Command, control squadron inactivates at Offutt AFB

The 55th Mobile Command and Control Squadron here was officially inactivated Sept. 27 after 28 years of service. For nearly three decades the men and women of the 55th MCCS have kept a quiet vigil, preparing for the day when the fate of the nation might depend on their ability to provide a

USAFE commander honors German military

By standing their ground for more than three years as sentinels of U.S. Air Forces in Europe installations, departing German servicemembers have not only kept Airmen and their families safe, but also enabled their American counterparts to more effectively engage in the war on terrorism. "Dear

CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 29

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 29.In Afghanistan Sept. 28, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Enjar Ghar. The A-10s made passes and expended cannon rounds.

Building a wall of hope at Ground Zero

Earlier this year, base firefighter Gerard Reheiser created a painting on a tile to commemorate 9/11. Mr. Reheiser entered the tile in a contest sponsored by Tiles for America at a store in Woodstock, Ga., that not only won the contest, but also is now part of a permanent display at Ground Zero in

PRT breaks ground on $3 million road project

The Air Force-led Bagram Provincial Reconstruction team officially started a new road system Sept. 28 in the Kapisa province that will connect all districts and the provincial capitol. The contract is the first of its kind in Afghanistan and was awarded to Shams Construction Company of Kabul during

Yokota shares its sky with Japanese airliners

Traveling can be a hectic task, but officials here are helping ease the stress and headaches of today's travelers. The Road Map to Realignment is a group of initiatives designed to help future operations between U.S. and Japanese forces. One of the initiatives under this agreement is changing Yokota

Reserve, Guard leaders speak at AFA convention

Both the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard's top leaders spoke to attendees of the Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 26. Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, Air Force Reserve Command commander, and Lt. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, Air National Guard

Air Force will get new bomber, upgrades to fighters

The Air Force is looking to get a "next generation" long-range bomber by 2018, according to the commander of Air Combat Command. During the Air Force Association's 2006 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 27, Gen. Ronald E. Keys, the ACC commander, told reporters the

F-35 centerpiece for international partnership

The F-35 Lightning II aircraft brings new capability to the Air Force, but also serves as a centerpiece for international cooperation. During the Air Force Association's 2006 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 26, Brig. Gen. Charles R. Davis, deputy program executive

Commissary agency: 15 years of service, 140 years of history

The Defense Commissary Agency will mark its 15th anniversary Oct. 1.Congress and the Department of Defense created DeCA in 1991 by consolidating the military services' retail grocery operations into one organization. "With sales of over $5 billion, all 'at cost' to our customers, this agency

Last U.S. servicemembers to leave Iceland Sept. 30

A 65-year segment of history ends Sept. 30, when the last American servicemembers based in Iceland will leave the country. U.S. servicemembers will continue to work with, train with and operate with their NATO ally, but troops will not be based in the island nation, said Thomas F. Hall, assistant

23rd 'Flying Tigers' to become host wing at Moody

The "Flying Tigers" will be brought back from the past as the 347th Rescue Wing will be redesignated as the 23rd Wing during a ceremony here at 8:23 a.m. Sept. 29. Brig. Gen. Blair E. Hansen, vice commander of 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., will preside over the redesignation ceremony

Air Force undertaking force transformation initiatives

The Air Force has changed direction in its effort to fulfill its legal requirements to organize, train and equip a flying force. During the Air Force Association's 2006 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 27, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley explained how

Scott Airmen come down with the Blues

For many professional sports teams, summer training camp includes grueling exercises, early wake-up calls and countless hours of practice. Before their season kickoff, St. Louis Blues hockey players didn't expect to be low-crawling at Scott Air Force Base. The Blues visited Scott AFB Sept. 25 and 26

President hosts Pakistani, Afghan presidents

The U.S. and free countries in the Middle East need to work together to stop the spread of terrorism and ensure a hopeful future for the region, President George W. Bush said here Sept. 27 before attending a dinner with the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The meeting with Afghan President

Deployed operations

AFMC vice commander testifies on new personnel system

The recent implementation of the National Security Personnel System Spiral 1.1, at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., was the focus as Lt. Gen. Terry Gabreski, Air Force Materiel Command vice commander, spoke before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Sept. 20.It was the

CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 28

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 28.In Afghanistan Sept. 27, Navy F/A-18Fs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Gilan. The following close-air support requests supported NATO forces operating as

Investigation continues into collision in Kyrgyzstan

A safety investigation board has convened to determine the cause of a collision between a Kyrgyz TU-154 passenger plane and an Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker on the airfield at Manas International Airport Sept. 26. "Our primary concern was for the safety of the passengers and crew of both aircraft,"

Ramstein team aids peacekeeping mission in Darfur

Ramstein Airmen flew with a Botswana C-130 aircrew to the Darfur region Sept. 23 and 24 to support the African Union peacekeeping mission. Two C-130 Hercules crewmembers from the 86th Operations Support Squadron, aerial port Airmen from the 86th Air Mobility Squadron, and a force protection

Schriever Airmen assume GPS satellite responsibilities

Airmen from the 1st Space Operations Squadron here assumed launch and early orbit responsibilities for Global Positioning System IIR-M 15 shortly after it lifted off Sept. 25 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The satellite's journey of 11,000 miles began as its Delta II rocket lifted off a

Secretary, chief reiterate need for new tanker

The Air Force must start buying new tankers now since it will take decades to replace its aging KC-135 Stratotankers, the Air Force secretary said. Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said the service cannot buy its next fleet of tankers -- as yet to be determined -- any faster than the Air Force

Reductions necessary to recapitalize today's service

Reducing the number of Airmen in the service is never easy business, but it's absolutely necessary to recapitalize today's service, said the Air Force's top personnel officer Sept. 26 at the annual Air Force Association's Air and Space Conference here. "This is a challenging time for all people in

National Guard and Reserve mobilized as of Sept. 27

This week, the Air Force announced an increase in the number of reservists on active duty in support of the partial mobilization. The Army, Navy and Marine Corps had a decrease. The Coast Guard number remained the same. The net collective result is 496 fewer reservists mobilized than last week. At

Special operations mission grows on several fronts

The commander of Air Force Special Operations Command spoke at the 2006 Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 26 about the importance and growth of special operation forces. "We're growing on a lot of different fronts," said Lt. Gen. Michael W.

Support agencies ease deployed Airmen's return

Family and friends welcomed the safe return Sept. 24 of several Airmen who were deployed in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. After spending time with their families, the Airmen returned to the base the next morning to process through a "reintegration" line at Laughlin's

CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 27

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 27.In Afghanistan Sept. 26, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Mandagal Sufla. The following close-air support requests supported

AMC commander: Global mobility aircraft saving lives in Iraq

Mobility aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan are helping keep Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors out of harm's way. During the Air Force Association's 2006 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 26, Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, Air Mobility Command commander, said C-130 Hercules

Japanese, U.S. Airmen share insights at tactics symposium

Airmen from 5th Air Force here sponsored a tactics symposium Sept. 26 to 27, bringing together 30 representatives from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and U.S. military components in Japan. A first of its kind, the event allowed captains and majors from operations-related specialties to discuss

Emergency services extinguish KC-135 fire

Emergency services of the Manas International Airport and U.S. Air Force firefighters responded and extinguished a fire on a KC-135 Stratotanker on the airfield here Sept. 26. The three-member crew had just returned from an aerial-refueling mission when the incident occurred. The crew evacuated

4th Corps Soldiers get lift from 386th AEW

Pvt. 1st Class Michael Sirrine is on his first deployment but knows plenty about being in the desert. A native of Tuscon, Ariz., he noticed as soon as he arrived in Kuwait, "it's just like home, with less cactus." Before boarding an Air Force C-130 Hercules in early September for Balad, Iraq,

Instruments enhance space weather forecasts

Improving the prediction of ionospheric-created disturbances is the aim behind two weeks of digging through 3 feet of snow, ice and slush in the tundra of Greenland by four members of the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate, with assistance from Danish

Command chief panel discusses enlisted issues

Change, readiness and winning the war on terrorism were the three top issues discussed during the command chiefs' forum at the 2006 Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 25."We must deal with changes and focus on the No. 1 priority facing us today:

