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  • Sept. 13 airpower summary: A-10s destroy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 13, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a Navy F/A-18C Hornet dropped a guided bomb unit-12 and

  • Summer research program benefits Academy cadets

    When officials at the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., launched a new and powerful mentoring program in March, it energized the center's involvement in the Academy's Cadet Summer Research Program. Six months later, seven

  • Battlelab initiative improves flight deck safety

    Aircrews flying KC-135 Stratotankers to hot climates may have an easier way to keep their flight decks cool when on the ground thanks to the Air Mobility Battlelab's KC-135 Hot Weather Cooling Sock initiative. "This initiative addresses a current problem where aircraft maintainers use a standard

  • Little Rock AFB hub for hurricane aeromedical teams

    Three C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 50th Airlift Squadron, 53rd AS and 62nd AS here were deployed Sept. 10 to perform aeromedical missions in preparation for Hurricane Ike's landfall in southern Texas with seven additional C-130s from the base on "standby" status. The aircrews transported

  • Sept. 12 airpower summary: Predators keep watch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 12, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped guided bomb unit-12s and

  • Airmen stand ready to provide hurricane relief at Randolph

    Airmen with the 331st Air Expeditionary Group are staged at Randolph Air Force Base ready to respond with aid Sept. 12 as Hurricane Ike bears down on the Texas coast. The group, made up of nearly 600 people, brings with it units and capabilities from across the Air Force. Among them are search and

  • Report detailing nuclear mission recommendations released

    Department of Defense officials here released a report Sept. 12 that details recommendations for the future of the Air Force nuclear mission. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates formed a task force led by former Secretary of Defense Dr. James Schlesinger that examined the Air Force's nuclear

  • Airmen share information via new blog

    In an effort to open up online conversations with Airmen, families and the public, officials in the Secretary of the Air Force's Office of Public Affairs are launching a new blog called Air Force Live Sept. 14. "Air Force Live allows us to reach a vast online community who may not necessarily know

  • Patrick Airmen ready to help Hurricane Ike victims

    Airmen of the 920th Rescue Wing here flew two HH-60G Pave Hawks from Patrick Air Force Base to Gulfport, Miss., to preposition search and rescue aircraft to aid victims of Hurricane Ike Sept. 12. Airmen flew the two helicopters and two HC-130P/N Hercules long-range refueling aircraft will fly to

  • Coast Guard Incident Command Center prepares for Ike

    A Coast Guard Incident Command Center was stood up in preparation for Hurricane Ike Sept. 11 in Katy. Approximately 300 Coast Guardsmen from the Houston-Galveston sector are organizing to respond to post hurricane conditions with 25 foot response boats and helicopters prepositioned from Brownsville,

  • Sept. 11 airpower summary: A-10s keep vigilant watch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force MQ-1 Predator used Hellfire missiles against

  • C-17 crew lands after-dark landing in Antarctica

    A C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., performed the first known after-dark landing in Antarctica using night vision goggles here Sept. 11. The McChord aircrew, consisting of active duty Airmen from the 62nd Airlift Wing and Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing,

  • California Air National Guard assists Texas for Hurricane Ike

    California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here, already deployed to Ellington Field in Houston for Hurricane Ike search and rescue support operations, relocated Sept. 11 to Kelly Field in San Antonio because of Hurricane Ike's projected path. Assigned to Joint Task Force 129, the

  • MacDill AFB medical team supports hurricane relief efforts

    A mobile aeromedical staging facility team from the 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., arrived here Sept. 9 in support of Hurricane Ike evacuation efforts. Along with the MASF team, more than 200 state and federal assets and volunteers converged on Corpus Christi ahead of Ike in

  • AMC aircraft, Airmen supporting Hurricane Ike evacuations

    Mobility Airmen and their aircraft are again in full support of hurricane evacuation operations as Hurricane Ike approaches the Gulf Coast. This effort to support evacuation of patients and members of the general population comes on the heels of Air Mobility Command's support to Hurricane Gustav

