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  • Command chiefs address concerns, offer advice during AFA convention forum

    Issues affecting America's Airmen took center stage Sept. 19 during the Air Force Association's 2011 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition's Command Chief Master Sergeants Forum here Sept. 19.The forum provided Airmen an opportunity to communicate directly with chiefs on hot-button topics

  • Tops in Blue seeks talent for 2012 tour

    The Air Force's premier expeditionary entertainment group, Tops in Blue, is seeking the "best of the best" talent in the Air Force for the 2012 team.The Air Force Worldwide Talent Search takes place at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, Jan. 9-16, 2012. Total force Airmen who believe they have the

  • Obama proposes TRICARE changes

    Military retirees would pay an annual fee for TRICARE-for-Life health insurance and TRICARE pharmacy co-payments would be restructured under the deficit reduction plan President Barack Obama released Sept. 19."If we're going to meet our responsibilities, we have to do it together," Obama said during

  • USAJOBS October upgrade to affect job seekers

    Air Force job seekers will notice changes to the USAJOBS website in mid-October, including stronger security procedures, elimination of unnecessary applicant profile questions, and improved search filters, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. The improved federal employment search portal is

  • 'Portraits in Courage' Vol. VI: Core values, real time

    Directing heat, jumping into raging waters, triaging under fire, powering relief efforts, or using a camera to alter outcomes; these are the actions taken by some of the 18 Airmen featured in the latest series of Portraits in Courage.Volume VI tells the stories of heroes and game changers; the

  • Man, woman found dead in Luke AFB post office

    A man and a woman were found dead Sept. 18 in the post office here.The man, identified as a Defense Department civilian employee who was authorized access to the facility, was found with his wife about 7 p.m."We want to emphasize that this was an isolated incident," said Capt. Carla Gleason, the

  • AF officials announce civilian early retirement, separation incentive options

    The Air Force is implementing civilian Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay programs, Air Force officials announced today."Our goal with these programs is to mitigate the impact of reduced fiscal year 2012 funding on our permanent civilian workforce," said Maj.

  • Enlisted force bestows highest honor on ACC commander

    A gathering of 500 Air Combat Command Airmen assembled in Hampton, Va. Sept. 12, to honor the ACC commander with induction into the Order of the Sword. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor the enlisted corps can bestow on an individual and is steeped in military tradition. Originally begun as

  • DOD reaffirms commitment to POWs, MIAs

     No one has matched the United States' time, resources and commitment to accounting for its missing military members and honoring its prisoners of war, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Sept. 16.During a Pentagon ceremony to honor National Prisoners of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day,

  • Officials seek Pitsenbarger Award nominees

    Air Force Sergeants Association is seeking nominations for the 2012 Pitsenbarger Award.The AFSA Pitsenbarger Award annually recognizes an Air Force enlisted service member who has performed a heroic act, on or off duty, that resulted in saving a life or preventing serious injury to another person or

  • Air Force wraps up critical days of summer

    The Air Force concluded its Critical Days of Summer campaign Sept. 6, and the results reflect the need to be mindful of the risks associated with activities and look out for one another officials said. During the 15-week campaign, the Air Force experienced 18 fatalities -- all of them in off-duty

  • Air Force vice chief testifies on GO, SES numbers

    The Air Force vice chief of staff provided the Air Force perspective on general officer and senior executive service civilian authorizations to the Senate Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Personnel here Sept. 14.Gen. Phil Breedlove joined his Army, Navy and Marine Corps counterparts in

  • AF libraries offer online learning resources

    School is back in session, and Air Force libraries worldwide offer online learning resources for students of all ages.The Transparent Language Online program contains pronunciation, speech, grammar, writing and vocabulary building lessons for more than 80 languages. The program is available to total

  • Officials announce colonel selective early retirement board eligibility

    As previously announced May 27, the Air Force will convene a selective early retirement board for colonels to further size and balance the force within the congressionally authorized 332,800 end-strength level. The CY12A Colonel SERB is scheduled to convene Jan. 9, 2012, to consider eligible

  • US News & World Report ranks Academy No. 1

    The U.S. Air Force Academy is ranked top in the nation by high school guidance counselors, second in the nation in aeronautical and astronautical engineering and came away with several more top-tier rankings in the U.S. News & World Report's Best College Rankings for 2012.The magazine released its

  • Air Force ROTC unit established at Yale

    The secretary of the Air Force and the president of Yale University signed an agreement here Sept. 12 establishing an Air Force ROTC detachment on the campus, which marks a renewed presence at Yale for the Air Force.Yale's commitment to service, intellectual excellence and diversity make it the

