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  • Captain pulls missile duty on Air Force birthday

    Capt. Jason Hopkin is so busy monitoring ballistic missile launch codes that he will not have time for cake, ice cream and punch on the Air Force's 59th birthday.He will join the other Airmen around the world who will report to work to fight or support the ongoing war on terrorism. This war -- like

  • Wake Island assessment nears completion

    The damage assessment team from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, has moved into its second phase of operations here. After three days of comprehensive walk-through inspections on more than 135 facilities, the team has gathered enough data to begin putting together estimates. When Super Typhoon Ioke

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 19

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 19.In Afghanistan Sept. 18, an Air Force B-1 Lancer, along with Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s and French Air Force M-2000s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near

  • Bagram PRT awards $3 million contract

    A landmark road-construction contract that will link all districts in the Kapisa province of Afghanistan was awarded to a local contractor by the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team Sept. 18.When the road is complete, Kapisa province will be the only province in Afghanistan with roads connecting

  • Work begins when boots hit the ground

    To move 35,000 troops in and out of Southwest Asia each month, Airmen and fellow servicemembers are called to action as soon as the crew door opens upon landing. "What separates us from all other air terminals is that here, passengers become troops as soon as the plane lands," said Maj. Charlene

  • Air Force announces OTS selections

    Sixty-two men and women from across America have been selected for Officer Training School, officials here announced Sept. 19.Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 296 applications as part of Officer Training School Selection Board 06OT04, which selected 62 people for a 21-percent

  • Air Force Band streaming music on line

    Chief Master Sgt. David Nokes worked 15 months to take an idea and, with the help of the U.S. Army, turned it into a viable product. The result is Air Force Bandstand, a 24-hour per day Internet streaming radio service that broadcasts music by the Air Force Band and also includes news from the Air

  • Program helps families deal with separation

    Studying her family's checkbook, military spouse Desiree Currie of Richmond, Va., faced a dilemma. Her husband had just left for Iraq with the Virginia Air National Guard, leaving behind a second job that paid for their daughter's dance classes. Without the extra money, there could be no

  • Manas C-17 crew drops vital cargo in Afghanistan

    The primary mission of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing is to provide air mobility support to servicemembers in Afghanistan fighting the war on terrorism. Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here enabled that mission with a combat airdrop Sept. 17. The C-17 Globemaster III

  • Air Force awards CRAF contracts worth $2.3 billion

    Headquarters Air Mobility Command has awarded its annual contracts that support the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, worth $2.3 billion in fiscal 2007.Civilian airlines contractually commit to the CRAF to support Department of Defense airlift requirements in emergencies when the need for airlift

  • Illustrators draw on real-life experiences

    In this digital era, a group of distinguished illustrators still volunteer their time and talent to capturing the Air Force mission on canvas. "When you look at an oil painting, you are looking at the (artist's) original thinking," said Keith Ferris. "Digital images can be altered countless times

  • Lajes Field prepares for Hurricane Gordon

    Airmen at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, are preparing for Hurricane Gordon, which forecasters predict will make landfall early Sept. 20. "Primarily we have been focusing on tracking the storm and trying to get as much information together and what the possible direct impact may be to our personnel

  • B-52 tests alternative jet engine fuel

    The Air Force accomplished another aviation first when a B-52 Stratofortress flew using an alternative fuel Sept. 19. The flight test involved running two of the bomber's engines on a synthetic fuel, made from a 50-50 blend of traditional crude oil-based fuel and a Fischer-Tropsch fuel derived from

  • Course prepares dentists to treat children worldwide

    Officials from the 59th Medical Wing are teaching a Pediatric Dentistry Course to help general dentists from smaller clinics learn new techniques for treating children during the two-week course that ends Sept. 22 at Lackland AFB, Texas.The in-residence course provides training to Air Force dentists

  • Civil Air Patrol honored for hurricane relief contributions

    The Civil Air Patrol is scheduled to receive the prestigious Summit Award Sept. 20 for its Hurricanes Katrina and Rita disaster relief contributions. This is the highest award the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership's Associations Advance America