  • Ceremony inspires members to never forget Sept. 11

    Airmen of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing gathered with coalition forces and sister servicemembers at sunrise Sept. 11 on the grounds of a newly constructed memorial for a Sept. 11 Remembrance Ceremony here. Col. Cameron Torrens, the 386th AEW commander, presided over the ceremony on the seventh

  • Team conducts emergency medical movement in Antarctica

    Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica provided a two-person medical team and C-17 Globemaster III to conduct an emergency medical evacuation Sept. 10 for a 56-year-old male assigned to the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. The patient needed a cardiovascular evaluation and was deemed

  • Sept. 10 airpower summary: C-130s provide airlift support

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped guided bomb unit-12s

  • Texas National Guard evacuates citizens for Hurricane Ike

    Nine Air National Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft from three states configured for medical air evacuation began transporting special-needs patients from the Corpus Christi, Texas, area the morning of Sept. 10 in preparation for Hurricane Ike's expected landfall Sept. 13. The mission falls under Texas

  • Operational "Integrity" - lessons from the AFSO 21 Frontlines

    The U.S. Air Force faces intense operational demands and resource challenges that sit at the heart of the role that Air Force Smart Operations, or AFSO, plays in improving mission performance. We all understand the need to strengthen fighting capability, recapitalize, increase financial efficiency

  • Sept. 9 airpower summary: Predator fires missiles, disarm enemy

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped general purpose

  • F-35 cockpit demonstrator travels to Wright-Patterson

    Aeronautical Systems Center personnel connected with the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program are "flying" the jet with the Sept. 8 arrival of the F-35 cockpit demonstrator here. The cockpit demonstrator is a traveling, working mock-up of the advanced jet's cockpit, complete with

  • B-52s roar over Guam during bomber surge

    Members of the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron flew surge missions and launched six of its B-52 Stratofortresses on a large scale training flights Sept. 4 and 5 from here. The training mission allowed crewmembers to practice more than the standard two-ship deconfliction plan while maintaining

  • When calamities arise, AFPC stands ready to reply

    When natural disasters, emergencies or crisis situations overwhelm an Air Force base's communications capabilities, members of the Air Force Personnel Center here provide Airmen and their families instant toll-free accountability. Once activated, AFPC Operation Center-Personnel Readiness Cell

  • Transportation, distribution expertise aids Georgian refugees

    Members of the U.S. defense transportation system worked to help get more than 22,000 humanitarian daily rations to a relief organization in the area to help feed a growing number of Georgian refugees. Officials from U.S. Transportation Command and its component Army's Military Surface Deployment

  • AFOTEC launches student intern program

    The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center is partnering with the University of New Mexico here for a student intern program. The program is aimed at recruiting and training candidates for potential employment opportunities either within AFOTEC, the Air Force or other government

  • Sept. 8 airpower summary: A-10s bomb anti-Afghan forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped general purpose

  • Engineer's energy research may cut costs, increase efficiency

    An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded mechanical engineer here has developed an inexpensive, efficient material that will enable electronic devices to quietly and motionlessly self-regulate temperature and convert excess heat into a power source. This new development could impact the

  • Insertion program enhances security, saves money

    Members of the 642nd Electronic Systems Squadron's Transformational Technology Insertion program here are reaping monetary savings while further enhancing security at four Air Force sites as part of an ongoing Defense Department initiative. Transformational Technology Insertion, or TTI, involves the

  • Charleston Airmen welcome home warriors

    More than 125 Airmen from the 14th Airlift Squadron returned to Charleston Air Force Base Sept. 3 after completing more than a 120-day deployment to Southwest Asia in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The 14th AS Airmen deployed as the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron to

  • Sept. 7 airpower summary: F-15Es provide armed overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped a guided bomb unit-31 onto a

  • C-17s evacuate from Charleston

    Eleven C-17 Globemaster III aircraft here evacuated Sept. 4 due to the possibility of severe weather caused by Tropical Storm Hanna. The evacuation of the C-17s began midmorning and continued until about 2:15 p.m. Six of the aircraft relocated to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, while the

