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  • Leaders describe path to peace in Libya

    NATO nations will continue operations against the regime in Libya until Moammar Gadhafi leaves power, the leaders of the United States, Great Britain and France wrote in an article published in their countries April 15.President Barack Obama, Prime Minister David Cameron and President Nicolas

  • Air National Guard units respond to Texas wildfires

    Air National Guard officials in three states sent four specially equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft to Texas on April 18 to support civil authorities battling 32 wildfires.The C-130s, equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, were sent under the direction of the Joint Forces

  • Air Force Reserve C-130s support fight against Mexican wildland fires

    Two Air Force Reserve C-130 Hercules aircraft conducted three aerial firefighting missions from here April 16 in support of the ongoing efforts to contain the wildland fires the Mexican state of Coahuila.The aircrew dropped about 9,000 gallons of fire suppressant on the effected area, approximately

  • CJCS presents Bronze Stars to Nellis pararescuemen

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented Bronze Stars with valor to three Nellis pararescuemen during a ceremony here April 13.Staff Sgt. Asher Woodhouse, Tech. Sgt. Ryan Manjuck and Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Hedglin of the 58th Rescue Squadron were individually awarded the

  • Pentagon official addresses WikiLeaks, social media

    The WikiLeaks episode underscores the need for laws and policies that address the unintended consequences of "technology at the intersection of national security," the Pentagon's lead communicator said April 17.Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Douglas B. Wilson told interviewer Vago

  • 50th Space Wing officials accept ground system upgrades

    Officials at the 50th Space Wing accepted two Global Positioning System ground system upgrades during a ceremony here April 14.The ceremony signified a group effort between wing, Air Force Space Command and the Space and Missile Systems Center officials and their continued commitment to improve and

  • Nominations open for Portraits in Courage Vol. 6

    Nominations are currently being accepted through May 20 for Portraits in Courage Vol. 6, officials said here April 18.Five years ago, Air Force officials developed "Portraits in Courage," highlighting compelling stories of Airmen's honor, valor, devotion and sacrifice in a time of war. The

  • DOD launches sexual assault response helpline

    Defense Department officials launched the Pentagon's newest initiative April 15 to support victims of sexual assault.The DOD Safe Helpline allows service members to click, call or text for victim support services for themselves or others.The resource is free, anonymous and confidential. Those who

  • Air Force officials announce civilian strategic leader program assignments

    Air Force officials here April 18 announced the placement of the Air Force's newest senior leaders into command-equivalent positions as part of the civilian strategic leader program.The CSLP creates multi-skilled GS-14, GS-15 or equivalent level civilian leaders who navigate complex environments in

  • Department ends voluntary departure authorization from Japan

    The Defense Department's voluntary authorized departures for service members' eligible family members to leave Japan in the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake effectively ended April 18."The Defense Department concurs with the State Department's determination that the situation in Japan does not

  • Airmen of Note's 2011 Spring Tour comes to an end

    The Airmen of Note, the premier jazz ensemble of the Air Force, finished their 2011 Spring Tour through Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas March 30."Touring the U.S. gives the Airmen of Note the opportunity to influence communities by demonstrating the excellence and passion with which

  • Total force 'calico' wing supports world-wide operations

    Airmen serving in the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing at an air base here are from myriad places, but they are "one team."Those Airmen, and the planes they use for air refueling and airlift during Operation Unified Protector, are not only active duty, but also Air National Guard and Air Force

  • Civilian developmental education application deadline May 1

    Air Force civilians interested in civilian developmental education opportunities during academic year 2012 have until May 1 to submit completed application packages to the Air Force Personnel Center force development branch.Civilians must be nominated for CDE by their local leaders and endorsed by

  • Programs help Airmen obtain financial success

    For Airmen wondering if the struggle for total financial success will ever end, there is good news. The Airman and Family Readiness Center's financial advisers help members reach their financial goals. According to James McDaniel, an accredited financial counselor here, financial readiness is a

  • Organization honors service members' children

    Officials with Our Military Kids honored four children and a military family here yesterday in an award ceremony at the Navy Memorial here.During the organization's "Our Military Kids of the Year" event, retired Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, the 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and an Our

  • First lady, Dr. Biden kick off Sesame, USO tour

    Calling out over thousands of screaming fans, Elmo introduced a few new friends to Sesame Street here April 14.First lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, stepped onto the auditorium stage and into the arms of Elmo and friends as a crowd of local military and

