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  • American, Portuguese firefighters work, train together

    Military firefighters stationed around the world work with their local national counterparts to accomplish the common goal of saving lives and property. Day or night, when an emergency call comes in to the Lajes fire department, both American and Portuguese firefighters respond together. Although

  • C-17 loadmaster students learn from masters of the craft

    Howard Thagard isn't saying that 17 is his lucky number, but with 17 years experience as a loadmaster and currently serving as a loadmaster instructor of the C-17 Globemaster III, it's probably not a bad number for him to use when playing the lotto. Actually, it is the more than 240 loadmaster

  • Movie makers team with military to create realism

    When the DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures live-action film "Transformers" opens at movie houses nationwide July 4, the scenes with the F-117 Nighthawk, the CV-22 Osprey and Airmen running across the scene will look so convincing, viewers will swear the scene is the real deal. And they'll be right.

  • Aeromedical teams provide care, comfort in the air

    The 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron has not only made it possible for a speedier recovery by picking up injured and sick servicemembers, but are providing the care and comfort needed to put their patients at ease. Each time a crew from the 379th EAES flies on a mission to care

  • Cable techs bring copper, fiber to table

    As far back as ancient Mesopotamia, communication specialists have been essential, starting with a runner and a simple piece of papyrus and evolving over time into people like Tech. Sgt. Frank Robinson, 447th Expeditionary Communications Squadron cable and antenna technician. The ancient

  • Marathon training should be heating up

    By now marathon training should be heating up, both literally and figuratively. Three months remain until the big day, and now the summer sun is beating down. It's important to keep well-hydrated during regular runs and incorporate a sports drink or other carbohydrate source especially during long

  • Maintainers keep Balad radar running 'round the clock

    Located about 50 feet above the ground are Balad Air Base's surveillance radar systems. Kept running around the clock scanning the sky to help maintain air superiority, these systems require persistent, daily maintenance. Airmen of the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron's ground radar

  • Airmen rig 'chutes, travel the world

    Sometimes, Airman 1st Class Darrius Armstead, Jr. would say his job is tedious. Airman Armstead is an air transportation specialist for the 15th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Combat Mobility Element, or CME. Part of his job is rigging huge parachutes for C-17 Globemaster III airdrop exercises.

  • Military working dogs bring bite to fight

    Soldiers and Airmen go into a village hunting for insurgents and the materials they use to create car bombs, roadside bombs or suicide vests. The troops took with them their normal weapons and equipment -- Bradley fighting vehicles and Stryker vehicles, rifles and ammunition, radios. As the convoy

  • Team preps servicemembers for forward locations

    Almost everyone in the Air Force deploys to one place or another at some point in his or her career. Getting each Airman to the right place at the right time can take a huge amount of coordination and teamwork on everyone's part. Many units and missions come together to help ensure the smoothest

  • Deployed member, family enjoy surprise reunion

    Filled with anticipation, Kim Thigpen and her two sons walked onto the baseball diamond May 27 in front of nearly 9,000 fans at the end of the second inning. Mrs. Thigpen, 11-year-old Jacob, and 5-year-old Caleb were attending a minor league game between the Dayton Dragons and the visiting South

  • Balad Airman gets chance visit with Army brother

    An Air Force mechanic got a chance for a family reunion during his deployment when his younger brother was passing through with his Army unit. The chance opportunity occurred just before the Airman's unit finished its rotation and goes back to Misawa Air Base, Japan, whereas the Soldier is here

  • Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors helps families

    Among the many children seen, most are playing and laughing with those around them, while others are writing or coloring quietly. A few are sitting alone, unable or unwilling to look at and talk to the people they see. There is an air both of excitement and grief pervading the rooms as old friends

  • High-tech search area keeps American, coaltion forces secure

    To ensure the safety and security of base members, Airmen search about 900 people and 500 vehicles on a daily basis using high-tech equipment and canines. Members of the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron inspect vehicles entering the base and ensure the third country nationals coming onto