  • National Guard in four states prepare for Hanna

    Officials in four states along the East Coast are employing their National Guard units as Tropical Storm Hanna nears. Officials in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina have almost 40,000 Army and Air National Guard members available to their governors, if needed. This includes almost

  • Citizen Airmen return to Keesler, chase Hanna, Ike

    Aircraft and people assigned to the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing began returning here Sept. 3 from forward operating locations where aircrews continued their missions of airlift and hurricane reconnaissance. While deployed, the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Hurricane Hunters,

  • Air Force halts wing reorganization

    Air Force leaders halted plans to perform a global wing restructure which was designed to realign fighter, bomber and rescue airlift maintenance units into flying squadrons. Maintenance and flying squadrons will remain separate and will continue doing business "as they have for the past four or five

  • Rescue squadrons provide support for Hurricane Gustav

    Airmen from rescue helicopter squadrons from across the Air Force came together here to provide personnel recovery support in the event it was needed for Hurricane Gustav that stormed through Louisiana Sept. 1. Active and Guard rescue squadrons from Alaska, Arizona, California and New York combined

  • JCS chairman cites Pentagon Memorial's importance

    With the official opening of the Pentagon Memorial a week away, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reflected on the events of nearly seven years ago that inspired the memorial's creation. Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen said his life as an American and as a servicemember changed forever on Sept.

  • Commander praises Gustav preparations, response

    In the wake of Hurricane Gustav, residents of Louisiana are slowly heading to their homes and beginning to pick up the pieces left by the storm. Nearly half the state is without power, many people are running out of money and more than 70,000 Louisianans are still living in shelters. Yet, though

  • Multinational exercise sustains international readiness

    The 2008 Northern Viking exercise, which began with a ceremony here Sept. 1, aims to reinforce the resolve of the U.S. and its NATO partners in assisting in the defense of Iceland. Approximately 150 Airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe have joined forces with more than 300 U.S. Navy Seamen, as well

  • General Schwartz sends out first 'Vector'

    In his first CSAF Vector, the Air Force chief of staff directs his attention to the mission of the Air Force for all Airmen, and outlines a plan for tomorrow's Air Force."The enduring responsibility of the United States Air Force is to provide strategic deterrence for the nation, and fly, fight and

  • Operation Deep Freeze 2008-2009 season begins

    Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. military's support of the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation, is scheduled to kick off the 2008-2009 season Sept. 4 as the first C-17 Globemaster III delivers passengers and cargo to McMurdo Station, Antarctica. The C-17, based out of McChord

  • Tinker officials set to host bomber summit

    Catering to approximately 40 bomber fleet representatives, a bomber summit will be held here Sept. 11 and 12.  Topics will include the health of the aircraft, sustainability, capability upgrades and modernization efforts. Additionally, Air Combat Command officials will present a bomber roadmap

  • Milestone reached in aircraft named for 9/11

    Airmen in a unit here recently reached 40,000 flight hours in support of the war on terrorism fittingly in an aircraft named for the attacks which began the war. The 7th Expeditionary Air Command and Control Squadron Airmen reached the milestone Sept. 2 in E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar

  • Air logistics center prepares for new engine workload

    Officials with the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group here are clearing shop space for a new workload. Tinker AFB will introduce the F117 workload in March 2010. The F117 engine, manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, powers the C-17 Globemaster III, a strategic and tactical airlifter. Though still two

  • Wright-Patterson prepares for aircraft threatened by Hanna

    Officials from the 88th Air Base Wing here are preparing to receive aircraft and their associated aircrews, maintenance and security personnel from several East Coast military installations threatened by approaching Tropical Storm Hanna. The first aircraft are slated to arrive Sept. 3 from

  • AMC poised to support post-hurricane operations

    Air Mobility Command planners and operators held a collective breath as Hurricane Gustav made landfall Sept. 1. Although most AMC aircraft and personnel were pulled back from the U.S. Gulf Coast area Aug. 31 -- hours before the hurricane's projected landfall -- the command was still fully engage in

