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  • Kirkuk ceremony marks transfer of navigational aids to Iraqi air force

    A ceremony held at Kirkuk Air Base in Iraq Oct. 26 demonstrated the emerging independence of the Iraqi Air Force. The ceremony marked the official turnover of a suite of navigational aids provided by the Electronic Systems Center, headquartered here, through a first-of-its-kind foreign military

  • U.S., Chilean airmen visit school children

    U.S. and Chilean air force airmen visited an elementary school during Exercise Salitre Oct. 27 in Alto Hospicia, Chile.Airmen from the two nations took time from the multinational exercise focused on interoperability between Chile, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and France to visit the

  • Personnel Center officials expand service center hours for civilians

    To increase customer support to Air Force civilian employees and applicants around the world, officials at the Total Force Service Center have expanded the hours civilian personnel experts are available to discuss employment, benefits and entitlements. While service delivery representatives are

  • Airmen support Army's airlift needs

    American Airmen on C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft are contributing directly to support joint and coalition forces on the front lines of both operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. "The Air Force airdrops are providing needed support to Soldiers in the field; getting people

  • Shinseki cites collaboration in mental health care

    Psychological war wounds are nothing new to servicemembers, but the support of the nation to care for their injuries, until recent years, was somewhat uncharted territory. The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are committed to advancing that care because it's the right thing to do as a

  • Tanker aircrews support exercise in Chile

    Airmen aboard two Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotankers are flying daily refueling sorties above Chile to support a multinational force of fighters during Exercise Salitre II. The Airmen from the 161st Air Refueling Wing in Phoenix are participating in the Chilean-led exercise that runs

  • Whiteman Air Force Base gains 2 units

    Air Force leaders continue to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise, adding two new Air Force Materiel Command units to the Whiteman community with a ceremony Oct. 25 at Whiteman AFB, Mo. The 498th Munitions Maintenance Group relocates from Kirtland AFB to Whiteman AFB, along with its new subordinate

  • Students learn to survive in 'Tropics'

    More than 500 miles away from Fairchild Air Force Base and just miles from the Pacific coast lies a tropical rainforest in the Olympic National Forest. The moisture in the air permeates your clothes and gear, and as you trek through the rain and mud it's almost as if it seeps through the skin to the

  • The weapons of warfare adapt with the age of Airmen

    Airmen are using off-the-shelf commercial gaming equipment on the battlefield, and according to one Airman operating at a base still littered with Soviet-era landmines, they're a great fit. When Senior Airman James Dobrynski, a St. Louis native, straps on his individual body armor, fire-resistant

  • Air Force officials go green, renew vehicle fleet at wing in Southwest Asia

    Air Force officials from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing here became the first wing under U.S. Air Force Central to move to a greener vehicle fleet Oct. 26. When Maj. Michael Horsey, the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, handed the keys of a new staff vehicle to Brig. Gen. Bryan J.

  • VA, DOD officials host national mental health summit

    Officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense are hosting a first-of-its-kind national summit to address the mental health care needs of America's military personnel, families and veterans, harnessing the programs, resources and expertise of both departments to deal

  • Navigation aids keep F-15s on course

    Two Airmen from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, Fla., are keeping F-15 Eagles on course using portable Tactical Navigation Systems, or TACAN, during a Chilean-led multinational exercise in Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile. The portable TACAN is usually used by combat controllers

  • 'Mini Herc' set to join Air Force fleet

    Air Force plans to include the C-27J Spartan, the latest propeller-driven airlifter planned for the Air Force inventory, are steadily progressing. In April, through Resource Management Decision 802, Defense Secretary Robert Gates moved the C-27J program and its related direct support mission from

  • American servicemembers in Afghanistan break ground for new high school

    Members of the Air Force-led Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team along with senior Afghan government officials and community leaders, celebrated the ground-breaking of a new high school for girls during a ceremony here Oct. 22. The school will be the first of its kind in the town of Shajoy, which

