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U.S. Air Force News

  • DOD plans for smooth transition to new administration

    Defense Department officials here have made extensive plans for a smooth transition from the present administration to that of the president-elect, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Nov. 4 here. Pentagon officials are ready to begin briefing a new president-elect's transition team as soon as

  • Civilians begin leadership training program at Air University

    Twenty-five Air Force civilians began the first Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training Program at Air University's Officer Training School Oct. 27 here.The program leads the 25-member group through a two-week course adapted from the OTS curriculum indoctrinated with Air Force leadership and

  • F-16 pilots receive Mackay Trophy

    Four F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots were awarded the Mackay Trophy at the National Aeronautic Association Fall Awards Banquet in the nation's capital Nov. 3. The award honors the "most meritorious flight of the year" by an Air Force person, persons or organization. This year's recipients were: -- Col.

  • Assault victims find empowerment in restricted reporting

    Many sexual assault victims in the military are using an option that allows them to disclose the details of the assault confidentially and receive medical treatment and counseling without triggering the official investigative process, a senior official in the military's fight against sexual assault

  • Warrior Care Month highlights high-quality treatment

    In a campaign to highlight the medical and personal care available to wounded servicemembers, Department of Defense officials have designated November as Warrior Care Month. "This is a great opportunity for the Air Force family to understand that our care for our wounded warriors and their families

  • Nov. 3 airpower summary: C-130s sustain global airlift

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets

  • Officials identify Airman missing in action

    Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials here announced Nov. 3 that the remains of a U.S. Airman missing in action from World War II have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is Staff Sgt. Martin F. Troy of the Army Air

  • Postal service sets holiday mailing guidelines

    As the holidays approach and people start thinking about what they are going to send loved ones and friends serving overseas, there are a few dates to keep in mind. "The earliest deadline is for troops that are serving in the Iraq [and] Afghanistan area," Al DeSarro said, spokesman for the western

  • Tricare officials recognize Warrior Care Month

    November is Warrior Care Month, and Tricare officials seek to educate wounded, ill and injured service members about their benefits. "It is our goal to share with all service members as much information about their benefits as possible," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of

  • Airmen show true grit in Strongman competition

    Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers battled it out in a showdown of guts and glory at the Strong Man/Strong Mind Challenge Oct. 25 at an air base in Southwest Asia. Out of the 20 participants in the multiforce face-off, three Air Force warriors emerged victorious with the top three spots. Senior Airman

  • Football: Falcons top Army in slugfest

    Riding the strong leg of kicker Ryan Harrison, the U.S. Air Force Academy outlasted the U.S. Military Academy 16-7 in a defensive battle that saw two of the nation's top ten rushing offenses held to 100 yards below their average Nov. 1 here. With the eighth and fourth-ranked rushing attacks in the

  • Information center to ease transition to AF management

    Base residents seeking support services can receive assistance from an information center at the 332nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group here once a joint-service initiative, called Base Operating Support-Integration, takes effect Nov. 6.BOS-I is a changeover of base support functions that

  • 'Perspective' focuses on reconstruction teams

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted Airman discusses how Airmen have taken on new roles in today's fight against terrorism working with NATO International Security Assistance Force Provincial Reconstruction teams. "These combined teams of joint military and civilian

  • Airmen continue building South American partnerships

    More than 70 Airmen are spread across four South American countries learning and sharing with their partner nations' military members and performing community outreach events. Operation Southern Partner, a Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) led event aimed at providing intensive, periodic

  • Technical issues, more tests delay satellite's liftoff

    The Tactical Satellite-3 scheduled to launch in October from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Va., is now scheduled for liftoff in January 2009 after the project team discovered and then fixed problems with the spacecraft's Star Tracker apparatus. The team subsequently required

  • Nov. 2 airpower summary: F-15Es strike enemy forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped guided bomb unit-31s and

