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  • Operation Christmas Drop a team effort

    Airmen stationed in Japan and Guam are experiencing the joy of giving on an epic scale this holiday season. This year marks the 23rd year Airmen from Yokota AFB are participating in Operation Christmas Drop, an annual humanitarian mission hosted in conjunction with volunteers and personnel from

  • VA officials announce use of standard payment rates for some non-VA care

    Department of Veterans Affairs officials announced Dec. 16 they will begin using Medicare's standard payment rates for certain medical procedures performed by non-VA providers on Feb. 16, 2011."This regulation will have no impact on the veterans we care for," said Dr. Robert A. Petzel, the VA

  • Officials award production contract for fourth advanced frequency satellite

    The Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate announced Dec. 17 the award of a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification valued at approximately $1.4 billion to Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., for production of the fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite.

  • CV-22 accident investigation board results released

    Air Force Special Operations Command officials released the results of their investigation into the CV-22 Osprey accident April 9, near Qalat, Afghanistan, that killed four people and injured 16 of the 20 onboard. The pilot, flight engineer, an Army Ranger, and a civilian contract employee were

  • Pentagon spokesman addresses strategy review, budget

    The U.S. Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy is yielding results that are "trending in the right direction," Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Dec. 17.During an MSNBC television interview, Mr. Morrell responded to questions on Pakistan's role in establishing regional security, the purpose of the

  • Santa's new address: No. 1 Santa Claus Lane, North Pole

    The city of North Pole, Alaska, with the assistance of the North Pole Economic Development Corporation, has erected a permanent candy cane marker designating "No. 1 Santa Claus Lane" as the address to which letters to Santa should be addressed.The recent installation of the candy cane marker, along

  • Academy choral group performs live on local TV

    Cadet singers with the cadet a cappella group "In the Stairwell" performed live for all Southern Colorado Dec. 10, with an appearance on a local TV station's mid-morning news program.This is the second year that In the Stairwell, an unofficial cadet group that performs in the local community, has

  • 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.

  • Americans, Japanese pound mochi, strengthen bonds

    Col. Michael Rothstein, the 35th Fighter Wing commander, pounds mochi Dec. 16, 2010, during the annual mochi pounding ceremony at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force gym on Misawa Air Base, Japan. Mochi is a type of rice cake made by using a large wooden mallet to pound steamed glutinous rice in a

  • 'Twas a Night in December

    Servicemembers stationed from Antarctica to Afghanistan lent their talents and time to craft a video for a poem titled "'Twas a Night in December," based on Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas," but rewritten with a military twist. Servicemembers from more than 40 commands around the

  • First 24th AF Portraits in Courage recipient: 'I was just doing my job'

    Staff Sgt. Alexander Yessayan said he's not a hero, and you might just believe him unless you talk to anyone who knows him, or he begrudgingly tells you about what happened more than a year ago in Afghanistan.Those who know him use words like humble, straight shooter and, yes, hero to describe

  • Photo essay: Operation Christmas Drop

    Airmen from the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, come together each year during Operation Christmas Drop to drop thousands of pounds of donated supplies over various Micronesian Islands Dec. 14.View the slideshow.

  • Select CDCs become available online

    Airmen in select career fields can now complete their career development courses through Air University's AU Online website -- a derivative website of Air Education and Training Command's Advanced Distributed Learning System -- that provides course access from work or home computers.Electronic CDCs

  • Klotz: Minot AFB Airmen are what make the difference

    The Air Force Global Strike Command commander and command chief met with Airmen here to thank them for their service and seek input about their mission.As the only base with both intercontinental ballistic missle and nuclear-capable bomber missions, Minot AFB is unique, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz said.