  • Officials announce enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 850 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the September enlisted supplemental promotion process. The enlisted supplemental promotion release announces those Airmen selected for promotion who tested outside of their required cycle due to an extended

  • CSA card personal use unauthorized

    Policy changes concerning the use of the Air Force's new Controlled Spend Account cards were spelled out in a policy letter from Headquarters Air Force Aug. 26. Effective immediately, personal use of the CSA is not authorized. The CSA is the program the Air Force implemented this year to replace the

  • DTC provides comfort, eases transition for US service members

    The Ramstein Deployment Transition Center here recently opened its doors to service members from other branches of the U.S. military, 2,100 so far, allowing those teammates who are consistently in harm's way a method to ease into the transition of going home. Since July 2010, the DTC has been the

  • Air Force pilot missing from Vietnam War identified

    Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials announced Sept. 6 that the remains of an Airman, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.Maj. Thomas E. Reitmann, of Red Wing, Minn., will be buried Sept.

  • Panetta to visit 9/11 attack sites

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will spend Sept. 6 honoring those killed during the Sept. 11, terrorist attacks on the United States, as he travels to New York and Pennsylvania.The secretary will visit ground zero in lower Manhattan, where hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 and United

  • Kunsan Airman wins Air Force IDEA cash

    An Airmen here was awarded an Air Force Innovative Development Through Employee Awareness Program cash award of $1,875 Aug. 30.Senior Airman Jason Devore's idea to add a tire rotation plan to the scheduled maintenance of vehicles saved the Air Force money and increased the mission-capable rates for

  • Nominations open for public administration award

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 8th Annual Department of Defense David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award. This award recognizes nonmanagerial career civilian employees who demonstrate great leadership potential as future federal executives.This award was

  • TRICARE portability reduces moving stress

    With a single phone call, TRICARE's "Moving Made Easy" option will take some of the stress out of moving, a top TRICARE official said Aug. 26. Using this option, service member and family beneficiaries under TRICARE Prime can ensure that when they arrive at a new duty station, their medical records

  • Supplies increased at military clothing stores

     Current inventory of the green fleece has caught up with demand, officials announced Sept. 2.The sources for purchase of the fleece are Army Air Force Exchange Service military clothing stores in person and online.Airmen have raised issues concerning availability, where to buy the green fleece

  • Mid-grade civilian career development webcasts begin

    Webcasts developed to help GS-7 through GS-11 civilian Airmen plan and manage their careers will be held at various dates and times through Oct. 6.  Originally slated for June, the GS-7 through GS-11 webcasts were rescheduled to help prevent login problems "This is our largest civilian Airmen

  • Cadet Interfaith Council accepts president's community service challenge

    The Cadet Interfaith Council here kicked off an outreach partnership with a Colorado Springs food bank Aug. 27, answering President Barack Obama's challenge to colleges to become involved in interfaith cooperation and community service.Council members and chaplains spent two hours at Care and Share

  • Job initiatives focus on vets, family members

    President Barack Obama called on Congress Aug. 30 to move quickly on an initiative to offer tax credits to employers who hire unemployed veterans, including those with disabilities.Speaking at the American Legion National Convention in Minneapolis, the president emphasized the nation's

  • Langley, Dover lift stop movement orders

    Commanders at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and Dover AFB, Del., have lifted the stop-movement orders initiated last week in anticipation of Hurricane Irene.All personnel with permanent change of station and temporary-duty orders are authorized to continue to Langley AFB or Dover AFB, as appropriate.

  • Services officials 'refresh' dining menus

    Airmen will soon have more variety and availability of nutritious meals thanks to a new initiative to 'refresh' dining facility menus.Air Force Services Agency officials here partnered with industry chefs to implement a new program called "Operation Refresh." The program infuses new items into

  • Printing delay for enlisted guide won't delay promotion testing

    Distribution of the printed version of the 2011 Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241, Professional Development Guide, will be delayed until late December. Promotion cycles, including the upcoming 12E8 senior master sergeant promotion cycle Dec. 5-16, will not be affected by the distribution delay. The delay

  • Financial services return to local centers

    The processing of military pay transactions will move from the Air Force Financial Service Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., to base-level financial services offices beginning in August.The return of military pay transactions to local level is a part of the Secretary of Defense Leon

  • Panetta urges troops, families to prepare for 'Irene'