  • NASA app now available

    A NASA app for the iPhone and iPod touch is available free of charge at the App Store from Apple. The NASA application will deliver a wealth of information, videos, images and news updates about NASA missions. "Making NASA more accessible to the public is a high priority for the agency," said Gale

  • New Web site offers supervisor growth through e-learning tools

    Air Force supervisors now have online access to a robust collection of continuous learning tools. The Supervisor Resource Center is a Community of Practice site that offers an assortment of Air Force e-learning tools, such as training courses, books, simulations, exercises and job-aids, and the

  • Top enlisted Airman visits Ellsworth Airmen

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Ellsworth Air Force Base Oct. 21 and 22 to tour the installation and speak with Ellsworth members about education, deployments, fitness and family support. "We are a nation at war," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy said during an

  • Battlefield Airmen considered a weapon system

    The capabilities of battlefield Airmen are considered just as lethal as any advanced weapons system. For that reason, tactical air control party personnel, pararescuemen, security forces personnel and special operations weathermen have been included in the annual Weapons and Tactics Conference

  • Air Force awards $14M to 2010 Young Investigators Research Program

    The Air Force Office of Scientific Research announced it will award more than $14 million in grants to 38 scientists and engineers who submitted winning research proposals through the Air Force's Young Investigator Research Program. The YIP is open to scientists and engineers at research

  • Airmen spend day with Chilean children

    Members of the Air Forces Southern Cooperation Team-One began their nation building trip to Santiago, Chile, by taking children to an interactive museum for children here Oct. 13.Members of 12th Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago in

  • Obama signs veterans health care legislation

    President Barack Obama signed new legislation Oct. 22 that creates predictable funding for veterans' health care. The Veterans Healthcare Reform and Transparency Act fundamentally changes how Department of Veterans Affairs receives health care funding. The reform calls for appropriations a year in

  • Reconstruction team opens new girls' school in Afghanistan

    A crowd of Afghans and U.S. servicemembers celebrated the building of the new Bibi Khala Girls' School Oct. 19 in Qalat city, located in Afghanistan's Zabul province. Bibi Khala is the largest girls' school in Qalat, with approximately 1,500 students. The new building consists of eight classrooms

  • Iraq-based platelets travel to Afghanistan

    The Air Force Theater Hospital platelet apheresis lab here began dispatching blood platelets to Afghanistan Oct. 14, 2009. The AFTH functions as the sole platelet provider in Iraq. Now, it is the first in-theater medical facility to send platelets collected in one operational area to another, said

  • McChord C-17 lands at newly upgraded airstrip in Wyoming

    A C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., approached the 5,500-foot-long stretch of paved runway, landed, then rolled to a stop. That's not much space on which to land a heavily loaded, half-million pound cargo plane, but officials here say it's the perfect runway for C-17 pilots to

  • Team exchanges ideas with Chilean air force

    Members of 12th Air Force and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago, Chile, in late October with Chilean air force members on topics such as crisis management, media relations and air operations center processes and procedures. The exchange was a

  • Officials change promotion policy regarding senior NCO academy

    Completion of the resident Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy or a sister service equivalent will be required for promotion to senior master sergeant effective Jan. 1, an Air Force personnel official said recently.This policy change supersedes the current policy which requires Air

  • AFSOUTH Airmen participate in Exercise SALITRE II

    More than 190 Air Forces Southern Airmen are representing the United States during Exercise SALITRE II, a Chilean air force-led coalition exercise which began Oct. 17 and ends Nov. 2, in Antofagasta and Iquique, Chile. SALITRE is a coalition air exercise, including search and rescue, aerial

  • Combat metals flight fabricates essential aircraft parts

    When maintainers here need new parts for their C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, they can't just head down to the local parts store and pick one up. That's where the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron's Combat Metals Flight comes in. The unit fabricates aircraft parts from

  • Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft gets X-plane designation

