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  • Photo essay: Honoring the fallen

    During a Memorial Day ceremony here May 30, volunteers place flags on the graves of men and women who died while serving in the military. View the slideshow.

  • Iraqi airmen, U.S. advisers celebrate bittersweet PME graduation

    More than 160 Iraqi airmen graduated from a two-week enlisted professional development course taught by U.S. Air Force advisers here May 28. The students, who learned skills designed to make them more effective leaders, supervisors and managers, were praised by their American advisers for their

  • Advisers open metals technology, sheet metal shops

    Advisers from the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron held an inauguration ceremony here to commemorate the opening of a metals technology and sheet metal shop in Iraq's newest and largest maintenance hangar. The ceremony was held to honor the effort and dedication it took to build two fully

  • Chief Roy honors the fallen

    To some Americans, Memorial Day means a three-day weekend which unofficially starts the vacation season and outdoor fun. But, to people associated with the military, this weekend means much more.Memorial Day represents a specific time to show reverence, gratitude and respect to the men and women who

  • Obama nominates Dempsey as JCS chairman, Winnefeld as vice chairman

    President Barack Obama announced his choices as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff May 30 during a Rose Garden ceremony.Obama intends to nominate Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey as chairman and Navy Adm. James A. Winnefeld as vice chairman. General Dempsey is currently the Army

  • Air Force leaders issue summer safety message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy send the following Critical Days of Summer safety campaign message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force and their families:Memorial Day weekend through Labor

  • Competition integrates cyber capabilities, encourages new ideas

    Airmen from the 67th Network Warfare Wing took part in the first Cyber Nexus competition here May 17 to 19. The force-on-force event brought together operators from the Air Force's four cyber disciplines to compete as integrated teams. The four disciplines are network operations, defensive

  • Sather Airmen take Iraqi security training to next level

    The Iraqi air force will be a step closer to providing personal security for high-ranking officials after completing advanced security forces training with 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron instructors later this week.The advanced course, which is a precursor to personal security detail

  • The backbeat of the band

    Have you ever been to a concert? Have you ever sat in the audience before the band took the stage and marveled at the lights, stage and speakers that pepper the venue and wonder how it all came together? Long before the first note comes barreling through the sound system of a concert hall, hundreds

  • AFSO21 saves Kadena millions in parts, energy bills

    In the past, Airmen at the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration shop here have had to replace large, outdoor, energy-wasting chiller units for buildings' AC systems on military installations across the island nearly every three years.However, because of the tropical climate of

  • Red Cross eases access to emergency communication services

    As part of an ongoing effort to better serve the military community, the American Red Cross will move to a single telephone number for its emergency communication services in June.Beginning June 13, service members and their families can use one toll-free number, 877-272-7337, to send an urgent

  • Experts discuss future long-range strike bomber requirements

    More than 30 military and civilian strategic air power experts gathered here May 5 to discuss ideas for a new long-range strike bomber. The Bomber Advisory Group examined past and current global strike success stories and strategic air power's role in the 21st century. The group also brainstormed

  • Secretary Donley congratulates new officers at Academy commencement

    The secretary of the Air Force spoke at the commencement address for the Air Force Academy's Class of 2011 at Falcon Stadium here May 25.Michael Donley congratulated the 1,021 graduates and challenged them to be lifelong learners, team players and doers after they have received their diplomas and

  • Commissary Agency officials announce Best Commissary Award winners

    Every day at each of the Defense Commissary Agency's 249 stores, employees do their best to deliver an efficient and effective benefit to the millions of customers authorized to receive it, according to DeCA officials. The finest of those endeavors were recognized May 24 as the top commissaries were

  • 'Small but critical' unit moving to F.E. Warren

    The commander of Air Force Global Strike Command has announced plans to relocate the command's 24-person Missile Engineer Squadron from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., to F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo. "The unit is small but critical, with unique deeply technical capabilities that can best be

  • Laughlin amputee earns his wings

    Earning the coveted silver pilot wings is a long and difficult journey allowing only a small percentage of officers to earn the right to be called a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.By becoming the first amputee to graduate from pilot training, First Lt. Ryan McGuire earned his spot among the elite group

