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  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 24

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 24.In Afghanistan Aug. 23, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s

  • AMC commander praises airlift effort

    The general in charge of providing the Air Force airlift for the war on terrorism thanked Airmen here for being ready to do their part. Gen. Duncan McNabb, the AMC commander, called Little Rock Airmen his "band of brothers" and thanked them and their families for "standing tall and defending the

  • Symposium focuses on needs of young veterans

    Registration is open for the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans scheduled for Oct. 18 to 21 in Chicago. The event will bring together a diverse and representative group of 1,500 active-duty servicemembers, reservists and veterans to find solutions to the challenges servicemembers

  • Tracking technology improves sustainment

    Air Force Materiel Command members are taking advantage of Automatic Identification Technology and finding ways to improve it. Logistics and depot maintenance experts demonstrated some cutting-edge tracking technology projects during an AIT Showcase Aug. 15 attended by senior AFMC people. The

  • Airman dies during convoy operation in Iraq

    An Air Force explosive ordnance disposal craftsman from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, died Aug. 21 when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. The vehicle was part of a transportation convoy en route to Taji, Iraq. Master Sgt. Brad A. Clemmons, 37, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was assigned to

  • Little Rock Airmen train Romanian maintainers

    Members of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 4, are providing first-of-its-kind training for Romanian air force maintainers with a custom-made program at the C-130 Center of Excellence here.Det. 4 members built training classes specifically for the Romanians, and then four separate classes of

  • Coach reinstated to Air Force football team

    Offensive line coach Pete Hurt will be reinstated to the Air Force Academy football team effective Aug. 28, by Director of Athletics Dr. Hans Mueh following an internal inquiry into the coach striking a player during a practice on Aug. 9. Coach Hurt's reinstatement comes following a suspension with

  • B-52 Stratofortress ages like wine

    First deployed in 1955, the B-52 Stratofortress is already twice the age of many Airmen who maintain it. Despite its age, Airmen assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing here have an affinity for flying and maintaining this Air Force legacy aircraft and recognize its relevance today. "She gets finer with age

  • C-141 'Hanoi Taxi' now on display at museum

    The first aircraft to return Vietnam prisoners of war to the United States is now on public display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The C-141 "Hanoi Taxi" was the first aircraft to arrive in Hanoi in February 1973 to pick up the POWs returning to the United States.The "Hanoi

  • Ceremony honors combat controller killed in Afghanistan

    A memorial service here Aug. 25 will honor a 23rd Special Tactics Squadron combat controller who was killed in action in Afghanistan Aug. 19.Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, who was working side-by-side with the Afghan National Army as part of a special operations forces team, died when his convoy was

  • Products to revolutionize space weather forecasts

    Predicting the harmful effects of space weather on a U.S. military asset or mission has been advanced with the delivery of a prototype that combines environmental information with system specifications and thresholds. The prototype, which consists of five computer-generated products, provides

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 23

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 23.In Afghanistan Aug. 22, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near Oruzgan. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon

  • Air Force legal leaders meet with Afghan counterparts

    Two Air Force legal leaders visited Southwest Asia in August, stopping in Kabul, Afghanistan, for a two-day seminar with Afghan military legal leaders on the rule of law.Maj. Gen. Jack Rives, Air Force judge advocate general, and Col. Lindsey Graham, appellate military judge, met leaders from the

  • Small-diameter bomb ready for war on terror

    Four major acquisition programs -- developed in parallel -- have come together to provide Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crews with a revolutionary capability that combines accuracy and reduced collateral damage. Military and civilian employees in seven locations worked together developing the four

  • Air Force, Japan train to fight fires together

    Airmen from Misawa Air Base, Japan, are training to put out fires on base today with Japanese firemen from four local fire departments. These fires were part of a joint firefighter training exercise. "The most important reason is that we have a mutual-aid agreements with all of these departments,"

  • Academy ranks top in professor availability for 2nd year

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's professors are the most accessible in the nation for the second year in a row, according to The Best 361 Colleges text, released today by the Princeton Review. Faculty availability is an expectation at the academy, where the student-faculty ratio is 8:1, average class

