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  • Air Force firefighter receive honors

    Air Force firefighters recognized their top performers Aug. 16 to 20 at the annual Department of Defense and Federal Fire and Emergency Services Training Conference in New Orleans. A California man who displayed an extraordinary feat of heroism and an Air Combat Command fire department received top

  • Airmen deserve recognition for national security operations

    Air Force leaders want to ensure Airmen get the recognition they deserve for fighting the war on terrorism at home and abroad, and for many more operations critical to national security.That is why Air Force personnel officials are looking at better ways to apply modern air and space mission

  • Guard squadron makes mark in Operation Iraqi Freedom

    The most recent deployment for the 107th Fighter Squadron was one of firsts, the unit's commander said here Aug. 24.Lt. Col. Glenn Schmidt said the Air National Guard unit became the first F-16 Fighting Falcon squadron to be based in Iraq when it established its base in Kirkuk in February. It also

  • Officials announce Innkeeper Award winners

    Air Force Services Agency officials recently announced the winners of its annual Innkeeper Award. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., won in the large-base category, and Laughlin AFB, Texas, received the small-base category award.Created in 1981, The Air Force Innkeeper Award program is managed by

  • Avionics techs protect fighters

    Maintainers operate 24 hours daily to ensure that F-16 Fighting Falcons here can defeat sophisticated anti-aircraft defense systems during combat. These advanced systems are posing a threat against unstealthy Air Force aircraft, said 8th Maintenance Squadron’s electronic countermeasures section

  • Air Force accepting physician assistant applications

    The Air Force is taking applications for Physician Assistant Phase I training classes beginning January, April and August 2006.Only active-duty enlisted Airmen are eligible for the program.The selection board is scheduled to convene here March 22. Completed applications must be sent by military

  • Airmen keep Litening pods striking

    As A-10 Thunderbolt IIs patrol over Afghanistan, one piece of avionics equipment is extremely important to them providing unparalleled close-air support to ground forces.The Laser Infrared Targeting and Navigation pod gives A-10 pilots a number of options to search out enemy forces and protect

  • Road Warrior III reinforces continuous training

    Road Warrior III trained nearly 90 Airmen from air force bases in Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota in the strategy and tactics of defending the nation’s ICBM resources for three weeks here.The exercise involved more than 120 people from the National Nuclear Security Agency’s office of secure

  • Test cell maintainers keep aircraft engines revving

    Straddling an F-16 Fighting Falcon engine that is producing 30,000 pounds of thrust as it furiously roars full blast during testing is not for the faint hearted. The ground shakes as the engine shoots 30-foot flames out the exhaust with a deafening noise, and the strong winds can knock someone to

  • Civil engineer celebrates 63 years of service

    With admiration, he glides his hand across a huge trapezoid-shaped conference table made of solid oak. Bending down, he points out with a steady hand how he built the base precisely and securely to fit the top without nails or screws, just wooden dowels. His pride in his work and his steady hand

  • Program launches help for returning combatants, families

    A team of experts in military medicine and health communication at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences here launched a new health education campaign Aug. 24 -- "Courage to Care."In particular, Courage to Care is aimed at helping combatants reintegrate back into their families

  • Maintainers race clock at Kyrgyzstan

    Senior Airman Derek Smith and Airman 1st Class Alex O’Donnell are perched high atop a C-130 Hercules trying to solve a mechanical problem. The No. 3 engine had a prop replaced a week before, and flight deck indicator lights now point out a malfunction. It is a mild 78 degrees at 8:50 a.m. when

  • Aircrew training squadron shapes crews for AWACS mission

    A cooperative spirit is alive at the home of the aircrew training squadron for the E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System mission here. The squadron is NATO’s only E-3 training squadron. Every alliance AWACS mission begins with training here.Squadron Airmen provide basic and upgrade

  • FEGLI open season begins Sept. 1

    Federal employees will be able to enroll or make changes to their group life insurance as part of a special open season Sept. 1 to 30. The event marks the 50th anniversary of the insurance program."We estimate 127,000 Air Force employees will be eligible to enroll or increase their life insurance,"