Servicemembers get chance to tell their side of story

Members of the Department of Defense's "Why We Serve" speakers bureau team shared stories of their service with employees of USAA, a 22,000-strong military financial services company, here Sept. 25-26. Over the past three weeks, the DOD's "Why We Serve" team of servicemembers from all the armed

Life-saving training at Osan AB

Secretary Wynne speaks at AFA conference

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne spoke to Air Force leaders and supporters Sept. 25 as part of the Air Force Association's 2006 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C. The secretary addressed such challenges as the aging aircraft fleet, force-shaping

Marine corporal questions war coverage

A Marine corporal quizzed top leaders at a recent Pentagon employees' question-and-answer session about what the department can do to counter the reporting of negative news from Iraq and Afghanistan."Negativity in the press is absolutely detrimental to the morale of our forces and our efforts in

Sembach squadron maintains war reserves

Airmen from the 435th Materiel Maintenance Squadron at Sembach Air Base, Germany, store, maintain, account and prepare an incredible amount of war reserve materiel needed to keep U.S. forces supplied. The materiel is stored at a massive central storage facility in Luxemburg, two collocated operating

PACAF commander speaks of enhancing partnerships

Unlike European nations who have come together under NATO, the Pacific theater does not have a joint organization for defense and peacekeeping within its nations, said the Pacific Air Forces and Air Component commander here at the Air Force Association's annual Air & Space Conference and Technology

Professor at AFA conference offers advice about stress

Professor John Moore spoke at the Air Force Association's 2006 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 25 about ways to combat deployment stress. Mr. Moore joined other national experts and senior Department of Defense and Air Force leaders at the annual two-day AFA conference. The

CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 26

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 26.In Afghanistan Sept. 25, Navy F/A-18Cs and Royal Air Force Harrier GR-7s provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Regah. The following close-air support requests

USAFE Band talks from same sheet of music

Air Force launches Delta II/GPS mission

Members from the 45th Space Wing led the government/industry team that successfully launched a Delta II booster from here Sept. 25. The rocket carried a NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite into space and saluted the nation's former POWs and MIAs. The satellite launched is the second of the

New 'Port Dawgs' set up for success at Charleston AFB

Members of the 437th Aerial Port Squadron here have found a unique way to get their Airmen trained smarter, faster and better -- it's called the Port Dawg University currently being taught at Charleston AFB. The Port Dawg University Program is "aerial port's way of streamlining everything to make

Mirror-coating chamber in place at Starfire Optical Range

The Defense Department's largest mirror-coating chamber has been installed and tested at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Starfire Optical Range. "This will give the laboratory a safer alternative to transporting the 3.5-meter (11.5 feet) mirror all the way to Kitt Peak Observatory in Tucson,"

Dover AFB receives new maintenance trainer

The Avionics Modernization Program, also known as AMP, is changing the way C-5 Galaxies are flown by streamlining the aircaft to emulate civilian aircraft.In addition to installing new communications and navigation panels, dials are being replaced with multi-function display units. These new AMP

Research office underwrites Indian workshop

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has agreed to underwrite an information assurance workshop planned by the Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate Jan. 12 in Bangalore, India. AFOSR's Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development, with an initiative to increase

Air Force Association conference under way

The top Air Force leaders helped kick off the Air Force Association's annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here with a ceremony honoring the association's history and contributions to the service, as well as remembering those currently serving in today's force. Secretary of the

Air Force people participate in military appreciation day

Houston Texans fans at Reliant Stadium here had a second team to cheer for during their team's football game Sept. 24 with the Washington Redskins. Team officials designated the game as the Houston Texans Salute to the Military, with servicemembers participating in many of the pregame and halftime

New system streamlines Air Force sustainment funding

In an unprecedented move that will radically simplify and streamline the Air Force sustainment funding system, Air Force Materiel Command will become the Air Force executive agent for programming, budgeting and execution for many of the Air Force's sustainment needs beginning Oct. 1. Money

Falcons corral Cowboys in conference opener

The Falcons ran their triple-option offense to near perfection Sept. 23, rushing for 327 yards and three touchdowns en route to a convincing 31-24 win over the Wyoming Cowboys in the Mountain West Conference opener for both schools in Laramie.  The win evened Air Force's record at 1-1 on the

Ramstein Airmen connect with Rwandan children

Large smiles, chewing gum bubbles and high-fives were the scene Sept. 22 when Airmen from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, gave donated goods to orphans and school children here.The 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron, comprised of 20 Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing, 86th Contingency Response Group, 86th

Liaison Aircraft Fly-In scheduled for Oct. 7-8

More than 30 aircraft will fly to the National Museum of the United States Air Force Oct. 7 to 8 to participate in the first Liaison Aircraft Fly-in. The fly-in, scheduled 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 7 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 8 on the turf runway behind the museum, is free and open to the public.

