NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Edwards detachment stands up to test joint strike fighter

    Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center officials here stood up Det. 1 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Oct. 2 to lead the operational test and evaluation of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. Det. 1 will bring an additional 581 personnel to Edwards AFB for joint strike fighter

  • Guidance released on 100 percent cotton airman battle uniform

    Air Force senior leaders here issued guidance clarifying the wear of the 100 percent cotton airman battle uniform. According to a message dated Sept. 7, only Airmen in jobs that meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, requirements are authorized to wear the 100 percent cotton

  • ACC officials hold bomb wing transition summit

    Staff members from Air Combat Command and Air Force Global Strike Command along with representatives from Headquarters Air Force and U.S. Strategic Command met Sep. 30 to work on solutions for the smooth transition of ACC's three bomb wings with nuclear missions to AFGSC. On Feb. 1, 2010, control of

  • Air Force officials dedicate C-130 to Army's 82nd Airborne in Afghanistan

    Air Force officials here dedicated a C-130 Hercules to the Soldiers of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Afghanistan Oct. 5 at Bagram Airfield. The transport was originally dedicated at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., Oct. 25, 2008, to Fort Bragg's entire 82nd Airborne Division based in

  • Academy officials begin year-long self study of athletics

    Air Force Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould announced Oct. 6 that Academy officials will begin a year-long, campus-wide effort to study the athletics program as part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletics certification program. Specific areas the study will

  • Family uses technology to cope with deployment separation

    Talking every day with the man she married is sometimes a challenge for Amanda Gutierrez, but even though he is deployed they can still discuss family issues face to face. Technology like e-mail, Web cams and texting helps bridge the 8,000 mile gap between Texas and Afghanistan. Saturday morning

  • Oct. 3 airpower summary: F-16s deter enemy actions

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Nuristan, coalition aircraft provided critical and responsive airpower to

  • Combat search, rescue highlighted in new commercial

    A commercial highlighting combat search and rescue, or CSAR, Airmen began airing Oct. 5 in television markets and select movie theaters across the country."CSAR" shows the teamwork involved to locate, communicate with and recover downed aircrews and isolated personnel. The commercial is the third in

  • Airmen deploy to Indonesia to help quake victims

    Airmen assigned to Pacific Air Forces left here and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Oct. 5 on two C-17 Globemaster IIIs for Padang, Indonesia, to provide medical care to those affected by the recent 7.6-magnitude earthquake. The humanitarian assistance rapid response team combines medical and

  • 'Today's Air Force' features projection of air power

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," U. S. and Japanese airmen exchange ideas and information, Army Black Hawk pilots get a little help from the Air Force for training missions over Misawa and college football fever hits bases overseas. It's common for people to join the military for the

  • Eglin wing transitions to become first F-35 training unit

    Members of the 33rd Fighter Wing here transitioned from an operational F-15 Eagle unit to the first F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter training unit during a ceremony Oct. 1 at Eglin Air Force Base. Col. David Hlatky assumed command of Air Education and Training Command's newest wing whose

  • Football: Falcons fall to Midshipmen in overtime

    U.S. Air Force Academy running back Savier Stephens rushed for 81 yards, but the Falcons football team came up short in a 16-13 overtime loss to the Naval Academy Oct. 3 at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. Stephens helped set up for two field goals scored by Falcons kicker

  • Airmen use space to develop warfighting technology

    A group of Airmen at NASA's Johnson Space Center here is using space to help develop technology for the warfighter. Making up the Department of Defense Spaceflight Payload Office, these Airmen work in a small office deep inside the center's mission control, where they support three kinds of

  • Fuel efficiency among top priorities in AMC's energy conservation

    Imagine your frustration when the price of gas goes up 50 cents and it adds $12.50 to the cost of filling up your 25-gallon tank. Now imagine adding $25,575 to the cost of filling the tank of a C-5 Galaxy that holds 51,150 gallons. The Air Force is the Department of Defense's largest consumer of

  • Rare find focuses on Scottish-American history

    A Glasgow city councillor who did not want her summer break in session to go to waste uncovered a rare find. Dr. Nina Baker, a Glasgow city councillor for Ward 10, was indexing the old books in the city chambers' library when she happened upon a tattered ledger dating from 1943. The 6-inch thick