  • Promotion testing windows expand for E-5 through E-7

    Air Force officials are expanding the testing windows for Airmen beginning with the 07E6 and 07E7 cycles. The changes are part of an ongoing process to improve the enlisted promotion testing system, according to officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here. "Some factors that drove this change

  • AF automates Korean medal process

    Officials from the Air Force Personnel Center have recently added the Korean Defense Service Medal to its list of personnel processes automatically updated in the Military Personnel Data System. The new process automatically updates an Airman's record in the data system for those who served in Korea

  • Airman dies supporting Operation Enduring Freedom

    An Air Force combat controller from Hurlburt Field Fla., died Aug. 19 when his vehicle came under hostile fire in Afghanistan's Uruzgan Province.Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, 23, of Onalaska, Wis., was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field. He deployed to Afghanistan in

  • New senior acquisition executive on board

    Air Force officials recently named the new assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. As the Air Force's new senior acquisition executive, Sue C. Payton is responsible for all Air Force research, development and non-space acquisition activities. She provides direction, guidance and

  • F-16 accident investigation complete

    Air Force officials have completed their investigation of the April 11 F-16 Fighting Falcon accident near Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., which resulted in the loss of the 56th Fighter Wing aircraft. The accident investigation board determined the cause of this mishap to be an engine explosion. The

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 22

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 22. In Afghanistan Aug. 21, an Air Force B-1B Lancer provided close-air support to coalition troops in contact with anti-coalition forces near Musah Qal'eh. The B-1B expended guided bomb unit 31s and GBU-38s on

  • Americans, Hondurans team to fix broken bones

    A medical team of eight people from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, treated more than 200 Hondurans during a two-week training exercise Aug. 5 to 19.The team of eight medical professionals, led by Lt. Col.

  • AFPC names O'Malley Award winner

    The former Keesler Air Force Base commander and his wife who led the base's recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina recently won the 2006 Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. Maj. Gen. William Lord and his wife, Cynthia, received the award that recognizes the wing commander-and-spouse team

  • Bagram A-10s surge for summer offensives

    Six U.S. and coalition troops peer out from a remote position on a ridge top in Afghanistan. At sunset on the third day of their vigil, a large force of Taliban extremists carrying heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades surround and pin down the team.By design, an Air Force joint tactical

  • 340th maintainers keep pace with optempo

    At one of the busiest refueling hubs in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Airmen from the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are in constant motion. They support fighters, bombers, cargo and attack aircraft fighting in the war on terrorism. The fact the unit is blended from five bases --

  • Phoenix Warrior prepares security forces

    More than 100 security forces Airmen participated in Phoenix Warrior 06-1, a program run by the Air Mobility Warfare Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, Aug. 5 to 17. The 13-day predeployment course prepares security forces in areas such as weapons and live fire training, convoy operations,

  • Academy engineering among nation's top programs

    Several U.S. Air Force Academy undergraduate engineering programs rank among the top in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report's America's best colleges 2007 rankings. The U.S. News & World Report rankings were released Aug. 18. The rankings are separated by which universities offer

  • B-1 Lancers join 379th fleet

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing welcomed its newest airframe to the fleet here Aug. 16. For weeks the wing has played host to several B-1 Lancers, providing support to the aircraft and the people associated with it, but now the bomber is officially assigned here. "Moving the aircraft here can help

  • AEF Center reassigned to Air Force Personnel Center

    The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center will be assigned under the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley announced today. The reassignment, which becomes effective Aug. 29, will synergize operations between the two centers

  • European Command takes over Lebanon mission

    U.S. European Command will assume command of U.S. military forces operating off the coast of Lebanon and in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the organization's commander said here Aug. 20. Marine Gen. James L. Jones, speaking at a Pentagon news conference, said European Command elements will assume

  • CENTAF releases airpower summaries for Aug. 20-21

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 20 and 21.Aug. 21In Afghanistan Aug. 20, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Asadabad. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon

  • CV-22 testing accelerates in August

    The CV-22 Osprey, an aircraft unlike any other, is now in the midst of a test unlike any other.In the developmental test and evaluation phase, CV-22 testing has primarily been conducted by Bell-Boeing. However, when the Naval Air Systems Command requested an electronic warfare integrated assessment