  • Medics, aircrew members execute life-saving mission

    In the early hours of the morning on May 22, a group of Airmen here departed with a moment's notice for Pago Pago, American Samoa, to save the life of a critically ill child.Medical personnel from the 13th Air Force surgeon general's office and the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Det. 1, along

  • myPay goes mobile

    Users of myPay now can check pay statements on the go using a smartphone or other mobile device that has a web browser.This update for myPay, the online pay account management system for service members, military retirees and many federal civilian employees, is based on customer feedback received

  • Gates: Defense cuts must be prioritized, strategic

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he is determined that the department not fall victim to the mistakes of the past, "where the budget targets were met mostly by taking a percentage off the top of everything, the simplest and most politically expedient approach both inside the Pentagon and

  • Fairchild Airman accepted to doctor of pharmacy program

    Airman 1st Class Bart Hardwell never imagined it could happen, but through hard work, perseverance and support from his peers and leadership, it did.He was one of 249 selected out of 1,200 applicants to attend the fall 2011, doctor of pharmacy program at the University of Southern Nevada College of

  • Program offers free museum visits

    Service members and their families can visit a wide array of museums for free from Memorial Day through Labor Day, courtesy of the second annual Blue Star Museums program.Kathy Roth-Douquet, the Blue Star Families chairman, and Rocco Landesman, the chairman of the National Endowment for the

  • Pentagon, Homeland Security collaborate on cybersecurity

    In line with an agreement between the department secretaries last fall and a recently released White House proposal, the Defense Department is sharing cybersecurity information, capabilities and expertise with the Homeland Security Department, a Pentagon official said May 23.Robert J. Butler, the

  • Medical, physical evaluation board processes improving

    From the moment an Airman is injured or becomes ill, one of his or her biggest questions becomes: Can I stay on active-duty? Thus begins the wait. But, thanks to new processes, officials said, answers are coming much faster.Since Sept. 11, 2001, the number of service members processing through the

  • Air Force doctor to appear on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show'

    Air Force Maj. (Dr.) Van Adamson never imagined he would appear on a national syndicated TV talk show, standing next to Hollywood's biggest celebrities as a result of a college scholarship he received 13 years ago. In her second-to-last episode on Tuesday, May 24, popular day-time talk show host

  • Strong military is key to long-term U.S. success, Gates says

    The ultimate guarantee against success of aggressors, dictators and terrorists in the 21st century is the size, strength and global reach of the United States military, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said May 22."Beyond the current wars, our military credibility, commitment and presence are

  • Officials seek nominations for 2011 GEICO Military Service Awards

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 2011 Government Employees Insurance Company's Military Service Awards.The annual GEICO Military Service Awards recognize enlisted service members from all military service branches, active duty, Guard and Reserve, for their contributions to

  • Hero Miles brings families to healing Warrior Games

    For wounded or injured servicemembers, family support is a vital lifeline during the initial and long-term recovery process that helps them find a new "normal" in their life.The Hero Miles program provides family members the commercial airline flights to the injured service member in the hospital or

  • First lady lauds 'A force of families'

    The nation's military is built and sustained on the strength of families, First Lady Michelle Obama told the U.S. Military Academy's Class of 2011 and their families at a banquet last night in West Point, N.Y., on May 20, the eve of graduation ceremonies. No matter where their careers take them,

  • Secretary urges careful thought in spending reductions

    Finding $400 billion in additional defense spending reductions over the next 12 years will require careful thought that considers the risks the reductions create, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here May 19.In a question-and-answer session with students at the U.S. Army Engineer School here,

  • Civilian career development webcasts continue May 26, June 21

    Webcasts designed to help civilian Airmen plan and manage their careers will be held May 26 for GS-12 and GS-13 civilians, and June 21 for GS-7 through GS-11 civilians. Hosted by officials of the Air Force Personnel Center civilian force integration directorate, webcast topics will include how to

  • 7th Intel Squadron named best in Air Force

    The 7th Intelligence Squadron was named the Outstanding Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Unit of the Year for 2010 as part of the annual Air Force ISR awards program and the National Military Intelligence Association Maj. Gen. Jack E. Thomas awards program. The 7th IS selection was made

