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  • First lady, Dr. Biden to launch military family awareness campaign

    Dr. Jill Biden and first lady Michelle Obama will campaign to raise awareness of military families, the vice president's wife told spouses of National Guard adjutants general Feb. 28."In the coming weeks, we are going to be launching a formal campaign," said Dr. Biden, who hosted the spouses for

  • First class graduates from aviation school at former George Air Force Base

    Forty-three student aircraft mechanics attending the Southern California Logistics Airport School of Aviation Technology, located at the former George Air Force Base, recently graduated with full certification in general aviation, powerplant and airframe maintenance. And their diplomas are paying

  • Airmen, German army team up for training

    Members of the 435th Contingency Response Group were invited by their German army counterparts from the 31st German ABN Brigade to join them on the Schϋtzenschnur range for two days of weapons and military familiarization training recently in Oldenburg, Germany. The 31st German Airborne Brigade

  • Airmen test contingency postal operations

    Airmen from the Yokota Post Office set up a contingency post office to test the agency's warfighting capabilities by using their mail contingency kit at the Yujo Community Center here Feb. 22.Master Sgt. Victor Negron, the 374th Communications Squadron postmaster, said the purpose of the CPO is to

  • Air Force personnel services migration under way

    Air Force technicians migrated the first component of the Air Force Personnel Services website to the Defense Information Systems Agency's Enterprise Computing Center Feb. 23 to 27.This is the first phase in centralizing all total-force personnel services and creating a single access platform for

  • Mullen: Anniversary reaffirms U.S.-Kuwaiti bonds

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff joined in festivities Feb. 26 celebrating the 20th anniversary of Kuwait's liberation during Operation Desert Storm and the 50th anniversary of its independence."I am very proud to represent the United States here in Kuwait, as Kuwaitis celebrate their

  • Photo essay: 386th AEW participates in Kuwait 50/20 celebration

    February marks major milestones for one of the Unites States' allies, the nation of Kuwait. Throughout the entire month, the people of Kuwait have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of their independence from Great Britain as well as 20 years of liberation from Iraq. The 50/20 celebration, which

  • Vice CSAF emphasizes modeling, simulation integration during AFAMS visit

    Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove emphasized the need to standardize live, virtual and constructive modeling and simulation across the Air Force and the joint team during a recent visit to the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation here."We must build to a modeling and

  • Loadmasters hone skills during training, humanitarian mission

    When one C-17 Globemaster III left here Feb. 25, there were a few more loadmasters aboard than usual. A training mission was in the works, but the extra hands were put to use for a humanitarian mission that coincided with the training.The aircrew made stops at Langley Air Force Base, Va., MacDill

  • Frank Buckles, last known U.S. Doughboy, dies

    Frank Woodruff Buckles, who lied about his age to enlist in the Army in 1917 and became the last known U.S. veteran of World War I, died Feb. 27 at the age of 110. Burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery."We have lost a living link to an important era in our

  • Developmental education deadline set for officers, civilians

    Officers considering intermediate or senior developmental education in 2011 have until March 31 to submit their applications for consideration by the selection board, officials announced. Civilians have until May 1 to submit applications.Officers apply using a Web-based application, while civilians

  • Officials extend community assessment

    Officials are extending the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Air Force Community Assessment through April 3. More than 350,000 active-duty members, reservists and spouses as well as all appropriated fund civilian employees were randomly selected to participate in the anonymous survey. Those

  • Deadline near for first sergeant of the year award

    The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2011 First Sergeant of the Year award to the Air Force Personnel Center is April 22. The award recognizes the important contributions and leadership qualities exhibited by Airmen in the first sergeant special duty career field.Nominations must include

  • Federal pay freeze also impacts NAF employees

    The recently implemented two-year pay freeze for federal employees applies to Department of Defense nonappropriated fund, or NAF, employees in crafts and trades and pay-banded pay schedules. Under legislation signed in December 2010, the pay freeze impacts basic pay, special pay rates and

  • Airmen demonstrate massive airdrop, teamwork in joint exercise

    Nine Little Rock Air Force Base C-130 Hercules and twice as many aircrews, along with maintainers and planners from the base, participated in Joint Operation Access Exercise Feb. 9 through 12 here and at Fort Bragg, N.C.JOAX is a two-week exercise to prepare Airmen and Soliers to respond to

  • CONR team supports successful shuttle launch

    Officials with the Continental U.S. North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, or CONR, and Air Forces Northern provided crucial airspace control and manning support to the successful launch of Space Shuttle Discovery Feb. 24.CONR representatives ensured airspace sovereignty by enforcing the