  • Reconstitution of materials supports fight, saves money

    Members of the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here began to prepare for the drawdown of servicemembers serving in Iraq by starting to reconstitute their materials and equipment here. Soon after arriving in June, members of the 407th ECES completed an inventory of all items from

  • As KC-135Es retire, Air Force officials' focus shifts to KC-X

    One of the last of the KC-135E Stratotankers to retire made its final flight Sept. 28 to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and after more than 50 years of service, tail number 56-1503 will be relegated to a life as one of several planes used for aircraft maintenance training on the base. This KC-135E

  • AMC simulator linking initiative making pilot training better

    Air Mobility Command is not only training its pilots, it's doing it better. The command is linking its aircraft training simulators through numerous bases to make a good flight crew an even better flight crew. This simulator linking initiative is part of an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st

  • Samoa relief winds down; efforts continue elsewhere

    As the U.S. military continues to provide assistance to victims of storms and earthquakes in the Philippines and Indonesia, tsunami relief operations in American Samoa are tapering off, a Defense Department spokesman said here Oct. 5. The humanitarian-relief operation in American Samoa "is

  • Chaplain school holds last class at Maxwell

    The last formal class of the Air Force Chaplain School to be conducted here was Sept. 14 to 25. Following an informal professional continuing education course Oct. 6 to 8, the school will resume its move to a new facility at Fort Jackson, S.C. All chaplain training for military members in all

  • Top enlisted leader visits Maxwell-Gunter

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited with chiefs, first sergeants, enlisted instructors and Maxwell Air Force Base Airmen during a Sept. 25 visit here. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited with senior enlisted Airmen attending the Senior NCO Academy's Chief

  • Oct. 2 airpower summary: Tankers refuel 246 aircraft

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles flew armed overwatch in the Asmar area.

  • Air Force humanitarian team set to depart for Indonesia

    An Air Force humanitarian assistance rapid response team is preparing to depart on two C-17 Globemaster IIIs out of Japan and Guam to provide disaster relief to Indonesia. Seventy-one Airmen, along with associated supplies and equipment, are scheduled to fly from Yokota Air Base, Japan; and Andersen

  • McChord Airmen deliver equipment to American Samoa

    A C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., touched down at Pago Pago International Airport late Oct. 1, bringing nine Federal Emergency Management Agency members and 17,000 pounds of cargo to American Samoa in support of relief operations. The mission was McChord's first humanitarian

  • Cyber security awareness gets focus in October

    We've all had the experience: our computer, at work or at home, stops working. It could be a hardware glitch, but in this viral world, it just as likely could be a virus, worm or other malicious bit of software. At best, it means de-bugging you computer. At worst, it can lead to criminals hijacking

  • Committee discusses status, plans for joint jet pilot training

    Members of the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program Steering Committee finished their week-long meeting Sept. 25 where they discussed the current status and future plans for the program. They also reflected on the flow of student pilots, instructor pilot training, leadership and command

  • AMC officials blend Guard, Reserve, active-duty units

    Air Mobility Command officials here continued their total force integration efforts Oct. 1 with the stand up of three active associate units that now combine active-duty units and Airmen who accomplish the KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling mission with their Reserve and Guard counterparts. The three

  • AFNORTH Airmen support tsunami relief

    Air Forces Northern officials recently stood up a defense support of civil authorities operations center here to aid in relief efforts of the tsunami that swept across the U.S. territories of the Samoa Islands, and the Super Typhoon Melor bearing down on Guam. "We have six emergency preparedness

  • Task force takes up effort to prevent suicides

    Bonnie Carroll, co-chair of the congressionally mandated Suicide Prevention Task Force, aims to remove the stigma within the military of seeking mental health care. Ms. Carroll is the founder and executive director of the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. The group represents all military

  • Wounded warriors get heros' welcome at Andrews

    Minutes after the hulking C-17 Globemaster III rolled to a stop on the tarmac here Sept. 28, two oversized ambulances backed up to its rear loading ramp to receive its precious cargo: 23 wounded warriors and sick or injured servicemembers in need of advanced medical care. Most of the patients