  • Reports of sexual harassment, assault rise at service academies

    The number of reported sexual harassment and assaults at the armed forces' three service academies is up from last year, but the rise could be due to an increase in education and training at the schools, Defense Department officials said Dec. 15.Forty-one incidents were reported for the 2009-2010

  • VA's homeless intervention program nears roll out

    A Department of Veterans Affairs homeless-prevention program, which seeks to help veterans and families who are on the verge of becoming homeless, has moved closer to implementation. The program marks the first time that VA officials will fund services for the spouses and children of veterans at

  • Airmen turn aeromedical staging facility into 'home-like atmosphere'

    Your plane lands after multiple flights and long hours. The door of the C-17 Globemaster III opens, and the cold air hits your face. It's the middle of winter in Southern Illinois, and several men and women in uniforms escort you to a bus that will take you to your room. When the bus comes to a

  • Partners build high-tech hands for wounded warriors

    Scientists and technologists are working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to give arms and hands back to warriors who lose them in battle.Army Col. (Dr.) Geoffrey Ling, the DARPA program manager, talked about the program Nov. 19 to a TEDx Pentagon audience. TEDx Pentagon is a

  • 386th AEW members fly first airdrop missions in Afghanistan

    From providing humanitarian assistance in Pakistan to moving more than a half-million passengers throughout U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility this year, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing members can now add another accomplishment to their list -- performing airdrop missions in support of

  • AF Reserve band brings holiday cheer to veterans

    The Band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve's Brass Quintet performed for veterans at the Carl Vinson Veterans Administration Medical Center Dec. 13 here. The Reserve Brass ensemble performed four miniconcerts of holiday carols and sing alongs. "This visit is just a small way of saying thanks to veterans

  • Gates urges Congress to pass omnibus appropriation bill

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates urged Congress Dec. 16 to approve an omnibus appropriation bill rather than requiring the Defense Department to operate under a year-long continuing resolution."To do otherwise would leave the department without the resources and flexibility needed to meet vital

  • Air Force Research Laboratory engineer receives Harold Brown Award

    A senior scientist from Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., received the 2010 Harold Brown Award Dec. 15 for her breakthrough research in pioneering new infrared technology that will augment aircraft defense and impact numerous Defense Department systems .Dr. Candace Lynch strengthened aircraft

  • Communications Airmen prove vital to Regional Command-West mission

    Imagine a small group of elite Soldiers on patrol in the mountains of the northern Herat province of Afghanistan coming under heavy attack by a large group of insurgents.What if these outnumbered and outgunned Soldiers called back to camp for close-air support but found no answer on the receiving

  • Airman wins for big IDEA

    It wasn't a contest or a lucky roll of the dice that earned Tech. Sgt. Justin Burt $7,633; it was a good idea.The 28th Maintenance Squadron structural maintenance craftsman was rewarded because he thought of a new way to repair the rubber seals on a B-1B Lancer's landing gear doors. He received a

  • Recruiting, retention stay high throughout services

    Recruitment and retention remained high throughout the services for the first two months of the fiscal year, with only the Air National Guard missing its accessions goal, according to numbers released by Pentagon officials Dec. 15.All four active-duty services met or exceeded their numerical

  • 'Today's Air Force' features birth of military aviation

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" features the 100th anniversary of Lt. Benjamin Foulois' first solo flight, which marked the birth of military aviation. Tune in for a look at some of the major aviation milestones from the past century and the men who achieved them.The 30-minute, weekly news show

  • Lesser-known UCMJ offenses

    Some Airmen destroy promising careers, and it's not always because they are caught stealing, using drugs or misusing their government computer. Having served as a prosecutor, defense attorney and military judge, I've seen people lose their careers for many reasons: from voyeurism to disloyal

  • Deadline for aerospace awards draws near

    The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2011 Air Force Association aerospace awards to the Air Force Personnel Center is Feb. 1.The aerospace awards recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to national defense in a variety of fields.These awards include:Theodore Von Karman

  • AMC commander signs order prohibiting use of spice

    Gen. Raymond Johns, Jr., the commander of the Air Mobility Command, signed a general order Nov. 2 prohibiting the use of intoxicating substances, including spice.The order bans AMC members, including those assigned to tenant units, active duty on temporary duty on an AMC base, Air Force Reserve on

  • Military members, veterans with disabilities learn life-changing skills

    More than 120 wounded military personnel, disabled veterans and their families traveled to Walt Disney World in Orlando for the 6th Annual Road to Recovery Conference.  The conference took place from Dec. 7 to Dec. 11.  The week-long event was presented by The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes

  • Most housing rates dip for 2011 as pay, subsistence increase

    Most military housing allowance rates will decrease slightly for 2011, but servicemembers will receive, on average, as much or slightly more money than they did this year, Defense Department officials said Dec. 15.Cheryl Anne Woehr, a housing allowance program analyst, said overall rates are fairly