  • Eglin working to solve garage door issues

    Government and industry experts gathered here Aug. 17 to discuss solutions for garage door openers in nearby communities malfunctioning and using government-owned frequencies.Experts here began installing a new land-mobile-radio system in May to comply with a congressional mandate requiring Defense

  • Good Samaritans help with PCS nightmare

    For most servicemembers, it is routine to move every three to five years, but for one newcomer it was an experience he will never forget.First Lt. Ryan Smith, of the 351st Air Refueling Squadron, had just finished the co-pilot initial qualification course at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., when he

  • Fuels Airmen pump up

    On a busy day at their home station, the Airmen from the fuels element measure their amount of pumped fuel by the thousands. When they are deployed here, they measure it by the hundreds of thousands. Busy is not the word.The 40th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Flight fuels Airmen pumped their

  • AFRL physicist earns national recognition

    An Air Force Research Laboratory physicist here is one of the "50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science" for 2004 according to Science Spectrum magazine and U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine editors.The editors selected Dr. Darnell Diggs of AFRL's materials and

  • Seven prep school cadet candidates disenrolled

    Seven cadet candidates from the academy’s preparatory school here were disenrolled Aug. 20 for inappropriate behavior.When academy officials learned of the incident Aug. 13, an investigation by school officials and academy security forces revealed that five male cadet candidates encouraged two

  • Program aims to help military spouses interested in teaching

    Spouses to Teachers, the Defense Department's latest endeavor to help military spouses interested in teaching, is serving a similar purpose as the popular Troops to Teachers program, an official said.DOD officials established Troops to Teachers in 1994, and responsibility for the program was

  • DIMO strengthening medical ties worldwide

    Defense Institute for Medical Operations officials recently sent out an eight-person team to head-up and teach an aeromedical evacuation and critical-care transport course in Ankara, Turkey.The five-day course provided the advanced training necessary to care for critically ill or injured patients in

  • Water rescue team saves two lives

    The fire department water rescue team here rescued two swimmers at a local beach Aug. 21. When the rescue team arrived on scene just after midnight, security forces were already there, said Master Sgt. Gregory Chesser, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief for training. The victim had

  • RAPCON Airmen control sky over Iraq

    Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, coalition forces have controlled the air space over Iraq. The 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron's radar approach control flight here is responsible for nearly 35,000 square miles of that air space. It makes up one of three area control

  • Airmen provide tactical support from ground up

    Coalition ground troops are engaged in a firefight with insurgents. The unit's tactical air controller calls for air support and soon an F-16 Fighting Falcon is screaming overhead providing cover.Scenarios similar to this play out nearly every day in the desert of Iraq. Getting tactical aircraft

  • Military working dog aerovaced after operation, hospitalization

    Staff Sgt. Tim Cox and military working dog, Ronny, have been partners for more than two years, so when the canine cop fell ill on the job recently, Sergeant Cox instantly recognized a problem.“He just had a complete change of attitude,” Sergeant Cox said. “He got very lethargic and wasn’t himself

  • Women's soccer falls 4-1 in exhibition match

    Lleane Grimditch scored two goals to propel defending Sun Belt Conference Champion Denver over the U.S. Air Force Academy team, 4-1, Aug. 20 in their soccer exhibition openers here. The Denver Pioneers scored the first goal 42 seconds into the match and never looked back. Holly Huppert took a pass

  • C-130 marks 50 years of service

    There is one hero that may not be the biggest or fastest, but for 50 years, has borne the U.S. standard as a welcome projection of both American will and American compassion throughout the world. In battle, this hero can pound the enemy from on high with munitions, electronic jamming or information

  • Cope Thunder trains warfighters

    With more than 62,000 square miles of integrated training ranges, Alaska provides the perfect backdrop for Cope Thunder 04-02, a total-force exercise which runs through Aug. 27 The two-and-a-half week exercise is held here and at nearby Elmendorf Air Force Base. “My main objective for this

  • Civilian leaders shown U.S. space capabilities

    A trip inside the Cheyenne Mountain operations center highlighted an intensive look by civic leaders from throughout the United States into how the U.S. military is using the sky and space to protect the homeland against terrorism.The civilians, all alumni of the Defense Department's joint civilian

  • Former AF museum collections chief convicted

    Scott Ferguson, 44, was found guilty of two crimes connected with the theft of a Peacekeeper armored car from the U.S. Air Force Museum at nearby Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.Mr. Ferguson is the former collections chief at the museum -- the third highest position in Air Force Museum management.