  • Airmen train Afghan cops

    Three Airmen trained and graduated 900 Afghan national police in Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar and Lagman provinces during a nine-month deployment as part of a Department of State program.The program provides a secondary-level of professional police officer education at the Jalalabad Regional Training

  • Red Horse Airmen renovate Chilean school's library

    Two Airmen completed renovations of a dilapidated library at a Chilean culinary and hotel service high school here Oct. 31 giving 80 students a comfortable and usable library the students and faculty can use for years to come. The renovation, the result of Operation Southern Partner - a two-week

  • 'Today's Air Force' features the importance of training

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how Airmen train for the unexpected, how Air Force pilots stay on the cutting edge and how a new program is honoring our service members. In the field or in the classroom, training is of utmost importance to keep Airmen at their best on the battlefield.

  • Nov. 1 airpower summary: C-17s help sustain operations

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Nov. 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped guided bomb unit-31s and

  • Hurlburt Field maintainers receive DOD award

    Maintainers from Hurlburt Field, Fla., were named the winners of the Department of Defense Phoenix Award, the highest field-level maintenance award within DOD, Oct. 29 in Denver. Representatives from the 1st Special Operations Maintenance group were on hand at the award ceremony during the 2008 DOD

  • HQ-level office created for nuclear mission

    Air Force leaders have created a new Air Staff directorate that began operations Nov. 1 to strengthen the focus on the nuclear enterprise. The new office, aligned as A10 on the staff, is officially called the Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Office and will be led by Maj. Gen. C. Donald

  • Oct. 31 airpower summary: A-10s deter enemy activities

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 31, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft dropped guided bomb unit-38s and fired

  • Maintainers partner to exchange new practices

    Nearly 30 Argentinean air force aircraft maintenance mechanics, students and instructors came together at Palomar Air Base here Oct. 31 to exchange new ideas and techniques on preserving and evaluating aircraft as part of Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern)'s Operation Southern Partner. U.S. Air

  • Petraeus assumes leadership of U.S. Central Command

    Army Gen. David H. Petraeus assumed leadership of the U.S. military command charged with helping to build peace in a tough and war-torn part of the world today. General Petraeus took the reins of CENTCOM from acting commander Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey in a ceremony here. Defense Secretary Robert

  • Naval unit jack of all trades at air base

    A unit here has become a jack of all trades for the war on terrorism while remaining a master in its primary mission. Patrol Squadron 46's core mission is to provide anti-submarine coverage, but the squadron has spent the past four months here providing assistance in other ways. "We are very much a

  • Africa Command headquarters to remain in Stuttgart

    U.S. Africa Command's headquarters will remain in its current location in Stuttgart, Germany, for the foreseeable future, a Pentagon spokesman said Oct. 30. The decision by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates allows the newest unified command to gain greater operational experience and develop and

  • Team seeks Airmen ready for 'something different'

    Air Education and Training Command officials here encourage Airmen seeking to do "something different" during their Air Force career to apply for special duty assignments. To spread the word, members of the Air Force Recruiting Service Recruiter Screening Team visit Air Force bases across the nation

  • Reserve medics train at Kunsan

    More than 50 medics from three Air Force Reserve units tested their wartime medical support capabilities alongside Kunsan Air Base members Oct. 18 through Nov. 1 here. The Reserve units, traveling from as far as Niagara Air Reserve Station, N.Y., conducted medical refresher training sessions and

  • Servicemembers saluted on 'The Price is Right'

    "Master Sgt. Robin Brooks, come on down! You're the next contestant on 'The Price is Right!'" "Having my named called was music to my ears," said Sergeant Brooks, the first sergeant for the Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Although she had an

  • Joint Chiefs chairman highlights keys to defense

    The nation's top military adviser completed a whirlwind tour of several Baltic States earlier in the month and addressed an array of topics to Air Force leaders Oct. 28 here.From cooperation with allied countries to the care of fallen military members' families, Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the

  • New law allows salutes in civvies during anthem

    Veterans and servicemembers not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect in October. "The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed

  • New Zealand aircrew assists U.S. Airmen during mission

    A Royal New Zealand Air Force aircrew assisted Airmen from the U.S. Pacific Command's Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica by delivering a mission essential part Oct. 27 to a disabled aircraft at Pegasus White Ice Runway, Antarctica. An electronic engine controller and three Air Force aircraft

  • Servicemembers provide water to flood-affected community

    Servicemembers here are involved in a 10-day water filtration project scheduled to end Nov. 5 after a weeklong stretch of rain flooded a community near La Paz, Honduras. Joint Task Force-Bravo servicemembers are providing water to the community as not only homes ruined, but also their well water

  • Oct. 30 airpower summary: F-15Es keep vigilant overwatch

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet dropped a guided bomb unit-38

  • Basic training couple graduate with honors

    More than 780 Airmen waited to hear if they were among the 10 percent announced as honor graduates from Basic Military Training Oct. 24 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Airmen 1st Class Melissa and Steven Lafollette, married only four months before basic training, were excited to hear their names

  • Chilean, U.S. Air Forces share perimeter defense methods

    Force Protection Airmen and a Canadian officer participating in Operation Southern Partner demonstrated the Small Unmanned Aircraft System to the Chilean air force's anti-aircraft artillery regiment Oct 29. Operation Southern Partner is an all-new, in-depth subject matter exchange emphasizing

  • Officials announce 2009 retired, annuitant pay adjustments

    Based on the increase in the U.S. Consumer Price Index, there will be a cost-of-living adjustment increase for retired pay and Survivor Benefit Plan annuities effective Dec. 1, according to Pentagon officials. Retirees being paid on an account where the retiree first became a member of the uniformed

  • School supplies light up Afghan student's eyes

    "Mister, mister pen. I need pen," echoes repeatedly from the mouths of young Afghan boys and girls reaching out with their hands whenever they see American servicemembers. When members of the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team walked onto a local boy's school campus recently, the students received

  • Commissaries to promote Warrior Care in November

    The Defense Commissary Agency will join other Defense Department organizations in observing November as Warrior Care Month.The observance is designed to inform military members and their families about the many programs that are, and will be, available to assist wounded warriors. In a memorandum

  • Survey responses still needed as Nov. 26 deadline nears

    On Oct. 1, Air Force leaders opened the door for all Airmen to voice their concerns with the launching of the 2008 Air Force Climate Survey. Although that door is still open, it is slowly closing. The survey, which runs through Nov. 26, is designed to assess the opinions and perceptions of the Air

  • Admiral Mullen cites culture of change during address

    Change is the cornerstone and is at the heart of every aspect of today's military, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told more than 800 Air War College students Oct. 28 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. "I see it in technology. I see it in people. I see it in missions. I see it in the joint

  • CAC login gives users access to Reserve personnel site

    Air Reserve Personnel Center officials launched a new enhancement Oct. 30 allowing Airmen to log into the virtual Personnel Center-Guard and Reserve using their Common Access Card.This enhancement gives Airmen the option to associate their vPC-GR account with their CAC, eliminating the need to

  • Oct. 29 airpower summary: C-130s transport troops, cargo

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a Navy F/A-18A Hornet and a coalition aircraft dropped guided

  • Air Force 'moving in right direction' on nuclear program, Gates says

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pointed to broad initiatives within the Air Force he said are helping to return its nuclear mission to "the standards of excellence for which it was known throughout the entire Cold War." Speaking at the Carnegie Institute for International Peace Oct. 28, Secretary

  • Airmen, Chilean school 'partner' to teach children aviation

    More than 10 community outreach projects were started Oct. 27 as part of the Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern)'s Operation Southern Partner. Maj. Jason Couisine, the Air Force section chief at the U.S. Military Group here, acted as a schoolteacher during a guest science class at the Complejo

  • Joint Base Balad Airmen remember fallen wingman

    A memorial service was held here Oct. 27 for a 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron NCO who was found dead in his housing unit Oct. 23 at Joint Base Balad.Airmen held a town hall meeting here that started with a roll call. A senior NCO with the 332nd EMXS called out names of Airmen in the phase

  • Tricare officials encourage beneficiaries to get flu shot

    Tricare officials urge uniformed service families to be prepared for this year's flu season, and an important step to do so is receive a flu vaccine shot. In the United States more than 220,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die every year as a result of the flu and flu-related complications.