  • Culture and language center to expand production of field guides

    The Air Force Language, Region and Culture Program Office will increase field guide production to provide Airmen an understanding of the cultural concepts necessary to meet mission requirements in the region to which they are deployed, officials said here Dec. 15. The framework of the field guides

  • New 'bird' finds home with 76th AS

    Members of the 76th Airlift Squadron here receieved a C-37A Dec. 7 to help increase the flying capabilities of the distinguished visitor mission.The new aircraft is the military version of the Gulfstream V ultra-long-range-business aircraft and is the first C-37A to be stationed here. The C-37A

  • Photo essay: Mountain Home AFB F-15s with an eagle eye

    An F-15SG and two F-15E Strike Eagles sit on the flightline here Dec. 6. The fighters are equipped with a low-altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night system, which allows the aircraft to fly at low altitudes, at night and in any weather conditions, to attack ground targets with a

  • Application deadline approaching for Warrior Games

    The application deadline for the 2011 Warrior Games is Jan. 11. With the holidays approaching, Air Force officials encourage qualifying Airmen to submit applications as soon as possible.Warrior Games is an Olympic-style competition open to wounded, ill and injured military members and veterans "The

  • Commander retires after 41 years of service

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen bid farewell to Gen. Roger A. Brady, the USAFE commander since 2008, who retired Dec. 13, as the longest-serving Air Force officer currently on active duty. "Being the commander of USAFE is really something; it just doesn't get much better than this," General Brady

  • Dec. 11 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Dec. 10 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Dec. 9 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Dec. 8 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Dec. 7 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 7, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Air Force leaders stress safety during the holidays

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy issued the following holiday safety message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force:During this holiday season, we extend our sincere appreciation for your

  • Air Force emergency managers "walk the walk"

    A team of 481 Air Force emergency managers representing all the major commands, recently joined 2,000 of their colleagues at the 58th annual International Association of Emergency Managers conference in San Antonio.This year's IAEM conference theme was, "Talk the Talk, now Walk the Walk," and the

  • Officials complete GPS software upgrade ahead of schedule

    Officials with the 2nd Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo., have completed their sustainment software release for the GPS operational control segment ground system ahead of schedule. The software release, which was scheduled to be complete in early January 2011, was accomplished ahead

  • Teen center raises tilapia for Union Gospel Mission

    Teens attending the Fairchild Teen Center here are raising Tilapia -- a freshwater fish -- that will help feed homeless people year-round at the Spokane Union Gospel Mission.The youth program here is very active in supporting various efforts to improve quality of life for people on base and in the

  • Hickam AFB Airman found dead in Philippines

    An Airman assigned to the 647th Security Forces Squadron here died Dec. 7 in the Philippines. Master Sgt. Michael A. Lee, a security forces flight chief and native of Rocky Mount, Va., died from an apparent heart attack after collapsing while on leave in Manila, Philippines. The incident is under

  • Missile defense test delayed

    The Missile Defense Agency ground-based interceptor flight test, scheduled for Dec. 14, has been delayed due to poor weather conditions downrange. The flight test has been rescheduled for Dec. 15, with a launch window from 8 a.m. to noon, E.T.The ground-based interceptor test will defend against an

  • National prevention month highlights dangers of drunken driving

    As the end-of-year holidays approach, Airmen, like the rest of America, are busy planning, shopping and preparing for those few days when family and friends gather to relax and celebrate. Some may not care to think about tragedy at this time, but December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving

  • Nobel Prize winner visits, thanks AMC

    During a visit to Air Mobility Command Headquarters here Dec. 9, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Samuel Ting praised AMC for its recent support in delivering the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer from Geneva, Switzerland, to Cape Canaveral, Fla.Doctor Ting, the 1976 Nobel Prize winner in physics, provided a

  • TRICARE assistance program is here for beneficiaries during the holidays

    The holidays are a great opportunity to bond with family members and reconnect with old friends, but this time of year can also present significant stress, particularly if a loved one is deployed for the holidays. An empty seat at the dinner table, holiday shopping minus one or unwrapped gifts under