  • NAF employees eligible for new health incentive credit

    Nonappropriated fund federal employees who participate in the NAF Department of Defense Health Benefits Program are now eligible to earn a health incentive credit.Beginning Jan. 1, health plan participants may earn a $100 health incentive credit when they complete the Simple Steps to a Healthier

  • Landing zone safety officers trained at austere location

    At an austere airstrip here, air mobility liaison officers are conducting landing zone safety officer certification training to U.S. and coalition forces throughout Afghanistan. Twenty-six students from the U.S. Air Force and Army and the Romanian army attended a two-day class that featured

  • Air Force leads the way as Green Power Partner

    The Air Force is one of the nation's top purchasers of green power, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Top 25 list of Green Power Partners released this month.The Air Force is being recognized for its purchase and on-site production of 243.9 million kilowatt-hours of green power

  • Emergency exercise brings U.S., Japanese responders together

    Airmen from the 35th Fighter Wing teamed with their host nation's emergency responders for an accident exercise here Feb. 23. The exercise scenario was a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter accident in which two Airmen and one Japanese bystander are injured."This was a great experience," said Staff Sgt. Tye

  • Space weather team readies for upcoming solar max

    Solar max may sound like the name of a super hero, but it's certainly no comic book or 3-D movie.Solar max is actually the name for the sun's most active period in the solar cycle, consistently producing solar emissions, solar flares and sun spots.For a little background on the sun's activities, the

  • Air Force gains new mission

    The Air Force gained a new mission when the 1st Space Operations Squadron accepted satellite control authority of the Advanced Technology Risk Reduction satellite Jan. 31 here. Handed over from the Missile Denfense Agency, ATRR is the newest space-based space situational awareness platform to ensure

  • Japanese, American NCOs work together to gain insight

    Kadena Air Base officials began a NCO exchange program Feb. 18, giving eight Japanese Air Self Defense Force airmen the chance to see how their U.S. Air Force counterparts operate."The JASDF airmen did an ice-breaker with the chiefs, flew the KC-135 (Stratotanker) flight simulator and worked with

  • Deadline approaching for civilian humanitarian award

    Airmen are reminded that the deadline for submitting nominations for the 2011 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award to the Air Force Personnel Center is April 16.The Fisher Award is presented annually to an individual or organization outside the Department of Defense

  • Air Force Medical Service officials announce 2010 award winners

    Air Force Medical Service officials have announced individual, team and military treatment facility awards for 2010. According to the award message, the Air Force Recognition Ribbon is authorized for individual award winners only. Winners of individual awards may take a copy of the attached message

  • Photo essay: Airmen participate in exercise Cope North

    U.S. and Japanese airmen take part in exercise Cope North Feb. 21, 2011, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The exercise helps joint forces increase combat readiness and interoperability, concentrating on coordination and evaluation of air tactics, techniques and procedures.View the slideshow.

  • Future initiatives discussed during fuel efficiency summit

    Air Mobility Command members set the course for cultural change during a fuel efficiency summit here Feb. 16 and 17 that included participation by representatives from 11 Air Force major commands. AMC leaders hosted the summit to share and collaborate on ideas and initiatives that will help promote

  • Historic firsts for AFNORTH sergeants lead to distinguished honors

    It had all the markings of a historic event with firsts on several fronts.  As well it should; it was a historic event.At a ceremony held Jan. 28, two Air Forces Northern technical sergeants were the first U.S. Airmen to graduate from the Canadian Intermediate Leadership Program at the Canadian

  • Air Force announces next tanker aircraft

    Air Force and Defense Department officials announced the award of an engineering and manufacturing development contract valued at more than $3.5 billion for the KC-46A aerial refueler to The Boeing Company Feb. 24.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said in the briefing that many factors were

  • USAFWS takes new approach to generating leaders

    U.S. Air Force Weapons School officials recently modified their syllabus to reflect that it is not only the Air Force's most challenging tactical training, but also a program designed to produce the Air Force's next generation of great leaders.The USAFWS has commonly been thought of as a leadership

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

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," Air Force officials tighten their belts as they find ways to save $33 billion dollars.  And, motivational speaker Andy Christiansen gives Airmen a lesson in mentorship. Plus, an Airman and his canine companion team up to keep their base safe from

  • Thunderbirds host the Blue Angels

    The Thunderbirds hosted three members of the Navy Blue Angels team here Feb. 23 as part of a traditional exchange program between the two units. Blue Angel No. 2, Lt. Cmdr. Jim Tomaszeski, right wing; and Blue Angel No. 4, Lt. Rob Kurrle, slot; had the chance to fly in the back seat of a

  • 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.