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 20

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 20. In Afghanistan Sept. 20, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolts, a B-1 Lancer and Navy F/A-18F Hornets provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Tarin Kowt. The A-10s

  • Strategic communication applies to every Airman

    All Airmen have within themselves the ability to be strategic communicators and share the Air Force story with the public, said the Air Force's director of strategic communication at the Pentagon. "Airmen should be proud of who they are and what they do, and they should be proud to share that with

  • Family support center becomes Airman and Family Readiness Flight

    Air Force family support centers may be called something different these days, but Airmen and their families can still expect the same quality services they have received in the past. "Family centers today support and maintain mission readiness," said Brenda Liston, chief of community support and

  • New strategic communication tool online

    A recently released publication aims to help Airmen and commanders become better strategic communicators when talking about the Air Force to the public. The Air Force Story, available now on this site, is a high-level summary of information about the Air Force, with topics ranging from heritage to

  • Air Force takes down MySpace profile

    The Air Force discontinued its user profile on the social networking Web site MySpace.com Sept. 19 after concerns that association with inappropriate content might damage the service's reputation. With close to 98 million registered users, MySpace.com was thought to be an ideal venue for the Air

  • Pentagon center courtyard icon, Cold War legend, to be torn down

    The hot dog stand in the Pentagon's center courtyard, which long has been a source of Cold War intrigue, will be torn down in the coming months and replaced with a new eating facility."Rumor has it that during the Cold War the Russians never had any less than two missiles aimed at this hot dog

  • C-130 AMP flies for first time

    A C-130 Hercules with a comprehensive avionics modification completed its maiden flight Sept. 19 from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.The C-130 Avionics Modernization Program aircraft provides upgrades for C-130s.The aircraft's new avionics system features digital displays and the Boeing 737

  • Power pros 'wire' Wake Island

    The damage assessment crews that deployed here from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii eat a hot meal every night. They use laptop computers to compile data and generate reports, and sometimes, at the end of a particularly long day, they watch a DVD movie on a small television screen before going to bed.

  • Converted C-130s make flying, training, maintaining easier

    The C-130 Hercules getting upgraded avionics will give pilots better situational awareness, will be easier to schedule for missions and easier to maintain. The first of some 350 Air Force's C-130s to receive the avionics modernization program conversion -- which upgrades it with new digital displays

  • Citizen Soldiers, Airmen make difference on border

    The Department of Homeland Security has seen a drop in the number of illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border with Mexico for the first time, and the National Guard has made the difference, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said here Sept. 18."For the first time, we are seeing a

  • Lajes Field weathers Tropical Storm Gordon

    Tropical Storm Gordon caused no major damage for Airmen at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, Sept. 20, when the storm passed further south of the Azores than experts had originally predicted.The storm had winds of 37 to 47 mph with gusts up to 80 mph as it made landfall. Gordon was downgraded to a

  • Upgraded KC-135 Stratotankers integral to joint force

    The Air Force's KC-135 Stratotanker fleet celebrates 50 years this month of enhancing fighter, bomber and cargo aircraft missions. The multi-role tanker's primary mission is to refuel Air Force, sister service and coalition aircraft, but it also fills other jobs, including airlifting cargo,

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 21

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 21.In Afghanistan Sept. 20, an Air Force B-1 Lancer and U.S. Marine Corps AV-8Bs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Asmar. The B-1 expended a Guided Bomb

  • TRANSCOM blocks and tackles for military touchdowns

    Providing for the Defense Department's transportation needs isn't the sexiest of military endeavors, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command readily admits. "It's mostly blocking and tackling," said Gen. Norton A. Schwartz. "It's not the most glamorous thing in the world, but the last time I

  • Afghanistan's president notes progress, problems

    Although progress has been profound and his country continues to move forward, terrorists have stepped up their efforts to derail that progress, Afghanistan's president told the United Nations General Assembly in New York Sept. 20. "We have seen terrorism rebounding as terrorists have infiltrated

  • AFPC offers guidance to civilians nearing retirement

    The Air Force Personnel Center's Benefits and Entitlement Service Team here encourages civilians who want to retire in the next few years to plan ahead and seek counseling early. Potential retirees should contact BEST at least one year before retirement to receive one-on-one counseling over the

  • U.S., Colombian governments work to to deter drug trafficking

    While there are thousands of Airmen deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the much publicized and deliberate war against terrorism, there is another group of Airmen deployed to Colombia as part of a separate and almost invisible war altogether. This war is combating illegal air trafficking.