  • Tops in Blue wraps up 2010 tour

    After touring the world performing for service members home and abroad, Tops in Blue took the stage April 9 at the Trinity University's Laurie Auditorium in San Antonio.Tops in Blue is the premier performance group of the Air Force, made up of 35 active-duty amateur musicians and performers who

  • Teamwork essential to safely recovering aircraft

    Their job is to get planes in the air as quickly as possible, but once a plane is gone, they wait for it to come back.The more than 130 Airmen who work on ground crews here ensure when an aircraft lands after completing a 10-hour mission over the area of responsibility, it receives the best care to

  • USTRANSCOM members move DOD personnel from Japan

    More than 7,500 Department of Defense personnel and family members, and 400 of their pets, were evacuated from Japan following natural disasters in March. The evacuation was made possible through the combined efforts of the U.S. Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, Military Surface

  • 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.

  • Carter outlines military acquisition improvements

    The Defense Department has made much progress toward buying and fielding equipment smarter and faster, the Pentagon's undersecretary for acquisitions, technology and logistics told a congressional panel April 13.At a time when President Barack Obama and Congress look for ways to fix the nation's

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a look around the service

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," Exercise Eagle Flag prepares Airmen to respond to a major humanitarian crisis. Plus, you'll see how F-15 Eagle pilots are making a difference downrange.  And, watch as DOD high schoolers build robots to do battle.The 30-minute, weekly news show can be seen

  • Officials seeks process to fund urgent needs

    The Pentagon's top acquisitions official April 13 asked Congress to help set up a funding system so the Defense Department can more quickly meet deployed warfighters' most urgent requests.Ashton B. Carter, the undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics, thanked the House

  • Gates: America must balance idealism, realism

    Since the beginning of the republic, the United States has had to balance its idealistic impulses with realism, and that remains true today, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here April 14.Secretary Gates was the keynote speaker at the groundbreaking for the National Library for the Study of

  • Medical team saves life with 'cool' procedure

    Members of the Air Force Theater Hospital emergency staff here recently performed an unconventional medical procedure to help save a Soldier's life. The 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group staff used therapeutic hypothermia to ensure the patient, who had suffered cardiac arrest, would fully

  • CMSAF discusses quality-of-life, personnel issues on Capitol Hill

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee here April 13 about personnel and quality-of-life issues impacting the enlisted force.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy, alongside his sister-service counterparts, highlighted the importance of

  • Air Force sexual assault response coordinator earns Federal Service Award

    Dr. Charlotte Moerbe, the Joint Base San Antonio sexual assault response coordinator, was recognized for outstanding work on behalf of crime victims by Department of Justice officials April 8 during the National Crime Victims' Service Awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.Dr. Moerbe received one of two

  • CDC staff members continue to care for Yokota children

    Child development centers here are pulling together in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami to keep their operations as normal as possible.Combined, the Yume and Kibo CDCs here have lost 24 staff members and 75 children to the voluntary departure flights from Japan that began March 19."The

  • Photo essay: Langley Airmen participate in operational readiness inspection

    Members of the 149th Fighter Squadron prepare F-22 Raptors during an operational readiness inspection here April 10. The inspection evaluates an installation's ability to efficiently deploy military members, cargo and equipment while adjusting to rapidly changing security conditions.View the

  • Misawa children roll-up their sleeves, pitch-in with volunteer efforts

    Children from here, accompanied by 16 parents, were part of the first Misawa Helps program family mission April 12 to take place since the volunteer organization stood up in the days following the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami.With spring break and children out of school this week, this

  • President's plan likely to affect 2013 defense budget

    President Barack Obama's effort to seek additional savings within the Defense Department likely will affect the department's fiscal 2013 budget, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said April 13.The president announced that he plans to work with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm.

  • Officials seek input on new consumer protection office

    Treasury Department officials met here April 13 with service members and their families to better understand financial challenges in the military community.Holly Petraeus, the head of the Office of Servicemember Affairs in the Treasury Department's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, has been

  • Chairman thanks USO for service to military

    For 70 years, the USO and its thousands of volunteers have stood as a compass for the nation and adapted to the needs of every war Americans have fought, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said April 12 at the organization's 29th annual awards dinner."To the thousands and thousands of

  • Policy permitting media access for dignified transfers two years old

    Two years ago, on April 6, 2009, the dignified transfer of a fallen service member with media in attendance took place under new policy directed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. The policy, issued on March 25, 2009, sponsors family members wishing to attend and empowers the primary next of kin

  • Kandahar Air Wing achieves medical evacuation milestone

    A combined team of Afghan air force and coalition members conducted the first dedicated Mi-17 medical evacuation mission April 11 here. The team moved an Afghan National Army officer, who incurred a compound leg fracture, from Camp Bastion back to Kandahar.The planning for the inaugural mission