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today encouraged service members, Defense Department civilians and families who may be affected by Hurricane Irene to take all necessary precautions against the storm that's currently moving northward along the eastern U.S. seaboard.In a message issued today to

  • ACC Airmen prepare for Hurricane Irene

    National Hurricane Center officials issued a number of advisories for the East Coast Aug. 25 in preparation for Hurricane Irene.Airmen, civilian personnel and their families at Air Combat Command units and installations near the projected path of a hurricane should take steps to adequately prepare,

  • Family, friends say goodbye to a 'hero'

    An Air Force Special Operations Command pararescueman was laid to rest here Aug. 23.Tech. Sgt. Daniel Zerbe, 28, died Aug. 6 in the Wardak province of eastern Afghanistan when the Chinook helicopter in which he was traveling crashed. Zerbe was one of 25 U.S. Special Operations Command operators who

  • CMSAF visits Offutt, speaks about tough decisions on horizon

    During a visit here Aug. 18 and 19, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy met with the enlisted members of Air Combat Command's largest wing and Offutt's tenant units. Roy took time to dispel some rumors and explain to Air Force members what's on the horizon. Understandably, one of the

  • Caring for People Survey results provide insight

    More than 100,000 total force Airmen voiced their opinions in the online Caring for People survey conducted from Dec. 1, 2010 to Jan. 3, 2011. After experts performed a comprehensive analysis, officials have released results to force support leadership. The survey allowed active duty, Guard and

  • TRICARE officials expand retail pharmacy vaccine program

    TRICARE officials are expanding the number of preventive vaccines covered at retail network pharmacies. Until now, the majority of vaccines were only covered when obtained through a physician's office."Vaccines are a critical part of every family's preventive health program," said Rear Adm.

  • Panetta: Any retirement changes won't affect serving military

    In his clearest statement on the subject to date, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said today that if the military retirement system changes, it will not affect serving service members."I will not break faith," the secretary said during a roundtable meeting with military media representatives in

  • DOD schools engage students with technology

    When children walk into a Defense Department school this year, they may be handed a laptop or electronic reader, or perhaps they'll be asked to build a robot or try out a simulator on the school lawn. Technology has long since changed the nation; it's now time to use these advances to transform its

  • Officials train a resilient family, force

    Officials from Seymour Johnson Air Force base hosted a resiliency training session for Air Combat Command dependents Aug. 12 here."Spouses and teenagers deal with the deployment schedules and battle rhythm that our active-duty forces deal with each and every day," said Col. Patrick Doherty, the 4th

  • Officials offer peek into officer promotion boards

    Air Force officials offered a peek into the officer promotion board process recently to explain how they are conducted. "The promotion system is clear-cut and extremely fair," said Col. Ramona Dolson, chief of the Air Force Selection Board Secretariat. "The Air Force has done a great job in making

  • VA paralympic program officials launch website for disabled veterans

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials have launched a Paralympic Program website as part of the VA's ongoing commitment to support the rehabilitation and recovery of disabled veterans through participation in adaptive sports. "Adaptive sports participation among disabled veterans has many proven

  • Motorcycle ride kicks off 9/11 memorial observances

    One of the first of many tenth-anniversary commemorations of the 9/11 terror attacks will begin Aug. 18 as almost 2,500 motorcyclists launch the 11th America's 9/11 Ride that begins in Shanksville, Pa., and continues over the next three days to the Pentagon and World Trade Center crash sites.The

  • VA opens small business conference in New Orleans

    The National Veterans Small Business Conference and Expo in New Orleans is underway. Hosted by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time, it is the largest nationwide conference of its kind focused on helping veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses succeed in winning

  • Sharing intelligence helps contractors strengthen cyber defenses

    A new pilot program in which Defense Department officials share classified threat intelligence with defense contractors or their commercial Internet service providers is showing promise in increasing their cyber defenses and preventing enemy intrusions into sensitive government networks, Deputy

  • Resilience study can help DOD officials strengthen programs

    The military has a plethora of programs aimed at building resilience in service members and their families, but needs a better system in place to measure their success, a study has revealed.Commissioned by officials from the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain

  • Panetta: Congress must look at whole federal budget for cuts

    Budget concerns and the need for the Defense Department to work with the State Department dominated a discussion at the National Defense University here today with the Cabinet members who lead those departments.Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta talked

  • No changes to military retirement anytime soon, officials say

    The military retirement system isn't going to change any time soon, a Defense Department official said recently.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said any changes to military retirement should be studied carefully and should be "grandfathered" so the military doesn't