  • Hawaii Air Guard doctor details American Samoa recovery effort

    Capt. Nathaniel Duff is a physician's assistant with the 154th Wing of the Hawaii Air National Guard based at Hickam Air Force Base. He is a member of the medical team embedded with the chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear and explosives enhanced response force package that was on the first

  • McChord Airmen fly response team to American Samoa

    McChord Airmen deployed a U.S.-based Federal Emergency Management Agency team to American Samoa at 2 p.m. Oct. 1 aboard a C-17 Globemaster III in the wake of a 7.6 magnitude undersea earthquake that caused a devastating tsunami to strike the region Sept. 29. Airmen transported a nine-person FEMA

  • Wright Flyer replica crashes

    An authentic replica of the 1905 Wright Flyer III crashed at the Huffman Prairie Flying Field here at approximately 9:30 a.m. Oct. 1. Vintage aircraft builder and pilot Mark Dusenberry, was flown by CareFlight helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton where his injuries were initially identified

  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials plan for H1N1 vaccine distribution

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials here continue to plan and prepare to guard the health of Airmen, civilians and family members against numerous health issues, including the H1N1 virus. The USAFE Command Surgeon General's Office staff is coordinating with U.S. European Command's medical depot,

  • UAS career field decisions, ISR organization discussed at summit

    Air Force leaders met at an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance summit here Sept. 29 to discuss ISR organizational plans and further refine a blueprint for unmanned aircraft systems career fields. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and

  • Airmen return from Africa Partnership Station 2009 support

    Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing here recently returned from a six-month split deployment to West Central Africa in support of Africa Partnership Station 2009, which is an initiative aimed at improving maritime safety and regional security on the African continent. Africa Partnership

  • Hawaii Guard members assess damages in American Samoa

    Hawaii National Guard members assessed damages in the Pago Pago and Leone villages of American Samoa Oct. 1 after arriving to the tsunami-ravaged island after a C-17 Globemaster III flight from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. More than 30 active-duty Guard members split into two groups to conduct

  • Oct. 1 airpower summary: A-10s silence enemy activity

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft flew armed overwatch in the

  • Photo essay: Humanitarian aid bound for tsunami relief effort

    A C-17 Globemaster III sits at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Sept. 30, 2009, as crews prepare to take off to deliver humanitarian supplies to the tsunami-devastated Samoa region in the South Pacific. A multiagency contingent from Hawaii, including active-duty Airmen at Hickam, Soldiers with the

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force. View the slideshow.

  • Chief of staff calls for harmony between technology, doctrine

    The Air Force chief of staff discussed the complementary roles of technology and doctrine during a major conference here Sept. 30."Our success today relies on both the technology that enables advanced systems and, believe it or not, the doctrine that articulates our institutionally held beliefs on

  • First M-ATVs arrive in Afghanistan

    Two mine-resistant, ambush-protected all-terrain vehicles arrived at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on Oct. 1, after being offloaded from a C-17 Globemaster III. The M-ATVs arrived less than a day after leaving Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., Sept. 30. The M-ATV's are the first of their kind in

  • Mobility Airmen continue to deliver for warfighters

    Mobility Airmen delivered 4.1 million pounds of goods were dropped to forward operating bases, combat outposts and other austere locations in support of ground forces in September continuing to feed, fuel and arm the fight.September marked the fourth consecutive month of an escalation of supplies

  • Enlisted Reserve promotions announced

    Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here have announced results for the Calendar 2009 Air Force Reserve Consolidated E-8/E-9 Promotion Enhancement Program Board.The selection boards convened at the center here Sept. 15 to determine those enlisted members qualified to assume the next higher grade.