  • School lunch prices increase for first time since 1995

    The price of a "full-priced meal" served in the Army and Air Force Exchange Service overseas school meal program will increase by 10 cents for the 2004 to 2005 school year -- the first increase in nine years. This year's price adjustment is necessary to cover recent increases in food, labor and

  • Academy engineering ranks sixth in the nation

    The Air Force Academy's engineering programs all rank among the top 10 in the nation, according to the U.S. News and World Report's annual America's Best Colleges 2005 rankings.The U.S. News and World Report rankings were released Aug. 20.The rankings are separated by which universities offer

  • Airman named outstanding young American

    An Airman stationed at Sembach Annex, Germany, was named one of the 2004 Ten Outstanding Young Americans by U.S. Junior Chamber officials here.Maj. Eric Axelbank, 38, commands the 435th Materiel Maintenance Squadron. He will receive the award during a ceremony in New Orleans on Sept. 18.Annually

  • Don't get caught in crook's 'phishing' net

    Fishing is an activity enjoyed by many people, but “phishing” is angling of another sort.“Phishing” is an Internet e-mail scam that tricks individuals into revealing personal information, including Social Security numbers, bank account numbers and passwords.Typically, the e-mails involve Web sites

  • TMO packs it, tracks it in Afghanistan

    In a combat zone, being able to track the exact location of critical outbound equipment is extremely important.That is why Airmen at the traffic management office here are the first in the service to test the Air Force’s latest version of cargo tracking software.The Airmen are responsible for

  • Germans honor AF surgeon general

    The German Ministry of Defense has awarded the Gold Cross of Honor of the Bundeswehr to Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) George Peach Taylor Jr., for his ongoing contributions to the German aviation medicine community. Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Erich Roedig, the German air force’s surgeon general,

  • Boy discovers rare arrowhead in base housing

    What started out as a souvenir for the Lilley family living on Arrowhead Court in base housing here has turned out to be a very significant discovery of American Indian culture.Six-year-old John David Lilley and his 10-year-old sister, Nancy, were playing in a sandy area of the cul-de-sac when they

  • C-17 testers airdrop Army Stryker mobile gun system

    An aircrew from the C-17 Globemaster III combined test force here successfully airdropped a mobile gun system for the first time during a feasibility test Aug. 13. The system fits the Army's Stryker engineer squad vehicle.The Army is testing the 52,500-pound system to possibly equip the armored

  • A-10s rescue ambushed ground forces

    When Army Staff Sgt. Jamie Osmon met Capt. Scott, whose last name is withheld for security reasons, for the second time Aug. 16, the reunion was much less hectic than the first.The first time, July 29, Sergeant Osmon and a group of ground forces were trapped in a canyon ambush, and Captain Scott was

  • Officials committed to helping servicemembers vote

    Defense officials are committed to ensuring servicemembers have the ability to vote from anywhere in the world, Department of Defense's top personnel officer said."We're making a decided effort to make sure everyone gets the chance to vote," said David S. C. Chu, undersecretary for personnel and

  • Officials: Register to vote before deploying

    Airmen deploying between now and the general election Nov. 2 should register to vote with their deployed unit address before departing, said voting officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here.Registration is accomplished by completing a Federal Post Card Application Standard Form 76. Some

  • New manual gives mobility crews ‘go-to-war’ guidance

    For years, Air Force fighter and bomber crews have been guided into combat by a manual on tactics, techniques and procedures. Now, mobility aircrews will have similar guidance on how to go to war.Because Air Mobility Command aircrews and weapons systems were pushing closer to the threat envelope,

  • OSI helps keep Bagram safe

    When responding to attacks against Bagram, one team’s philosophy is simple: The best defense is a proactive offense.That offense is supporting the base operations defense plan, said Special Agent Jeff Rutherford, Air Force Office of Special Investigations detachment commander here. The team

