Air Force releases UAV strategic vision

The Air Force recently completed a vision document to provide high-level guidance to service development and integration of unmanned aircraft for the next 25 years. While the Air Force has been experimenting with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles since 1962, the technology has only recently evolved to a

New Orleans A-10s arrive at Whiteman

This base continues to absorb people and planes from hurricane-ravaged Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, La., accepting the second to last A-10 Thunderbolt II March 16. Falling in line with Base Realignment and Closure committee recommendations, the original plan had the naval base delivering

Survival Equipment

Voltage check

Hawgsmoke 2006

Spangdahlem airlift hub still growing

Nine months after setting up shop at this long-time fighter base, the 726th Air Mobility Squadron continues to set up a key airlift hub. Squadron Airmen are easily handling the sometimes sporadic traffic of heavy transport aircraft that transit through this hilltop base, whether coming from the

Program streamlines training for IMAs

A partnership between Air Force Reserve Command and Air Force Space Command may signal a change in the way individual mobilization augmentees train. A common training assembly at Patrick AFB, Fla., earlier this month allowed more than 200 IMAs to fulfill more than 20 hours of training and readiness

Mine sensors

Reservists' mission keeps 'boots on the ground'

It’s hot, dry, windy and dangerous on the air base. Sand blows in your face and stings like it would at the beach. But this is no beach. This is where people from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., are playing a vital role in the war on terrorism, thousands of miles from home. Chief Master Sgt. Tim

C-17s would help USAFE’s air mobility business

As the need grows for more Air Force transports to move cargo and troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Air Forces in Europe is feeling the pinch. Today, most Air Force airlift missions support military operations in the two countries, said Col. Phil Bossert, commander of 16th Air Force’s air

New customer support centers make life simpler

New Air Force combat and mobility logistics support centers, opening in early April, will make ordering, tracking and shipping supplies to troops worldwide a simpler, more customer-friendly process, said officials here. The centers will open at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and Scott AFB, Ill. “The

CV-22 delivered to Air Force

A new chapter in Air Force aviation opened March 20 as the first operational CV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft arrived here. The aircraft was flown from the test wing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., by Lt. Gen. Michael W. Wooley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, to the 58th

Fighter aircraft help apprehend insurgents

Air Force fighter aircraft pilots helped apprehend three suspected insurgents accused of mortaring Balad Air Base, Iraq, March 16. The pilots, who flew two F-15E Strike Eagles with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, were on a close-air-support mission near Balad when mortars were detected by the

C-17 surpasses its 1 millionth flying hour

A C-17 Globemaster III on a routine air evacuation mission from Iraq flew the Air Force transport fleet past the 1 millionth flying hour mark on its return to this airlift hub today. There were no bands or dignitaries waiting for the plane -- from the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 172nd Airlift

Joint Strike Fighter program crucial to future air dominance

Keeping the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program on track is important because the Air Force needs to replace aging aircraft and it is an important complement to the F-22A Raptor aircraft. That Capitol Hill testimony came March 16 from Lt. Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, deputy chief of staff for Air

Chief of staff releases 'Letter to Airmen'

In his latest “Letter to Airmen,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley remembered the third anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The March 19 anniversary marked the removal of an oppressive and dangerous regime, and the culmination of a joint and coalition intense effort on land, air

AMC changes public Web as AF seeks standardization

Headquarters Air Mobility Command launched its new public Web site today, following an Air Force plan to consolidate all Web content and standardize the appearance of its public sites worldwide. The command joins Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Force Reserve Command, and Air Force Materiel

SECAF speaks on Capitol Hill

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne spoke at the Capitol Hill Club on March 15. Some of the topics he spoke on were the Quadrennial Defense Review and the war on terrorism. To listen to his speech, click on the related link.