  • Air Force demilitarizes big backlog of nuclear weapons-related components

    Air Force officials here have undertaken a massive effort to demilitarize more than 100,000 nuclear weapons-related legacy assets from its intercontinental ballistic missile, aircraft and space test programs. Under a $35 million, five-year plan funded by the Air Force chief of staff, Air Force

  • NORAD fighters escort troubled aircraft

    Two F-16 Fighting Falcons intercepted a civilian aircraft Sept. 30 over Muncie, Ind., at the North American Aerospace Defense Command's direction and stayed with the aircraft and its unconscious pilot until it crashed, NORAD officials reported. NORAD scrambled the Air National Guard F-16s at about

  • New protective vehicles head to Afghanistan

    The first parcel of an influx of vehicles designed to protect troops from deadly roadside bombs is expected to arrive overnight in Afghanistan, said a Defense Department spokesman Sept. 30 here. The expected delivery comes soon after department procurement officials awarded an order for more than

  • Web site offers help for military families in transition

    Sixteen-year-old Robyn Lutzkanin loves the military. As a military child, she said she has moved often and enjoys seeing new places and meeting new people. "It really opens your eyes up to the world," Robyn added. But she admited to dreading the transition of moving to that new place and having to

  • Joint force employs humanitarian effort in American Samoa

    Two C-17 Globemaster IIIs departed here Sept. 30 with approximately 100 military personnel to provide humanitarian assistance to the island of American Samoa. The island nation was struck Sept. 29 by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake generating 15-foot waves and destroying whole villages. At least 111

  • Vandenberg officials battle fire on base

    Emergency responders as of 9 p.m. PDT were working to contain a fire that started near Vandenberg Middle School here at approximately 11:45 a.m. Sept. 30.  As of that time, 20 fire engines, 10 aircraft and six bulldozers were being used to fight the fire, that has burned approximately 350 acres on

  • Charleston Airmen supply CENTCOM first M-ATV shipment

    Charleston Airmen began the distribution Sept. 30 of a new version of the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle from here. The MRAP All-Terrain Vehicles, or M-ATVs, were the first to be delivered to the Afghanistan theater for operational use, and many more are to come said, David Hansen, deputy

  • Officials announce homeowners assistance program details

    Defense Department officials announced Sept. 30, the details for distributing $555 million available under the Homeowners Assistance Program. The program is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in February, and it's designed to partially reimburse those whose service to the

  • Scott AFB wing changes name, adds new mission

    The 375th Airlift Wing here officially became the 375th Air Mobility Wing Sept. 30 as a result of the Air Force's most recent Total Force Integration effort.The TFI effort called for the creation of an associate unit consisting of active duty KC-135 pilots, boom operators and maintainers who will

  • Iraqi air force assumes control of their C-130 operations

    Iraqi air force officials officially began fully independent C-130 air operations Sept. 29, marking the end of the U.S. C-130 air advisory mission here. A ceremony deactivating the U.S. Air Force's 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron and marking assumption of C-130 operations, maintenance and

  • Critical Care Air Transport Team mission to save lives

    A critical care air transport team, or CCATT, with the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, received an urgent call the morning of June 24. A Marine had been severely injured by an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Afghanistan and needed immediate evacuation

  • Hawaii Guard deploys after tsunami hits American Samoa

    About 90 Hawaii National Guard members aboard two C-17 Globemaster IIIs are on their way to American Samoa this morning to help in the recovery efforts on the Pacific island, National Guard officials here announced Sept. 30. Two C-17s from the 154th Wing, an associate unit based at Hickam Air Force

  • Joint maritime threat working group convenes at Kunsan

    More than 30 South Korean and American law enforcement agents met at Kunsan Air Base Sept. 3 for a joint forces maritime threat working group hosted by Air Force Office of Special Investigations officials here. This inaugural meeting had representatives from the South Korean Defense Security

  • Tricare inpatient costs increase for fiscal 2010

    Every year the costs for Tricare-covered inpatient services are reviewed and are subject to change. For the coming fiscal 2010, which runs Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2010, there is an increase for some out-of-pocket costs paid by Tricare Standard beneficiaries at civilian hospitals for inpatient care and

  • Strategic Airlift Capability conducts first flight in support of ISAF

    Members of the Strategic Airlift Capability conducted its first mission in support of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan Sept. 29. The first ISAF-related flight by SAC's operational component, the Heavy Airlift Wing based in Papa Air Base in Hungary, delivered materiel to

  • Predator passes 600,000 flight hours

    Airmen of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing here surpassed the 600,000 flight hour mark in the MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system Sept. 4 here. The Predator fleet passed 250,000 hours in June 2007, after 12 years of flying, and it only took a year and eight months for the aircraft to fly an