  • Airman aims to help others during holiday season

    It's not unusual for Maj. John Thomas to come home with beat up old bicycles.In the old, discarded bikes he finds in dumpsters, he sees a few more good years that could benefit some other child or adult, said Major Thomas, the 721st Mission Support Group chief of plans and programs. He takes the

  • Brain tumor survivor cross-trains to aid recovery, improve health

    Tech. Sgt. Carmen Colon-Alemany knew what to expect going into her second brain surgery. She'd been on the operating table before when the doctors first found a mass on the left side of her brain, around her temple, and when an aneurysm that hadn't burst was removed.This second surgery, five years

  • Reservist awarded the Airman's Medal for off-duty heroism

    An Air Force reservist pulled injured and panicking passengers from a smoking airliner that crashed upon takeoff December 2008. For his heroic actions, the 10th Air Force commander presented this Airman with an Airman's Medal here Dec. 10.The military decoration is awarded for "heroism not involving

  • New program connects wounded warriors with loved ones

    Members of the 455th Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility staff teamed up with Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Communication Squadron to offer wounded warriors a way to communicate with loved ones as the wounded warriors make their journey home.The 455th ECS completed the installation of a

  • Computers to replace paper technical orders on Robins AFB flightline

    Within the next four years, laptop computers will be as important to aircraft mechanics here as wrenches and screwdrivers. Many Robins AFB mechanics are leading the way in the first test of "e-tools." That's the term used for the 300 laptops deployed on the flightline in the last 12 months to help

  • Officials seek enlisted for AFIT degree program

    Air Force Institute of Technology officials are offering six NCOs the opportunity to pursue an advanced science, engineering or management degree at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The NCOs will be selected in February to attend the Enlisted-to-AFIT program. The program is designed to provide

  • Davis-Monthan AFB Airman passes

    Senior Airman Brian D. Smith, 23, assigned to the 923rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., was pronounced dead after a vehicle accident Dec. 11. Airman Smith was an active duty assistant crew chief. He enlisted into the Air Force in July 2007 and arrived at

  • NMFA honors military families, names family of the year

    An Air Force family was named the National Military Family Association's 2010 Family of the Year Dec. 7, for selfless service to the nation and the community.The association honored a family from each service before announcing that the Mullin family, of Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, had earned the

  • Caring for People Survey still open

    Air Force members looking to voice their concerns about community support programs and services still have time to complete the 2010 Caring for People Survey.The survey allows total-force Airmen, civilians, retirees and spouses an opportunity to tell Air Force leaders how they can better address

  • Photo essay: Moody A-10s prepare for Green Flag West

    Airmen from Moody Air Force Base, Ga., check out their A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in preparation for the Green Flag-West exercise here Dec. 6 - 10. Green Flag-West provides a realistic air-land integration training environment for forces preparing to support worldwide combat operations.View the slideshow.

  • AFRC commander presents Air Force Marathon trophy

    The commander of Air Force Reserve Command officially presented the 2010 Air Force Marathon Major Command Challenge trophy to AFRC members Dec. 9.Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr. put the 2-foot tall trophy on display during the headquarters commander's call at the Robins AFB Museum of Aviation."I

  • USAFE welcomes new commander

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen welcomed a new commander with the arrival of Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, who assumed command during a ceremony here Dec. 13. "This command is in great shape," General Welsh said. "My goal is just to make things even better than they have been in the past."General Welsh

  • Global Strike Command units assist Navy in powering mission

    Members of the 509th and 131st Logistic Readiness Squadrons here loaded more than $30 million of Los Angeles-class submarine batteries on DC-8 cargo aircraft  Dec. 4 and 6 in support of naval operations in the Pacific.Air Force Global Strike Command officials received a call requesting batteries for

  • Nurse commissioning program officials seek enlisted applicants

    Air Force officials are seeking active-duty enlisted Airmen to apply for the fall 2011 Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program.The program offers enlisted members an opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in a high-need academic major. Air Force Personnel Center officials will conduct the annual NECP

  • New technology could save base millions

    Engineers here could soon be using an emerging technology to help clean the environment and save the Air Force money.Officials with the Robins Air Force Base Energy Office are conducting feasibility studies on the use of plasma arc technology, which offers environmentally safe measures for waste