  • U.S. ambassador visits reservists in Niger

    The U.S. Ambassador to Niger, Gail Denise Mathieu, visited here Aug. 17 to see 12 Air Force reservists who are treating local residents at the clinic.Ambassador Mathieu toured the medical compound and visited each of the examining rooms.“We are here because we have the opportunity to visit with a

  • Kunsan provides strong foundation for F-16 pilots

    First Lt. Wyatt Morrise, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot, jumped at the chance to come here after graduating from aviator school. Although it is a one-year unaccompanied tour, almost every veteran F-16 pilot he met recommended this place as one of the best flying assignments in the Air Force.Now,

  • Revised 'Tongue and Quill' now available online

    What started as a research paper here nearly 30 years ago has become the Air Force’s leading reference on writing and speaking.In 1975, then-Air Command and Staff College student Maj. Hank Staley submitted as his research paper the first version of what is now “The Tongue and Quill.”The latest

  • Web page emphasizes importance of 'Airmen Votes'

    With less than 80 days to the presidential election, Air Force officials have added another tool to their voting effort to ensure all Airmen can participate. “Airmen Votes” is the name of a Web page designed to give Airmen, their family members and Air Force civilians all the information they need

  • Tinker Airman greets motorists with a smile

    A smile and a cheerful word are good ways to start the day, and that is how one Airman here greets his customers.His attitude at work is finding fans and the news has spread up through his chain of command.Airman 1st Class Ragan Crossland said he wonders what the fuss is all about. He is only

  • Princeton review gives academy high marks

    The Air Force Academy ranks 18th in the nation in overall academic experience, according to the Princeton Review's "The Best 357 Colleges -- 2005 edition."The annual rankings hit the streets Aug. 17 and are the result of input from more than 110,000 students at 357 colleges.Students and cadets

  • Global posture realignment to take place over time

    "The first message I would pass to troops and their families is that they needn't pack their bags," a senior Department of Defense official said Aug. 17, referring to plans for globally realigning U.S. armed forces.Andrew Hoehn, deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy, reassured

  • Forward-deployed civilians play vital role in terror war

    The death of a Department of the Air Force civilian in Iraq on Aug. 8 brings attention to some of the unsung heroes of the war effort: Thousands of Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy civilian employees who have voluntarily put themselves in harm's way to support the war on terrorism.Special

  • Ops center maintains smooth info flow

    When an A-10 Thunderbolt II lands after a mission protecting ground forces, it is critical to know what needs to be fixed before it is ready to take off again.Making sure the right people know what needs to be fixed and coordinating that maintenance is one of three jobs facing 354th Expeditionary

  • AFA announces annual aerospace awards

    The following Airmen and organizations are winners of the 2004 Air Force Association Aerospace Awards. The awards will be presented at the AFA’s annual convention here Sept. 13 to 15.The Theodore Von Karman Award for the most outstanding contribution to national defense in the field of science and

  • Crew chief follows, sets example

    "I want everyone I meet to know how proud I am to be part of the best air force in the world," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Stout, an F-15 Eagle maintenance trainer assigned to the 372nd Training Squadron’s Detachment 12 here."I like seeing the reflection of my ribbons and medals in people's eyes,”

  • Holloman maintainers training at Kunsan

    Wearing chemical warfare gear is nothing new for F-117 Nighthawk maintainers from the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Wing Airmen have been to almost every “hot spot” in the world supporting Air Force global missions.About 300 Airmen and their stealth aircraft from Holloman are

  • MQ-1 Predator crashes near Balad

    An Air Force MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicle crashed at 9:20 a.m. Aug. 17 north of the base. The aircraft was assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron here. A board of officers will investigate the accident.