  • Airmen in Ecuador have a ball serving local community

    Whether it is sports equipment, school supplies, computers or wheelchairs, Airmen assigned to Manta Forward Operating Location have been all over Ecuador in May making a positive impact on people's lives. Volunteers from the 478th Expeditionary Operations Squadron here recently completed several

  • Robins War Wagons bring maintenance to warfighters

    When the Department of Defense has an aircraft in need of repair and the situation requires a traveling repairman, it looks to an Air Force Materiel Command base for assistance. The 402nd Commodities Maintenance Group Robins Air Force Base maintains a one-of-a-kind resource -- two War Wagons --

  • Civil engineers assist in humanitarian mission

    Forty-four civil engineering reservists from the 440th Civil Engineer Squadron based at General Mitchell Air Reserve Station in Milwaukee recently put their skills to work building a new elderly daycare center at Helemano Plantation on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Each day for four weeks in April,

  • Getting to know moose commonplace at Eielson

    During his two years of duty here as a vehicle operator with the 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Airman 1st Class Patrick Garber has spent more than a hundred hours behind the wheel of the buses transporting dozens of distinguished visitors to and from appointments and meetings. Recently Airman

  • Barking orders the norm at DOD's Canine Boot Camp

    He sizes up his troops with an icy glare. As he scrutinizes his trainees' every move, he wonders to himself, "Which one will be a problem? Who will be crazy, lazy, or skittish? Who's going to be clumsy or a slow learner? Who will separate himself as the best of the best?" He barks out his commands,

  • Venezuelan's dreams soaring to new heights in Air Force

    Airman 1st Class Edward Camacho immigrated to America on a one-way ticket with six months of money and not a word of English in his vocabulary -- but he had lofty dreams of becoming an Air Force officer, test pilot and ultimately an astronaut. Two years later, the Airman has been delivered surprise

  • Get serious about marathon training

    It's time to get off the couch, back off on the barbecues and get serious about marathon goals. Time is rapidly running out -- without training with a concerted effort, a runner might not make it to the Air Force Marathon start line or, more importantly, finish line. Novice training picks upNovices

  • Vehicle maintainers keep Balad rollin'

    Some of the dirtiest combat boots on base can be found in hardened aircraft shelters where vehicle maintainers with the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron work elbow deep in grease-covered auto parts and claim "the only thing we can't fix is your driving." The maintainers, responsible

  • Eagle Flag prepares participants for real-world success

    Air Force Exercise Eagle Flag is designed to bring together expeditionary combat support skills a combatant commander needs to open an air base, provide command and control, and establish an air base in a realistic contingency environment. It's a natural match to include in that exercise a

  • Dangerous road to progress

    The numbers tell half the story: 700 combat missions, 140 joint patrols with Iraqi policemen in the streets of Baghdad, and 1,500 Iraqi policemen trained.Approximately 150 security forces specialists from 45 different bases are members of Det. 3 of the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces

  • Helicopter squadron provides support, security from air

    The rotor blades begin to turn and the aircraft starts to vibrate as the UH-1N Huey helicopter prepares for takeoff. The pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer run their checklists, while two security forces members sit in the back of the helicopter ready for anything. Two Pratt and Whitney turboshaft

  • Pharmacy volunteer keeps history alive

    Those tall aspen on the road leading to the Fairchild hospital. Who remembers when they were planted? And all the trees behind the housing area. Does anyone remember when those were just short, tiny wisps? For anyone who was stationed at Fairchild and doesn't remember, they're in good company. As

  • Airmen land roles for 'The Bourne Ultimatum'

    Many people join the Air Force to see the world, but not many expect to see stars. Three Airmen of members of Det. 4 of the 18th Intelligence Squadron from Royal Air Force Feltwell, England, recently spent more than 10 days in London taking part in the upcoming movie, "The Bourne Ultimatum,"

  • Senior NCO shares fitness success story

    If Airmen were trains and their career paths were tracks, then one senior NCO here  was a rusty, worn-out and derailed train a year ago, until he found a driving force strong enough to lift him back onto his track, grease his wheels and get him chugging again -- this time, on the express rail.

