in the Department of Veterans Affairs' 23rd National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo. The clinic, a six-day event that began March 28, teaches veterans with disabilities

  • Language emerges as element of national security

    Language and culture are "almost inextricably intertwined," and military personnel must be knowledgeable in both to be fully effective when operating overseas, the director of a military language school said. Army Col. Sue Ann Sandusky, commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language

  • Officers selected for Olmsted Scholar Program

    Six Air Force officers have been selected to participate in the Olmsted Scholar Program for the class of 2010. Each year, the competitive program offers grants for two years of graduate study in a foreign culture to career line officers from all four branches of the U.S. military. The following Air

  • ALO commands new combat unit at Bagram

    A former air liaison officer to the Army's 101st Airborne Division in Iraq took command of the newly activated 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group during an assumption of command ceremony here March 30. Col. James Thomas took hold of the 504th EASOG guidon from Lt. Gen. Gary North,

  • Reserve commander briefs Congress

    Two units received a "positive plug" in the congressional record when the commander of Air Force Reserve Command testified March 25 before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr. touted the strong Yellow Ribbon Program partnership initiatives between Airmen

  • Academy engineers, faculty assist Navajo Nation

    Air Force Academy cadets and civil engineering faculty recently put their skills to work on the Navajo Reservation here. A team of two cadets, two instructors from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a family member wrapped up a week of working on traditional Navajo homes

  • Kyrgyz students get insiders' glimpse of Manas mission

    What lies beyond the fences that protect a military base can be a mystery to those living nearby who can only speculate about what goes on inside. The mystique of Manas Air Base was revealed to 13 students and faculty from the American University of Central Asia who received a special glimpse of the

  • DOD program aims to create new biodiesel fuel

    Ever imagine filling up the fuel tanks on a military aircraft with french fry grease?  That's exactly what Air Force officials could do someday if a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency research program proves successful. DARPA is the Defense Department's scientific agency that pushes the

  • PBS special airs to help military families cope with change

    Sesame Workshop will air a PBS special at 8 p.m. EST April 1 aimed at helping military families cope with changes. The half-hour special, which will air at the beginning of the "Month of the Military Child," is a part of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative, which began two years

  • Air Force uniforms: How materials are selected

    Air Force Uniform Office officials have a responsibility to provide Airmen with functional and effective military uniforms, but in doing so are asked the same question over and over: "Why can't you just purchase clothing from a brand company and put the Air Force symbol on it?" The answer to this

  • VA secretary opens Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic

    Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki opened the 23rd annual National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here March 29, encouraging more than 400 participants he said had found their way "to the top of the mountain in search of miracles." "Thank you for your service. Thank you for your

  • 'Space as a contested environment' debuts

    A new special area of emphasis, or SAE, titled "Space as a Contested Environment," was introduced by U.S. military officials here March 30 at the 25th National Space Symposium. SAEs are established by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff  to address topics of great importance to the joint

  • Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program reaches milestone

    The advisory board of a new program mandated by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act held its inaugural meeting here March 30. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program fulfills the requirement of establishing a national combat veteran reintegration program. The program's goal is to prepare

  • C-17s invade Edwards sky

    A Global Reach Combined Test Force test team recently conducted a special formation test with six C-17 Globemaster IIIs.  The aircraft were equipped with a formation flight system that enables the pilot to monitor and fly the aircraft in formation with other C-17s."The C-17 has a basic mission

  • Wilford Hall officials to participate in smoking cessation study

    Air Force smokers who want to kick the habit may benefit from a smoking cessation study and program that will be conducted from Wilford Hall Medical Center here. The National Institutes of Health recently awarded a $3.6 million grant to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis to

  • Scholarships available for chaplaincy students

    In an effort to better provide spiritual care to Airmen, Air Force officials are offering scholarships for individuals who want to become service chaplains. The religious professional scholarship program is designed to help fill manning shortfalls within the chaplaincy for underrepresented faiths

  • Airmen get fallen warriors home

    Two Services Airmen at this air base in Southwest Asia would probably be happier if they never had to complete their primary duties, but are honored to do them when they have to. As members of the 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron Mortuary Affairs Office and Readiness Office, Master Sgt.