    Air Force officials have approved X-55A as the new designation for the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft. The X-55A is a technology demonstrator for the design and manufacturing of future aircraft using advanced composite materials. The X-55A is a modified Dornier 328J aircraft with the fuselage aft

  • Aeromedical staging facility staff to reach major milestone in warrior care

    Members of the 86th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility here will soon be reaching a new milestone since opening its doors and receiving its first patient six years ago. Unit members provide critical care to wounded warriors, and are scheduled to complete its 100,000th patient movement sometime

  • Cooperation Team-One exchanges ideas with Chilean air force members

    Members of 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) and the Texas Air National Guard completed four days of subject matter exchanges in Santiago, Chile, with members of the Fuerza Aerea Chile, or FACh, on topics such as crisis management, media relations and Air Operations Center processes and

  • New PT rules will not take away from unit fitness

    Everyone in the Air Force is required to maintain fitness. In fact, in January 2010 the new physical fitness testing criteria will take effect, requiring Airmen to meet minimum requirements in each category or fail the test. Now, Air Force officials are restructuring the requirement for commanders

  • Keating passes PaCom torch to Willard

     Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over a change-of-command ceremony here Oct. 19 as Navy Adm. Timothy J. Keating passed the U.S. Pacific Command helm to Navy Adm. Robert F. Willard. Admiral Willard assumed command of the

  • German fliers achieve 55,555 flight hours at Holloman

    With the landing of a specially painted Tornado aircraft, airmen at the German air force Flying Training Center here completed 55,555 Tornado flight hours Oct. 13, and a reception commemorating the accomplishment followed. German air force members shared the momentous occasion with Airmen from the

  • Authorities call off search for missing F-16 pilot

    Authorities are still looking for the wreckage of an F-16 Fighting Falcon that crashed with its pilot into the Atlantic Ocean off South Carolina's coast Oct. 15. An official at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., said Oct. 19 that there is nothing new to report since authorities announced Oct. 17 that Capt.

  • Ali Base assumes 'advise and assist' as additional duty

    As the responsible drawdown of forces continues in Iraq, Airmen here have embraced the additional role of advising and assisting the local Iraqi army and citizens during the transition. The 407th Air Expeditionary Group, which operates, maintains and secures the largest airfield in Southern Iraq, is

  • Academy Assembly guests discuss bridging war, peace

    The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told Class of 2010 cadets here Oct. 8 that their education will not end at graduation during his keynote address for the 2009 U.S. Air Force Academy Assembly. "The world demands more education today," said Marine Gen. James Cartwright. "This is the

  • Veterans Affairs secretary announces new gravesite locator

    The secretary of Veterans Affairs announced Oct. 16 here that the Department of Veterans Affairs has made the gravesites of more than 6.7 million veterans easier to locate using handheld devices with Internet capability, such as "smart phones." "This innovative program continues VA's commitment to

  • VA officIals contacting veteran-students about new GI Bill

    Representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs here will be telephoning veterans across the country to explain their education benefits under the new Post-911 GI Bill and ensure beneficiaries are able to receive payments due them. "The Post-9/11 GI Bill is one of our highest priorities," said

  • Football Frenzy winners to attend NFL game

    Four members of Air Force clubs are the winners of a trip to attend a regular season NFL game between the Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals Nov. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. The club members were drawn from nearly 3,000 entries received during the first six weeks of the Air Force Services Agency's

  • CMSAF Roy visits Scott Airmen

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Scott Air Force Base Oct. 15 and 16 to speak to the enlisted force here and to participate in a conference along with two former CMSAFs. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy learned how Airmen at Scott AFB enable combat power and

  • Acceptance crew ensures flight safety for Air Force

    Whenever Boeing officials roll a new C-17 Globemaster III off the plant in Long Beach, Calif., Tech. Sgt. Sidney De Leon and his team have to make sure it's ready for the Air Force to fly it. "The Air Force expects to receive a perfect product, and it is up to us to identify and correct any problems