  • Airman pleads guilty in deployed base's first court-martial

    An Airman here pled guilty to larceny and was convicted in a court-martial Aug. 12 to 13. Airman 1st Class Joshua Borth, 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, admitted he stole a fellow Airman's laptop and backpack and some government electronic equipment. This court-martial is the first

  • AFRL awards $49.9 million contract to Colorado firm

    The Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate has awarded a $49.9 million contract to Intelligent Software Solution Inc. of Colorado Springs, Colo., to upgrade intelligence capabilities at U.S. sites around the world. The five-year agreement is an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity

  • Senior leaders eye robust intelligence capabilities, people

    Several active duty and retired senior leaders from the Air Force intelligence community gathered with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley at the Pentagon recently as part of an intelligence summit and strategy session. The leaders are reviewing how and when the Air Force uses

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 19

    In Afghanistan Aug. 18, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small arms fire from Taliban extremists in the vicinity of Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s conducted passes, expending cannon rounds and ending the engagement. Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers also

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold pre-game practice at MacDill AFB

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers broke training camp Thursday and in an unprecedented move for the team, held its day-before-game walk-through at MacDill AFB, Fla. The Buccaneers, who play their second pre-season game against the Miami Dolphins Saturday, have a long-standing relationship and community

  • Arnold AFB supports DOD assured fuels initiative

    The Arnold Engineering Development Center is taking a leading role in supporting the Department of Defense's assured fuels initiative, which aims to steer the military away from its reliance on foreign oil. A team from the center took its technical expertise and specialized equipment on the road to

  • Malmstrom, Patrick, Peterson tops at Guardian Challenge

    Inside Hangar 140 here, the air was thick with anticipation as teams from across Air Force Space Command maintained nervous conversation over dinner Aug. 17, awaiting the announcement of the Guardian Challenge 2006 winners. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, reminded a highly motivated crowd

  • Kansas ANG home of newest intelligence center

    Kansas became home to "America's newest intelligence center," the largest intelligence processing center in the Air National Guard, on Aug. 16.The state-of-the-art Distributed Ground System intelligence facility at McConnell Air Force Base will be the permanent home to the Kansas ANG's 161st

  • Munitions Airmen make bombs built to order

    Hitting a two-meter target with 2,000 pounds of high explosives while traveling hundreds of miles an hour takes sophisticated weapons aboard aircraft flown by talented pilots. But, before these munitions can be used they must be inspected, tested, built, loaded and delivered to the aircraft. That is

  • Unit fires first live air-to-air missiles in South Korea

    With the call "Fox 2," pilots here employed AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on Aug. 16 for the first time in the history of 7th Air Force in Korea, serving as the driving force behind implementing a weapon system evaluation program here.The initiative by the 80th Fighter Squadron here to shoot live,

  • Balad Airman receives American Legion award

    An award ceremony today in Salt Lake City will recognize an Airman for his dedication to improve his community. That Airman will spend his day 7,000 miles away performing force protection duties. Senior Airman Edward Slavik of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron is the Air Force

  • COMUSAFE concludes Russian visit

    Improved relations and future operational cooperation between U.S. and Russian air forces was the goal of a four-day visit to Russia by the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.Gen. Tom Hobbins, who visited Moscow and Lipetsk Air Base Aug. 14 to 17, said the military-to-military relationship

  • Maintainers keep jets healthy, safe during Viper Lance

    While most participants involved in Exercise Viper Lance 2006 here call it a day at sunset, the workday is just beginning for maintainers on the night shift.Of the more than 250 Airmen here for the air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercise, roughly 170 support the maintenance mission. Viper

  • Guardian Challenge teams reach finish line

    Climbing, jumping, swinging from ropes and running in the summer heat, the Guardian Challenge 2006 security forces teams competed in the obstacle course portion of the competition at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., on Aug. 16. Teams prepared for the past several months to be physically fit enough

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 18

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 18.In Afghanistan Aug. 17, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops ambushed and taking small-arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire from Taliban extremists near Moqor. The