  • Air Force officials begin Phase II of NCO retraining program

    Two deadlines are quickly approaching for Airmen identified for retraining under Phase II of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program. These Airmen must submit a retraining request by April 6 and must also complete a retraining package by April 29 for the Air Force specialty code

  • 2 AF units named top supporters of minority institutions

    The Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research were named the 2009 Top Supporters of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and minority-serving institutions by U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine officials announced in mid-May. The deans of

  • Changes make Letter of Evaluation more effective

    The Air Force Personnel Center recently introduced several changes to Air Force Form 77, Letter of Evaluation, as part of its ongoing efforts to improve and refine its processes.Some of the specific improvements included upgrading the form's layout and usability, creating dropdown boxes to eliminate

  • Yokota lab earns prestigious accreditation

    You're in good hands when it comes to the service provided by the 374th Medical Group clinical laboratory, and they have the paper to prove it. The College of American Pathologists awarded an accreditation, based on a recent on-site inspection, to the medical group laboratory. The lab, noted for

  • Airmen dedicate time, energy to flood preparations

    Emergency preparations began when Govs. John Hoeven, North Dakota, and Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota, declared a state of emergency in the Red River Valley recently after waters began rising at a record rate. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds began working around the clock to mitigate flood damage

  • Intel system gains warfighting role

    Whether fighting the flames of California wildfires or detecting floating threats off coasts, officials from the 950th Electronic System Group are using a key imagery collection system known as Eagle Vision to transition victories from homeland defense into capabilities for warfighters use around

  • NCOs selected for Enlisted-to-AFIT program

    Air Force officials selected nine enlisted Airmen to continue their education through the Enlisted-to-Air Force Institute of Technology Graduate Degree Program. "The Air Force has a strong tradition of valuing education," said Lt. Col. Douglas Wall, Air Force Personnel Center's chief of

  • Servicemembers teaching others while deployed

    Education is something the military encourages servicemembers to seek whenever they can, as long as it doesn't interfere with the mission. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get university teachers to deployed areas, but that's where certain deployed personnel, all of whom have at least one

  • 379th Airmen host Navy F/A-18s

    Airmen with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing recently played host to Sailors from the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt who were participating in Exercise Eastern Angler. The bilateral coalition exercise consisted of five days of flying operations, giving the Navy F/A-18 Hornet pilots a chance to train with

  • Environmental symposium held in St. Louis

    More than 1,000 Airmen, Air Force civilians and personnel from other government agencies from all over the world gathered for the annual Environmental, Safety and Operational Health Symposium March 9 through 13 in St. Louis. Started in 1993, the symposium features more than 500 classes tailored to

  • Innovative brain therapies offer hope to injured troops

    Innovative therapies that have assisted previously comatose patients regain consciousness may be incorporated on a greater scale to treat troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, a brain injury expert said here March 23. Dr. Philip A. DeFina, chief executive and scientific officer at the

  • Equal opportunity crosses service lines

    Equal opportunity advisers from the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command and surrounding Army units here are currently hosting their quarterly Equal Opportunity Leader's Course here. The classroom is filled by more than 40 Soldiers from across Iraq with one exception: Master Sgt. Joe Newton, the

  • Senior leaders speak out on diversity, equal opportunity

    Officials in the Air Force Equal Opportunity Office and the Strategic Diversity Integration Office joined forces to produce a video that demonstrates the commitment of senior Air Force leaders to diversity and equal opportunity programs. In the video titled "Diversity and Equal Opportunity in Our

  • SOS 'blends' training model incorporating new technology

    Academic and military researchers are introducing and proposing new approaches on leadership and teamwork training at the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Officials with Air Education and Training Command, the sponsor organization, partnered with researchers at the University

  • 'One Voice' coordinates Air Force positions on joint and interagency issues

    Air Force officials recently announced the establishment of a new Headquarters Air Force capability devoted to providing Air Force leaders with coordinated Air Force positions for use in communicating with non-Air Force entities. This new capability is called "One Voice." "Each day, members of the

  • Mail must be addressed to specific servicemembers

    A recent increase in mail addressed to "Any Servicemember" has prompted the Military Postal Service Agency to remind the general public not to send mail or care packages addressed in such a manner. "Mail to 'Any Servicemember/Any Wounded-Recovering Warrior,' deposited into a collection box and

  • ISR operations: 'Eye in the sky'

    "Complete adaptation to environment means death. The essential point in all response is the desire to control environment." These words from the American philosopher and reformer John Dewey make the point that as conditions change, one must not simply adapt to them, but instead endeavor to control

  • Airmen provide medical, dental care in Thailand

    Members from medical groups all over the Pacific Air Forces teamed up with Thai and Singaporean dental and optometry teams to dedicate their time and skills setting up a make-shift clinic at the Barr Lum Nong Kaew, a village grade school here.  "We're treating those who are in need and might not

  • 'Today's Air Force' features joint warfighting

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the importance of joint warfighting and the building of a joint force. Also featured is Operation Arctic Care 2009 which takes place in Alaska and brings much needed medical care for local villagers. The Air Force's newest fighter, the F-22 Raptor, is