  • Djibouti medical service corps members tour expeditionary medical facility

    Service members from the Djiboutian Military Medical Service Corps were given an opportunity Aug. 9 to tour the Michaud Expeditionary Medical Facility on Camp Lemonnier.The tour of the facility was conducted as part of an ongoing educational partnership between Djiboutian military medics and their

  • Officials announce civilian workforce hiring freeze

    Air Force officials announced the implementation of a 90-day hiring freeze effective immediately.A firm commitment to keep spending within requested levels led to implement the hiring freeze across the civilian workforce, officials said.In addition to a 90-day hiring freeze, the officials plan to

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • 'Military Line' works to boost financial fitness

    A young service member saddled with debt and in need of some quick cash doesn't have to go far. Lenders offering same-day loans sit outside the gate of nearly every military installation in the nation.But the lure of fast and easy cash can lead strapped troops down a path of steep interest rates and

  • Air Force continues emphasis on DADT repeal training

    Air Force leaders want to ensure all Airmen are prepared for the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law Sept. 20.Airmen can access the DADT Repeal training through the Advanced Distributed Learning Service link on the Air Force Portal, said Col. Jeff White, Air Force Directorate of Force

  • Transition assistance vital for those separating Airmen

    With active-duty positions being eliminated through current force-management measures, it's important Airmen identified for separation use a vital tool -- the Air Force Transition Assistance Program -- to help ease themselves and their families into transition from military to civilian life.

  • Air Force announces enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 800 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the August enlisted supplemental promotion process. The enlisted supplemental promotion release announces those Airmen selected for promotion who tested outside of their required cycle due to an extended

  • ACC aviator garners federal recognition

    Lt. Col. Shelly Black, the deputy chief of Headquarters Air Combat Command's Personnel Recovery Division, received the 2011 Federally Employed Women Military Meritorious Service Award July 18 at the 42nd National Training Program in Philadelphia, Penn., for her significant contributions in

  • TRICARE offers transitional health care

    When service members leave active duty, TRICARE offers a transitional health care option for eligible beneficiaries and their families while they look for new health coverage. The Transitional Assistance Management Program, or TAMP, is designed to extend TRICARE eligibility for sponsors and their

  • DOD releases names of Airmen killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash

    Three Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen died Saturday morning when their aircraft, a coalition CH-47 Chinook, crashed in the Maiden Wardak Province in eastern Afghanistan. They were among 25 U.S. Special Operations Command operators who died in the crash, which also took the lives of five

  • 2011 Department of Defense Maintenance Awards Winners Announced

    Department of Defense officials announced the 2011 winners of the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Awards for depot and field-level units Aug. 10. These awards are presented annually to recognize outstanding achievements in weapon system and military equipment maintenance. The 2011 Robert T. Mason

  • Reservist reenlists after 19-year break, sworn in by son

    Nineteen years after separating from the active duty Air Force, Scott Long enlisted into the Reserves. Now he's Staff Sgt. Long, with the 476th Maintenance Squadron as a fuel systems craftsman.Sergeant Long's son, U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Brandon Long, 1-169 Aviation Support Battalion liaison officer,

  • Air Force employee one of five selected for special award

    Michael Nakai, an information technology specialist at the Air Force Safety Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., was selected as one of five recipients of the 2011 Judith C. Gilliom Outstanding Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities Award. He was presented the

  • Air Force Medical Service's first 'Sergeant Major' to be honored

    The late Chief Master Sgt. Raymond T. Smith once told a reporter: "The Vietnam conflict has brought the services closer together. We've got to keep it that way."When he made that remark in 1970, he was serving as the first enlisted senior NCO for the entire Air Force Medical Service. So new was his

  • Buckley service members guard World Trade Center artifacts

    Service members at Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. held a recognition ceremony Aug. 8 displaying pieces of steel from the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center."This special ceremony was to honor the lives that were lost on Sept. 11, 2001," said Col. Daniel Dant, the 460th Space Wing Commander.

