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  • Air Force leaders, spouses focus on family readiness

    During a panel session at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 19, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, Air Force Chief of Staff Dave Goldfein, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody and their spouses focused on how the Air Force is supporting its members and

  • New faces of the Air Force

    As the Air Force turns a year older Sept. 18, some of the newest members of the service were asked earlier this month on their basic training graduation day why they decided to be part of the world’s greatest airpower team. Here’s what they had to say.

  • A 10-minute test: Airman delivers daughter

    When Master Sgt. Travis Shaw left for work the morning of Aug. 9, he probably couldn’t have imagined that just hours later his combat lifesaving skills would be tested in an emergency situation most pararescue specialists don’t traditionally encounter. But rather than treating a service member on

  • WWII female pilot honored among brothers, sisters

    More than 70 years later, as the last of “the greatest generation” dwindles and the WASPs’ male counterparts are laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery with befitting honors, a WASP is at last also being honored for her service. During a military funeral service Sept. 7, Elaine Danforth

  • Every Airman plays a role in suicide prevention

    The Air Force is determined to prevent suicide, but an Airman doesn’t need to be a specialist or doctor to do that. Sometimes all it takes is starting a conversation. Everyone has a role to play. That’s a key part of the Defense Department’s #BeThere campaign, which encourages making a difference

  • Influenza vaccine update for Airmen, families

    This year's influenza vaccine will be different for service members due to a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to not use the live attenuated influenza vaccine, commonly known as FluMist.

  • WWII aviator returns to Guam after 71 years, gets unexpected surprise

    The year was 1945 during the tail end of World War II. The sound of roaring aircraft engines and boots on the ground filled the air, raising decibel levels to resounding heights. For Rowland Ball, now 91, the sounds became familiar and today serve as a nostalgic reminder of his time as a B-29

  • STEM scholarships available to college students

    Eric Wineman completed both his undergraduate and master’s degrees with no student loan debt and now works for the Air Force as an electronics engineer, courtesy of the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation Scholarship for Service Program.

  • Flat Stanleys deploy from McConnell

    It was early in the morning when they got the call to deploy. Once aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker, they began their 8,000-mile expedition. It was 110 degrees when they landed in the hot and dusty country, and their journey had only just begun, the aircrew said. The paper dolls, also known as Flat

  • DOD awards TRICARE-managed care support contracts

    The Defense Department announced on July 22 that the next generation of TRICARE-managed care support contracts were awarded. The new contracts, which go into effect nine months after the award, establish two TRICARE regions in the United States: East and West, instead of the current three.

  • AF begins study on noise exposures

    An Air Force Surgeon General initiative called Total Exposure Health will soon advance from a concept to a real-world demonstration at an operational base. Total Exposure Health focuses on primary prevention, which includes exposures in the workplace, the environment and lifestyles, in order to

  • Research, technology aid effort to help TBI patients

    Since the Vietnam War, doctors have seen an increase in service members returning from combat with traumatic brain injuries from blasts. At the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), a directorate of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, doctors and therapists

  • Teens learn to BOUNCE back in first AF teen resiliency course

    Twenty-four teenagers participated in the Air Force's first resiliency teen camp, named BOUNCE, from July 11-15 at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. BOUNCE, which stands for Be optimistic, Observe thoughts, Use strengths, Never give up, Communicate effectively and Embrace you, is a weeklong

  • Retired Airman builds bonds, resilience with comedic veterans

    After 28 years of service, Maj. Darlean Basuedayva was selected for retirement during the 2011 U.S. Air Force reduction board. After nearly three decades immersed in military life, Basuedayva didn't know how to transition into the civilian lifestyle. She later met a group of fellow veterans in a

  • National Intrepid Center zeroes in on traumatic brain injury

    Defense Medical Surveillance System and Theater Medical Data figures show that more than 339,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury since 2000. For service members on their roads to recovery, the National Intrepid Center of Excellence in Bethesda, Maryland, stands ready

  • Saber Strike turns to medevac mission for C-17 aircrew

    After a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from the 21st Airlift Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, California, took off June 10 for exercise Saber Strike 16, they ended up on a real-world emergency medical mission to help a fellow Airman.