  • Kadena school teacher thanks his military medical heroes

    Many talk about heroes in their lives. For a Department of Defense Dependent Schools teacher here, his heroes wear camouflage and flight suits. He came to Kadena Air Base May 2 to thank those who saved his life a year ago. For Jim Brierly, March 30, 2006, was a day his life would change forever, in

  • Investigators turn into warfighters

    An Air Force special agent charged the vehicle and rammed the barrel of his M-4 rifle through the windshield and into the chest of the suicide bomber, startling him long enough to be removed from the vehicle and detained, eradicating the terrorist plot with conviction and saving untold numbers of

  • Firefighter lives his childhood dream

    One young child looked forward to his summer vacations because it meant he got to visit his favorite place in the world -- a fire station. The boy would spend the majority of his visits with his grandparents at a fire station where his grandfather worked as a firefighter chief. He loved everything

  • Air Force Enlisted's 1st top chief reflects on historic career

    The year was 1967, the United States was embroiled in a bloody and unpopular war in Vietnam and the then Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. John McConnell decided the Air Force needed a senior NCO to represent NCO concerns and issues and present them directly to senior Air Force leadership. The

  • Operation Pillowcase brings piece of home to Airmen

    Supporting the war on terrorism can take on many forms. Some choose to serve in the military. Then there are more subtle ways, such as one community on the home front found. The town of Concord, Calif., has created and donated 500 patriotic pillowcases to members of the 886th Expeditionary Security

  • WWII veteran's artwork lives on at museum

    American servicemembers have always carried little reminders of home. From cards, to pictures, letters and journals, holding onto the little things helped them pass the time away from family and friends while serving their country. In 1944, 23-year-old machinist mate second class Hal Olsen packed a

  • Airmen EMTs are lifesavers in Afghanistan

    You need heart, desire and passion for this career field," said Staff Sgt. Melissa Martinez an emergency medical technician. An EMT is a responder trained to provide emergency medical services to the critically ill and injured. "Anyone can do this job; however, attention to detail is vital in our

  • Thunderbirds' aircrew surprise Air Force widows at Enlisted Village

    Enlisted Airmen who maintain the F-16 Fighting Falcon jets flown by Thunderbird pilots often work behind the scenes while crowds enjoy the air demonstration team's shows. Recently, the enlisted Thunderbirds and a very special group of admirers made a personal connection -- not at an air show but

  • Missouri fighter wing goes to wild, wild west

    Missouri fighter wing goes to wild, wild west From the ground, the Barry M. Goldwater Range looks like the set of a 1960's Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. The air is dry enough to taste, and the ground sprouts an occasional cactus. The mind can only envision what creepy kinds of scorpions scurry

  • Take a 'hop' from Dover to tour U.S., Europe

    Want to see the world?  Ready for a vacation? Members of the Dover Air Force Base's Air Passenger Terminal can help.With flights throughout America and Europe, the Dover AFB Air Passenger Terminal may be the first place to start your journey as the staff helps move space-available travelers to

  • Japanese teacher packs a powerful punch

    "Hai!"Sweaty faces, bodies as rigid as trees, and feet rooted firmly. Fists frozen in front of their bodies."Hai!"Feet shift and another punch is thrown, swiftly disturbing the silence around them. This scene is just one during a free karate class here. Taught by Kazumasa Itaki, a Japanese grand

  • Nightshift chefs create dessert delights for Airmen

    Sweet aromas of fresh-baked cakes, biscuits and cookies fill the air. But these treats aren't ready to eat just yet. After all, it isn't lunch or dinner time. It's 2 a.m. Much like the fairy-tale elves who worked late into the night to help a shoemaker create works of art, the chefs from the 366th