  • 'Natural Fire' provides assistance to African nations

    Three East African nations and the United States are participating in Natural Fire 2006, a multilateral training exercise that is providing medical, veterinary and engineering civil assistance.The exercise includes approximately 1,000 servicemembers from the United States, Tanzania, Uganda and

  • Medical records nearer to going electronic

    Medical troops throughout the Air Force soon will be using the Department of Defense's global electronic health record system to keep track of patient records. The Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, known as AHLTA, is the largest system of its kind, defense officials said. The

  • Falcons eye 'Return to Dominance'

    The Air Force football team broke out new uniforms for its annual media day following their first fall practice last week. The players told reporters the 2006 season will be the Falcons' "Return to Dominance." "Their motto sends a great message to me," Air Force head coach Fisher DeBerry said.

  • Convoy Airmen face challenging duties

    For more than two years Airmen have been driving convoys for the Army on some of the most dangerous roads in the world. From their Army camp to the border of southern Iraq and to the most northern reaches of a country roughly the size of California, members of the 586th Expeditionary Logistics

  • Line coach suspended from Air Force football team

    Air Force offensive line coach Pete Hurt has been suspended indefinitely by the Air Force Academy Athletic Association pending investigation of alleged violations of his contract. The violations involve alleged inappropriate striking of a player during practice. The suspension begins immediately.

  • Viper Lance pilots trade rides

    Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here

  • Space Command focuses on tailoring mission with new triad

    Strategic deterrence, securing the space domain and recapitalizing on a lesser budget are among the priorities for the Air Force Space Command commander.In keeping with the theme, "Global missions... meeting the challenge," Gen. Kevin P. Chilton spoke on the future of Air Force space missions at the

  • AETC preparing for reduced civilian authorizations

    Air Education and Training Command officials are looking at ways to streamline organizations to smaller, more agile forces and organizational structures to reduce the effect of reductions in the civilian workforce next spring.The Air Force plans to reduce its civilian workforce strength by 2,000

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 17

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 17.In Afghanistan Aug. 16, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops in contact with Taliban extremists near Musah Qal'eh. The A-10s expended a Guided Bomb Unit-12 on the

  • Air Force recruiting meeting its goal for 7th year

    The Air Force is on track to make its recruiting goal this year, marking the seventh consecutive year the service has brought in the right number and mix of new Airmen. To date, 25,645 people have enlisted in the Air Force and entered active duty in fiscal 2006. That puts the Air Force on pace to

  • California Air National Guard embraces new mission

    The sun heats a Nevada desert landscape as a small group of warriors focus on computer terminals. These men and women know their actions directly support others facing the heat of another desert half a world away. Members of the California Air National Guard's 163rd Air Refueling Wing have spent the

  • New platforms provide patients comfort

    In an effort to improve safety and comfort for patients being transported on high-deck aircraft, Air Mobility Command officials plan to soon acquire several high-deck patient loading platform, or HDPLP, vehicles. The HDPLP is a vehicle with a series of hoists that allows the cab and patient seating

  • Raptor meets new challenges, expands capabilities

    For the men and women taking care of the Air Force's newest and most lethal fighter aircraft, the F-22A Raptor, firsts seem to be a common occurrence. Along with milestones by the 27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons have come new challenges in places such as Alaska, Utah and Florida that have left

  • Deployed Airmen register for marrow program

    The faces on posters that call attention to a number of worthwhile volunteer causes are often lost in the hustle of accomplishing the daily mission. However, the association of one poster to a deployed Airman at a recent drive in Southwest Asia put a face on the critical need for all to register as

  • Massachusetts gains new Air National Guard unit

    As part of the Air Force Total Force Integration initiative, the Massachusetts Air National Guard will establish a distributed ground station unit here. A DGS unit provides real-time intelligence processing, exploitation and dissemination for commanders. Experienced members of the Massachusetts Air

  • B-2 Spirit exceeds mission standard

    The B-2 Spirit exceeded Air Combat Command's fully mission capable rate standard of 51 percent in June, a feat not achieved since September 2004. Keeping the B-2 ready for war is an effort that requires the hard work and support of everyone who works on base, said Col. Bob Dulong, 509th Maintenance

  • CENTAF releases airpower summary for Aug. 16

    U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Aug. 16.In Afghanistan Aug. 15, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs provided close-air support for coalition troops taking small-arms fire from Taliban extremists near Gardez. The A-10s conducted a pass, expending cannon

  • Challenge continues for security forces

    Guardian Challenge security forces showed off their tactics and marksmanship skills at Jacks Valley here Aug. 14 and 15. The tactics portion was planned out by a team of 19 Airmen and headed by Capt. Kathy Jordan, Air Force Space Command. She said the team started planning the scenario in May.