  • Conaton speaks on AF biomass fuel use at open house

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton spoke to media about the milestone of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flight demonstration team's first use of a biomass fuel blend in two of their jets here during the 2011 Joint Service Open House May 20.The Air Force has a vested interest in the use of

  • Education is key in fight against PTSD

    Stemming the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, requires awareness, education and recognizing its symptoms, a senior military psychiatrist said.Navy Capt. Paul S. Hammer, director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, spoke

  • 'Golden hour' initiative pays off in Afghanistan

    Two years ago, Defense Secretary Robert Gates traveled throughout Afghanistan, promising deployed troops he would make sure they had everything they needed to accomplish their mission -- including more forward-deployed medical capabilities in the event they were wounded.The goal, Secretary Gates

  • Gates shares views on Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan

    During a question-and-answer session here May 19, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates gave U.S. Army Engineer School students his view of the situations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.Though the current agreement between the U.S. and Iraq calls for all U.S. forces to be out of Iraq by the end of

  • Warrior Games welcomes new faces

    For the second year, the Warrior Games has returned here, bringing competition among all branches of the military and Coast Guard, during a week-long series of sporting events. The Air Force Warrior Games team has seen many veterans return, but there are also many new faces joining them.These

  • Lynn cites progress in DOD, VA partnership

    The partnership to ensure seamless transitions for wounded warriors from military to Veterans Affairs medical care has made significant progress, but work remains to be done, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here May 19. In testimony before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee,

  • Air Force officials release E-7 promotion list

    The master sergeant promotion list is now available on the Air Force Personnel Center's website and Air Force personnel services website under "Active Duty: MSgt Promotion Release." Airmen can also access their Weighted Airman Promotion System score notices at the same time on the Virtual Military

  • K-9s honored at memorial ceremony

    Military and civilian law enforcement dogs were honored and remembered during a ceremony May 17 at the Military Working Dog, or MWD, memorial at the Air Armament Museum here.The ceremony, hosted by members of the 96th Security Forces Squadron, was just one of the events taking place during National

  • Gates budget review to 'force discussion' of risk analysis

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced May 18 the framework for a comprehensive review of military spending designed to put national security needs ahead of arbitrary budget cuts."We must reject the traditional approach of applying across-the-board cuts -- the simplest and most politically

  • DOD makes progress in civilian hiring reform

    Until recently, applying for a civilian job at the Defense Department was an exercise in navigating through a byzantine federal hiring process and amassing thick application packets, with applicants sometimes waiting up to a year for any word on their applications.Pasquale M. Tamburrino Jr., the

  • Cadets win Boeing design challenge

    A year of hard work paid off for team of cadets recently, when they won the Boeing CrewSystem 2035 challenge. CrewSystem 2035 was a year-long design competition sponsored by Boeing. Teams from the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Military Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy were tasked to design the

  • Officials launch U.S. International Cyber Strategy

    White House officials yesterday launched a strategy that the administration says unifies U.S. engagement with international partners on a range of cyber issues for the first time.The International Strategy for Cyberspace was presented here by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Attorney

  • Golden Age Games coming this month

    The largest sports and recreation event for military veterans age 55 and older, the 25th National Veterans Golden Age Games are coming here May 26-31.Nine hundred athletes from across the nation are expected compete.The games are co-sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Canteen

  • Red Cross helps service members defy gravity

    American Red Cross volunteers and members of the 374th Medical Group gathered at the physical therapy clinic here May 11 for the dedication of an AlterG zero-gravity treadmill.The treadmill is designed to help patients recover in rehabilitation following injury or surgery of the hip, knee, ankle or

  • Nominations open for Grateful Nation award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2011 Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs Grateful Nation Award.This award recognizes one member from each of the military branches and U.S. Special Operations Command for superior performance and service in the war on terrorism.Nominees

  • Gates stresses U.S. support role in Libya

    The United States has no intention of putting boots on the ground in Libya and should not become militarily involved in unrest shaking Syria, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in portions of an interview that aired May 16 on "The CBS Evening News."CBS anchorwoman Katie Couric spoke with the