  • ESC team efforts bring new combined air, space operations center to life

    An Electronic Systems Center team from here worked in the past few weeks to bring to life a new, state-of-the-art combined air and space operations center in Southwest Asia for joint and coalition combat forces. "We're constantly striving to bring enhanced AOC capabilities to the warfighters, and

  • VA deputy highlights bond between Defense and Veterans Affairs

    An innovative, far-sighted partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense will improve the health care system for Veterans and dramatically change the way health care is delivered to all Americans, according to Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs W. Scott

  • Chairman's wife vows support for military families

    Deborah Mullen, wife of the nation's most senior military officer, had a message for military families while on the Sesame Street TV set here Oct. 14: servicemembers and their families have a wealth of support behind them."I just would like to assure people that there are folks who care, who are

  • Gen. Wyatt: Maintainers must look beyond future

    The future will provide some "great opportunities" for the Air National Guard, but it will also take a completely different way of thinking, the ANG director said Oct. 15 at the ANG Maintenance Group Mega-Conference in Boise, Idaho. "For those in this room, we're going to rely on your skills as

  • Secretary Shinseki pledges better support for veterans

    Veterans Affairs Department officials continue their efforts to provide the best support possible to the nation's military veterans, VA Secretary Eric K. Shinseki told a House committee here Oct. 14. "We have been busy putting into place the foundation for our pursuit of the president's two goals

  • Airmen host Kyrgyz citizens during family day

    Friends and families of Kyrgyz workers at the Transit Center at Manas were able to get an up-close look at the Air Force working environment here and enjoy a day of fun during the Friends and Family Day event Oct. 9 here. The event, a tribute to thank the local community for their continued support,

  • Veterans show true colors

    In a jam-packed room, retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dennis Linn stood explaining his artwork to curious viewers, and how his acrylic painting and raised sand/plaster sculpture earned him two gold medals and a spot in the 2009 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival in the San Antonio Municipal

  • Airmen train, advise, assist Iraqi helicopter pilots

    Air Force pilots from the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here train, advise and assist Iraqi helicopter pilots around the clock, helping the Iraqis further develop their air force. Maj. Christopher Elam, an Mi-17 instructor pilot, and Maj. Jack Swinehart, a UH-1HP Huey military transition

  • Congress finishes work on authorization bill

    Congress has reached agreement on a $680.2 billion National Defense Authorization Bill for fiscal 2010. The bill authorizes a 3.4 percent military pay increase and full funding for the Defense Health Program, and it caps F-22 Raptor production at 187 aircraft. For civilian workers, it ends the

  • Craig Joint Theater Hospital team helps build Afghan nursing foundation

    Members of the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here recently began a mentorship program to help Afghan nursing. Malika Faqiri and Laila Farahi, two female Afghan National Army soldiers, attended a special two-week mentorship program here at the CJTH to work alongside U.S. doctors and nurses to hone

  • Hanscom officials kick off combat support system

    Logistics leaders here to discuss the initial setup of Release 1 of the Expeditionary Combat Support System during a town hall meeting in the Hanscom Air Force Base Conference Center Oct. 6. ECSS, a commercial off-the-shelf software program tailored for the Air Force to bring 240 separate

  • Executive Order bans texting while driving for federal employees

    In an executive order issued Oct. 1, President Barack Obama banned federal employees from text messaging while behind the wheel on government business. "With nearly 3 million civilian employees, the federal government can and should demonstrate leadership in reducing the dangers of text messaging

  • Air Force meets recruiting goals for tenth year in a row

    The Air Force met its active-duty enlisted recruiting goal for the 10th year in a row and met its chaplain and Officer Training School accession goals for fiscal year 2009. "The Air Force continues to attract the highest quality men and women to serve in this great Air Force," said Brig. Gen. A.J.