  • Chertoff: Air Force, Guard vital to hurricane relief efforts

    As Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Gulf Coast, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security praised the men and women of the Air Force and the National Guard for their efforts during preparations for the storm. Secretary Michael Chertoff said the services were especially useful to help

  • Reserve teams answer calls for help

    More than 300 Gulf Coast patients were able to breathe a sigh of relief Sep. 1 thanks to Air Force Reserve aeromedical crews as Hurricane Gustav slammed into Terrebonne Bay, La., just west of New Orleans, at about 10:30 EST. Because more than 50 air evacuation flights had carried them to safety, the

  • EPLOs ready for emergency response role

    Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers nationwide stand ready to respond to national emergencies and events when requested. Air Force Reserve EPLOs are stationed in every state to coordinate military assets to support civil authorities in the event of a natural or man-made disaster or a national

  • AFNORTH activates recovery center for Gustav

    Officials with the 601st Air and Space Operations Center have activated the Joint Personnel Recovery Center in preparation for landfall of Hurricane Gustav. Located here, JPRC personnel focus specifically on large-scale search and rescue, or SAR, operations in the event of a hurricane or natural

  • Military ready to support Hurricane Gustav relief effort

    American military forces are prepositioned and ready to provide any relief necessary if called upon Sept. 1 at England Air Park in Alexandria as Hurricane Gustav batters the Gulf Coast. A joint force team of approximately 100 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Defense Department civilians has set up camp

  • Hurricane Hunters tracking Gustav on Katrina anniversary

    Hurricane Hunters from the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing here spent the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina flying into yet another tempest, Hurricane Gustav, which made landfall just west of Grand island, La., Sept 1. Three years ago, the Hurricane Hunters evacuated aircraft and personnel from

  • McChord aircrew delivers response team, supplies to New Orleans

    A C-17 Globemaster III from the 62nd Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., provided rapid deployment of a four-man contingency response team and 15,500 pounds of cargo from the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., to the Louis Armstrong International Airport in

  • Moody Airmen prepare to provide Hurricane Gustav rescue support

    During the Labor Day weekend, Airmen from the 23rd Wing have been keeping their eye on Hurricane Gustav, and an ear to the phone. "We've been alerted by the United States Northern Command to prepare for operations as part of the national response framework for Hurricane Gustav," said Col. Kenneth E.

  • McChord aircrew deploys for hurricane response efforts

    Airmen here put the words "Any time, any place" into action in the early hours Aug. 30 as a C-17 Globemaster III headed to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., for Hurricane Gustav preparation efforts. Without knowing what or who they were picking up, Airmen from the 10th Airlift Squadron headed to

  • Hurricane relief efforts underway

    An Air National Guard C-130 Hercules flew in to San Antonio Aug. 30 carrying 23 evacuees from Beaumont, Texas. The aircrew was from the 181st Airlift Squadron at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The members on the aircraft were activated for evacuation relief efforts due

  • AMC supporting Hurricane Gustav evacuation efforts in Louisiana, Texas

    In support of Hurricane Gustav humanitarian relief efforts, Air Mobility Command officials began positioning emergency personnel, equipment and aircraft Aug. 29 at various locations along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Command and control and coordination of the humanitarian airlift effort is provided by the

  • Aircrews take wounded warriors home

    Almost three years have passed since aircrews in the 440th Airlift Wing here started flying special missions known as Integrated CONUS Medical Operations Plan missions. These ICMOP missions are designed to get injured servicemembers home as quickly as possible after arriving in the United States

  • Advanced engine, hearing protection on display at museum

    The first aircraft to fly by pulsed-detonation engine power, along with associated hearing protection technology -- both developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory here -- became additions to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force during an Aug. 25 ceremony at the museum annex here. Members

  • Airmen continue to bring relief supplies to Georgia

    Airmen from bases throughout Air Mobility Command and the Air Force have been delivering needed supplies since Aug. 13 to individuals displaced by recent fighting in the Republic of Georgia. Since the start of the Russia-Republic of Georgia conflict Aug. 8, Airmen have delivered more than 428 tons