  • Academy to host Native American consultation

    The 10th Air Base Wing commander will host representatives from up to 14 Native American tribes Aug. 9-11 as part of a consultation to develop memoranda of understanding among the Academy and the tribes.Col. Thomas Gibson, in his role as host for the nation-to-nation talks, will formally welcome

  • Retroactive coverage closing for TRICARE Young Adult program

    The opportunity to purchase retroactive TRICARE Young Adult, or TYA, coverage expires on Sept. 30.  Retroactive TYA provides coverage for young adults back to Jan. 1, or the day they became eligible if that was after Jan. 1.TYA allows eligible adult children to purchase TRICARE coverage after their

  • Panetta discusses security challenges in STRATCOM visit

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta spoke to service members about national security concerns and the defense budget during a visit Aug. 5 to U.S. Strategic Command headquarters at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb."It's a challenging time for the United States," Panetta said. "But with regard to our

  • VA quality data released to public on CMS Hospital Compare website

    Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers are now included in the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services Hospital Compare website, which measures hospital quality based on what matters most to patients, the outcomes of care. "VA is committed to providing veterans and their family members

  • Sheppard innovates Web-based self-inspections

    Innovation in the checklist industry has found its way to the Sheppard Air Force Base Self-Inspection Program through the Management Internal Control Toolset. MICT is a web-based self-inspection software tool used to manage, track and close self-identified work center deficiencies. The days of

  • VA officials reach out to veterans to explain upcoming changes to GI Bill

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials are reaching out to inform veterans of recent changes made by Congress to the Post 9/11 GI Bill that take effect in 2011. "The Post 9/11 GI Bill is incredibly important because it reduces the financial burdens of higher education so that veterans have an

  • Nominees sought for 2012 Verne Orr Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2012 Verne Orr Award. The Air Force Association established this award in honor of former Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr to recognize mission-oriented unit accomplishments and achievements in utilizing personnel to their full potential in

  • Cadet Wing accepts Class of 2015

    The Air Force Academy's Cadet Wing formally absorbed the Class of 2015 into its fold during the annual Acceptance Day Parade here Aug. 3.During the ceremony, basic cadets received copies of "Contrails" from their legacy class, the Class of 1975. They swore the Academy's Honor Oath before exchanging

  • Air Force officials release E-5 promotion list

    The staff sergeant promotion list is now available on the Air Force Personnel Center's website and Air Force Personnel Services website under enlisted promotions. Airmen can also access their Weighed Airman Promotion System score notices at the same time on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight

  • AF Academy instructor vacancies available

    Opportunities are available for active-duty officers to apply for U.S. Air Force Academy instructor vacancies for the 2012-2013 academic year, Air Force officials here announced recently. Interested officers must apply by Sept. 15 for USAFA dean of faculty, preparatory school and athletic department

  • VA officials kick off National Caregiver Support Conference

    The 2011 National Caregiver Support Conference, which highlights Veterans Affairs' support of caregivers of all eras, will conclude here Aug. 4.The conference, which began Aug. 2, follows the implementation of landmark legislation by VA that provides a direct benefit for the first time to

  • Secretary of the Air Force talks with Airmen while visiting Vance AFB

    "We're committed to ensuring that the United States continues to have the world's finest Air Force for generations to come," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley during his stop here July 27.Donley spent three hours at Vance AFB, accompanied by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy

  • Panetta praises new leaders following Senate confirmations

    Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta praised six officers Aug. 2 after the Senate confirmed their nominations for key leadership positions, including the military's two top uniformed posts."I would like to congratulate (Army) Gen. Martin Dempsey and (Navy) Adm. James Winnefeld, who the Senate confirmed

  • Panetta: DOD will help nation meet fiscal challenges

    Though defense spending must and will be part of the solution to the national financial struggle, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta told the Defense Department workforce in a message Aug. 3, budget reductions must take sound strategy and policy into account.President Barack Obama signed a bill Aug.

  • Nominations open for Spirit of Hope Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2012 Spirit of Hope Award.The award recognizes a military member, civilian or organization that epitomizes the values of Bob Hope -- duty, honor, courage, loyalty, commitment, integrity and selfless dedication.Organizations and base-level personnel

  • Nominations open for Joan Orr Spouse Award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2012 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year Award.The Air Force Association Joan Orr Spouse of the Year Award honors significant contributions made by non-military spouses of Airmen from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31The nominee's spouse must be serving in

  • Obama nominates Carter as next deputy secretary

    President Barack Obama nominated the Pentagon's head of acquisitions, technology and logistics Aug. 2 to become the next deputy secretary of defense.Ashton B. Carter, whose nomination is subject to Senate confirmation, would replace William J. Lynn III, with whom he has worked closely and who

  • New defense secretary makes surprise visit to Peterson AFB

    The new secretary of defense, Leon Panetta, made a surprise visit here July 29, taking time to talk to a group of service members who were eager to meet the newest member of the Department of Defense family. While the stay was brief and the group small, Panetta's words to the gathering of Airmen,