Proactive Airmen get jump on passport process

Airmen control the first steps to a successful passport process -- saving time, money and ensuring mission success downrange. The process to get the Department of State-issued document takes three to six weeks because of mailing, screening and coordination through official channels in Washington,

CENTAF releases airpower summaries for Sept. 23-25

U.S. Central Command Air Forces have released the airpower summaries for Sept. 23 to 25.Sept. 23In Afghanistan Sept. 22, Navy F/A-18Fs conducted a strike against Taliban extremists near Lashkar Gah. The F/A-18Fs expended Guided Bomb Unit-12s on enemy targets. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and a B-1

Ramstein crew flies with Botswana into Darfur

Ramstein Airmen flew with a Botswana C-130 Hercules crew to the Darfur region Sept. 23 and 24 to support the African Union peacekeeping mission. Two C-130 crewmembers from the 86th Operations Support Squadron, aerial porters from the 86th Air Mobility Squadron and a force protection specialist from

Academy polo team battles top 10 teams

Playing consecutive games against a top-10 team, the No. 17 Air Force water polo team fell short of the victory, losing to eighth-ranked University of California at Davis 7-5 on Sept. 24 at the Cadet Natatorium. With the loss, the Falcons fall to 8-6 on the season, 4-1 in the Western Water Polo

Falcons soccer team gets 2 wins

The U.S. Air Force Academy women's soccer team improved its record to 3-7-2 with two wins this weekend over Stephen F. Austin and Sacramento State.The Falcons won for the second time in a row Sept. 24, defeating Stephen F. Austin 1-0 at the Cadet Soccer Stadium. The game-winning goal came in the

Servicemembers shine during NFL game

The National Football League's Houston Texans honored American servicemembers during its Salute to the Military at the game against the Washington Redskins at Reliant Stadium here Sept. 24. Starting with pregame activities and throughout the game, military members were spotlighted as part of the

Fans share thoughts about military

Among the sea of hundreds of tailgaters at the military appreciation day match up between the Houston Texans and the Washington Redskins at Reliant Stadium Sept. 24, a few fans shared their thoughts on the military. The game was designated as the Houston Texan's Salute to the Military by team

Air Force general kicks off Texans, Redskins battle

The deputy director for the war on terrorism kicked off the battle between the NFL's Houston Texans and Washington Redskins by tossing the coin at Reliant Stadium Sept. 24. Brig. Gen. Mark O. Schissler, who works in the Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate in Washington, D.C.,

Secretary Wynne speaks at PACAF birthday ball

With the theme "Heritage to Horizons" -- to highlight the achievements of its Airmen -- Pacific Air Forces hosted the 59th Air Force birthday ball.Keynote speaker at the Sept. event was Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne. Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Paul V. Hester hosted the sold out

Air Force Secretary helps PACAF celebrate 59th Air Force birthday

Proclamation declares Gold Star Mother's Day today

A proclamation issued by President George Bush Sept. 20 declares Sept. 24 as Gold Star Mother's Day. Since June 23, 1936, the last Sunday in September has been recognized as Gold Star Mother's Day, as established by to Senate Joint Resolution 115. "I call upon all government officials to display the

Air Force falls in three to TCU

The U.S. Air Force Academy volleyball team dropped a three-game match here to Texas Christian University Sept. 22. Playing at home for the first time in nearly a month, the Falcons lost in consecutive scores of 30-19, 30-18 and 30-22 to the visiting TCU Horned Frogs. Sophomore Kristina Stewart led

Falcons complete Tucker Invitational

After the final round of play Sept. 23, the U.S. Air Force Academy golf team finished in 20th place at the William H. Tucker Invitational.Taking place at the 7,354-yard, par-72 University of New Mexico Championship Course, the host team captured the title, firing a three-round total of 874 and

