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  • Brave Defender training goes to dogs

    The 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron's training course, Brave Defender, has taken its curriculum to the dogs. Five military working dog teams from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Robins AFB, Ga.; Hill AFB, Utah; Maxwell AFB, Ala.; and Tinker AFB, Okla., have joined ranks with the combat training

  • Crew chiefs keep B-2 combat capable

    Getting America's most lethal and technologically advanced bomber into the air over a target begins with Airmen on the ground. These dedicated men and women are the crew chiefs of the B-2 Spirit. Keeping the stealth bomber ready to strike at a moment's notice requires more than hard work. It also

  • First sergeant gives teddy bears to Iraqi children

    Soft, huggable security ... many things can describe what a teddy bear feels like, but to many Iraqi children and families in the Air Force Theater Hospital here, it is a reminder of the love and level of care they received. Master Sgt. Dave Dunn, 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group first sergeant,

  • Aging C-130s: the geriatric fleet

    The 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander made an observation during a visit here Oct.25. "We are flying our planes into extinction," said Lt. Gen. Gary North. A perfect example of Airmen working with very old aircraft is at this forward-deployed location, where the 386th Air

  • Bagram Airman uses music to bring families together

    Thousands of miles from home, one Airman here is finding a way to bring servicemembers a little closer to their families. For the last few weeks, Master Sgt. Tim Chandler of Ashland, Ohio, a member of the 455th Expeditionary Communications Flight here, has been hosting an Internet-based radio show

  • Deployed desert dining is delightful at the DFAC

    Fifty gallons of tomato sauce, 150 pounds of uncooked pasta and 200 pounds of ground beef. Sounds like a lot, right? Not really; these are just the ingredients used to make enough spaghetti to feed an entire base. Besides the Airman sitting behind the table taking signatures at the dining facility

  • Loadmaster highlights 60 years of airlift, tanker history

    With 30 years of Air Force experience and another 13 as a loadmaster for the aerospace industry, retired Chief Master Sgt. Bill Cannon presented a historical perspective of more than 60 years of airlift and tanker history at the 2007 Airlift/Tanker Association Convention Oct. 27. Chief Cannon's

  • Air Force 'chatters' save an Airman half-a-world away

    Air Force Recruiting Service online advisers, or "chatters," lean on their extensive experience as former recruiters to answer up to 4,000 questions each week -- helping generate leads for Air Force recruiters. Craig Black had only been part of the chatter team for about one month when he recently

  • Secretary reaches 50 years of civil service

    For many military members, serving their country is their way of contributing to their country. What some people may not realize is through the sacrifices and dedication of civil servicemembers, their work also can add substantial value to the U.S. government. For military members who retire after

  • Former Iraqi citizen returns to serve as Air Force officer

    The journey to American citizenship and eventual commissioning in the Air Force was a long and dangerous path for Iraqi-born Capt. Rasul Alsalih of the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. He was 29 years old and living in his hometown of Samawah, Iraq, when the United States and its

  • C-130s to the rescue

    The 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron has a storied history, dating back to the early 1940s, and the legacy lives on through vital airlift missions and aeromedical evacuation operations throughout Southwest Asia. "Our primary mission is providing intra-theater airlift, delivering people and

  • Sergeant wins in battle with breast cancer

    An NCO with the 43rd Aeromedical Dental Squadron here was dealt a life-altering blow when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 28."What is ironic is if you have no family history of cancer, they (doctors) don't recommend mammograms," said Staff Sgt. Nicole McKinstry. "Fortunately, I had a

  • Airman shares extraordinary story

    The Air Force attracts different people with different backgrounds; however, few people have a story as extraordinary as Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Man. Sergeant Man does not know where she was born, or how old she is. Elizabeth is not even her real name. Ratna, meaning "jewel" in English, was her birth

  • 3-level fuels specialist pumps 3 million gallons

    As an inspiration to the 119 members assigned to the largest fuels flight in U.S. Air Forces in Europe, two plaques are prominently displayed in the hallway just outside the operation superintendent's office at Ramstein Air Base. One is an ornately designed wooden plate that has accumulated the

  • Moving the war: No pain, no gain

    Six take offs. Six landings. Twelve hours. All in a day's work for aircrew members of the 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron taking on the mission known as the "pain train." "It's called the pain train because there's just 30 minutes between each stop," said Capt. Robin Cadow, a 737th EAS pilot.