C-17s deliver relief to Kauai

“The Spirit of Hawaii - Ke Aloha," Hickam’s first C-17 Globemaster III, delivered 27,000 pounds of recovery equipment to Kauai, Hawaii, after a dam burst, isolating thousands of residents and tourist along the island’s north shore. What was intended to be a routine training mission turned into a

Fuels Airmen train members of Iraqi Air Force

Fuels Airmen take pride in knowing they provide fuel to the fight by supplying aircraft with the juice that keeps them flying. One more thing they can be proud of is their role in getting the Iraqi Air Force off the ground. Members of the 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels flight

Nuclear Weapons Center set to open at Kirtland

Kirtland will become the home of Air Force Materiel Command's newest organization, the Nuclear Weapons Center, on March 31. "The base has been at the heart of nuclear activities for over 60 years, so it is no surprise that the NWC would find a home here," said Col. Greg Foraker, director of the

Electronic Systems Center team pushing 'smart' process, culture change

An Electronic Systems Center team is working to save time, money and tons of material, all while increasing security when America's most sensitive information is distributed. The Cryptologic Systems Group, located at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, is working to institute an electronic "key" process

Airmen train Afghan Soldiers for first long-haul mission

U.S. Airmen recently trained Soldiers from the Afghan National Army’s Central Movement Agency for their first long-haul convoy mission. The mission March 12 covered hundreds of miles from Kabul to Kandahar and involved two trucks, each carrying 6,000 liters of fuel. The Airmen and ANA soldiers rose

Single C-17 breaks airdrop record

A single Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airdropped 32,400 pounds of humanitarian aid within 40 minutes to four locations in central and eastern Afghanistan March 16. This feat marked the most cargo airdropped to this many drop-zones in the shortest amount of time from a single aircraft in the

Osprey simulator up, running

The CV-22 Osprey simulator was officially welcomed at the 19th Special Operations Squadron with a ceremony earlier this month. The $21 million simulator is intended to provide refresher and proficiency training to pilots, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Jay, CV-22 simulator program manager. “We are not

Air sampling study benefits Airmen's health

The average human takes about 12 to 20 breaths each minute. Exactly what those breaths contain is now being monitored in a study. Airmen are participating in the U.S. Central Command Enhanced Particulate Matter Surveillance Initiative to determine the levels of total solid particulates in the

Vice president thanks Airmen

KC-135 aircrews ‘fuel the fight’ for B-52s

In six short weeks, deployed KC-135 Stratotankers have delivered more than 11 million pounds of fuel to B-52 Stratofortresses that have flown forward into Afghan airspace to provide close air support for U.S. and coalition forces on the ground. Without this fuel, the B-52s would not be able to carry

Responsive, affordable satellite enhances support to warfighter

In the battle environment, every second counts, and accelerated (within 10 minutes) information downloaded to the joint warfighter, to be demonstrated in the upcoming TacSat-3 mission, could result in victory, but more importantly, in lives saved. Planned to launch in summer 2007, the TacSat-3

JDAM continues to be warfighter's weapon of choice

To call yourself the Airman warfighter's weapon of choice is one thing, but it's quite another to go out and back it up. Since its debut in 1999, the Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, has been called upon more than 15,000 times and continues to be used in the global war on terror. JDAM is a

F-16 Fighting Falcon covers multiple missions

Hundreds of physical and mental training hours go into being a part of one of the most advanced careers in the world -- an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot. The F-16’s multiple missions, such as air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, make it one of the most versatile aircraft in the Air Force, said Capt.

Airfield managers keep runways ready

The 379th Expeditionary Operational Support Squadron is tasked with the demanding job of managing an entire airfield. An airfield manager’s job encompasses almost anything that deals with the airfield, said Tech. Sgt. Michael Adams, 379th EOSS airfield manager and reservist deployed from Dobbins Air

Combat-ready for 50 years: B-52s fly past another milestone

The B-52 Stratofortress reached a milestone March 12 with the 50th anniversary of the first B-52 wing being declared combat-ready. The 93rd Bombardment Wing was declared combat-ready March 12, 1956, after being activated June 29, 1955. Although it had been declared combat-ready for 10 years, the

Missouri Guard unit first ever selected for B-2 mission

Air Force officials announced March 16 that the 131st Fighter Wing at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis will join the elite B-2 mission at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The announcement means the 131st Fighter Wing's Airmen will team up with the world's only B-2 long-range stealth bomber

Hazardous material training

Commander shares vision for future force

Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander, shared his insight and vision for the future at the Combined Air Operations Center March 10. During his first visit as CENTAF commander, General North discussed the CENTAF mission and challenges facing Airmen and

Airman Battle Uniform finalized, ready for production

The new Airman Battle Uniform is ready for production and will be available in fiscal 2007, said the Air Force deputy chief of staff of personnel. Many factors were considered in developing the final uniform selection, with the concern for Airmen being at the top of the list, said Brig. Gen Robert