  • Ramstein wife earns spouse of the year award

    Giving back to the local community is one of the duties that come along with service to one's country. There are some people, like Nicole Bridge, who don’t wear the uniform, but give back in an equally large way. Bridge was recently awarded the 2016 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year award.

  • Safety -- Make it a habit for life

    Summertime can be an enjoyable time to relax and recharge with family and friends. These enjoyable summertime activities do not come without hazards. Too often, what was thought to be risk-free fun turns into a not so enjoyable injury or accident. In fact, in recent years, exciting and fun

  • Osan, local community remember Airman involved in recent fire rescue

    A memorial service to remember Staff Sgt. Cierra Rogers, a 731st Air Mobility Squadron Airman, took place at Osan Air Base, South Korea, on June 24. Military and civilian members of the Osan AB and Pyeongtaek community gathered alongside the Airman’s family to honor Rogers, a 731st Air Mobility

  • Health literacy key for better health, better care

    At the core of health literacy is communication between patients and their health care providers. In order to make the best decisions about their health, patients need clear information they can understand. Through patient-centered care, the Air Force is working to educate health professionals to

  • Brothers connect at 22,000 feet

    A couple months ago, two KC-135 Stratotankers took flight from Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, to participate in an ordinary air refueling training exercise, but for the Marchesseault brothers, the day was anything but ordinary.

  • Family first: A story for Air Force spouses

    Jeff Hogg knows the role of the military spouse better than most because he understands the needs of the military lifestyle and the military family. He served in the Air Force for over 20 years before retiring and is the spouse of Maj. Gen. Dorothy Hogg, the Air Force deputy surgeon general.

  • Coping with stress through healthy thinking

    Stress. Even the mention of the word can increase anxiety for some. Everyone deals with stress differently, but how a person copes with daily stressors can have great impacts on their quality of life and overall health.

  • Tuskegee Airman laid to rest

    The Air Force paid its final respects to former 2nd Lt. Malvin G. Whitfield, an Army Air Forces and Air Force veteran, at Arlington National Cemetery, June 8. Whitfield distinguished himself as the first U.S. military member to win Olympic gold medals while serving his country. Whitfield joined the

  • AF program increases access to behavioral health care

    Nearly half of people with a treatable behavioral health disorder do not seek help from behavioral health professionals, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. However, 80 percent of this population does visit a primary care manager at least once a year. An Air Force program seeks

  • Father-son duo comes full circle at BMT graduation, retirement

    In the Air Force, countless parents have proudly watched their child graduate from basic military training, and countless children have seen their parents retire from service. On May 27 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, a father and son did both on the same day, respectively.

  • Forever family, never forgotten

    A mother watched as her 2-year-old, blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy stood in the middle of Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, hugging the gravestone of his father who had died five months prior. With heavy hearts, the two journeyed from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to meet others who understood

  • Air Force trailblazer returns to Ramstein after 54 years

    It doesn’t happen often but occasionally Airmen get the opportunity to meet an Airman who, in 1947, was there when the Air Force first stood on its own -- those trailblazers who laid the first bricks of airpower on the long blue line.

  • USAFE band member discovers family history on Memorial Day

    Senior Airman Colby Fahrenbacher, a tuba player in the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band, grew up hearing stories about his great-uncle Merle Noffsinger, who served with the Army Air Force. Fahrenbacher's great-uncle, Tech. Sgt. Merle Noffsinger, was a gunner and bombardier on the B-24 Liberator, and

  • Allergist educates military community about asthma

    Asthma is no disease to sneeze at. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 24 million Americans are affected by asthma, a chronic disease that causes airways to become inflamed and makes it hard to breathe. It’s estimated that 10 people die from it per day.

  • Brothers share multiple deployments

    After spending their entire childhood together, some siblings go their separate ways as adults and keep in touch from a safe distance. For the De La Pena brothers, that’s not the case.

  • WWII vets tour memorial, remember fallen brothers-in-arms

    Clouds lingered overhead, as young and old walked around the water fountain at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Couples took photos of one another while mothers and fathers tried to keep track of children attempting to run free. A leather-skinned gentleman, standing upright

  • AF spouse receives spouse of the year accolades

    Michelle Aikman was named Military Spouse Magazine’s 2016 Air Force Military Spouse of the Year during a luncheon May 5 at Fort Myer. Surrounded by her family and previous Air Force military spouses of the year winners, Aikman was recognized for her lifetime of accomplishments.