  • Air Force officials release fleece wear policy

    The 98th Air Force Virtual Uniform Board released a policy message here Oct. 9 for wearing the new Air Force sage green fleece as an outer garment for the airman battle uniform. According to the message, the sage green fleece may only be worn over the ABU top, and is not authorized to be worn solely

  • Counter IED team member donates school supplies to Afghan children

    An administrative sergeant with a counter improvised explosive device team here is making sure local children head to their new school with plenty of school supplies in hand. Tech. Sgt. Michelle Stokes, assigned to Forward Operating Base Shank, purchased colored pens, pencils, notebooks, markers and

  • Football: Air Force falls to 10th-ranked TCU, 20-17

    Normal001743115211.1282000 The U.S. Air Force Academy football team fought hard against 10th-ranked Texas Christian University, but lost 20-17 Oct. 10 at Falcon Stadium here. An 8-yard rush by Falcons quarterback Connor Dietz brought the Falcons within three points with less than a minute to

  • Top enlisted Airman visits Andrews Airmen

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force, whose family calls this base home but who himself is "just TDY here," briefed a standing room-only audience of Joint Base Andrews Airmen here Oct. 7 at an Enlisted Call during his first official visit to the base. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force

  • USO gala honors troops, sacrifices

    It was a tough act for Hollywood at the annual USO Gala here last night. The stars were out at the black-tie event held in a posh hotel in the popular Adams Morgan area. More than 800 actors, musicians, models, football stars and top politicians mingled during drinks and dinner. But it wasn't the

  • DOD official: New bomb has 'important capability'

    Defense Department officials here are developing an advanced "bunker-buster" bomb that should be ready for deployment this summer, senior Pentagon officials said Oct. 8 here. The department has been "working on technology that allows us to get at deeply buried, hardened targets" since 2004, Pentagon

  • Photographer's pictures of Airmen now in Library of Congress

    A desire to show the non-flying side of the Air Force motivated a British photographer, and now his 60-photo "Cleared Hot!" exhibition is part of the Library of Congress. "I met a lot of Air Force people and the first question they're asked is, 'What type of plane do you fly?'" Nicholas Price said.

  • Afghanistan National Army Air Corps stands up new wing at Kandahar

    Afghan government officials and religious leaders, along with senior officers from both Afghan and coalition forces stood up the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps second wing here in a dedication ceremony Oct. 5. The wing, based at Kandahar, hosts rotary wing aircraft and supports multiple

  • Thunderbirds perform for Malaysian audience

    Royalty, foreign diplomats, senior military members and civilians alike welcomed the members of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron with open arms as the Thunderbirds arrived at Subang Air Base Sept. 30 for the third stop on their Far East Tour. Lt. Col. Derek Routt, the Thunderbirds'

  • Unit surpasses consecutive 7,000 days with forces in Southwest Asia

    Members of the 55th Wing from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and their RC-135V/W Joint Rivets have been deployed in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility every day for the past 7,000 days. The RC-135 is a reconnaissance aircraft supporting theater and national-level consumers with near

  • Airmen provide intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance

    Leaders at every level need battlefield information, and because of Airmen with the 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron ... now they know. With their RQ-4 Global Hawk and U-2 aircraft, the Airmen excel at providing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for everyone from combatant

  • Officials unveil Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington

    Andrews Air Force Base was renamed as Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility Washington Oct. 1 during a ceremony here in Hangar 1. The Joint Team Andrews logo was also unveiled at the event, which took place against a backdrop of military hardware representing all aspects of the newly created team.