  • Retiree puts new spin on life

    Wheels are turning on the streets of Tyndall Air Force Base as retired Capt. Mackey Tyndall trains for two upcoming long distance races on his state-of -the-art racing wheelchairs.A descendent of Lt. Frank B. Tyndall, the man Tyndall AFB is named after, the captain suffers from spinal stenosis and

  • Therapy clinic provides magic touch to injured

    Preparing Airmen to return to work after an injury is similar to getting a race car back to the track after a pit stop. Maintenance must be quick, precise and thorough, both minimizing the time spent away from duty and maximizing the quality of care. The staff here in the physical and occupational

  • Wright Flyer III flies again over Huffman Prairie

    Vintage aircraft builder and pilot Mark Dusenberry will confess his passion for flying a replica 1905 Wright Flyer III borders on obsession. Over the hallowed Huffman Prairie, where Orville and Wilbur Wright perfected the airplane, he also felt the Wright Brothers' exhilaration and disappointment.

  • C-130s put troops, supplies on target in Afghanistan

    The mission of the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here is to provide accurate and immediate airdrops of critical supplies to troops on the ground throughout Afghanistan, and these airdrops have a significant impact on the success of ground missions for those fighting the war on terrorism.

  • Airmen keep Soldiers, Marines in the fight

    Army Sgt. Scott Boomershire injured his ankle kicking down doors in Iraq. However, it's up to Airmen here, stationed hundreds of miles from the infantryman's unit in Baghdad, to help Sergeant Boomershire get the medical care he needs to put him back in the fight. Members of the 386th Expeditionary

  • Force protection specialists keep movement safe, seamless

    Unit force protection specialists in Southwest Asia make the movement of people and equipment in and out the area of responsibility as safe and seamless as possible. With approximately 55,000 passengers, 9,000 tons of cargo and 1,000 different aircraft passing through each month, it is no easy task,

  • Security escorts accomplish vital mission

    Security escort responsibilities are no small task, though a cursory glance may not reveal that. Security escorts are often seen as passive watchers; in reality, they have quite an active occupation--they provide a service vital to installation security and force protection. Security escort Airmen

  • NCO puts artistic talents to work while deployed

    Leaving his mark on his deployed location, an NCO donated more than 40 hours of his off-duty time painting a mural at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. As a civilian, Staff Sgt. Matthew Cremeans owned a small business in McAllen, Texas, painting mascots on signs for local high

  • Sheppard employee answers call to save a life

    When Adrian Sibayan decided to pick up a ringing phone on his way out the door from work at Sheppard Air Force Base this summer, he had no idea that answering the call would put him in a life-or-death situation. Instead of leaving work, he went back to answer the phone. He answered and heard the

  • Remembering Lt. Jones: Airman searches for a hero's family

    Memorial Day was a day when Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia was at its finest.Each gravesite was adorned with American flags. Many had wreaths, flowers or personal memorabilia left behind by visiting families. Even the weather was appropriate with partly cloudy to an overcast sky and balmy

  • Heritage to Horizons: Air Force documents history through art

    For the past 60 years the Air Force has been documenting its history in photos, videos, books and many other forms of media. For 57 of those years, another form of archiving history has taken place through the eyes of hundreds of artists. Established in 1950, the Air Force Art Program has covered

  • Airman combines love of stamps, aviation to celebrate Air Force Anniversary

    As a child the C-130 flight navigator had two favorite hobbies, and the line between the two has always been blurred, he said.Wth the 60th anniversary of the Air Force fast approaching, Major Todd Copley has figured out a way to combine his two passions, stamp collecting and aviation. The major, who