  • Putting mental health in focus

    Nearly one in five adults, or 43 million Americans, has a diagnosable mental disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Contrary to many other brain disorders, effective treatments are available for mental disorders.

  • New electronic health record system receives name

    Military Health System (MHS) officials say the new electronic health record (EHR) will be called MHS GENESIS and is set to be launched at the end of 2016. To keep pace with medical advances and innovations in technology, the Defense Department has purchased a state-of-the-art EHR that will continue

  • Air Force clubs to award $23,000 in scholarships

    May 20 is the deadline to apply for the 2016 Air Force Club Scholarship Program. During the past 17 years, the program has provided college tuition assistance to more than 440 Air Force Club members and their eligible family members.

  • AF family shares experience with child’s autism

    Four-year-old Dawson Stock loves music and instruments; his mother says he is obsessed with the violin. He knows the alphabet forward and backward and is ready to read. Dawson is teaching himself the sign-language alphabet. He knows his numbers and how to add. Dawson is a high-functioning child.

  • New urgent care pilot program for Prime beneficiaries

    To increase access to care, the Defense Department is launching an Urgent Care Pilot Program for TRICARE Prime beneficiaries. This program allows Prime enrollees two visits to a network or TRICARE-authorized provider without a referral or prior authorization.

  • Separated from family, students chalk up their emotions

    Azmeralda Poole pushes the chalk down on the ground and draws two dots inside a circle, cracking a grin as she sketches a smiling face. She points to her creation as she looks up at Nicole Flores, her Vogelweh Elementary School counselor.

  • Battlefield Airmen pay tribute to fallen commander

    More than 200 Airmen from the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing gathered at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida, on April 15 to mourn and pay tribute to Lt. Col. William Schroeder, who was fatally shot a week before.

  • K-9 remains resilient, bonds with handler

    Only months after recovering from hip dysplasia, Gina, an 8-year-old military working dog at Royal Air Force Lakenheath was diagnosed with yet another ailment. In February, a cancerous tumor was discovered on her mouth.

  • TRICARE improves mental health care, treatment

    People in distress may hesitate to reach out for help due to perceived stigma associated with seeking mental health treatment. This perception and the belief that care may be hard to get, may prevent some people who need care from getting it. TRICARE has worked hard to eliminate potential barriers

  • AF New Parent Support Program helps families care for infants, toddlers

    The Air Force New Parent Support Program provides information, support and guidance to parents as they care for their newborns, infants and toddlers. The program helps military families learn about the growth and development of infants and toddlers, to prepare for the changes that come as a baby is

  • Get your purple on to recognize military children

    April 15 is Purple Up! day, a time for Americans to show their support for military families. Department of Defense Education Activity schools will celebrate the event April 20 because of spring recess.

  • Families ordered to leave Turkey arriving in US

    Military dependents and pets began arriving at Baltimore Washington International Airport, Maryland, March 31 following an ordered departure of Defense Department dependents due to security concerns in some areas of Turkey. Dependents arriving at BWI were flown on Air Mobility Command’s C-17

  • Ramstein units step up to help military families leaving Turkey

    An ordered departure for U.S. military family members to leave Turkey due to security concerns March 29, resulted in many of them traveling through Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Members of the Kaiserslautern military community, including Ramstein personnel, pitched in to assist fellow military

  • Incirlik ensures safe departure of families from Turkey

    While Incirlik Air Base remains a hub of activity in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, an ordered departure was approved March 29 for families of military members and Defense Department civilians stationed in Adana, Izmir and Mugla, Turkey, to include those on base.

  • Cadets, special tactics Airmen honor fallen Academy grad

    More than 150 special tactics Airmen and U.S. Air Force Academy cadets honored fallen Academy graduate and Silver Star medal recipient Capt. Matthew D. Roland, dedicating a memorial display and completing memorial pushups in formation here March 30.

  • First families arrive at Ramstein from Turkey

    The first group of families arrived at Ramstein Air Base March 30 after the State Department and the secretary of defense approved the ordered departure of dependents of service members and Defense Department civilian personnel currently stationed in Adana, Izmir, and Mugla, Turkey.