Pilot extraction

Insertion/extraction exercise

A HH-60 Pave Hawk carrying pararescuemen from the 48th Rescue Squadron, flies over a local training area near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Monday, March 13, 2006. The 55th Rescue Squadron and pararescuemen assigned to the 48th, were conducting alternate insertion/extraction training. (U.S

First Air Force dive course graduates 17 Airmen

This was the final test. An underwater compass and a buddy harnessed three feet from their bodies provide direction. A 25-pound breathing device strapped to their chests provides vital oxygen while underwater without making surface bubbles. A 50-pound rucksack and weapon weighted on their backs are

Guam readiness exercise

F-15s, MiGs are allies in the sky

Multinational pilots from the United States and Malaysia have joined forces in the Pacific skies for Cope Taufan ‘06, a three-week air-to-air training exercise designed to sharpen air combat tactic skills and promote closer relations between allies. Cope Taufan, Taufan meaning “big storm” in

CMSAF speaks about future changes

As threats against the United States evolve, Airmen can expect the Air Force to evolve as well said the Air Force’s senior enlisted member during his visit here, Friday, March 10. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray talked about the Air Force’s evolution and the initiatives

Culinary Arts

F-15 preventive maintenance

C-17 arrival

Joint rescue saves stranded scuba divers

Thanks to the combined efforts of Airmen from Kadena Air Base and local Japanese responders here, two scuba divers were rescued early Monday morning following a five-hour search and rescue operation. The two scuba divers -- a local Okinawan and a U.S. Marine -- were found clinging to the bottom of

Fire burns 100 acres, singes Altus AFB

Altus Air Force Base and local firefighters worked together to battle a grass fire that consumed about 100 acres here, March 12. Local officials say dry conditions and high winds resulted in several grass fires in the area, including one at the southeast corner of the base. The base suffered minimal

Air Force gets aggressive about combat training

To become the best Airmen in the world, the Air Force trains against the best Airmen in the world. Aggressors, as they’re known, scrimmage against their fellow Airmen, much like football teams preparing for a game. Traditionally, aggressors have focused on aircrews, but in the near future, the Air

F-16 crashes into Korean West Sea

An Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 35th Fighter Squadron here crashed into the West Sea during a training mission at about 9:30 a.m. today. The aircraft's pilot ejected safely and was rescued by a South Korean air force helicopter at about 10:25 a.m. The pilot was transported to the Kunsan

Thunderbird flight

Air Force band hosts artist series

Eglin team spearheads Honduras medical mission

A team of 23 medics from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., is leading the way on a two-week, four-site medical readiness training exercise here. The MEDRETE is part of New Horizons 2006-Honduras, a joint training exercise between the U.S. military and Honduran government that ultimately strives to improve

Former hostage shares lessons with terrorism conference attendees

“They came to the door dressed as plumbers, claiming they needed to fix a leak,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. James Dozier. But, that was only the beginning of the general’s six-week ordeal as a hostage. He described his ordeal to group of conference attendees here March 10. “I didn’t know at the

Chief reviews son’s graduation

Of the 731 Airmen who graduated from basic military training here today, nothing unusual happened for 730 of them. But the day was special for one Airman, two chiefs and a mother. “There was no decision about him joining the Air Force, it was his decision alone,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Bowes,

'Recognition' ceremony returns to Air Force Academy

"Recognition" is being reinstated here after a three-year hiatus. Recognition 2006 events start after classes March 16 and conclude with a celebratory dinner March 18. Recognition marks the transition of the fourth classmen to upper class status. It is the ceremonial acknowledgement that the fourth

Airman saves co-worker

A security forces noncommissioned officer lost consciousness and was saved by a fellow Airman at a Las Vegas restaurant March 5. Members of the security team for Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment '06 were at dinner when Master Sgt. Jeff Jones noticed that Staff Sgt. Dionne Bennett, an Air

What’s in a name?

The Space Warfare Center here became the Space Innovation and Development Center in a formal ceremony March 8. The name has changed, but the organization’s mission remains the same, the commander said. “One of the things I want people to understand is that there’s no change in our mission,” Col.