  • Air Force leaders issue holiday message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy send the following holiday message to the Airmen of the U.S. Air Force:As we celebrate the holidays, please take the opportunity to reflect on our many blessings

  • Guardsmen, Reservists can nominate employers for awards

    Reserve-component servicemembers still have time to nominate their employers for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The award is the Defense Department's highest honor for employers who provide exceptional support for employees who serve in the National Guard or

  • Directors: Air Guard, Army Guard are cost-effective forces

    We are trained to the same standards of the active duty Air Force, we are available and on call 365 days a year, and it doesn't cost the taxpayer a thing until the governor picks up the phone, the director of the Air National Guard said Dec. 8 at the Reserve Officer Association here."I think that's

  • New 3-D retina imaging equipment improves care

    Members of the 23rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron optometry flight here recently conducted training with a new piece of equipment that helps them diagnose ocular diseases and announce Airmen as ready for duty. The high-definition optical coherence tomography machine allows optometrists to clearly see

  • 820th Base Defense Group heads to Afghanistan

    A group of Airmen from the 820th Base Defense Group recently deployed to Afghanistan for the first time under the new unit name.The hand-selected group of Airmen will deploy to an air base in Afghanistan for about six months.The 820th BDG is the first Air Force unit designed specifically to provide

  • TRICARE beneficiaries have many options to prepare for flu season

    TRICARE officials urge their 9.6 million beneficiaries to take preventive steps to stop the spread of the flu. Seasonal influenza is a contagious respiratory virus that many beneficiaries may already have been exposed to throughout the year. The 2010 through 2011 flu vaccine will protect against

  • Air Guard strengthens stance for homeland defense, civil support

    The 2010 Domestic Operations Equipment Requirements conference prompted Air National Guard officials to position themselves to provide an even stronger stance for homeland defense and civil support missions, the National Guard Bureau's director of plans and requirements said recently."This is how we

  • Air Force officials release findings on Alaska C-17 fatal mishap

    Officials at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces released the results of their investigation Dec. 10 into a fatal C-17 Globemaster III aircraft mishap July 28 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, directed an investigation into the incident which

  • Dec. 6 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with Operation New Dawn partners in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

  • Senior NCO workshop sheds light on bigger picture

    Approximately 90 senior non-commissioned officers gathered Dec. 6 for a workshop aimed at providing a strategic view of the Eielson mission and improving senior NCO communication. The workshop speakers included the 11th Air Forces command chief, the 354th Fighter Wing vice commander and the 354th FW

  • Federal agencies share latest research on polytrauma and reintegration

    Helping severely wounded veterans and servicemembers recover and reintegrate into their families and communities was the theme of a joint Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury and National Institutes of Health two-day

  • Officials select potential base for Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 training unit

    Air Force officials announced today that Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, is their preferred alternative to potentially host a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA maintenance and flying training unit in the U.S.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz validated

  • Identifying friendly forces to become easier for AWACS

    Engineers with the Electronic Systems Center here have achieved the next step in bringing an improved Identification Friend or Foe, or IFF, system capability to E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft.Currently, AWACS provides situational awareness of friendly, neutral and hostile

  • Sun sets on Keen Sword exercise

    Servicemembers at military installations throughout mainland Japan, Okinawa and in the waters surrounding the country wrapped up a seven-day joint, bilateral field-training exercise with their Japan Self-Defense Force counterparts as Exercise Keen Sword 11 came to an end Dec. 10.Identified as the

  • Air Force, industry leaders brainstorm at Renewable Energy Industry Day

    During the U.S. Air Force Renewable Energy Industry Day on December 8, Air Force senior leaders joined more than 250 industry professionals to exchange ideas about partnering to increase renewable energy supplies and achieve energy goals.Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for

  • Chief Roy visits 505th CCW at Hurlburt Field, Fla.