  • MacDill Airmen assist in high-speed chase

    Officials at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., implemented enhanced security procedures at their gates after two teens in a stolen vehicle stormed through the main gate Sept. 20. MacDill security forces helped in apprehending the suspects within 10 minutes after Tampa police began pursuing the teenagers

  • Heroism earns Airman prestigious award

    An NCO from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., received the Keeper of the Flame Award Sept. 20 for his efforts in fighting the war on terrorism from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Tech. Sgt. Stephen Achey, a 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron senior fighter duty technician, received the award

  • C-130 modernization program passes key milestone

    The first C-130 Avionics Modernization Program aircraft, designated H2, successfully completed its first flight Sept. 19 in San Antonio. The flight represented a key milestone in the most comprehensive C-130 avionics modernization effort to date. The C-130 AMP program is managed by the Aeronautical

  • Chief McKinley offers AFSO 21 perspective

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley discusses Air Force Smart Operations 21 and how Airmen should explore its processes."Air Force Smart Operations 21 gives us the tools we need to shed unneeded work and make sure every Airman's efforts are

  • Airmen visit, share stories with veterans

    More than 30 Airmen from Andrews Air Force Base and Fort George G. Meade, Md., visited Charlotte Hall Veterans Home here Sept. 18.The group, who ranged in rank from airman to lieutenant colonel, spent time visiting and sharing stories with the veterans. "The visit was nice and relaxed," said Staff

  • PT gear in high demand at clothing sales stores

    For the first time in the Air Force's 59 year history, Airmen reporting for physical training must show up in the same gear beginning Oct. 1. But while several agencies have been preparing for this change for some time, the last-minute rush on the new mandatory gear is creating an overwhelming

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 22

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 22. In Afghanistan Sept. 21, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, Navy F/A-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close air support for Coalition troops in

  • Defense Department to review military awards program

    In an effort to provide clarity in awards standards across the military services, the Defense Department has begun a comprehensive review of military awards and decorations, a DOD official said here yesterday. This routine review will result in revision of DOD Instruction 1348.33-M, the Manual of

  • Airmen fly with Indian air force counterparts

    After several weeks of training with their Indian counterparts, Airmen from the 15th Airlift Wing got the chance to reverse their roles and fly with an Indian aircrew on their IL-76 medium range cargo jet. The aircrew's primary mission was to deliver members of the Indian army to Hawaii for a joint

  • Air Force Memorial's soaring spires completed

    The Air Force Memorial's stainless steel spires were finished Sept. 21 with the placement of the top segment of the third spire, providing the first complete view of the memorial's design.Reaching a height of 270 feet and located on a promontory overlooking Arlington Cemetery, the memorial will

  • Blind, disabled Americans help prepare Airmen for battlefield

    In several factories around the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, Americans who are blind or severely disabled are now assembling the uniforms Airmen will soon wear while fighting the war on terrorism. Under federal law, when purchasing certain items, the Department of Defense and other

  • Emeril sponsors military-only cooking contest

    If you're currently a chef on active duty in the armed forces, TV cooking-show icon Emeril Lagasse wants your favorite recipe. Emeril is looking for a military chef who has the right recipe and knows how to use it.Any military chef who has a favorite dish can enter the first Military-Only Emeril

  • AFIT's center creating distance learning products

    The Center for Directed Energy at the Air Force Institute of Technology is developing a suite of distance learning products focused at the pre-service and in-service directed energy professional. The first of these products that will be available is a distance learning format of the 32-hour laser

  • F-16 pilot returns safely following in-flight incident

    An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., jettisoned two external fuel tanks during a mechanical malfunction on takeoff at about 1:30 p.m. Sept. 21 on a homeland defense mission. The control tower noticed smoke coming from the fighter aircraft and reported it to the pilot who then