  • Tuskegee Airmen address Air Force captains

    Riding the crest of the historic opening of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site Oct. 10, four of the original Airmen spoke to hundreds of Air Force officers at Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base recently. In their speeches and subsequent panel discussions, the former fighter

  • Work continues to replace T-38 aileron levers

    To meet the challenge of building more than 1,000 aileron actuator levers for T-38 Talon aircraft, workers in the 532nd Commodities Maintenance Squadron's New Manufacturing and Repair Division literally had to start from scratch. The levers, which control moveable flaps on the T-38's wings, are

  • WWII veterans attend museum D-Day exhibit opening

    More than 40 World War II veterans gathered Oct. 17 here to help open an exhibit recounting their wartime experiences on June 6, 1944. The veterans, mostly paratroopers of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment that trained at Fort Benning, near Columbus, Ga., jumped from C-47 troop carriers into

  • Materiel Command's top civilian outlines goals

    Air Force Materiel Command's top civilian here after just one month on the job is already working with the Pentagon and other agencies on establishing a clear civilian development model. It is one of several priorities for Dr. Steve Butler, the AFMC executive director, and creating the model is tied

  • U.S. forces participate in Hong Kong exercise

    American, Hong Kong and Chinese forces joined together for the Search and Rescue Exercise 2008 in mid-October off the coast of Hong Kong.Search and rescue units from the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons in Anchorage, Alaska, and the Coast Guard District 14 in Honolulu,

  • Center serves as hub for air mobility operations

    There is more to flying a mission than just hopping on the aircraft and cranking the engines. Air Mobility Command's 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott AFB is the nexus for the global air mission for the U.S. military. "We plan missions, resource the crews and the aircraft, task the

  • Small town donates $5 million for joint ed center

    The City of Jacksonville's 31,000 residents in Arkansas will soon donate $5 million to help construct a new education center for Little Rock Air Force Base and the local community. The citizens of Jacksonville raised $5 million through a 2003 sales tax to help the Air Force build a joint education

  • Oct. 28 airpower summary: Reaper fires missiles

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired rockets and cannon

  • Charleston officials ship vehicles to support warfighters

    Charleston Air Force Base officials began shipping M1117 armored security vehicles for the Army on board C-17 Globemaster IIIs Oct. 24 here. Charleston AFB members received 82 ASVs in October and will continue shipping the vehicle as part of a surge to supply the increased manpower of the Army

  • Oct. 27 airpower summary: KC-135 provides fuel support

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft dropped guided bomb unit-12s onto a tree

  • Personnel center adds new mission; helps veterans, VA

    Air Force officials announced an added mission for the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Texas, beginning Oct. 30 to improve the accountability of medical records and aid in the timely processing of veterans' disability claims. Starting with Randolph AFB as the test base, AFPC will collect

  • Servicemembers make a difference

    Thirty-six Bolling Airman along with another 140 servicemembers from the Air Force District of Washington, Naval District of Washington and Military District of Washington spent four hours at Kenilworth Aquatic Garden Oct. 25 winterizing the park. Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors from the National

  • Defense secretary: Nuke capability critical to deterrence

    Calling nuclear weapons one of the world's "messy realities," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here Oct. 28 that as long as others who could potentially threaten the United States possess or seek them, it's critical that the United States does as well, and that they be kept safe, secure and

  • Veterinary care helps build relations with nomadic tribe

    Airmen and Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team vaccinated hundreds of animals in preparation for the long, hard Afghan winter in October here. In a region where the average income is less than a dollar a day, the PRT's veterinary civil assistance patrol not only strengthened the