  • Air Force Academy wins interservice golf classic

    The U.S. Air Force Academy golf team captured first place at the Service Academy Golf Classic, held here Oct. 5 and 6. The Falcons, competing against Army, Navy and the Merchant Marine Academy, compiled a team score of 1093 (+13) to win its 13th-straight title at the event. Cadet Kyle Bailey

  • Eglin salutes the Year of the Air Force Family

    Supervisors, co-workers and friends come and go, but family is forever is the underlying theme in the coming months as Eglin Air Force Base leaders will focus on the meaning, needs and strengths of the Air Force family during the Year of the Air Force Family. The Year of the Air Force Family began

  • Brooks wing reorganizes as base takes next step toward closure

    In a move designed to better manage Air Force operations at Brooks City-Base in San Antonio as the installation moves toward the BRAC-mandated 2011 closure, officials have reorganized the 311th Human Systems Wing into the 311th Air Base Group.Col. Harry R. Kimberly III became the commander of the

  • Gen. Wyatt: Associate missions must continue

    The Air National Guard's associate missions with the active duty and Air Force Reserve need to continue beyond the new missions formed after Base Realignment and Closure in 2005, the director of the Air Guard said here Oct. 6. Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III told members of the Minuteman Institute for

  • New era in food service coming to Air Force bases

    Air Force food services representatives have been meeting the dining needs of Airmen and their families for more than 60 years through dining facilities, clubs and snack bars. To reflect changing times, a new look and feel is coming to the Air Force dining experience at select bases, mirroring a

  • Mobility commander addresses Incirlik Airmen

    The Air Mobility Command commander talked with Incirlik Air Base Airmen Oct. 5 in the middle of a trip through the Operation Enduring Freedom area of responsibility. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte conducted two town hall meetings with Airmen from the 385th Air Expeditionary Group and the 728th Air Mobility

  • Air Force officials authorize BDU cold weather item to wear with ABUs

    Air Force officials here now authorized Airmen to wear the battle dress uniform cold weather Gore-Tex and field jacket with the current airman battle uniform. The decision to authorize the coat stems from the demand of cold weather gear outweighing current supply of the new ABU coat. According to a

  • Global Strike Command leader updates progress

    Air Force Global Strike Command's top officer provided an update on the command's progress toward full operational capability during a speech at the Capitol Hill Club here Oct. 2. Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz, the AFGSC commander, outlined the progress in bringing online the first new major command in

  • USAFE officials ramp up for improved PT program

    United States Air Forces in Europe Airmen will see major changes in the fitness program starting Jan. Some of the Air Force-level modifications include testing twice a year versus once and having fitness assessment cell representatives conduct the biannual testing at the main installations to

  • Sheppard officials launch Nuclear Accountability Course

    Air Force officials took another important step in reinvigorating their nuclear enterprise here Oct. 5 with the launch of the Nuclear Accountability Course providing realistic, hands-on training to Airmen assuming duties making them responsible for nuclear weapons. Delivered by the 82nd Training

  • Change in post-deployment stabilization promotes predictability, equality

    The recent deployment deferment policy change institutionalizes an equitable deferment period of six months for Airmen completing 365-day indeterminate TDYs or an unaccompanied, short tour permanent change of station. Prior to the release of the new Air Force Instruction 36-2110, Assignments, which

  • Family uses technology to cope with deployment separation

    Talking every day with the man she married is sometimes a challenge for Amanda Gutierrez, but even though he is deployed they can still discuss family issues face to face. Technology like e-mail, Web cams and texting helps bridge the 8,000 mile gap between Texas and Afghanistan. Saturday morning

  • Combat search, rescue highlighted in new commercial

    A commercial highlighting combat search and rescue, or CSAR, Airmen began airing Oct. 5 in television markets and select movie theaters across the country."CSAR" shows the teamwork involved to locate, communicate with and recover downed aircrews and isolated personnel. The commercial is the third in

  • Eglin wing transitions to become first F-35 training unit

    Members of the 33rd Fighter Wing here transitioned from an operational F-15 Eagle unit to the first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter training unit during a ceremony Oct. 1 at Eglin Air Force Base. Col. David Hlatky assumed command of Air Education and Training Command's newest wing whose

  • Airmen use space to develop warfighting technology

    A group of Airmen at NASA's Johnson Space Center here is using space to help develop technology for the warfighter. Making up the Department of Defense Spaceflight Payload Office, these Airmen work in a small office deep inside the center's mission control, where they support three kinds of