  • Spangdahlem Airmen return home from OEF

    Airmen from the 606th Air Control Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, returned home Sept. 22 after supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The Airmen were at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, supporting the war on terrorism.And while the Airmen are proud of their accomplishment during OEF, today

  • World War I soldier's remains identified

    The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced Sept. 22 the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War I, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. This is the first time the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, or JPAC,

  • Enlisted heritage room pays tribute to CMSAF Parish

    A former chief master sergeant of the Air Force dedicated to the preservation of enlisted history was honored at a ceremonial opening of an enlisted heritage room bearing his name. The Parish Enlisted Heritage Room became a reality Sept. 22 at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Headquarters building

  • Aircraft swap helps maintain mission-ready capabilities

    The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here replaced its entire F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet this month with aircraft from throughout the U.S. The aircraft swap was necessary to maintain a "healthy" force and warfighting capability, said Maj. Leah Fry, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

  • Community members show support for local servicemembers

    The Military Affairs Committee of the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce gave a special "Salute to the Military" Sept. 20. The event, the 23rd annual Santa Maria Barbecue, included a roast beef dinner, live music and a chance for military members and their families to socialize and interact with the

  • Three Airmen awarded Bronze Star

    Three Airmen here were awarded the Bronze Star Medal recently in a ceremony at the base theater. The 20th Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe presented the awards to Senior Airman Charity Trueblood, Maj. Lawrence King and Capt. Jonathan Bennett for duties they performed while fighting the

  • Airmen return home from Operation Iraqi Freedom

    More than 180 Airmen returned home to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Sept. 23 from their deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed the men and women of the 728th Air Control Squadron controlled and monitored Iraqi airspace, assisted close air support missions and directed tanker

  • Crash investigation continues

    Airmen here are continuing to investigate the Sept. 14 crash of an F-16 Fighting Falcon near Oberkail. The newest edition to the base's investigation team is Col. Peter Davidson the 616th Support Group commander at Ramstein Air Base. He is the lead investigator and accident investigation board

  • Joint PRT opens new bridges

    The Air Force-led Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team conducted ceremonies celebrating the opening of two bridges in the western Parwan region of Afghanistan during a project assessment mission Sept. 19 and 20. Both bridges will eventually allow for greater freedom of movement for the villagers,

  • Falcons complete Tucker Invitational

    After the final round of play Sept. 23, the U.S. Air Force Academy golf team finished in 20th place at the William H. Tucker Invitational.Taking place at the 7,354-yard, par-72 University of New Mexico Championship Course, the host team captured the title, firing a three-round total of 874 and

  • Air Force falls in three to TCU

    The U.S. Air Force Academy volleyball team dropped a three-game match here to Texas Christian University Sept. 22. Playing at home for the first time in nearly a month, the Falcons lost in consecutive scores of 30-19, 30-18 and 30-22 to the visiting TCU Horned Frogs. Sophomore Kristina Stewart led

  • Proclamation declares Gold Star Mother's Day today

    A proclamation issued by President George Bush Sept. 20 declares Sept. 24 as Gold Star Mother's Day. Since June 23, 1936, the last Sunday in September has been recognized as Gold Star Mother's Day, as established by to Senate Joint Resolution 115. "I call upon all government officials to display the

  • Secretary Wynne speaks at PACAF birthday ball

    With the theme "Heritage to Horizons" -- to highlight the achievements of its Airmen -- Pacific Air Forces hosted the 59th Air Force birthday ball.Keynote speaker at the Sept. event was Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne. Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Paul V. Hester hosted the sold out

  • Air Force general kicks off Texans, Redskins battle

    The deputy director for the war on terrorism kicked off the battle between the NFL's Houston Texans and Washington Redskins by tossing the coin at Reliant Stadium Sept. 24. Brig. Gen. Mark O. Schissler, who works in the Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate in Washington, D.C.,

  • Fans share thoughts about military

    Among the sea of hundreds of tailgaters at the military appreciation day match up between the Houston Texans and the Washington Redskins at Reliant Stadium Sept. 24, a few fans shared their thoughts on the military. The game was designated as the Houston Texan's Salute to the Military by team