Joint PRT opens new bridges

The Air Force-led Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team conducted ceremonies celebrating the opening of two bridges in the western Parwan region of Afghanistan during a project assessment mission Sept. 19 and 20. Both bridges will eventually allow for greater freedom of movement for the villagers,

Crash investigation continues

Airmen here are continuing to investigate the Sept. 14 crash of an F-16 Fighting Falcon near Oberkail. The newest edition to the base's investigation team is Col. Peter Davidson the 616th Support Group commander at Ramstein Air Base. He is the lead investigator and accident investigation board

Vice president greets Airmen

Airmen return home from Operation Iraqi Freedom

More than 180 Airmen returned home to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Sept. 23 from their deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While deployed the men and women of the 728th Air Control Squadron controlled and monitored Iraqi airspace, assisted close air support missions and directed tanker

Three Airmen awarded Bronze Star

Three Airmen here were awarded the Bronze Star Medal recently in a ceremony at the base theater. The 20th Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe presented the awards to Senior Airman Charity Trueblood, Maj. Lawrence King and Capt. Jonathan Bennett for duties they performed while fighting the

Community members show support for local servicemembers

The Military Affairs Committee of the Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce gave a special "Salute to the Military" Sept. 20. The event, the 23rd annual Santa Maria Barbecue, included a roast beef dinner, live music and a chance for military members and their families to socialize and interact with the

Aircraft swap helps maintain mission-ready capabilities

The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here replaced its entire F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet this month with aircraft from throughout the U.S. The aircraft swap was necessary to maintain a "healthy" force and warfighting capability, said Maj. Leah Fry, 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

Enlisted heritage room pays tribute to CMSAF Parish

A former chief master sergeant of the Air Force dedicated to the preservation of enlisted history was honored at a ceremonial opening of an enlisted heritage room bearing his name. The Parish Enlisted Heritage Room became a reality Sept. 22 at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Headquarters building

World War I soldier's remains identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office announced Sept. 22 the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing in action from World War I, have been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors. This is the first time the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, or JPAC,

Spangdahlem Airmen return home from OEF

Airmen from the 606th Air Control Squadron at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, returned home Sept. 22 after supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The Airmen were at Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, supporting the war on terrorism.And while the Airmen are proud of their accomplishment during OEF, today

Strike Eagles have landed

F-16 pilot returns safely following in-flight incident

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., jettisoned two external fuel tanks during a mechanical malfunction on takeoff at about 1:30 p.m. Sept. 21 on a homeland defense mission. The control tower noticed smoke coming from the fighter aircraft and reported it to the pilot who then

AFIT's center creating distance learning products

The Center for Directed Energy at the Air Force Institute of Technology is developing a suite of distance learning products focused at the pre-service and in-service directed energy professional. The first of these products that will be available is a distance learning format of the 32-hour laser

Emeril sponsors military-only cooking contest

If you're currently a chef on active duty in the armed forces, TV cooking-show icon Emeril Lagasse wants your favorite recipe. Emeril is looking for a military chef who has the right recipe and knows how to use it.Any military chef who has a favorite dish can enter the first Military-Only Emeril

Blind, disabled Americans help prepare Airmen for battlefield

In several factories around the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, Americans who are blind or severely disabled are now assembling the uniforms Airmen will soon wear while fighting the war on terrorism. Under federal law, when purchasing certain items, the Department of Defense and other

Air Force Memorial's soaring spires completed

The Air Force Memorial's stainless steel spires were finished Sept. 21 with the placement of the top segment of the third spire, providing the first complete view of the memorial's design.Reaching a height of 270 feet and located on a promontory overlooking Arlington Cemetery, the memorial will

Airmen fly with Indian air force counterparts

After several weeks of training with their Indian counterparts, Airmen from the 15th Airlift Wing got the chance to reverse their roles and fly with an Indian aircrew on their IL-76 medium range cargo jet. The aircrew's primary mission was to deliver members of the Indian army to Hawaii for a joint