  • Security forces train Iraqi air force security forces

    Members of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron spent several weeks in March and April training 12 Iraqi security forces airmen from New Al Muthana Air Base on force protection techniques. Fourteen security forces members trained the Iraqis on procedures and techniques used every day by

  • AFCENT band entertains Kyrgyzstan youth

    The Air Forces Central band, Wild Blue Country, arrived here April 3, ready to take the sound of American country music to the people of Kyrgyzstan. "One of the most important missions of the AFCENT band is to bring joy and goodwill to international partnering communities," said Senior Master Sgt.

  • Charity run raises money for American Cancer Society

    Six weeks after Staff Sgt. Tyler McInturff deployed here in January, he received news that his aunt had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer."Being my godmother, she's been very close to me my whole life," said Sergeant McInturff, the 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels

  • Readiness exercise paves way for Operation Tomodachi success

    For six days in March, Airmen here focused on an operational readiness exercise, working long hours every day to prove that the base's warfighting plan was sound. The 374th Airlift Wing surged demands across the base, ensuring that individuals would be ready to support contingency operations if they

  • High school senior assignment deferment program automated

    In an effort to better serve military families, Air Force personnel officials have automated the High School Senior Assignment Deferment program application.  The program increases stability for military family members entering their senior year of high school. Active-duty officers lieutenant

  • Allergy tests covered for TRICARE beneficiaries

    Every year millions of Americans suffer from allergies, with symptoms ranging from irritating to life-threatening. TRICARE beneficiaries are eligible to receive care for the testing and treatment of conditions relating to allergies.According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious

  • Baristas donate tips to Japan relief efforts

    Watching the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that ripped through Japan March 11, cafe workers here have decided to give back."When you're here (in Japan) and you see the damage done, it hits home," said Amy Turner, a barista here. "We have a lot of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and

  • Loadmaster crashworthy seat intended to increase safety

    In an effort to provide loadmasters with a safer and more structurally sound seat in cargo aircraft, engineers here recently installed a prototype of a new loadmaster crashworthy seat in an HC-130P Combat King. "The goal is to provide loadmasters with a more secure seat," said Senior Master Sgt.

  • Military family support a 'national priority,' Obama says

    President Barack Obama today made caring for military families a national priority, calling to action his entire administration and communities across the U.S. on their behalf."The strength and the readiness of America's military depend on the strength and readiness of our military families," the

  • Dover colonels perform sacred duty

    Each colonel assigned to Dover Air Force Base has a unique mission in addition to his or her primary duties as a wing, vice or group commander. There are nine O-6s assigned here who serve as dignified transfer hosts for fallen heroes returning to American soil. The title DTH is given to the colonel

  • First lady, Dr. Biden urge support of military families

    First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, launched an "unprecedented" national initiative April 12 that calls on all sectors of society to join forces to support and honor service members and their families. Flanked by their husbands, the first and second

  • Cyber 1.1 kicks off National Space Symposium

    Air Force Space Command Airmen kicked off the weeklong National Space Symposium April 11 here with a day devoted entirely to cyber discussion, the second annual Cyber 1.1 event.Gen. William Shelton, the AFSPC commander, recognized the event as a chance to think about where the Air Force is going in

  • Changed South Korea duty tours aid readiness

    Normalizing U.S. military duty tours in South Korea will increase combat readiness and greatly reduce stress for service members and their families, the top U.S. military commander in the region told the Senate Armed Services Committee here April 12."A force multiplier, tour normalization keeps

  • Research examines blast impact on human brain

    There's little debate about the risk of a brain injury when a service member gets a blow to the head, whether from an enemy round or from crashing against a wall or being inside a vehicle during an explosion.But some of the foremost academic researchers from around the world, working in cooperation

  • Firefighters retire memorial plaque

    More than 60 Airmen and Soldiers attended the retirement ceremony of an Airman's memorial April 6 at the fire station here.Staff Sgt. Ray Rangel, a 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, died Feb. 13, 2006, while trying to rescue two Soldiers trapped in a Humvee that had overturned

  • Stavridis: National Guard State Partnership Program resources well-spent

    The National Guard's State Partnership Program is a good return on investment, the commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe said here last month.During testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 29 on the topic of the Fiscal Year 2012 European

  • Army has new chief of staff

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wanted an Army chief of staff willing to challenge the status quo, and he believes he has one in Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.General Dempsey succeeded Gen. George W. Casey Jr. as the Army chief of staff during a ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., April 11."Whatever challenges