  • Airmen begin Warrior Games at Olympic Training Complex

    Twenty-five Airmen joined nearly 200 other wounded warriors for the 2011 Warrior Games opening ceremony May 16 at the Olympic Training Complex here. The competition between all branches of service, including the Coast Guard, is in its second year and is open to service members who were injured while

  • Gates: 'Perfect fusion' made bin Laden raid succeed

    The May 1 raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden was "a perfect fusion of intelligence collection, intelligence analysis and military operations," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in an interview aired May 15 on the CBS program "60 Minutes."But the secretary acknowledged some anxious

  • Defense Department officials honor top communicators

    The military's best writers, photographers and videographers were recognized for excellence in a ceremony May 13 at the Defense Information School here.Douglas B. Wilson, assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, recognized the award recipients for their achievements."Many of those being

  • Lynn: Cyberspace strategy to build coalition of nations

    White House officials released an international cyberstrategy here May 16 that will help to build a "coalition of nations (with a) mutual interest in securing cyberspace," Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.The event to launch the U.S. International Strategy for Cyberspace also

  • Air Force wheelchair basketball team preps for competition

    This year's Air Force wheelchair basketball team underwent a workout May 12 at the Air Force Academy Prep School Gym, to not only improve skills needed to play intense basketball from a special sports wheelchair, but to get to know each other also. "The primary objective of this camp is to come

  • PACAF band invited to help with 'recovery through music'

    The U.S. Air Force Band of the Pacific-Asia performed a concert in Nerima City, Japan, May 8 in support of people affected by the March 11 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.At the request of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Eastern Army Headquarters, Pacific Trends performed during

  • 50th anniversary of U.S.'s first human spaceflight celebrated

    People gathered here May 4 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first American in space.The event honored Alan B. Shepard Jr., who piloted the 15-minute, 23-second suborbital flight at 303 statute miles in the Freedom 7 spacecraft May 5, 1961.Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter and members of the

  • Plans in place to spend $1 million IEA winnings at Spangdahlem AB

    More than 30 service members, U.S. and German national civilian employees, and family members from here received the Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence and Special Recognition Award May 2 through 6 in Washington.It was during this trip that Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton

  • 2011 Warrior Games shows spirit to Colorado Springs civic leaders

    Training for the 2011 Warrior Games has kicked off here with Air Force team members demonstrating their winning spirit in a warrior-civic leader volleyball match, with a catch.  The game is played less than four feet off the floor while sitting on a basketball court with a lowered net as team

  • USTRANSCOM wins 2011 Government Organization Defense Architecture Award

    The Association for Enterprise Information recognized U.S. Transportation Command as the winner of its 2011 Government Organization Defense Architecture Award.The award highlights the command's USTRANSCOM Joint Deployment and Distribution Architecture - Enhanced as a model for policy and practice

  • Cadet honored in Pentagon ceremony

    The newest name engraved on the Millennium Sword of Friendship in the Pentagon is that of a student at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., who was presented with the 2010 U.S. Air Force Cadet of the Year Award here May 12.During a ceremony hosted by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen.

  • Travel website helps determine risks when planning events

    Returning from deployment, getting ready for marriage, a promotion and three-day weekends are just some of the occasions in which Airmen take the time to plan and schedule leave.Planning for a good time on leave is not only limited to the destination, however. The element of safety can be properly

  • AFSPC commander welcomes AF Wounded Warriors, kicks off 2011 competition

    The U.S. Air Force Warrior Games team gathered for breakfast here May 8 to mark the beginning of a week of training before the kick-off of the 2011 Warrior Games.During the breakfast, Gen. William Shelton, the Air Force Space Command commander, passed on thanks and encouraging words to the 23

  • AETC, 17th AF officials bring maintenance training to 7 partner nations

    Officers and NCOs from seven African nations began a three-week course here May 5 designed to provide fundamental maintenance and logistics management skills, thanks to a partnership between 17th Air Force (Air Forces Africa) and Air Education and Training Command.The Trans-Sahara Culture of