  • Medical association honors Wilford Hall doctor

    Dr. Harvey Schwertner, a medical technologist in the 59th Clinical Research Division at Wilford Hall Medical Center here, was notified on Aug. 8 that his research poster "Association between Plasma Lipid and Lipoprotein Concentrations and Plasma Cortisol and Estradial Concentrations During Pregnancy

  • Air Force, AMC officials poised for Hurricane Gustav support

    In response to preliminary reports that possibly point Hurricane Gustav toward the Gulf Coast of the United States, Air Force officials are postured to support relief efforts, if needed. Hurricane Gustav, which formed Aug. 25 about 260 miles southeast of Haiti, is the third hurricane of the 2008

  • CMSAF highlights warrior Airmen, Air Force focus areas

    Airmen are fighting today's fight on fronts around the world for a more secure America and peace for future generations, the chief master sergeant of the Air Force told attendees at the Air Force Sergeant's Association Professional Airmen's Conference Aug. 26 in San Antonio. The No. 1 enlisted

  • Air Guard officials discuss top concerns at leadership summit

    Safety, culture and the Air National Guard's future were among topics adjutants general, wing commanders, command chief master sergeants and others from around the nation discussed at a recent conference in Wisconsin. More than 500 Air National Guard senior leaders and safety experts met at the Volk

  • Charleston Airmen deploy to support war on terrorism

    More than 130 Charleston Air Force Base Airmen deployed from here Aug. 27 to a forward-deployed location in Southwest Asia to support operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Members of the 15th Airlift Squadron, 437th Operations Support Squadron and 437th Maintenance Group will fly and manage

  • Senior leaders meet to discuss, decide way ahead for force

    Senior Air Force leaders gathered for a strategic summit Aug. 27 at Bolling Air Force Base to discuss the way ahead for the Air Force as a part of the August emphasis on strategic planning. "The summit allows us to identify issues that need senior leader review and decide on matters affecting the

  • Small group takes small packages, makes huge impact

    When servicemen find themselves in harm's way they reach for a small item with a huge impact -- the individual first aid kit. A process here ensures they can depend on what's inside. Two Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and three from the 379th Expeditionary Medical

  • Airmen employ laser joint direct attack munition in Iraq

    Airmen employed a guided bomb unit-54 laser joint directed attack munition Aug. 12 against a moving enemy vehicle in the Diyala province to support a combined Iraqi army and U.S. Marine operation. The GBU-54 is the Air Force's newest 500-pound precision weapon, equipped with a special targeting

  • Southern Command transformation promotes new approach to regional challenges

    Along with U.S. Africa Command going fully operational Oct. 1, the Defense Department will reach another milestone as U.S. Southern Command officials complete a major reorganization that also promotes joint, interagency and even private- and public-sector cooperation. The concept supports universal

  • Air Force IT Conference kicks off

    The Air Force Information Technology Conference kicked off Aug. 25 in Montgomery as members of the 754th Electronics System Group host the week-long seminar for approximately 5,600 government and civilian attendees. Lt. Gen. Robert J. "Bob" Elder Jr., the 8th Air Force commander, and Robert H.

  • Airmen enhance Army medical evacuation mission

    Airmen of the 305th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron here have flown more than 300 medical evacuations for coalition forces and Afghan nationals since March as they carry out their mission of saving lives.Members of the 305th ERQS and their HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters are deployed to Kandahar Air Base

  • Ramstein members deliver aid to Georgia

    Ramstein Air Base C-130 Hercules aircrews continue to fly to Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia to deliver crucial humanitarian supplies Aug. 26. Department of Defense officials were asked to support the mission with a joint U.S. military operation that launched with the delivery of pallets of

  • Reservists oversee Dover C-5 modernization program

    Bought a C-5 lately? Chief Master Sgt. Donald Cunningham has. He technically hasn't purchased anything but "buying" C-5s is part of the 512th Acceptance Check Flight superintendant's job. It's the term the 512th ACF uses for the C-5 Galaxys they've inspected and accepted back into the Air Force