  • Sept. 28 airpower summary: C-130s deliver for warfighters

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 28, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and coalition aircraft flew armed

  • Sept. 29 airpower summary: F-15Es strike enemy

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft responded to a request for assistance in the

  • AFOTEC leaders employ AFSO21 principles to improve test process

    The commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center recently instituted the use of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century process improvement tools across AFOTEC to improve the operational test and evaluation planning processes here."The primary goal of our reengineering

  • Air Force teams earn gold medals at armed forces softball championships

    The Air Force men's and women's softball teams earned gold medals at the Armed Forces Slow-Pitch Softball Championships Sept. 25 at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla. The Air Force women's team went 6-3 during the tournament and won their third armed forces title in three years. During the men's

  • Civilian employees to receive equal base salary increases

    Defense Department employees paid under the National Security Personnel System will receive the same base salary increases this year as their General Schedule counterparts, a Defense Department official said Sept. 29. The move comes as senior Defense Department, Office of Personnel Management and

  • Comm Airmen prepare for major career field transformation

    Twenty communications Airmen stationed in Germany took part in a training exercise Sept. 18 to 24 at Aviano Air Base, Italy, in preparation for the largest transformation in the history of Air Force communications which is to be completed this October. When it's all said and done, more than 27,000

  • Thunderbirds take show down under

    The U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team, the Thunderbirds, took to the Australian sky Sept. 26 showcasing the power and precision that embodies Air Force Airmen worldwide. Flying wingtip-to-wingtip formations and in solo maneuvers, the Thunderbirds put on a show for a crowd of more than 70,000

  • AMC office seeks to solve problems in 8 steps

    In life, it can take as many as eight steps to solve a problem. However, according to the Air Force's Smart Operations for the 21st Century program, eight steps to solve any problem is all it should take. "The eight-step process is a more disciplined approach to problem solving," said Col. Mark

  • Science, technology awards recognize Air Force's sharpest minds

    More than 30 top scientists and research teams were honored at the Air Force Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Awards banquet on Sept. 23 here. The ceremony was held at the U.S. Air Force Academy in conjunction with the first Air Force Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

  • Space Command boss talks of space, cyber connection

    Addressing the Air Force Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Symposium here Sept. 29, the leader of the Air Force Space community said space and cyberspace are integrally connected. "Think of space and cyber as circles on a Venn diagram," said Gen. C. Robert Kehler,

  • Airman sketches his way into Air Force history with UAS wings design

    A toddler's first artistic expressions often surface in the form of well-intended wall defacement or notepad squiggles -- but every now and then, a doodle becomes a hobby, and that hobby becomes a part of history. Staff Sgt. Austin May, a public affairs craftsman from the 100th Air Refueling Wing,

  • Air Force security forces, DOD police collaborate to keep joint base secure

    Department of Defense police at Naval Air Engeneering Station Lakehurst and Fort Dix will merge into the Air Force security forces squadron at McGuire Air Force Base effective Oct. 1 as part of an ongoing joint base effort.  Officials said this merger will ensure a seamless and secure transition to

  • Domestic Operations conference a 'historic collaboration' for Air Guard

    The recent arrest of several individuals involved in an alleged terrorist plot is a pressing reason to fulfill domestic mission requirements, which address manmade emergencies and natural disasters, the National Guard's senior officer said Sept. 28 here. "We need to get on with this," said Gen.

  • C2ISR Symposium kicks off

    The Air Force Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Symposium kicked off here Sept. 28 with a presentation by former Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper. He told the mixed industry and government gathering that, in an era of flat or declining defense budgets,

  • ESC team building on Empire Challenge successes

    An Electronic Systems Center team is busy incorporating technical improvements and lessons learned from this summer's Empire Challenge to improve intelligence distribution, processing and inter-service sharing. Empire Challenge 2009 was a global test event, with more than 2,000 participants from

  • Air National Guard program cuts red tape for quick solutions

    An Air National Guard program designed to cut through bureaucracy has led to safety solutions for problems as vast and varied as avian flu, pilot fatigue and reducing the carbon footprint. Five years ago, some Guard members deployed to Iraq brainstormed to share tactical data in a new way using