  • Odierno: Services must partner to weather lean times

    Defense Department officials must expand joint service, interagency and allied partnerships during tight fiscal times, and avoid the pitfalls of "doing more with less," Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said May 11. "We must avoid the trap of doing more with less, which is a recipe for creating a hollow

  • Lynn: U.S. must preserve its defense industrial base

    Competition, a global defense market and targeted research and development spending will be critical in preserving the nation's defense industrial base during the slowdown in Pentagon spending, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here May 11.In keynote remarks at the Intrepid Sea, Air

  • Pentagon must handle spending slowdown responsibly, Lynn says

    Managing a slowdown in defense spending responsibly will take more than being more efficient, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said.As the keynote speaker May 11 for the Royal Bank of Canada Defense and Aerospace Conference here, Mr. Lynn told an audience at the Intrepid Sea, Air and

  • Undersecretary addresses fiscal challenges

    Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton spoke at the Air Force Association's Air Force Breakfast Program here May 11.Ms. Conaton discussed the state of the Air Force and how the service is approaching the challenging budgetary environment it faces today."We're currently balancing a range of

  • DOD committed to realignment of forces in Japan

    The Defense Department is committed to the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, a defense spokesperson said here yesterday."We have longstanding agreements with the government of Japan, including the 2006 Realignment Roadmap and the 28 May 2010 Joint Statement," said Navy Cmdr. Leslie Hull-Ryde, a

  • 'Hump' pilots mark 65th reunion

    During World War II, they flew C-47 Skytrains and B-24 Liberators, providing supplies to Chinese soldiers fighting the Japanese after the Burma Road was shut down. Their aircraft were often loaded with 10,000 pounds of gasoline, food, ammunition and bombs. And they did all this flying across the

  • Officials announce E-7 selection stats

    Air Force officials selected 6,618 of 19,538 eligible technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant for a selection rate of 33.87 percent.The average score for those selected was 335.21, with an average time in grade of 4.58 years and an average time in service of 15.91 years. The average

  • Keesler AFB, Vandenberg AFB Airmen build missile maintenance trainer

    Airmen from the 81st Training Support Squadron Simware section here are partnering with Airmen from the 532nd Training Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., to build an ICBM maintenance virtual trainer.The importance of this training system can't be overstated as acquisition of the IMVT is

  • Krav Maga training gives Airmen the combat edge

    Recognizing the benefits of self-defense in an evolving Air Force mission, base officials here recently hosted a Krav Maga instructor course.Krav Maga, a fighting technique used internationally by law enforcement and military members, teaches users how to naturally react against an armed attacker.

  • 'Total Force 21' paper offers new force mix, DOD savings

    Air Force Reserve officials recently announced new guidelines that may help combat planners better access reservists, make the Air Force more efficient and save money.Called "Total Force 21," this new approach refocuses planning efforts on how many reservists can be mobilized instead of traditional

  • AFIT education paves way to space

    How far can a higher education take you? About 220 nautical miles, straight up. That's at least true for retired Col. Steve Lindsey, an astronaut with NASA and graduate of the Air Force Institute of Technology.Colonel Lindsey's latest space flight, aboard the final mission of the space shuttle

  • Mullen: America must help its war veterans

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke about service member and veteran issues to a crowd primed for a Lady Gaga show here last night.The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff found a nontraditional audience for his message about the military as part of a fundraiser for the Robin Hood Foundation at the Javits

  • First lady invites Guard, Reserve kids to fitness event

    Alongside about 80 children of National Guardsmen and reservists, first lady Michelle Obama showed off her dance moves and football-handling prowess yesterday during a "Let's Move" fitness and nutrition event for military families on the White House's South Lawn.The first lady invited the kids to

  • AFCEE redefines the gateway to the Air Force

    Engineers at the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment are preparing to build an inprocessing and information center for Air Force recruits and their families here.The construction of the facility is significant to both the agency and the Air Force, due to its robust depiction of Air