  • Civil engineers benefit from F-117 deployment

    Civil engineers are reaping the benefits of an air and space expeditionary force deployment of F-117 Nighthawks here. Building and maintaining a home for about 300 Airmen from the 49th Fighter Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., has been a great training opportunity for the civil engineers, said

  • Bush announces global posture changes during next decade

    The United States will redistribute forces now stationed at overseas locations "where the wars of the last century ended," President Bush announced in Cincinnati on Aug. 16. The president's announcement came during an address to the national convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. "The world has

  • Expeditionary fuels flight fighting gas spills

    When a 50,000-gallon capacity fuel bladder reaches the end of its lifespan, there is little anyone can do to stop the massive rupture and potential tidal wave in the fuel pits.But that is what the Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron try to foresee and head off every

  • Air Force C-130s support Afghan army deployment

    U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules airlifted troops and supplies Aug. 15 and 16 supporting the deployment of several Afghan battalions to respond to factional fighting which started Aug. 14 in the Shindand area of the country.At the request of Afghan officials, forces from the coalition and international

  • CMSAF speaks to Nellis Airmen

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray visited here Aug. 11 and 12 and during his stay stressed that Airmen are the Air Force’s most important assets.“The strength of the Air Force is no longer the aircraft flying over the targets; it’s our Airmen in supply, vehicle maintenance, finance

  • New leadership course for chiefs in final development

    Although the transition to chief master sergeant may not be seamless, a new course will aim at eliminating some of the obstacles newly promoted chiefs may encounter.The Chief Master Sergeant Leadership Course, developed at the Air Force Senior NCO Academy at nearby Gunter Annex, becomes the fourth

  • Now showing: Aug. 16 edition of AFTV News

    The expanded role of North American Aerospace Defense Command headlines the latest edition of Air Force Television News. In a special “Eye on the Air Force,” Tech. Sgt. Bill Scherer goes to Rome, N.Y., to spotlight the Airmen who make up the Northeast sector of NORAD. He shows how their role has

  • Airman arraigned in Kirtland murder

    An 898th Munitions Squadron Airman here was arraigned in the 2nd Judicial District Court for the state of New Mexico on Aug. 10 for allegedly murdering another Airman also assigned to the squadron.Senior Airman Nathan Roberts is being held at a local detention center on $300,000 bond and faces an

  • AMC delivers hurricane relief

    Air Mobility Command began operations Aug. 13 to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency by providing emergency relief to areas in Florida devastated by Hurricane Charley.“AMC Tanker Airlift Control Center (began) moving 200 empty cargo pallets to Dobbins (Air Reserve Base), Ga., … so the

  • Helicopter pilots earn Cheney Award

    For the second straight year, Airmen from the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England, have earned the Cheney Award for aerial achievement.Capts. (then 1st Lts.) Randell Voas and Craig Prather earned the award for their role in the March 26, 2003, airdrop mission of

  • Life support keeps pilots prepared

    The cockpit of an aircraft is a self-contained environment, protecting the pilots from their surroundings.One group of Airmen here ensures the pilots have everything they need close at hand in there, especially those items they might need just “in case.”“We take care of the entire life-support

  • Heat striking deployed warfighters in Iraq

    An enemy can take many forms, but here, heat is one of the biggest enemies faced by warfighters.“There are many enemies outside the wire of the base, but ‘big red’ is everywhere and doesn’t play any favorites,” said 1st Lt. Dennis Turriff, of the 407th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.There

  • Air Force agent killed in Iraq

    A special agent assigned to the 33rd Field Investigation Squadron here and deployed to Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq, was killed in action Aug. 8.Special Agent Rick A. Ulbright, 49, died as a result of injuries sustained during a rocket attack at Kirkuk AB.Agent Ulbright served as a psychophysiological

  • Sergeant witnesses birth of son 10,000 miles away

    Tech. Sgt. Troy Goodman did not sit by his wife's hospital bed when she gave birth to their second son. Instead, he sat more than 10,000 miles away in tent city watching the delivery via Webcam.“I was woken up at 2 a.m., and got in touch with my wife at 3 a.m. By 4 a.m., I was logged into the IP

  • Air Force base near Tampa ready for Hurricane Charley

    Several Air Force bases in the path of Hurricane Charley are preparing for whatever the storm may throw at them.People and aircraft at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., began evacuating Aug. 12. Nearly 1,500 residents of base housing moved to safe havens while aircraft were flown to bases out of the