  • Mental maintenance: Tools to keep the mind fit

    Airmen often go to the fitness center; some spend several hours a week toning their bodies, while others go to simply maintain their physique. But what about strengthening the mind?

  • State Department, DOD approve dependents’ departure from Turkey

    The secretary of defense, in coordination with the secretary of state, has authorized the ordered departure of all Defense Department dependents not assigned to chief of mission authority from Adana (to include Incirlik Air Base), Ismir and Mugla, Turkey.

  • TRICARE offers relief for spring allergies

    The weather is finally warming and we can spend more time outdoors. Unfortunately for some, warm weather brings suffering from seasonal allergies. However, there is hope. TRICARE covers proven services and supplies needed to diagnose and treat allergies.

  • AFSVA gets ready for 2016 youth camps

    Teenagers looking to cure those summertime blues will have various camps to choose from this year, thanks to central funding from the Air Force Services Activity, also known as AFSVA.

  • Sleep is serious: Catch your Zzzs

    “Beep. Beep. Beep,” the alarm blares. Time to get up. Do you hit snooze? On average, we spend 33 percent of our lives asleep. When assessing your overall health, have you considered your sleep habits?

  • Newest 'Freedom Flyer' takes final flight for his B-52 crew

    The events on Dec. 20, 1972, were clearly on the mind of former Air Force pilot Paul Granger as he exited a T-38C Talon following a special hourlong flight March 3 that began and ended on the east flightline at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas.

  • Flint recruiters assist community in crisis

    Recruiters are known as the face of the Air Force in communities all across the U.S., and in Flint, Michigan, local recruiters Staff Sgts. Parker Smith and David Whitney are also known as the faces of compassion and humanitarian service. The two recruiters have been volunteering every Wednesday and

  • Chaplain survives aftermath of son’s suicide; spreads awareness

    While enjoying a drive through the rolling Tennessee countryside with his wife, the shrill ring of his cell phone pierced through the tranquility of the moment. Maj. William D. Logan's daughter, Blair, managed to utter, "Zac has done something really bad."

  • New co-chairman joins Air Force’s retiree council

    A new co-chairman will share the head of the table at this year's Air Force Retiree Council meeting in May. Retired Lt. Gen. Stephen Hoog, who left active duty in October, succeeds retired Lt. Gen. Steven Polk as council co-chair with retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley.

  • It’s a bird, it’s a plane … it’s a drone

    Due to popularity and past holiday sales, the amount of drones has soared. The Federal Aviation Administration estimated more than one million drones were sold during the year-end holiday season. With that many new drones added to existing numbers, federal, state and local officials are concerned

  • AF remembers pioneer of DOD transportation

    Retired Gen. Duane F. Cassidy, the first "dual-hatted" commander of both U.S. Transportation Command and Military Airlift Command, passed away Feb. 8 at the age of 82.

  • Biking brings hope to wounded, recovering veterans

    Members from Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, volunteered as part of the Ride 2 Recovery (R2R) program and brought more than 20 wounded and recovering veterans together for the Vegas Challenge Feb. 1-3 in Blue Diamond, Nevada.

  • From World War II to Afghanistan: USO marks 75th anniversary

    The USO marked its 75th anniversary Feb. 4 at a gala in Washington, D.C. Medal of Honor recipients, USO volunteers, active-duty personnel, veterans, members of Congress, and stars of stage, screen and music gathered to mark a milestone for an organization founded as the United States geared up for

  • Sesame Street supports military families in transition

    Elmo, Big Bird and Abby Cadabby are teaming up with the Defense Department to support thousands of military families as they transition to civilian life, according to Transition to Veterans Program Office officials.

  • James applauds DOD Force of the Future initiatives

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James declared her support of department-wide reforms focused on improving quality of life for military parents, following Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s Jan. 28 announcement on the next round of Force of the Future initiatives.

  • Please try to write back

    Bringing a little holiday cheer to an unknown service member was all an 8-year-old boy was trying to do 25 years ago. A single letter united a pair of Air Force veterans, and the handwritten greeting made its way back to its author -- now an Air Force major -- at Hurlburt Field Jan. 25.