  • Sept. 27 airpower summary: Predator missile strike destroys enemy position

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 27, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an MQ-1 Predator responded to a request for support in the Sangin

  • Air Force Club Membership scholarship winners announced

    Twenty-five individuals have been selected to receive $1,000 scholarships through the Air Force Services Club Membership Scholarship Program.  Club members and their families were given the opportunity to submit a 500-word essay on "The High Cost of Freedom."  A total of 154 entries were submitted

  • Thousands helped as Pacific Angel concludes

    Air Force officials concluded the final iteration of Operation Pacific Angel 2009 during a ceremony here Sept. 22, culminating a two-part operation that provided humanitarian aid to thousands of people in communities in the Asia-Pacific region. Operation Pacific Angel is a joint and combined

  • Air Force officials release F-16 accident report

    A pilot's failure to recognize his altitude during night, low altitude high-angle strafing training caused the crash of an F-16 Fighting Falcon at the Utah Test and Training Range June 22, according to an Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board report released Sept. 28 here. The pilot, Capt.

  • Wise advisers help Air Force leaders navigate science

    Continuing a program started in 1944 by Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold, Air Force leaders leverage the best minds in the nation to lasso innovation ahead of the curve. "It takes all of us to conceive, comprehend and take action on the ways and means of today and of tomorrow," said Air Force Chief of Staff

  • Air Force announces 2009 HENAAC, STEM award winners

    Air Force officials here selected four individuals to be honored as this year's Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Corporation and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Awards Program winners. The Professional Achievement Winner in the military category is Maj. William

  • Reserve, retired rated officers given active-duty opportunity

    ­The secretary of the Air Force has initiated two voluntary recall to active duty programs and expanded the number of eligible Air Force specialties for an existing one to help minimize the service's critical shortage of rated officers. "The rapid expansion of unmanned aircraft systems as well as

  • MacDill legal office earns American Bar Association LAMP Award

    The 6th Air Mobility Wing legal office was presented with the American Bar Association's Legal Assistance for Military Personnel, or LAMP, Distinguished Service Award on Sept. 15. The LAMP Distinguished Service Award recognizes exceptional achievements or exceptional service to or in support of the

  • VA to provide emergency checks to students awaiting benefits

    Checks for up to $3,000 will be available soon to students who have applied for Veterans Affairs educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment. The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional benefits offices across the country starting Oct. 2, said

  • Sept. 25 airpower summary: KC-135s fuel fighters

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles responded to a request for support

  • Sept. 26 airpower summary: HH-60Gs transport wounded warriors

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons responded to a request for support

  • Class offers hands-on approach to 'lean' principles

    Most Air Force members have become familiar with the term "lean" in recent years, the basic concept of improving processes by eliminating waste. But when it comes to applying lean concepts to their everyday practices, many Airmen are still at a loss. To better help Airmen here understand lean

  • Father, son deploy to Afghanistan together

    Missing family members is a common feeling many Airmen have while deployed, but for two Airmen serving with the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here, that feeling is a little less prominent. This father and son duo deployed to war together to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Lt. Col. Bartley

  • Iraqi, U.S. Air Force work hand in hand to support drawdown of forces

    The Iraqi air force commander and the director of the Iraqi Training and Advisory Mission-Air Force visited the 407th Air Expeditionary Group Sept. 24 at Ali Base to conduct a site survey of the airfield and facilities, and to speak with members of the media from the local city of An Nasiriyah about

  • Air Force leaders emphasize AFSO21

    In a joint June 2009 memorandum, the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force pointed out the importance of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO21. "AFSO21 represents a fundamental transformation in how Airmen work," Michael Donley and Gen. Norton Schwartz said in their

  • UAS mission enters new chapter with graduation

    Ten pilots and nine sensor operators graduated Sept. 25 from initial qualification training at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., where they learned to operate the MQ-1 Predator. Among the graduates were eight pilot candidates from nonpilot career fields. The group was part of a Beta-test class to train

  • Sept. 24 airpower summary: B-1B protects coalition forces

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Sept. 24, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft responded to a request for support in the