  • Iraq, Afghanistan airdrops reach all-time high

    Resupplying U.S. and coalition forces on the ground is a critical logistical component of combat operations. Seven months into 2008, the Air Force has already supplied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan with more than 8.5 million pounds of goods. This surpasses the 2007 total and reaches an all-time

  • Aid to Georgia surpasses million-pound mark

    The U.S. military has delivered more than 1 million pounds of humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia. As of Aug.22, 36 missions had been flown by Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft as well as Navy C-9 Skytrain, C-130 and C-40 Clipper aircraft, U.S. European Command

  • Top leaders stress importance of excellence

    Keeping the Air Force's promise to America, to the joint team and to Airmen and their families was the focus of Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, the Air Force chief of staff, during an Aug. 22 visit to Malmstrom Air Force Base. Acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and General Schwartz

  • Wright-Patterson unit wins Defense secretary logistics award

    Defense Department officials here announced Aug. 6 the 478th Aeronautical Systems Wing was named the winner of the Secretary of Defense System Level Performance-Based Logistics Award. The wing staff directs all acquisition and sustainment activities for the F-22 Raptor and is part of the

  • Early lessons shaped Air Force chief of staff's perspective

    The Air Force chief of staff recently shared some insight on the experiences that shaped his career and perspective he carries with him in his new position. The general spoke as part of Air Force Week in the Heartland Aug. 15 at the Criss Auditorium of the Bellevue University here. Gen. Norton A.

  • Team puts travel voucher process under microscope

    Air Force Reserve Command officials here hosted a total force team of financial experts from around the Air Force Aug. 11 through 14 to improve delays in processing travel vouchers. The team, under the direction of Richard P. "Gus" Gustafson, the deputy assistant secretary for financial operations

  • Reaper drops bomb on anti-Iraqi forces

    An MQ-9 Reaper dropped a 500-pound bomb against an anti-Iraqi target Aug. 16 in one of the first weapons engagements for the unmanned aircraft system.The Reaper began flying combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom July 18 and joined the MQ-1 Predator as another UAS patrolling the sky to

  • Teamwork among depots keeps T-38s flying

    Workers from the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center's 76th Maintenance Wing here combined with Air Force Materiel Command's other two depots in a round-the-clock push to make hundreds of levers, helping Air Force officials keep the T-38 Talon training jet flying. The effort came on the heels of an

  • Formal training sustains AF readiness, aids Airmen

    Formal training managers at the Air Force Personnel Center here are committed to ensuring Airmen are provided adequate time to prepare for their formal training classes, and that every Airman who needs to attend has the opportunity. Empty seats due to 'no shows' have an impact on the entire Air

  • Night-vision initiative sheds light on refueling improvements

    Members of the Air Mobility Battlelab here have helped KC-135 Stratotanker aircrews to see in the dark through the KC-135 Exterior Night Vision Imaging System-compatible Lighting initiative. Teaming with the Air Force Research Laboratory's Night Vision Center of Excellence of Mesa, Ariz., a

  • Yokota Airmen participate in Japanese festival

    Members from Yokota Air Base, Japan, participated in the Fussa City Tanabata Festival Aug. 8 here. Airmen and U.S. citizens from Yokota AB had the opportunity to carry a Mikoshi, a type of portable shrine, from Shinmeisya Shrine to Fussa's City Hall. It is believed that carrying the shrine brings

  • $2 million humanitarian mission in Georgia to continue

    The U.S. military has delivered $2 million worth of humanitarian aid to Georgia in an ongoing effort to relieve the war-torn former Soviet republic that came under Russian attack 10 days ago. In addition to 130 tons of airlifted cargo, U.S. European Command has granted the Georgian government in

  • Predator passes 400,000 flight hours

    The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system surpassed 400,000 flight hours during a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Aug. 18. Members of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., flew the milestone mission in