  • Once wingmen, always wingmen

    Two lieutenant colonels with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing bring the words "once a wingman, always a wingman" to life, showing how Air Force ties transcend barriers of time and distance. Proving the Air Force is getting smaller, two former classmates of Central Washington State's Air Force ROTC

  • Expeditionary maintenance group gets fuel flying

    With jet fuel burning and the ramp radiating heat, another KC-135 Stratotanker is launched from Manas Air Base to support coalition aircraft over Afghanistan.Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the men and women of the 376th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron's KC-135 Aircraft

  • Iraqi air force makes strides toward transition

    An Iraqi air force officer cadet class will soon walk across the stage here, picking up their diplomas and their commissions as second lieutenants. In preparation for their graduation, the soon-to-be officers took time out of their busy class room schedule to pick up a special issue of uniforms at

  • Stratotanker celebrates 51 years of military service

    As the Air Force celebrates its 60th anniversary later this month, the first all jet tanker-transport that has been the backbone for combat operations in Afghanistan isn't far behind. The KC-135 Stratotanker celebrated its birthday Aug. 31. It was 1956 -- 51 years ago -- when the Boeing aircraft

  • Airmen help keep Iraqi supply routes open

    Wearing more than 40 pounds of body armor, an NCO walks along the side of an Iraqi highway as the sun rises behind him, and keeps a sharp eye out for dangers and hazards.Staff Sgt. Charles Lemley, along with other Airmen of the 887th Security Forces Squadron's Bravo Flight, patrols convoy routes

  • '300' Airmen provide world-class base defense

    Airmen of the 64th Air Expeditionary Group's "300" provide world-class base defense, displaying a Spartan warrior spirit at a remotely located base assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. The group is made up of about 300 security forces, support Airmen and civilians. Their

  • Air Force surgeons pioneer surgery procedure at Bagram hospital

    In Afghanistan, a country plagued by a long history of violence and untold numbers of hidden land mines, limb-threatening injuries occur on a daily basis. For decades, the answer to this tragedy has been the preservation of life over limb by amputation. The presence of open fractures with large soft

  • Deployed JAG preps for combat rescue challenge

    During his deployment to the Middle East, a staff judge advocate is pushing, pulling and swimming his way to fitness and toward a goal -- becoming a combat rescue officer. Capt. Jake Pugh, deployed from 3rd Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, started his training program about two years ago

  • 'Bomb Squad' battles explosives with technology, expertise

    Using the latest technology and the power of teamwork, Air Force explosive ordnance disposal experts fight a daily, deadly battle on the war on terrorism front lines. A weapon most commonly used by insurgent forces in Iraq and Afghanistan is the improvised explosive device. But, the EOD technicians

  • Volunteer organization lifts spirits of wounded veterans

    Within a week of sustaining injuries in Iraq and being airlifted to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, a Marine diesel mechanic finds himself being taken to Sunday brunch by an Air Force NCO Academy instructor and his family. Moving slowly with the aid of a cane past intricately organized food

  • Reconnaissance aircraft beat heat

    Global Hawk and U-2 aircraft provide critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and in order to be efficient and effective the technological sensors on these aircraft cannot be subjected to heat for extended periods of time. Due to the compact size of the Global Hawk and the freezing

  • Air warriors train for deployment

    Eielson Airmen received some valuable training as they prepared for worldwide deployments. A class of about 50 participated in a recent three-day combat skills training course and were educated on topics ranging from convoy planning and unexploded ordnance recognition to self-aid and buddy care. CST

  • Flight nurse living dream of service in Southwest Asia

    Whether preserving the life of a severely injured Soldier in flight or providing command and control for aeromedical evacuation operations, for flight nurse Maj. Beth Ann Lumpkin Gambill, service in Southwest Asia is the culmination of a lifelong dream. Major Gambill, now in her second month in