  • AAFES officials ask shoppers to make a scene

    Aspiring filmmakers in the military community have the chance to flex their creative muscle and play a part in "It's My Benefit 2," the sequel to the Army and Air Force Exchange Service's inaugural 2008 video contest. With a theme of "Rediscover the Values of AAFES," this year's contest is looking

  • Stimulus package to aid Airmen

    Improvements in dormitories, child development centers and energy conservation plans will come to fruition as the Air Force receives about $1.7 billion in Defense-related appropriations through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, military finance officials said. "The Air Force fully supports

  • Pay incentives help military avoid nursing shortage

    Army, Navy and Air Force nurse corps members are highly trained, capable and critical to the wartime mission of each service, the corps' leaders told a congressional committee this week here. The Senate Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee heard testimony March 18 from the services'

  • Navy-led Arctic Care team returns to Western Alaska

    Personnel here were part of a team that participated in a joint Air Force, Army and Navy medical and dental exercise in 11 of Western Alaska's most remote villages March 6 through 15.The purpose of  the exercise, the 15th annual Operation Arctic Care, was to enable medical personnel to operate in a

  • Thrift Savings Plan provides retirement nest eggs

    About 614,000 servicemembers are saving for retirement in the federal Thrift Savings Program, which was opened to military members in 2002, a senior Pentagon official here said March 19. The TSP, explained Chuck Witschonke, assistant director of military compensation for economic analysis, is a U.S.

  • Online poll for NASA's Mars Rover naming contest opens March 23

    NASA officials will post online nine names that are finalists for the agency's Mars Science Laboratory mission and invite the public to vote for a favorite. The non-binding poll to help NASA officials select a name opens online March 23 and votes will be accepted through March 29. More than 9,000

  • AF Raven B operators maintain 'eyes-on' for ground forces

    "There it is," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Tomkiewicz, 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, as he pointed at a little, buzzing white dot in the sky. As the Raven B operator approached the small strip of sand of Camp Bucca's Burge Field, the tiny Raven B unmanned aircraft system hovered above the

  • Airmen reflect on 6th anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom

    Airmen in the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here took a moment to reflect on previous deployments here and the progress that's been made since 2003 to mark the six-year anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom March 19. Some take note of the physical changes in the base, the hardened facilities and the

  • AF personnel leaders focus on Airmen, modernization

    As mission requirements continue to grow, Air Force personnel leaders said before the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee in Washington March 17 that the service will refine priorities to win today's fight and prepare for tomorrow's challenges. The Honorable Craig Duehring, assistant Secretary

  • DOD officials release sexual assault statistics

    Defense Department officials here released March 17 a congressional report that examines sexual assault allegations in the military services and sets policies for reducing incidents. Key components of the annual analysis include a finding that indicates a rise in the number of incidents reported in

  • Special assignments considered for Airmen in time of need

    Being the parent of a teenager with a bipolar disorder is often a difficult and emotional journey, said an Airman from Randolph Air Force Base recently. "Like any parent of a child with special needs, there's always a concern that the next location will not have the medical or psychiatric facilities

  • Officials create Air Force Information Protection Directorate

    As security forces Airmen continue to transform into a combat-focused, globally deployable force, they will transfer responsibility for information protection to a newly established organization, the Information Protection Directorate at Headquarters Air Force. The directorate emerged from Air Force

  • Buddy Wing brings Kunsan, South Korean airmen closer

    United States and South Korean airmen took part in a series of aerial exercises designed to increase understanding and interoperability between the two forces March 9 through 12 here. The Buddy Wing Exercise and exchange program gave 8th Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots and South Korean air

  • AFSO 21 helps ease finance program headache

    A team of experts came together this week to use the Vandenberg Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, program to overcome obstacles in the Management Internal Control Program. The MICP came into effect during the President Reagan era and is intended to be a control on how the

  • Science, engineering jobs available to transitioning Airmen

    Air Force science and technology civil service career fields are in need of trained and educated applicants, which is ideal for veterans interested in post-military careers.Science, technology, engineering and math, called STEM, initiatives are availabe to train and educate transitioning Airmen, or

  • Prototype PT uniforms undergo wear tests

    A prototype physical training uniform for the Air Force is undergoing wear testing here, the Pentagon and MacDill AFB, Fla. The new design was introduced last month at the three sites for 185 males and females of various sizes, ethnic backgrounds, officers--including 42 general officers, and

  • Captain mentors teens in Senate Youth Program

    Students participating in the U.S. Senate Youth Program recently toured government buildings including the Pentagon, met their elected representatives and learned about the foundations of democracy here. They also became personally acquainted with a defender of this democratic process: Capt. Ladonna