  • TRICARE officials promote colorectal cancer screening

    Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among men and women in the United States. Of cancers affecting both men and women, it is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., according to officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The beginning stages of

  • McChord Airmen survive New Zealand earthquake unscathed

    About 35 McChord Airmen, 15 of them from the Air Force Reserve Command's 446th Airlift Wing, are in Christchurch, New Zealand, where a 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Feb. 22. The remaining McChord Airmen in Christchurch belong to the active-duty 62nd Airlift Wing here.Based in Christchurch with their

  • Fairchild Airmen climb ice-covered tower to retain communications

    Transmission systems radio Airmen with the 92nd Communications Squadron here left their heated offices to work on top of a snow-covered mountain where the average temperature is below zero.These Airmen journey to the Calispell Mountain Peak in Cusick, Wash., to de-ice a radio tower that provides

  • Photo essay: CV-22 Osprey training mission

    Crewmembers from the 8th Special Operations Squadron participate in a CV-22 Osprey training mission here Feb. 1. The primary mission of the CV-22 is insertion, extraction, and resupply of unconventional warfare forces and equipment into hostile or enemy-controlled territory using air-land or airdrop

  • Three Academy graduates to fly STS-133 shuttle mission

    Three Air Force Academy graduates are leading Space Shuttle Discovery on the STS-133 mission, which is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Feb. 24. Retired Col. Steven Lindsey, Class of 1982, is mission commander, while 1987 graduate Col. Eric Boe is the pilot and

  • 'Military Saves Week' spotlights importance of saving

    Service members and their families should "start small and think big" when kick-starting a savings plan, a financial expert said Feb. 23."It's not what you make, it's what you keep," said Pam McClelland, a senior program analyst in the Pentagon's office of family policy and children and youth. "A

  • ROTC bonuses 'beef up' services' language capacity

    A Defense Department pilot program to add foreign language proficiency to its officer corps is growing dramatically, the department's head of foreign languages said.The department began the ROTC Skill Proficiency Bonus in 2008, at the request of Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, to encourage the

  • Agency chief outlines threat reduction strategy

    Defense Threat Reduction Agency people are at work around the clock to protect American forces and citizens from nuclear, chemical and biological threats, the agency's director said Feb. 23.Speaking to the Defense Writers Group, Kenneth A. Myers III, who also is director of the U.S. Strategic

  • Air Force Network Integration Center officials launch IA education tools

    Air Force Network Integration Center officials recently introduced new information assurance education tools to help Airmen stay up to speed in the constantly evolving cyberspace environment. The initiatives, which include a robust community of practice, webinars and computer-based training, are

  • Afghan air force develops loadmasters as C-27 fleet expands

    As the Afghan air force C-27A Spartan fleet grows -- now half way to its goal of twenty of the cargo/transport aircraft seen as the centerpiece of the AAF -- so does the need for qualified loadmasters. Responsible for the cargo, personnel and safety of the aircraft, the loadmaster backs up the pilot

  • Photo essay: Combined Team Zabul

    Dog handlers from the Air Force, Army, and Navy and their explosive detection canines work together as part of a Combined Team Zabul training session here Feb. 18.View the slideshow.

  • Eielson Airmen support Army deployments

    Airmen with the 354th Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment flight assisted in processing nearly 500 deploying Soldiers through the Joint Mobility Complex Feb. 3 here to help fulfill the wing's mission of enabling military forces.AGE Airmen supported the deployment effort by de-icing

  • TRICARE's 'Get Fit' page can trigger new you

    TRICARE officials have launched an updated "Get Fit" web page with a new section focusing on monthly healthy living tips through slide show presentations.The presentations provide suggestions for activities and health information to help beneficiaries make healthier choices. Beneficiaries have the

  • Online personnel services limited during migration

    Air Force customers will have limited access to online personnel information and applications from Feb. 23 to 27 while officials here migrate the Air Force Personnel Services website and knowledge management platform to the Defense Information Systems Agency's Enterprise Computing Center. During

  • Air Force has new weapon in fight against Spice

    Air Force officials began drug testing Airmen Feb. 22 to determine whether they are using Spice -- the street term for a range of designer synthetic-cannabinoid products. With the implementation of testing, officials intend to send a very clear message: use Spice, and you may lose your career, end

  • New York Air Guardsmen all safe after New Zealand earthquake

    All 26 members of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing, currently deployed to Christchurch, New Zealand, in support of Operation Deep Freeze, are safe and unharmed after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the New Zealand city Feb. 22.The Air Guard wing will remain in

  • Photo essay: Atlantic Strike exercise

    Members of the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron take part in exercise Atlantic Strike here Feb. 15. Atlantic Strike is a coalition air-to-ground training exercise that simulates a deployed environment.View the slideshow.