  • Airmen receive cavalry spurs for building new base

    For their efforts in building more than 25,000 square feet of housing and administrative offices for 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 29 Air Force Airmen received cavalry combat spurs, symbolic of cavalry service in a combat zone, from the

  • Hanscom team works to lower person-borne IED threat

    Members of an Electronic Systems Center office are working to minimize the threat of suicide bombings at the entry points of controlled-access zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. The team has been working since late September to rapidly evaluate technologies designed to detect what are known as

  • Group surpasses $2 million in grants for military children

    "Our Military Kids," a nonprofit support group, recently reached a new milestone: $2 million in grants awarded for sports, fine arts and tutoring programs. "The Our Military Kids grant program has been a wonderful way for Americans to thank our men and women serving our country overseas by providing

  • Commander discusses 'jewel in crown' of America's military

    The United States military is the best-manned, best-equipped and best-trained force in the world, but that doesn't mean a thing if it can't get to the fight, said the commander of U.S. Transportation Command. The 138,000 military and civilian men and women of the U.S. Transportation Command and its

  • Tinker, community celebrate aerospace complex partnership

    Air Force, Tinker Air Force Base, state and community leaders celebrated the Tinker Aerospace Complex lease signing Oct. 23 here. Oklahoma County purchased a 430-acre property, which formerly belonged to General Motors earlier this year, then in late September county commissioners celebrated the

  • Air Force wins EPA energy award

    Air Force officials received an Environment Protection Agency award for leading the federal government in purchasing renewable energy in October in Denver. The Air Force was named the winner of the 2008 Green Power Leadership Award in the Green Power Purchaser category. Air Force officials made an

  • Lackland-based institute teaches English to partner nations

    Communication is key to maintaining healthy relationships. The same is true of interactions between the United States and members of its allied militaries: strong, clear communication opens the door to a better, stronger relationship. And being able to speak the same language helps this process

  • Oct. 26 airpower summary: B-1B bombs enemy fighters

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force B-1B Lancer dropped guided bomb unit-31s and

  • Chief of staff wraps up Middle East tour at Joint Base Balad

    The Air Force chief of staff finished a visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with a last stop to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Oct. 25 here. Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley learned about Airmen's accomplishments in theater,

  • Gen. Carlson stresses importance of information technology

    The commander of Air Force Materiel Command showcased the value of technological advances in supporting the warfighter through better integration and life-cycle planning Oct. 23 here. Gen. Bruce Carlson spoke to a crowd of several hundred people from the information technology and management

  • Guard, Reserve warfighters chart tactics course

    Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve officials prepared the roadmap for weapons and tactics needs for their near- and long-term during a conference Oct. 20 through 24 in Tucson.The annual Weapons and Tactic Conference began at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., with opening remarks by Lt.

  • Oct. 25 airpower summary: A-10s strike enemy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired cannon rounds onto

  • Nellis Airmen begin 'War on Waste'

    The "War on Waste", a new Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, began at Nellis AFB, following an Enterprise Value Stream Analysis held here Oct. 6 to 8. The Enterprise Value Stream Analysis, conducted by the 99th Air Base Wing Executive Council, aligned the wing commander's

  • Air Force officials to establish new nuclear major command

    The Air Force will stand up a new major command specifically to manage its nuclear assets, the service's top official announced Oct. 24. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will fold into its ranks thousands of Airmen and all of the Air Force's domestic nuclear capabilities in

  • Vandenberg officials launch Delta II rocket

    Vandenberg Air Force Base officials successfully launched a Delta II rocket carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed 3 satellite at 7:28 p.m. PDT Oct. 24 from Space Launch Complex-2 here. The 30th Space Wing team supported the United Launch Alliance in preparing for the launch just six weeks

  • 'Today's Air Force' features Air Force secretary

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights Michael Donley, the 22nd secretary of the Air Force.  Also featured is his visit to Southwest Asia where he discusses the mission and involvement in the war on terrorism. Another highlight is the training Airmen go through to prepare for every mission.