  • As KC-135Es retire, Air Force officials' focus shifts to KC-X

    One of the last of the KC-135E Stratotankers to retire made its final flight Sept. 28 to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and after more than 50 years of service, tail number 56-1503 will be relegated to a life as one of several planes used for aircraft maintenance training on the base. This KC-135E

  • Chaplain school holds last class at Maxwell

    The last formal class of the Air Force Chaplain School to be conducted here was Sept. 14 to 25. Following an informal professional continuing education course Oct. 6 to 8, the school will resume its move to a new facility at Fort Jackson, S.C. All chaplain training for military members in all

  • Cyber security awareness gets focus in October

    We've all had the experience: our computer, at work or at home, stops working. It could be a hardware glitch, but in this viral world, it just as likely could be a virus, worm or other malicious bit of software. At best, it means de-bugging you computer. At worst, it can lead to criminals hijacking

  • Committee discusses status, plans for joint jet pilot training

    Members of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program Steering Committee finished their week-long meeting Sept. 25 where they discussed the current status and future plans for the program. They also reflected on the flow of student pilots, instructor pilot training, leadership and command

  • AMC officials blend Guard, Reserve, active-duty units

    Air Mobility Command officials here continued their total force integration efforts Oct. 1 with the stand up of three active associate units that now combine active-duty units and Airmen who accomplish the KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling mission with their Reserve and Guard counterparts. The three

  • UAS career field decisions, ISR organization discussed at summit

    Air Force leaders met at an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance summit here Sept. 29 to discuss ISR organizational plans and further refine a blueprint for unmanned aircraft systems career fields. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and

  • New protective vehicles head to Afghanistan

    The first parcel of an influx of vehicles designed to protect troops from deadly roadside bombs is expected to arrive overnight in Afghanistan, said a Defense Department spokesman Sept. 30 here. The expected delivery comes soon after department procurement officials awarded an order for more than

  • Web site offers help for military families in transition

    Sixteen-year-old Robyn Lutzkanin loves the military. As a military child, she said she has moved often and enjoys seeing new places and meeting new people. "It really opens your eyes up to the world," Robyn added. But she admited to dreading the transition of moving to that new place and having to

  • Charleston Airmen supply CENTCOM first M-ATV shipment

    Charleston Airmen began the distribution Sept. 30 of a new version of the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle from here. The MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles, or M-ATVs, were the first to be delivered to the Afghanistan theater for operational use, and many more are to come said, David Hansen, deputy

  • Officials announce homeowners assistance program details

    Defense Department officials announced Sept. 30, the details for distributing $555 million available under the Homeowners Assistance Program. The program is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in February, and it's designed to partially reimburse those whose service to the

  • Scott AFB wing changes name, adds new mission

    The 375th Airlift Wing here officially became the 375th Air Mobility Wing Sept. 30 as a result of the Air Force's most recent Total Force Integration effort.The TFI effort called for the creation of an associate unit consisting of active duty KC-135 pilots, boom operators and maintainers who will

  • Iraqi air force assumes control of their C-130 operations

    Iraqi air force officials officially began fully independent C-130 air operations Sept. 29, marking the end of the U.S. C-130 air advisory mission here. A ceremony deactivating the U.S. Air Force's 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and marking assumption of C-130 operations, maintenance and

  • AFOTEC leaders employ AFSO21 principles to improve test process

    The commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center recently instituted the use of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century process improvement tools across AFOTEC to improve the operational test and evaluation planning processes here."The primary goal of our reengineering

  • Comm Airmen prepare for major career field transformation

    Twenty communications Airmen stationed in Germany took part in a training exercise Sept. 18 to 24 at Aviano Air Base, Italy, in preparation for the largest transformation in the history of Air Force communications which is to be completed this October. When it's all said and done, more than 27,000