Dental residency program fills experience gap

A dental residency program here teaches dentists career field specialties and how to serve in a deployed location. The advanced education in general dentistry resident program is the only dentistry program in the Air Force that accepts dentists who have already served in the military for a few

Safety milestone

CORE comes to a close

Analysis of tanker fleet alternatives released

The RAND Corp. released an executive summary March 7 detailing its findings from an analysis of alternatives study to replace the Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. The report states, "A fleet of medium to large (300,000 to 1,000,000 pounds maximum gross takeoff weight) commercial derivatives is

Warfare center creates mobility warriors

Every day more than 550 Airmen pick up a proverbial sword and shield and step onto the battlefield. Their sword is knowledge honed to a razor’s edge by experience and technology; their shield, the Air Mobility Warfare Center; their battlefield, deployed locations around the world. “We are

Vertical shop keeps base in good condition

Painting, cutting, welding and building. They do it all as long it doesn't have wheels or wings. "If it doesn't fly or have wheels, we fix it," said Tech. Sgt. Dan Bertok, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron’s vertical shop noncommissioned officer in charge. The vertical shop's goal is to keep the wing

Medics, volunteers meet Iraqis' medical needs

Several times a week, medics from the 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron take a break from their normal “hustle and bustle” work schedule at the clinic to help local Iraqis who feel under the weather. The medics head out close to the wire to see these patients at the Radhwaniya Medical Clinic

Supporting the troops

Weather info delivered to warfighter faster with integration

Net-centric weather integration is one of the many important initiatives being tested during the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. This integration, sponsored by the Air Force Weather Agency, demonstrates the capability to provide critical, time-sensitive

Philippine Airmen attend professional military education at Hickam

The Hickam Professional Military Education center is hosting Philippine Air Force students at its Airman Leadership School to help them develop a program of their own. After an assessment by Air Force senior noncommissioned officers from Pacific Air Forces, the Philippine Air Force expressed the

Electronic initiative gets critical information to commanders

An initiative designed to electronically transmit intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to commanders is currently being tested here at Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006. With non-traditional ISR services, information will flow directly from aircraft to the Air and Space

Strike Eagles

Joint reconstruction teams activated in Afghanistan

More than 1,000 Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors joined ranks to activate Afghanistan Provincial Reconstruction Teams in a ceremony here March 3. The purpose of the teams is to help rebuild Afghanistan, ensuring a secure and self-sufficient nation. The teams have a three-part mission: stabilize the

Air Force accepts delivery of its first combat configured CV-22 Osprey

Aeronautical Systems Center's commander, Lt. Gen. John L. “Jack” Hudson, along with other Department of Defense leaders, was on hand to accept the keys from Bell Boeing for the first combat configured CV-22 Osprey during a ceremony March 1 at the Bell manufacturing facility in Amarillo, Texas. "It's

On alert

Airmen reach out to local Afghan village

More than 40 Airmen here recently visited a local village and gave basic necessities, donated by people throughout the world, to about 500 Afghans. Members of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing drove seven kilometers to the village of Gadia to hand out materials including clothes, shoes, hygiene

C-17s in snow

Spanish detachment helps with troop movement from Manas

The Spanish detachment here safely moved about a dozen U.S. Air Force officers to Kabul, Afghanistan, March 3. Manas is known as the “Gateway to Operation Enduring Freedom” because all troops moving in and out of Afghanistan stop here first to transfer to civilian or military aircraft. The Spanish

U.S. Airmen provide Iraq’s new air force a place to call home

Iraq’s new air force flying operations have received much publicity recently. But a military must have a base to call home. A team of U.S. Airmen spent more than a year helping the Iraqi air force establish its “only” base with a support unit. About a year ago, the New Al Muthana Air Base was just a

Watts up: Shop hardwired to deployed base

Flip a switch and a light goes on. Plug in an electric shaver and it recharges. Push start on a microwave and the food becomes piping hot. These are all easy everyday activities most people go through. But for one shop within the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, it’s an everyday job to

Daring and dedication: that others may live

Man figured out how to fly. Then he left it up to Air Force pararescue jumpers to figure out how to rescue him from the jungle, the ocean, the mountains and hostile territory when a plane crashes. The need for a highly trained rescue force was highlighted in 1943. In a rescue famous in pararescue

Air Force committed to energy-efficient strategies

The Air Force continues its pledge to be a leader in energy stewardship. For the last six months, the Air Force has been working on a strategy to have energy as a consideration in nearly all of its activities, from operations to acquisition. The Air Force is increasing efforts to reduce the demand

Vehicle managers keep things rolling at Manas

The supply tent in the vehicle management section of maintenance town here is a good illustration of just how busy the flight is right now. Packed from floor to ceiling and wall to wall with spare parts, it doesn’t hold everything needed to keep the base’s fleet of nearly 300 vehicles running.