  • Mobility leaders focused on 'getting back to basics'

    About 80 air mobility leaders gathered for a three-day conference that focused on Air Mobility Command's priorities, roles and missions Oct. 22 through 24 here. The theme for this year's AMC Phoenix Rally was "Back to Basics: Executing Global Reach Fundamentals." Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the AMC

  • Top leaders bring praise, vision of future to Airmen in Iraq

    The Air Force chief of staff and chief master sergeant of the Air Force praised Airmen for their role in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and discussed the "way ahead" during their on-going visit to meet face-to-face with Airmen deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Oct. 24

  • Oct. 23 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 23, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II fired rockets and cannon

  • Oct. 24 airpower summary: F-16 strikes enemy

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs dropped a guided bomb

  • Chief of staff reenlists crew chief over Southwest Asia

    The Air Force chief of staff reenlisted a C-17 Globemaster III flight crewmember 32,000 feet above the U.S. Central Command area of operations Oct. 23. Gen. Norton Schwartz signed up Senior Airman Tyrell Haney, a 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, for another tour of duty -- his second

  • Enhanced VA mortgages possible for vets in distress

    Veterans with conventional home loans now have new options for refinancing to a Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed home loan. These new options are available as a result of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008, which President Bush signed into law Oct. 10."These changes will allow

  • Air Force leaders work to develop cyberspace roadmap

    Air Force leaders here continue to create a roadmap of the service's cyberspace mission while adjusting to a new organizational construct outlined by Air Force officials in October. Officials from the Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) team here and Air Force Space Command are moving forward

  • Airmen speed delivery of lifesaving medicine

    Coordination and hustle between several American military agencies here enabled a lifesaving package to reach an Iraqi snakebite victim and save a life Oct. 15 here. The Army Medical Materiel Center Southwest Asia staff received an urgent request for anti-venom to help a young Iraqi woman who was in

  • Football: Opportunistic Falcons topple New Mexico

    Air Force survived a first quarter marred by turnovers and a strong New Mexico running game to pull out a 23-10 victory at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Oct. 23. The Falcons turned the ball over on three of their first four possessions, spotting the Lobos 10 points while allowing 149 total yards, 101

  • Airman missing in action from World War II identified

    Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials announced Oct. 21 that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and returned to his family for burial. 2nd Lt. Ray D. Packard of the Army Air Forces from Atwood, Calif., was buried Oct. 22

  • Lasers may aid missile defense, engine crack detection

    Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded work at the University of Colorado at Boulder could lead to possible future technologies that use the high energy densities of lasers. Studies by university officials explore how atoms and molecules respond to light pulses, which could show cracks in

  • Cannon officials use AFSO 21 to improve inprocessing

    Cannon Air Force Base officials recently revamped its inprocessing program using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century to take a three week process into a four hour program. Beginning in July, base officials worked to improve and consolidate inprocessing for new base members and their

  • F-35 completes air-start test at Edwards

    The prototype F-35 Joint Strike Fighter AA-1 completed an air-start test validating the aircraft's ability to shut down and restart its engine in flight Oct. 23 here. This ensures the aircraft, which is called the F-35 Lightning II for the Air Force, can regain power and fly safely in the event of

  • Joint Base Balad Airman found dead in housing unit

    An Airman was found unresponsive in a housing unit at about 9 p.m. local time Oct. 22 and died at Joint Base Balad. Efforts to resuscitate the Airman, deployed to the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron here, were unsuccessful. The name of the Airman is being withheld pending next-of-kin

  • Student pilot gets first UAS assignment at Vance

    As part of an Air Force initiative to meet increased demands for its airborne intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance, force protection and strike capabilities, student pilots in the Air Education and Training Command have a new potential assignment among the array of Air Force aircraft: unmanned