  • Servicemembers shine during NFL game

    The National Football League's Houston Texans honored American servicemembers during its Salute to the Military at the game against the Washington Redskins at Reliant Stadium here Sept. 24. Starting with pregame activities and throughout the game, military members were spotlighted as part of the

  • Falcons soccer team gets 2 wins

    The U.S. Air Force Academy women's soccer team improved its record to 3-7-2 with two wins this weekend over Stephen F. Austin and Sacramento State.The Falcons won for the second time in a row Sept. 24, defeating Stephen F. Austin 1-0 at the Cadet Soccer Stadium. The game-winning goal came in the

  • Academy polo team battles top 10 teams

    Playing consecutive games against a top-10 team, the No. 17 Air Force water polo team fell short of the victory, losing to eighth-ranked University of California at Davis 7-5 on Sept. 24 at the Cadet Natatorium. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 8-6 on the season, 4-1 in the Western Water Polo

  • Ramstein crew flies with Botswana into Darfur

    Ramstein Airmen flew with a Botswana C-130 Hercules crew to the Darfur region Sept. 23 and 24 to support the African Union peacekeeping mission. Two C-130 crewmembers from the 86th Operations Support Squadron, aerial porters from the 86th Air Mobility Squadron and a force protection specialist from

  • CENTAF releases airpower summaries for Sept. 23-25

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces have released the airpower summaries for Sept. 23 to 25.Sept. 23In Afghanistan Sept. 22, Navy F/A-18Fs conducted a strike against Taliban extremists near Lashkar Gah. The F/A-18Fs expended Guided Bomb Unit-12s on enemy targets. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1

  • Proactive Airmen get jump on passport process

    Airmen control the first steps to a successful passport process -- saving time, money and ensuring mission success downrange. The process to get the Department of State-issued document takes three to six weeks because of mailing, screening and coordination through official channels in Washington,

  • Liaison Aircraft Fly-In scheduled for Oct. 7-8

    More than 30 aircraft will fly to the National Museum of the United States Air Force Oct. 7 to 8 to participate in the first Liaison Aircraft Fly-in. The fly-in, scheduled 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 7 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 8 on the turf runway behind the museum, is free and open to the public.

  • Ramstein Airmen connect with Rwandan children

    Large smiles, chewing gum bubbles and high-fives were the scene Sept. 22 when Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, gave donated goods to orphans and school children here.The 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron, comprised of 20 Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing, 86th Contingency Response Group, 86th

  • Falcons corral Cowboys in conference opener

    The Falcons ran their triple-option offense to near perfection Sept. 23, rushing for 327 yards and three touchdowns en route to a convincing 31-24 win over the Wyoming Cowboys in the Mountain West Conference opener for both schools in Laramie.  The win evened Air Force's record at 1-1 on the

  • New system streamlines Air Force sustainment funding

    In an unprecedented move that will radically simplify and streamline the Air Force sustainment funding system, Air Force Materiel Command will become the Air Force executive agent for programming, budgeting and execution for many of the Air Force's sustainment needs beginning Oct. 1. Money

  • Air Force people participate in military appreciation day

    Houston Texans fans at Reliant Stadium here had a second team to cheer for during their team's football game Sept. 24 with the Washington Redskins. Team officials designated the game as the Houston Texans Salute to the Military, with servicemembers participating in many of the pregame and halftime

  • Air Force Association conference under way

    The top Air Force leaders helped kick off the Air Force Association's annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here with a ceremony honoring the association's history and contributions to the service, as well as remembering those currently serving in today's force. Secretary of the

  • Research office underwrites Indian workshop

    The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has agreed to underwrite an information assurance workshop planned by the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate Jan. 12 in Bangalore, India. AFOSR's Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development, with an initiative to increase

  • Dover AFB receives new maintenance trainer

    The Avionics Modernization Program, also known as AMP, is changing the way C-5 Galaxies are flown by streamlining the aircaft to emulate civilian aircraft.In addition to installing new communications and navigation panels, dials are being replaced with multi-function display units. These new AMP