  • Two commands join forces during terror exercises

    It was a nightmare worst-case scenario, but that is what U.S. Northern Command officials had intended for "Determined Promise '04."The exercise, which ran Aug. 5 to 10, was designed to test NORTHCOM's ability to respond to multiple, simultaneous homeland-defense and federal-relief efforts.This

  • USAFE team supports nations contributing troops

    The most recent mission rotating Polish, Latvian, Lithuanian and Ukrainian combat forces to and from the Polish-led sector in Iraq landed at Strachowice Air Base here Aug. 12.A seven-person team from U.S. Air Forces in Europe converged in June to embark on a two-month mission supporting the rotation

  • Hurricane chasers gear up for Charley

    Mother Nature is poised to unleash hurricane-force winds and torrential downpours here in the wee hours of Aug. 13 from Hurricane Charley. While most people at MacDill have battened down the hatches and headed away from danger, the pilots and meteorologists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

  • Airman steps in when patrons have enough to drink

    Staff Sgt. Brian Miller, a bartender at the sports bar J.R. Rockers here, will not hesitate to take keys from patrons he thinks have had too much to drink.Sergeant Miller is assigned to the 2nd Airlift Squadron and has been bartending for six years.In Sergeant Miller’s bartending tenure, he said

  • Air Force taking applications for overseas study

    The Air Force is offering three officers the opportunity to study overseas for two years through the Olmsted Scholar Program. Those selected will begin study for the 2005-2006 school year.The program provides participants with an in-depth understanding of a foreign language and culture so they are

  • Reserve medical team arrives in Niger

    A team of Air Force Reserve Command medical specialists arrived here Aug. 6 and quickly set up shop at the camp’s medical clinic. They began seeing patients early Aug. 9.The 12-person medical team deployed alongside a U.S. Marine counterterrorism team here which is outside Niamey, the African

  • Air Force seeks career enlisted aviators

    Opportunities for Airmen to become enlisted aviators are taking off as nine aircrew specialties are opening up for retraining.The Air Force’s senior enlisted aviator said more than 360 training slots are available for enlisted Airmen in ranks senior airman through master sergeant.Chief Master Sgt.

  • Ogden workers deliver record number of jets on time

    Following a dramatic change in business practices, workers with the Ogden Air Logistics Center aircraft division here have made Air Force depot maintenance history. They returned an average of 97 percent of all repaired jets on or ahead of schedule this year.“These extraordinary turn-around rates

  • Quarterly assignment listing now available

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for April to June 2005 overseas requirements is now available.Individuals need to work through their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Aug. 19. Airmen will be notified of their selection by mid-September, said Air Force Personnel

  • Engine workers keep A-10 flying in Afghanistan

    When A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots fly over Afghanistan, one system ensures they continue to provide top cover for coalition forces.The engines.“Without engines, the aircraft really couldn’t get off the ground,” said Airman 1st Class Quinn Eisenbraun, of the 354th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance

  • Deployed team helping Airmen communicate

    Deployed units rely on a steady flow of communication to accomplish the mission, so computers and phones provide a vital link between organizations around the Air Force.Equally important is making sure that those computers and phones work well, especially in an environment that is not very conducive

  • Lab welcomes 15-year-old doctoral student

    Air Force Research Laboratory experts routinely welcome college students to their facilities and give them a taste of what scientists and engineers do for the military. In turn, they hope to harness the young talent after they graduate.Playing host to Alia Sabur for summer research is not really

  • Airman’s actions come to light after a recent accident

    Staff Sgt. John Wright had just come off a night shift here when his quick-thinking and immediate response to an accident made him a hero in some people’s eyes.Sergeant Wright, an avionics specialist with the 116th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was driving home when he came across a car accident

  • Base returns World War II flag to Japanese family

    A flag belonging to a fallen World War II Japanese soldier was returned to his family during a brief but emotional ceremony here Aug. 6.Flags were considered traditional farewell gifts for Japanese soldiers going into battle.Col. Mark Schissler, commander of the 374th Airlift Wing, handed the white