  • COMUSAFE boosts U.S.-Russian relations with visit

    The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe is in Russia to bolster relationships and security cooperation between U.S. and Russian Air Forces during a visit Aug. 14 to 17. Gen. Tom Hobbins' visit is reciprocal for one taken by Gen. Col. Aleksandr Zelin, deputy commander in chief of the Russian

  • Guardian Challenge under way

    More than 150 competitors from throughout Air Force Space Command are being graded on their readiness and combat capabilities as part of Guardian Challenge here.  The competition runs Aug. 14 to 17."Guardian Challenge is all about raising the bar," said Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, of the

  • AFSO21 Leans out uniform development

    In January, a limited number of the new Air Force utility uniforms will roll off production lines. Their arrival will mark the end of a nearly five-year development cycle. Lessons learned from development of the Airman Battle Uniform will be applied to the Air Force's next uniform project, the

  • Justice Department Web site explains military rights

    The Department of Justice has launched a Web site to protect servicemembers' rights, said the attorney general. Alberto R. Gonzalez, speaking to the Disabled American Veterans annual convention in Chicago, said the Justice Department has made it a priority to enforce civil rights laws for American

  • Global missions all in a day's work

    Many people say they joined the Air Force to have exciting adventures and see the world. For a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, those perks are part of their average day. "An average mission can range anywhere from a 12-hour day to a 72-hour

  • C-5 Galaxy undergoes dynamic runway testing

    As part of the C-5 Galaxy's Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, the aircraft is undergoing dynamic taxi testing to check the structural strength and flexibility of the four-engine modification. The main focus of the RERP testing was the C-5 structure's movement when traveling over

  • Web site honors Air Force heroes

    A nonprofit organization's Web site is letting people pay tribute to Air Force heroes. A section in the Air Force Memorial Foundation's Web site, titled Air Force Heroes, allows people to honor an Airman with a paragraph about what makes them extraordinary. With the Air Force memorial scheduled to

  • Military pays tribute to World War II bomber pilot

    A World War II bomber pilot was laid to rest with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on Aug 11. Retired Maj. Gen. Jack I. Posner was one of the last remaining bomber pilots from World War II. His burial site is in a direct line of sight of the new Air Force Memorial. The general's

  • Air Force releases Phase 2 of climate survey

    The Air Force has launched Phase 2 of its climate survey, focused on Air Force culture.This online survey is part of a large-scale study to understand the culture at large: the values, beliefs and expectations that shape people's everyday behavior. This effort differs from the usual climate survey,

  • 'Bats' shield Airmen from harm

    Their mission is simple: save the lives of troops on the ground in Iraq by providing an electronic shield around them. That is the job of the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron. Known as the Bats, they take to the air every day of the week to actively support coalition warfighters in

  • Modifications to extend service life of A-10s

    At first glance the A-10 Thunderbolt II cockpit looks like a Category 5 tornado just touched down in the middle of it. The chaotic scene, with hundreds of loose wires and instrumentation ripped from consoles, is really the beginning of modifications that will extend the service life of A-10s while

  • Inventory boost cuts down repair turnaround times

    A $10 million addition to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron parts inventory is allowing quicker turnaround on repairs to aircraft, vehicles and aerospace ground equipment. "The additional inventory will increase the timeliness of repairs and reduce the number of multimillion

  • Decorated Vietnam vet back at war

    It may be surprising to hear that the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing has a Vietnam era Purple Heart recipient working at the wing. It is even more surprising to hear that the combat veteran is actually a C-130 Hercules deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. On the flight deck of aircraft 63-7865 is