  • New recruits enlist during Chicago Air and Water Show

    Following fast passes and vertical climbs by an F-22 demonstration, 60 young men and women were sworn in to the United States Air Force Aug. 16 during the 50th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show held Aug. 15 -17. Maj. Gen. Anthony F. Przybyslawski, Headquarters Air Education and Training Command vice

  • Acting secretary addresses VFW

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley spoke before an audience of Veterans of Foreign Wars members Aug. 18 at their national convention here. He gave a snapshot of today's Air Force and its contributions to the war on terrorism. "Our veterans have answered their country's call to duty,

  • Air Guard Predator pilots increase combat air patrols

    Although they are some of the busiest pilots in the U.S. military, Air National Guard pilots who are now flying unmanned aircraft from the ground said they still climb into the cockpit and get some flight time whenever they can. Lt. Col. Rick Gibney, operations group commander and MQ-1 Predator

  • Airmen help Iraqi pilot earn his wings

    Dressed in a tan flight suit adorned with the Iraqi flag, an L.A. Dodgers hat and aviator sunglasses, one pilot is helping his country take a step closer to having an independent air force. With help from U.S. Airmen, Iraqi air force Maj. Thagel took his last training flight prior to being certified

  • Updating education just clicks away for civilians

    Air Force civilian employees who wish to update education information in their civilian personnel records have a new, easier way to do so: through the "MyBiz" Web site. MyBiz is the self-service module in the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System. Instead of faxing their transcripts and waiting for

  • Operation Air Force puts cadets in the air over Europe

    The airlift mission prepping to depart here was nothing out-of-the-ordinary for the seasoned C-130 Hercules crew of six. It was another weekly training sortie putting cargo in a drop zone 150 miles away. For two U.S. Air Force Academy cadets invited to fly with the 37th Airlift Squadron as part of

  • Mobility Airmen deliver aid to Georgia

    Air Force mobility Airmen and aircraft delivered more than 78 tons of humanitarian aid supplies Aug. 13 and 14 to the people of the Republic of Georgia. Two Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs carried relief supplies including medical items, blankets, sheets, cots, air mattresses and sleeping bags from

  • Building capable allies, strong bonds

    Over European castles, Middle Eastern deserts and Pacific islands, F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots are soaring in ever-increasing numbers. Their landscapes, nationalities and cultures are different, but they share several common bonds. They are allies, they are friends and they learned to fly their

  • NATO forces a step closer to obtaining C-17s

    Three C-17 Globemaster IIIs are only three signatures away from finding a new home at Papa Air Base, Hungary. After years of planning, NATO members and partners are only a few signatures away from gaining access to the C-17s to share for their national requirements, to include NATO missions in

  • Air Force surgeon general returns to Heartland

    The surgeon general of the Air Force and native Nebraskan returned to his home state during Air Force Week in the Heartland Aug. 13 in Omaha. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush, originally from Gering, Neb., retraced his roots and visited the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine

  • Air Force Week mixes past, present, future at museum

    Airmen brought current and future operations to the historic Strategic Air and Space Museum here Aug. 13 as part of Air Force Week in the Heartland. At a venue famous for Gen. Curtis LeMay exhibits, numerous aircraft and the home base for looking back at the Air Force's former Strategic Air Command,

  • Air mobility supports Georgia humanitarian relief

    Air Force mobility Airmen and aircraft are actively involved in airlift operations to aid the people of Georgia. "We have crews engaged to deliver supplies to those in need, and others on standby, ready to go at a moment's notice if called upon to go in and provide relief," said Gen. Arthur Lichte,

  • U.S. military provides humanitarian aid to Georgia

    A C-17 Globemaster III departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and landed at Tbilisi International Airport today delivering $1 million in humanitarian aid to reduce the suffering of the people of the Republic of Georgia. The joint military effort supported coordination by the U.S. State Department and

  • Evaluations release highlights vPC-GR evolution

    When the new online evaluations process for coordinating performance reports launched in July, it quickly became a shining example of the capabilities of the virtual Personnel Center - Guard and Reserve. Since it launched, nearly 1,400 reservists and Guardsmen have begun coordinating the online