  • ‘Beer goggles’ give Airmen view of alcohol’s effects

    If you think it is OK to drive after having a few beers, fatal-vision goggles may change your view.Tanya Paul, an intern at the health and wellness center here, developed a program called BE AWARE (Basic Education of Alcohol: What to drink, Ability to drive, Risk and Effects). It is designed to

  • Center helps when disasters strike

    As the busiest time of the 2004 hurricane season begins; Air Force Personnel Center officials here are reminding Airmen that the personnel readiness center can assist them when natural disasters strike. When people evacuate or communication is impaired, the readiness center staff acts as a central

  • Engineers design a lighter AC-130 ammunition rack

    The AC-130H gunship’s mighty arsenal has a new home that is lighter and more efficient for the low-flying hunter of the sky. And, its engineers and users said the modification is making a positive difference.A new ammunition rack is more than 1,000 pounds lighter than its predecessor -- a weight

  • JEFX 04 execution phase ends in success

    Two years, three spirals and three weeks of simulated combat in a fictional area of operations culminated in the completion of the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2004 execution phase here Aug. 5. JEFX 04 assessed 15 new initiatives in technology and processes designed to increase command and

  • Veteran recalls historic World War II bombings

    The beginning of the end of fighting in the Pacific during World War II began 59 years ago with a thunderous roar.Some people thought there was another way to get Japan to the peace table. Others thought the drastic measures taken by the United States saved more lives despite the cost.Whatever the

  • Coalition forces come together in operations center

    Despite cultural and language differences between Korean, Dutch, Italian and American forces, controllers in the Combined Defense Operations Center here are one force guarding against a common enemy.The center brings together security forces from the nations based here to gather information and

  • Sergeant sees dollar signs with his idea

    Reading the fine print really paid off for one sergeant here. Staff Sgt. Neal Dion, a 364th Training Squadron aircraft systems instructor, received $10,000 for his submission to the Air Force IDEA program.Sergeant Dion was a liaison for The Boeing Company in the KC-10 Extender program at Travis Air

  • Airmen from different specialties serve as escorts

    A tight-knit group of jet-engine mechanics, radar operators, communications specialists, medical administrators and transportation troops, to name a few, makeup the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s force protection flight here. With a motto of “Eyes on, Watch Your Back,” about 50

  • Scientists studying aircrew long-haul comfort

    For many Air Force aircrews, discomfort caused by sitting on extended missions is just part of the job.Col. Kerry Keithcart, a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot for the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., said he and his crew do what they can to make those longer missions more

  • New system leading way for safer military flights

    Thanks to a new software-based program being implemented here, terminal instrument procedures specialists will soon be able to support flying missions within U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s area of operations more efficiently and with increased safety.The new system, called the Global Procedure

  • Pest management is serious business at any base

    Keeping pests under control at an Air Force base is a serious business no matter where that base may be.Senior Master Sgt. Burhl Hartin, a pest management specialist from the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, recalls an incident at his home unit, the 125th Fighter Wing in Jacksonville,

  • Medical officials clarify policy on cosmetic surgery

    Air Force doctors perform cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries as part of essential training, but elective cosmetic procedures such as breast augmentations are not routinely available as perks to servicemembers and their families, according to Air Force Medical Service officials.Recent published

  • Remains from Vietnam War identified

    An Airman missing in action from the Vietnam War has been identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.He is Chief Master Sgt. Luther L. Rose of Howe, Texas.On June 23, 1966, Chief Rose was serving as a gunner on an AC-47 Spooky gunship on a nighttime armed

  • Motorcycle safety can save Airmen

    For anyone on two wheels, the asphalt offers no pardon for its hunger, and guardrails, lamp posts and four-wheeled vehicles do not forgive an impact.Motorcycle accidents continue to rob the Air Force of its most precious resource – people.“I saw an Airman with little riding experience snap his back

  • 2005 NCO retraining program under way

    Air Force officials want more than 1,000 noncommissioned officers to pick a new job during the voluntary phase of the fiscal 2005 NCO retraining program that began Aug. 3.Eligible NCOs have until Sept. 30 to apply. If the Air Force does not meet its goal of placing 1,098 Airmen from overage career