  • Mirror-coating chamber in place at Starfire Optical Range

    The Defense Department's largest mirror-coating chamber has been installed and tested at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Starfire Optical Range. "This will give the laboratory a safer alternative to transporting the 3.5-meter (11.5 feet) mirror all the way to Kitt Peak Observatory in Tucson,"

  • New 'Port Dawgs' set up for success at Charleston AFB

    Members of the 437th Aerial Port Squadron here have found a unique way to get their Airmen trained smarter, faster and better -- it's called the Port Dawg University currently being taught at Charleston AFB. The Port Dawg University Program is "aerial port's way of streamlining everything to make

  • Air Force launches Delta II/GPS mission

    Members from the 45th Space Wing led the government/industry team that successfully launched a Delta II booster from here Sept. 25. The rocket carried a NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite into space and saluted the nation's former POWs and MIAs. The satellite launched is the second of the

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 26

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 26.In Afghanistan Sept. 25, Navy F/A-18Cs and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Regah. The following close-air support requests

  • Professor at AFA conference offers advice about stress

    Professor John Moore spoke at the Air Force Association's 2006 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 25 about ways to combat deployment stress. Mr. Moore joined other national experts and senior Department of Defense and Air Force leaders at the annual two-day AFA conference. The

  • PACAF commander speaks of enhancing partnerships

    Unlike European nations who have come together under NATO, the Pacific theater does not have a joint organization for defense and peacekeeping within its nations, said the Pacific Air Forces and Air Component commander here at the Air Force Association's annual Air & Space Conference and Technology

  • Sembach squadron maintains war reserves

    Airmen from the 435th Materiel Maintenance Squadron at Sembach Air Base, Germany, store, maintain, account and prepare an incredible amount of war reserve materiel needed to keep U.S. forces supplied. The materiel is stored at a massive central storage facility in Luxemburg, two collocated operating

  • Marine corporal questions war coverage

    A Marine corporal quizzed top leaders at a recent Pentagon employees' question-and-answer session about what the department can do to counter the reporting of negative news from Iraq and Afghanistan."Negativity in the press is absolutely detrimental to the morale of our forces and our efforts in

  • Secretary Wynne speaks at AFA conference

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne spoke to Air Force leaders and supporters Sept. 25 as part of the Air Force Association's 2006 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C. The secretary addressed such challenges as the aging aircraft fleet, force-shaping

  • Servicemembers get chance to tell their side of story

    Members of the Department of Defense's "Why We Serve" speakers bureau team shared stories of their service with employees of USAA, a 22,000-strong military financial services company, here Sept. 25-26. Over the past three weeks, the DOD's "Why We Serve" team of servicemembers from all the armed

  • Command chief panel discusses enlisted issues

    Change, readiness and winning the war on terrorism were the three top issues discussed during the command chiefs' forum at the 2006 Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 25."We must deal with changes and focus on the No. 1 priority facing us today:

  • Instruments enhance space weather forecasts

    Improving the prediction of ionospheric-created disturbances is the aim behind two weeks of digging through 3 feet of snow, ice and slush in the tundra of Greenland by four members of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, with assistance from Danish

  • 4th Corps Soldiers get lift from 386th AEW

    Pvt. 1st Class Michael Sirrine is on his first deployment but knows plenty about being in the desert. A native of Tuscon, Ariz., he noticed as soon as he arrived in Kuwait, "it's just like home, with less cactus." Before boarding an Air Force C-130 Hercules in early September for Balad, Iraq,

  • Emergency services extinguish KC-135 fire

    Emergency services of the Manas International Airport and U.S. Air Force firefighters responded and extinguished a fire on a KC-135 Stratotanker on the airfield here Sept. 26. The three-member crew had just returned from an aerial-refueling mission when the incident occurred. The crew evacuated

  • Japanese, U.S. Airmen share insights at tactics symposium

    Airmen from 5th Air Force here sponsored a tactics symposium Sept. 26 to 27, bringing together 30 representatives from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and U.S. military components in Japan. A first of its kind, the event allowed captains and majors from operations-related specialties to discuss