  • AFOSI personnel pay tribute to their latest fallen hero

    Hundreds of military and civilian mourners packed Chapel One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., May 9 to attend a memorial service honoring the latest Air Force Office of Special Investigations fallen hero. Master Sgt. Tara R. Brown, 33, of New York, died Apr. 27 of wounds sustained when an Afghan

  • CMSAF experiences "Brave Defender" training

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy received a hands-on tour of Air Force Materiel Command's "Brave Defender" training area May 6 here.Brave Defender is a three-week deployment training course for security forces Airmen. The training is hosted by the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron,

  • Building a better tomorrow, one NCO at a time

    Airmen serving with the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air and 447th Air Expeditionary Group are focused on building the foundation of the Iraqi air force. Equipment transfer and technical training are important, but a small group of NCOs are also teaching enlisted professional development as

  • Volunteers help take care of families during increased ops

    While military members from Aviano Air Base, Italy, were working at a higher operations tempo than normal, two civilians from the 423rd Force Support Squadron here volunteered for a "deployment" of their own.Christine Kaleikini and Natasha Matthews both volunteered to go to Aviano AB to support the

  • Successfully launched satellite ushers in new era of overhead surveillance

    An Air Force team successfully launched the first Space Based Infrared System geosynchronous satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle May 7.  The GEO-1 satellite will provide missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence products to

  • Bin Laden raid will help defeat al-Qaida, Obama says

    The death of Osama bin Laden and the unprecedented collection of intelligence material from the raid that killed the terrorist leader will help the U.S. deal a serious blow to al-Qaida, President Barack Obama said May 8 in a recent television interview.President Obama discussed the operation that

  • ESC trifecta will enable autonomous Iraqi air defense

    Because a strong Iraqi air force capable of flying and fighting starts with a solid foundation of planning and control of forces, an Electronic Systems Center team has taken on three major projects of an ESC master plan to ensure the Iraqi air force is capable of providing its own air

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

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

  • Operational uncertainties require flexibility, Gates says

    The lesson Americans should take from recent military operations is that we cannot predict where or how U.S. forces will be engaged, and having flexible capabilities is the best defense for the nation, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here May 6.Since the Vietnam War, U.S. leaders have a

  • U.S., Congolese military complete MEDLITE 11

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

  • Common interests, challenges discussed at African Air Chiefs Conference

    Shared interests and common challenges topped discussions between African air chiefs from 24 nations and their U.S. counterparts during the 2011 African Air Chiefs Conference April 26 through 28 here.The conference aims to foster communication and dialogue between regional and multilateral partner

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

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

  • Air Force members recognized for decades of public service

    With 50 years of service each, two Air Force public servants were among 39 men and women recognized in the Pentagon courtyard May 5 with the Spirit of Service award honoring those whose government careers have spanned 48 to 68 years.As part of Public Service Recognition Week, May 1 through 7, Sara

  • Air Force officials urge motorcycle safety

    As the summer brings warmer temperatures, Airmen should remain vigilant in taking safety precautions in all activities, and particularly on motorcycles, officials said here May 6. In a 2011 Year of Motorcycle Safety dual-signature memorandum to Airmen, the assistant secretary for installations,

  • Force management explained

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

  • Secretary of Defense thanks Airmen at Seymour Johnson AFB

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

  • President proclaims military spouse appreciation day

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

  • Air Force secretary promotes fallen cyberspace captain to major

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley approved the posthumous promotion of Capt. Charles A. Ransom, a cyberspace Airman assigned to the 83rd Network Operations Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., to the rank of major May 3.Maj. Ransom was killed by enemy gunfire at the headquarters building

  • Chief of staff addresses issues, surveys tornado damage

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

  • Officials announce personnel annual award winners

    The deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, or A1, recently announced the 2010 award winners for the A1 community.This year's winners are:Installation awards:Gen. Curtis E. LeMay Award, for best large-category force support squadron:1st Special Operations FSS, Air Force Special

  • Proposal would save $3.2 billion in health care costs

    The Defense Department's proposal to reform the TRICARE health plan and the military health system would save at least $3.2 billion between 2012 and 2016, the Pentagon's chief financial officer told Congress yesterday. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee's personnel subcommittee,