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy addresses members of the 505th Command and Control Wing Dec. 10, 2010, during a visit to Hurlburt Field, Fla. Chief Roy also spoke to students of a joint Air and Space Operations Systems Administration Course. He explained to them how important joint

  • Cross-country training pools experience, skills

    Members of the 100th Air Refueling Wing united with their Royal Air Force counterparts to build cross-service relationships and military skills during Leadership, Ethos and Air Power Day here Dec. 6.Participants in station LEAP Day were taken from all sections of Royal Air Force Marham and

  • 'Portraits in Courage' Vol. V highlights Air Force heroes

    The latest "Portraits in Courage" released Dec. 10 highlights 18 Airmen who demonstrated bravery and heroism in the crucible of war as they repelled air and ground enemy fire, led convoys through perilous terrain and assisted injured comrades.The stories describe ordinary Americans who accomplished

  • ACC commander visits Kirtland AFB prior to start of virtual exercise

    Gen. William M. Fraser III, the Air Combat Command commander, visited the 705th Combat Training Squadron here Dec. 7, prior to the start of Virtual Flag.Virtual Flag exercises are part of the 505th Command and Control Wing's mission at Hurlburt Field, Fla., and are intended to improve warfighter

  • Spice illegal for Airmen, produces dangerous side effects

    Although it is banned from use by Airmen and scheduled to soon become illegal for all U.S. citizens, not much is known about the drug known as "spice."Spice, considered by some to be a marijuana alternative because it has the same effects, is a mixture of potentially dangerous herbs coated with

  • PJs carry blood again, increase survival rates

    Pararescuemen from the 46th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, have brought back the ability to carry and administer blood to patients on rescue missions, increasing survival rates for injured warfighters.Air Force rescue units haven't carried blood since the beginning of

  • Manatee finds new home in Puerto Rico

    A five-year-old manatee now known as Guacara has arrived in Puerto Rico after a flight down from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The manatee was escorted by Dr. Antonio A. Mignucci, director of the Puerto Rico Manatee Conservation Center; Dr. David Murphy, South Florida Museum; and a Parker Museum

  • US, Japanese fighter pilots promote peace in Asia-Pacific region

    Fighter pilots and more than 160 other servicemembers from Misawa Air Base, Japan, are deployed here to support the largest exercise in the Asia-Pacific region Dec. 3 to 11. "Japan and the United States are treaty allies, and as such, we are bound to defend and respond to any regional crisis or

  • Air Force officials announce enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 500 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the December 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

  • Photo essay: From Cape Canaveral to Vandenberg

    The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle 1 landed here Dec. 3, marking advancement for the Air Force in experimental test missions. Vandenberg people in self-contained atmospheric suits conducted initial checks to ensure the vehicle and area were safe. The X-37B made an autonomous landing after 244 days in

  • Kunsan AB officials add Tasers to arsenal

    Members of the 8th Security Forces Squadron here recently received Tasers as a non-lethal weapon to defend the base and its people. "We would usually use pepper spray to subdue an unruly subject, but on the Korean peninsula, we are not allowed to use pepper spray because it's considered a chemical

  • Manatee catches Air Force flight to Puerto Rico

    Air Force officials partnered with specialists at the Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Florida Museum to transport an 840-pound male West Indian manatee, along with six biologists and two veterinarians, from here to San Juan, Puerto Rico Dec. 9. Fish and Wildlife Service representatives

  • AF researchers showcase integrated training capabilities

    Researchers from the Air Force Research Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing Human Effectiveness directorate's Warfighter Readiness Research division showcased their integrated training capabilities at the 2010 Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation and Education Conference in Orlando,

  • Wing retires C-130E, anticipates end of C-130E ops

    Little Rock Air Force Base C-130E Hercules aircraft 62-1788 made its final flight Nov. 29, to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base's 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, the aircraft retirement "bone yard" here. Built in 1962, the aircraft's history includes supporting major operations in

  • DOD officials to expand community-based child care options

    Defense Department officials plan to launch an initiative early next year aimed at expanding the quality and quantity of community-based child care options for geographically dispersed reserve and active-duty families and for families facing long waits for on-base care.Through the initiative, DOD

  • Air Force announces candidate basing locations for LiMA aircraft

    The Air Force announced today that Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N. J., and Travis AFB, Calif., are candidate basing locations for Light Mobility Aircraft, or LiMA. These locations are candidates to beddown a single squadron consisting of 12 aircraft and approximately 100 personnel. The LiMA

  • Nominees sought for employee with a disability award

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations for the 2011 Outstanding Department of Defense Employee with a Disability Award.This Secretary of Defense award recognizes the contributions and achievements made by physically or mentally disabled federal employees within the DOD.The award is open to