Forces team up to provide security at Manas

After five months of negotiations between the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron and Manas International Airport security leaders, two security forces Airmen took their place beside their Kyrgyz counterparts at the airport entrance gate March 1. The gate, located just north of the

Remote weather system online again at Minot

Maintenance was recently completed on five Remote Automated Weather Stations, or RAWS, located at missile alert facilities throughout North Dakota. The maintenance, which began in fall 2005, was completed Feb. 17 and made the RAWS fully operational after a four-year hiatus. The RAWS have sensors

Operation Deep Freeze finishes

Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica, Operation Deep Freeze, an annual Antarctic airlift mission in support of the National Science Foundation, completed its final sortie Feb. 28, closing a record-filled season. Flight operations were supported by LC-130s from the New York Air National Guard's

Electronic Systems Center charting 'smart' course with Blue Teams

An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure, according to the old adage, and the Electronic Systems Center has taken that message to heart. Air Force officials have vowed to improve its acquisition timeliness and cost through an initiative known as "Going Green" -- green symbolizing a program that

Class selected for cyber security boot camp

Forty men and women from across the country will focus on a futuristic "cybercraft" as they participate in the 2006 Class of the Advanced Course in Engineering Cyber Security Boot Camp. A joint selection committee of Syracuse University and Air Force Research Laboratory officials reviewed the

Langley unit receive its first Raptors

After two-and-a-half months of waiting, an aircraft with a 94th Fighter Squadron emblem has once again landed at Langley Air Force Base. But this time, the emblems were painted on the sides of two F-22A Raptors. Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, 94th Fighter Squadron commander, and Maj. Kevin Dolata, 94th FS,

Hostage negotiation exercise

Exercise Eagle Flag

Spiral 3 underway for JEFX ’06

Spiral 3 of the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment ‘06 kicked off March 2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. JEFX is an Air Force chief of staff-sponsored, major command-executed series of experiments that combine live-fly, live-play ground and naval forces, simulation and technology insertions into a

Senior leaders' testimony on Air Force posture available online

The Air Force’s top leaders testified before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees March 2 about the service’s posture for the coming fiscal year. In the written and opening statements to the committees, the leaders outlined how the new budget will help keep the service focused on winning

Air Force leaders testify on processes used to combat costs

The Air Force has seen a rise in the cost of doing business, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told members of the House Armed Services Committee during testimony March 1."We are experiencing unyielding second order effects that continue to drain our top line -- we are exhausting all our

Virginia Guard unit begins integrating with fighter wing

He wears a battle dress uniform and looks just like any other maintainer working on a F-22 Raptor, but this Airman is very different from most others in the 27th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here. He is paid by the hour, reports to a different supervisor and has a 70-mile commute to and from Richmond

Kunsan units deploy to Singapore

More than 70 Airmen from the 80th Fighter Squadron and 80th Aircraft Maintenance Unit deployed from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, March 2 for Operation Commando Sling. The month-long deployment, involving joint warfare operations between the U.S. Air Force and its Singapore counterparts, will

Air Force seeks new tanker

The Air Force wants a new refueler aircraft, something commercially available now, which can be modified to replace the existing KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. That testimony came from Air Force leaders associated with the tanker replacement program, Feb. 28 in front of the House Armed Services

Five wings compete in 'Tanker Winter Games'

Five 18th Air Force KC-135 wings came together for the first “Tanker Winter Games” here Feb. 23 through 26. Crews from McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., Robins AFB, Ga., MacDill AFB, Fla., Fairchild AFB, Wash., and here gathered not only for some friendly competition, but also for a chance to learn

Guard rescue wing still making mark on history

Amid the quiet picturesque towns sprinkled across Long Island, N.Y., are more than 800 Airmen who are a part of history. They are the men and women of the 106th Rescue Wing -- a unit that battled the “Perfect Storm,” witnessed the TWA Flight 800 disaster, supported response efforts after the

Security Forces training

B-52 generation

Preparing for a contingency