  • Official urges families to learn about veteran burial honors

    Planning funerals for military veterans and retirees can be overwhelming for their families, and the Defense Department’s director of casualty and mortuary affairs wants family members to familiarize themselves in advance, when possible, to know what to expect with military funeral honors.

  • Blood donor month: Be a silent hero with gift of life

    The Air Force has a long history when it comes to the national blood donation system. The system dates all the way back to World War II when the Army Air Corps created the capabilities to transport much needed blood products from the United States into campaign theaters.

  • AFSOC historian retires after 50-plus years of service

    The longest-serving historian in the Air Force retired at Hurlburt Field Jan. 7. Herb Mason, the Air Force Special Operations Command historian, spent more than 50 years preserving the Air Force story for generations to come.

  • OSI eulogizes fallen heroes from its 'darkest day'

    More than 650 people overflowed the U.S. Marine Memorial Chapel here Jan. 7 to mourn the loss and remember the lives of the six Airmen killed by a suicide bomber near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 21.

  • TRICARE pharmacy copays change Feb. 1

    Military pharmacies and TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery will remain the lowest cost pharmacy option for TRICARE beneficiaries when some TRICARE pharmacy copays change Feb. 1. Most copays for prescription drugs in the home delivery program and retail network pharmacies will increase slightly.

  • Green Dot to roll out across the Air Force

    Airmen will take the first step of a five-year strategy to decrease interpersonal violence across the service in January when 1,500 Airman implementers attend one of 22 Green Dot prep sessions worldwide.

  • Falcons fall to Cal in bowl game

    California's passing game was too much for the Air Force Academy Falcons to overcome as they fell to the Golden Bears 55-36 in the Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 29.

  • Air Force Medical Service’s Year in Review

    In 2015, the doctors, nurses and technicians of the Air Force Medical Service (AFMS) made a difference in the Air Force’s mission, while new AFMS technologies and training exercises ensured air and space superiority.

  • Airmen honor WWII veteran's last wish

    Roy Mullinax enlisted in the Air Force shortly after the end of World War II, and his years of military service led to his recognition with a veteran’s pin through his hospice center in Newton, Kansas, by the 22nd Air Refueling Wing Honor Guard.

  • Deployed Airmen, others come together to support injured teen

    Deployed service members at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, joined representatives from Boeing and the Qatar Emiri Air Force to send a care package to a teenager recovering from an all-terrain vehicle wreck.Gregory is a high school junior, an Eagle Scout and a Civil Air Patrol cadet. He likes hunting,

  • 12 for 12

    On the 12th day of the 12th month, service members here took action to ensure 12 security forces defenders were honored with a 12-kilometer ruck march.

  • Lackland spouses’ club diversifies with male president

    The Lackland Officers’ Spouses’ Club recently elected Caesar Jordan Nafrada as the club’s first male president. Nafrada initially joined as a way to repay a group that helped him in the past. When he graduated from Kadena High School in Okinawa 20 years ago, Nafrada received aid for college from

  • US, Australia, Japan launch Operation Christmas Drop

    With the holiday season now in full swing, C-130 Hercules aircrews and support personnel from Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force and the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan, began spreading cheer and joy while practicing critical humanitarian aid/disaster relief

  • Remembering Pearl Harbor: A ‘body blow’ to America

    When the first bombs exploded on a nearby airfield, marking the start of the Japanese sneak attack on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Edward Davis and others scrambled from a chow hall. The 94-year-old Army veteran said he and other Soldiers were having breakfast at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, when

  • Allies in a new era

    Two captains stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, discovered that their military roots go deeper than they had anticipated. Both Airmen are descendants of sailors who fought in the Battle of Midway in World War II, although fighting on opposite sides.

  • A widow’s story: Living by faith

    Just before sunset on Veterans Day, she sat next to her husband’s headstone at Arlington National Cemetery, reminding her three children how their father was with God in heaven and what it means to have faith. Faith has kept Heather Gray moving forward. It’s what has gotten her through the grief and

  • NORAD celebrates 60 years tracking Santa

    The North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating the 60th anniversary of tracking Santa’s Yuletide journey. The NORAD Tracks Santa website launched Dec. 1. It features Santa’s North Pole Village, which includes a holiday countdown, games, activities and more.