  • Yokota celebrates cherry blossoms, hope with community

    Officials here invited the community to come on base April 9 and view the base's collection of the flowering pink and white cherry blossom trees. More than 1,300 local nationals came to the open house.The event comes on the heels of Operation Tomodachi, the relief efforts supported by Team Yokota in

  • Initial cyber INWT class graduates

    Sixteen Airmen graduated from the first Intermediate Network Warfare Training class here March 31.Members of the 39th Information Operations Squadron developed the nine-week course to serve as initial-qualification training for cyber defense operators. The Airmen created the course in six months,

  • Hanscom team helps 'forge' new path for software development, testing

    Acquisition by its nature is a fairly rigid business, governed by established rules and procedures designed to ensure integrity, fairness and programmatic oversight. This creates a vexing problem for those trying to increase acquisition speed and agility. It's particularly challenging when dealing

  • Airmen participate in humanitarian exercise in Trinidad and Tobago

    More than 150 U.S. military personnel and military and civilian officials from Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Canada, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and the Republic of Suriname gathered here April 8 to participate in the annual Fuerzas Alidas Humanitarias, or FA HUM 2011. It is also

  • Troops to receive full mid-month pay April 15th

    All service members will receive their full mid-month pay they have earned in their paychecks April 15, Pentagon officials said today."Basically, all active duty and reserve service members will receive full mid-month pay on the 15th of April," Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. Dave Lapan said. "It may

  • Fisher House helps service members' children

    Military children of service members who died or who were seriously disabled in the line of duty might be eligible for a college education through the Fisher House Foundation.Foundation chairman Kenneth Fisher says the Heroes' Legacy scholarships can be used by students to attend school in the fall.

  • Yokota AB, Misawa AB commanders lift stop-movement order

    The orders issued March 12 and 14 that stopped active duty Air Force permanent-change-of-station moves to Yokota and Misawa air bases has been lifted, and active duty members are being directed to meet their report no later than dates. However, command-sponsored family members are not yet authorized

  • North to south: U.S. defenders train Iraqi partners

    More than a dozen Iraqi air force security forces students took a step closer toward autonomous base security after graduating from a training course taught by Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air advisers April 7. The two-week course aimed to prepare the initial cadre of Iraqi airmen planning to

  • Airmen, base communities in Japan raise nearly $110,000 for relief efforts

    To date, Airmen and community members from Kadena, Misawa and Yokota air bases in Japan have donated nearly $110,000 and volunteered more than 19,000 community-service hours to assist with relief efforts after the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan March 11. "The Airmen and base communities have

  • First lady, Dr. Biden to launch family-support initiative

    First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, the wife of Vice President Joe Biden, will launch a national initiative tomorrow that will call on all sectors of society to support and honor America's service members and their families.The initiative is intended to educate, challenge and spark action

  • B-1B Lancer upgrade will triple payload

    Airmen from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron began their first phase of demonstrations of a multiple ejector rack on a B-1B Lancer here March 22.If fielded, 16-carry modified rotary launchers will increase the number of 500-pound joint direct attack munitions and laser-guided JDAMs carried by

  • Deal averts shutdown, normal government operations to continue

    Government agencies are continuing normal operations after the administration, the Senate and the House of Representatives agreed to a fiscal 2011 budget.The continuing resolution expired last night at midnight, but the Senate and House passed a short-term funding bill that will allow both houses to

  • Budget deal avoids government shutdown

    Less than an hour before the federal government would have been forced to shut down, President Barack Obama announced that leaders in both parties had reached a budget agreement."Tomorrow, I'm pleased to announce that the Washington Monument, as well as the entire federal government, will be open

  • All commissaries would remain open during government shutdown

    All military commissaries would be operational in the event of a government shutdown, the Defense Commissary Agency announced late today. DeCA's announcement that its stores would continue to serve military members and their families if a government shutdown were to occur, affects 249 commissaries

  • DOD officials detail closure effects, plans

    While still hoping to be spared a shutdown, Defense Department officials are making plans should the government close over the fiscal 2011 budget impasse, a senior Pentagon official said here April 8."We are a country of laws, and if we go through a government shutdown, we will follow the laws," the

  • Scott AFB to become 'one stop C-21 shop'

    The 458th Airlift Squadron here will become the Air Force's sole C-21 formal training unit within the next four months. The squadron will regain the C-21 training mission from the 45th Airlift Squadron at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.The 45th AS will dissolve as a unit underneath Air Education &