  • TRICARE survivor benefits continue upon death of sponsor

    TRICARE will continue to provide coverage for family members if a sponsor dies. Options and costs will vary based on the sponsor's military status when he or she dies and if the surviving beneficiary is a spouse or child If a beneficiary is the spouse of an active duty service member who died while

  • Operation Warmheart provides funds for those displaced

    Among the several organizations ready to support Airmen and their families here in times of need is Operation Warmheart. Its mission is to provide emergency grants to base members.Run by the first sergeants here, the organization has received more than $25,000 in donations and has seen contributions

  • Program helps disabled vets become entrepreneurs

    Retired Army 1st Sgt. Renee Floyd wasn't about to let a disability stop her from realizing her dream of having her own business.Applying 21 years of experience as an Army mechanic, she launched BRF Mobile Lube Service in Phenix City, Ala., in 2009 and began traveling to people's homes and businesses

  • Defense budget cuts must be balanced, Mullen says

    As the pressure increases on the federal budget, the Defense Department must make cuts in a balanced way, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today."There are three dials: the people dial, the operations dial and the acquisition or equipment dial," Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said to about

  • Officials announce E-5 selection stats

    Air Force officials here selected 11,337 of 26,549 eligible senior airman for promotion to staff sergeant for a selection rate of 42.70 percent.The average score for those selected was 275.56, with an average time in grade of 1.88 years and an average time in service of 4.44 years. The average score

  • Professional development key to Airmen's success

    In a culture where deployments are part of daily life and Airmen regularly perform duties above their rank, professional development is an important piece of cultivating the enlisted force to meet mission requirements, Air Force leaders said recently at the 2011 Air Force Sergeants Association

  • New office aims to strengthen families financially

    A government office dedicated to protecting service members and their families from financial predators and pitfalls officially opened for business recently.As the military arm of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Office of Servicemember Affairs is intended to strengthen military

  • Congressmen review Reserve role, budget, mobilization

    As Congress debates ways to address the federal debt ceiling, reserve component military leaders were on Capitol Hill recently to testify and answer questions about retaining operational roles, changes to mobilization and future budget challenges.Led by chairman Joe Wilson, of S.C., and ranking

  • Minot situation serious, stop movement order remains

    The situation remains serious in the Minot Air Force Base, N.D., area, and the stop movement order remains in place, Air Force officials announced July 29.Heavy spring flooding forced many to evacuate the city of Minot N.D., prompting the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing commanders to request a

  • Hiring vets makes positive investment, defense officials say

    Hiring military reservists and veterans is a positive investment for America, the deputy director of U.S. Army Reserve Command told federal hiring officials July 27.Reservists and veterans have a "vast resource of capabilities" that provides a distinct hiring pool for federal civilian jobs, Army

  • Special ops defenders on the road for 9/11 memorial march

    Ten years after the tragic events of 9/11, four 1st Special Operations Security Forces Squadron Airmen picked up their packs July 28 to participate in the Ruck March to Remember.Tech. Sgt. Daniel Dance, the NCO in charge of supply; Tech. Sgt. Chad Reemtsma, the NCO in charge of physical security;

  • Joint, combined team make first-ever Pac Angel - Mongolia a success

    As part of the first Pacific Angel operation in Mongolia, U.S. Air Force and Mongolian army military engineers work side-by-side with local contractors to repair and renovate a clinic for Mongolian Armed Forces veterans and retirees in Tsenkermandal village from July 17 to 23.A joint and combined

  • Command streamlines moves during busy season

    Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command officials are working hard to continually improve processes for military families moving to new duty stations during an exceptionally busy summer, the command's personal property branch chief said July 25.Major points of emphasis for the peak

  • Columbus defenders bring 9/11 march across Mississippi River

    Airmen from the 14th Security Forces Squadron here will take the Ruck March to Remember across the Mississippi River July 26 during their portion of the 2,181-mile trek.The Columbus Airmen began their 146-mile march July 24, taking part in the nationwide security forces event commemorating the 10th

  • Military recruiting, retention remain strong

    A bumper crop of new high school graduates who joined the military in June helped the Defense Department continue its strong recruiting and retention streak.All four services met or exceeded their fiscal-year-to-date goals for active-duty accessions through June 30, along with five of the six

  • Deadline approaching for Sijan award

    Air Force officials would like to remind Airmen that the deadline for submitting nominations for the 2011 Lance P. Sijan United States Air Force Leadership Award to the Air Force Personnel Center is September 1.The Sijan award recognizes the accomplishments of officers and enlisted members who have