Defense Department to review military awards program

In an effort to provide clarity in awards standards across the military services, the Defense Department has begun a comprehensive review of military awards and decorations, a DOD official said here yesterday. This routine review will result in revision of DOD Instruction 1348.33-M, the Manual of

CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 22

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 22. In Afghanistan Sept. 21, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle, Navy F/A-18 Hornets and Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers provided close air support for Coalition troops in

PT gear in high demand at clothing sales stores

For the first time in the Air Force's 59 year history, Airmen reporting for physical training must show up in the same gear beginning Oct. 1. But while several agencies have been preparing for this change for some time, the last-minute rush on the new mandatory gear is creating an overwhelming

Airmen visit, share stories with veterans

More than 30 Airmen from Andrews Air Force Base and Fort George G. Meade, Md., visited Charlotte Hall Veterans Home here Sept. 18.The group, who ranged in rank from airman to lieutenant colonel, spent time visiting and sharing stories with the veterans. "The visit was nice and relaxed," said Staff

Chief McKinley offers AFSO 21 perspective

In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley discusses Air Force Smart Operations 21 and how Airmen should explore its processes."Air Force Smart Operations 21 gives us the tools we need to shed unneeded work and make sure every Airman's efforts are

C-130 modernization program passes key milestone

The first C-130 Avionics Modernization Program aircraft, designated H2, successfully completed its first flight Sept. 19 in San Antonio. The flight represented a key milestone in the most comprehensive C-130 avionics modernization effort to date. The C-130 AMP program is managed by the Aeronautical

Heroism earns Airman prestigious award

An NCO from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., received the Keeper of the Flame Award Sept. 20 for his efforts in fighting the war on terrorism from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Tech. Sgt. Stephen Achey, a 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron senior fighter duty technician, received the award

MacDill Airmen assist in high-speed chase

Officials at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., implemented enhanced security procedures at their gates after two teens in a stolen vehicle stormed through the main gate Sept. 20. MacDill security forces helped in apprehending the suspects within 10 minutes after Tampa police began pursuing the teenagers

U.S., Colombian governments work to to deter drug trafficking

While there are thousands of Airmen deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of the much publicized and deliberate war against terrorism, there is another group of Airmen deployed to Colombia as part of a separate and almost invisible war altogether. This war is combating illegal air trafficking.

AFPC offers guidance to civilians nearing retirement

The Air Force Personnel Center's Benefits and Entitlement Service Team here encourages civilians who want to retire in the next few years to plan ahead and seek counseling early. Potential retirees should contact BEST at least one year before retirement to receive one-on-one counseling over the

Afghanistan's president notes progress, problems

Although progress has been profound and his country continues to move forward, terrorists have stepped up their efforts to derail that progress, Afghanistan's president told the United Nations General Assembly in New York Sept. 20. "We have seen terrorism rebounding as terrorists have infiltrated

TRANSCOM blocks and tackles for military touchdowns

Providing for the Defense Department's transportation needs isn't the sexiest of military endeavors, the commander of U.S. Transportation Command readily admits. "It's mostly blocking and tackling," said Gen. Norton A. Schwartz. "It's not the most glamorous thing in the world, but the last time I

Bushwacker 06-04

CENTAF releases airpower summary for Sept. 21

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Sept. 21.In Afghanistan Sept. 20, an Air Force B-1 Lancer and U.S. Marine Corps AV-8Bs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Asmar. The B-1 expended a Guided Bomb

Upgraded KC-135 Stratotankers integral to joint force

The Air Force's KC-135 Stratotanker fleet celebrates 50 years this month of enhancing fighter, bomber and cargo aircraft missions. The multi-role tanker's primary mission is to refuel Air Force, sister service and coalition aircraft, but it also fills other jobs, including airlifting cargo,

Lajes Field weathers Tropical Storm Gordon

Tropical Storm Gordon caused no major damage for Airmen at Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal, Sept. 20, when the storm passed further south of the Azores than experts had originally predicted.The storm had winds of 37 to 47 mph with gusts up to 80 mph as it made landfall. Gordon was downgraded to a

Citizen Soldiers, Airmen make difference on border

The Department of Homeland Security has seen a drop in the number of illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border with Mexico for the first time, and the National Guard has made the difference, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said here Sept. 18."For the first time, we are seeing a