  • Cadets conduct tribal engagement exercise

    Rolling into a simulated Afghan village April 2 at Fort Carson, Colo., Air Force Academy cadets arrived by Humvee to accomplish their mission of engaging the local population. Cadets enrolled in the Behavioral Sciences 460, Sociology of Violence and War class spent the first part of the semester

  • Deputy defense secretary releases shutdown guidance

    The Defense Department is hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted, but is releasing guidance to help plan for an orderly process if a shutdown becomes necessary, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said in a memo issued April 7."The president and the (Defense) Secretary (Robert

  • Air Force announces MC-12 basing decision

    The Department of the Air Force recently announced it will base the MC-12W Liberty aircraft here. The announcement comes following the completion of an environmental assessment that concluded with a finding of no significant impact, clearing the way for the final decision. The first MC-12W aircraft

  • Changes to Air Force leave program take effect

    The changes to Air Force Instruction 36-3003 on Military Leave include revised rules for determining the first and last day of chargeable leave, emergency leave requests, permissive temporary duty and educational leave of absence, officials said here April 8.The leave rule for determining the first

  • Senior leader letter to men and women of the Air Force

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy issued the following message to the men and women of the United States Air Force:We remain hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted. However, prudent

  • Army drill sergeant pushes BMT flight

    When Army Staff Sgt. David Peters marched Air Force Basic Military Training Flight 258 past reviewing officials during a parade here April 8, it completed one half of a basic training instructor exchange between services.The drill sergeant-military training instructor exchange has given the Air

  • Two units redesignate to test, integrate air, space, cyber C2 domains

    To effectively test and integrate operational air, space and cyber command and control, or C2, domains, two units redesignated as test organizations here April 5.The 505th Operations Group and 505th Operations Squadron became the 505th Test and Evaluation Group and 505th Test Squadron. The units are

  • Enlisted medics honored at Armed Services YMCA gala

    Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Guard enlisted medics were among those from all service components honored at the Armed Services YMCA's 5th Annual Angels of the Battlefield Gala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here March 31. Army Gen. Raymond Odierno, the commander of

  • Bagram Airmen provide humanitarian assistance after landslide

    Airmen from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here delivered more than 17,000 pounds of supplies to Afghanistan's Balkh province April 7. The emergency drop, which included food, water and blankets, was part of the Air Force and Army's aid effort for the residents of the northern province,

  • Officials discuss DOD's government shutdown plans

    Military personnel will report to duty as normal if the U.S. government shuts down midnight, April 8, Pentagon officials said April 7. The department has identified tasks that must continue if or when a government shutdown occurs, said Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. Dave Lapan. "Who is affected

  • Exchange to continue Ops despite potential government shutdown

    The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is planning to continue operations even if the U.S. Government shuts down.On April 9, the current budget authorization will expire. At that point, the federal government will potentially institute a mandatory shutdown for "non-essential" personnel. While this

  • Deadline approaching for William A. Jump Award

    The deadline for submitting nominations for the 62nd Annual William A. Jump Memorial Award to the Air Force Personnel Center is June 1.The Jump Award annually recognizes a federal employee for outstanding service in administration and notable contributions to the efficiency and quality of public

  • Deputy SecDef's message to DOD workforce on potential government shutdown

    "The department remains hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted. The president has made it clear that he does not want a government shutdown, and the administration is working to find a solution with which all sides can agree. However, prudent management requires that we plan for an

  • Safety Investigation Board convenes for A-10 crash

    A Safety Investigation Board tasked with investigating the A-10 Thunderbolt II crash that occurred April 1 in a field outside Laufeld, Germany, a town north of Wittlich convened here April 5. The team, led by Col. Michael Winters, the 100th Air Refueling Wing vice commander and SIB president, will

  • 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.

  • Iraqi, American firefighters team up for joint exercise

    A dozen Iraqi Air Force and U.S.-contracted firefighters conducted a joint coordination exercise for a simulated C-130 Hercules crash here April 3. The exercise, led by the U.S. Air Force's base transition team, marked the initial steps in preparing Iraqi partners for increasing responsibilities as

  • Air Force officials announce enlisted supplemental promotions

    More than 50 Airmen have been selected for promotion to the next higher rank as part of the April enlisted supplemental promotion process. The enlisted supplemental promotion release announces those Airmen selected for promotion who tested outside of their required cycle due to an extended temporary

  • Shutdown could affect young troops most, Gates says

    While emphasizing that service members eventually will receive the pay they would earn during a government shutdown, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates acknowledged here April 7 that if the government shuts down for a week starting April 8, their mid-month paychecks would include only the pay they