  • Members at Laughlin AFB mourn loss of Airman

    Members from here are in mourning, base officials said Feb. 22, after Department of Defense officials announced the death of an Airman stationed here.Airman 1st Class Corey Owens, a 26-year-old installation patrolman assigned to the 47th SFS, was pronounced dead due to non-combat related injuries

  • Guard, Reserve family readiness groups honored at Pentagon

    Unit family readiness group members, representing all of the military reserve components, were recognized for their outstanding family support programs Feb. 18 during a ceremony in the Pentagon.Dennis M. McCarthy, the assistant secretary of defense for reserve affairs, hosted the 2011 Department of

  • Officers visit Kuwait college, brief students

    Four officers visited Kuwait's Mubarak Al Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College to lecture to 92 students from 19 countries within the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf on various joint military topics. The school is similar to the Air Force's Air Command and Staff College and

  • Air traffic advisers aim high for Iraq's future

    As U.S. forces continue to draw down to meet the Dec. 31 deadline, Air Force air traffic control advisers have their eyes fixed on the sky above Iraq.Maj. Rudolf Kuehne and Capt. Maureen Trujillo, senior ATC advisers for Iraq Training and Advisory Mission-Air, are tasked with ensuring their Iraqi

  • Afghan air force C-27 fleet halfway to goal

    The Afghan air force received an addition to its forces with the arrival of the 10th C-27A Spartan at the Afghan Air Force Base in Kabul Feb. 20, marking the half-way point in the AAF's C-27 fleet as it continues to build to 20.Not only valuable for Afghanistan's burgeoning cargo capabilities, the

  • Officials announce military service awards nominees

    Air Force officials recently announced its four nominees for the 2010 Government Employees Insurance Company Military Service Awards.The annual GEICO Military Service Awards recognize enlisted service members from all military service branches, active duty, National Guard and Reserve, for their

  • RAF Alconbury Airman dies in Southwest Asia

    An Airman assigned to the 423rd Security Forces Squadron here died while deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Operation New Dawn.Airman 1st Class Christoffer Johnson, 20, died Feb. 17 due to a non-combat related incident."Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this

  • SecAF takes stock of progress, future challenges

    During remarks to the Air Force Association's 27th Annual Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition here Feb. 18, the Air Force's senior ranking official reviewed the service' s priorities and underscored Air Force commitment to making the most of available resources in a challenging fiscal

  • DOD officials honor top Guard, Reserve family programs

    Defense Department officials lauded the top National Guard and Reserve family programs here Feb. 18 calling family support a vital component of mission readiness."Whether it is the basics of building military communities or taking care of military children or supporting military spouses, all of

  • DOD leaders outline health care, family services improvements

    The Defense Department has taken a number of recent steps to improve health care and family support services for military members and their families, the department's two top leaders told a Senate panel Feb. 17.Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs

  • DOD officials identify Air Force casualty

    Department of Defense officials announced Feb. 18 the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation New Dawn. Airman 1st Class Corey C. Owens, 26, of San Antonio, Texas, died Feb. 17 due to a non-combat related incident at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. He was assigned to the 47th Security Forces

  • TRICARE autism demonstration proving positive

    During the recent 2011 Military Health System Conference, Michael O'Bar, deputy director for TRICARE policy and operations, reported on the Department of Defense Enhanced Access to Autism Services Demonstration. "We have begun the process to determine how best to make the board-certified behavior

  • Lady Falcons outlast UNLV, 91-87

    The Air Force lady Falcons outlasted the University of Nevada - Las Vegas women in a game at Clune Arena here Feb. 16 to improve to 8-16 overall and 3-8 in the Mountain West Conference.The team's record under first-year head coach Andrea Williams now exceeds the number of wins the team earned in its

  • CMSAF discusses need for strengthened resiliency at symposium

    The Air Force's senior enlisted leader discussed the importance of resiliency and its impact to the service Feb. 17 here during the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy spoke candidly about the repercussions of a

  • World War II hero receives medals after 65 years

    A safety NCO here helped a veteran receive recognition for his service during World War II.Tech. Sgt. Wayne Herold, a 22nd Air Refueling Wing ground safety technician, helped Gordon Ballagh, a 90-year-old veteran and prisoner of war during World War II receive four medals: the Prisoner of War Medal,

  • Vice CSAF: Air Force must prepare for more complex, varied ops

    The Air Force is working to balance today's needs and tomorrow's challenges while operating under intense fiscal pressures, the service's vice chief of staff said here Feb. 17.During remarks at the Air Force Association's 2011 Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove

  • Luke AFB medical group named best in Air Force

    The 56th Medical Group clinic from here was named the Air Force's best clinic for Fiscal 10 during the Military Healthcare Symposium in Washington Jan. 24 through Jan. 27.The award was presented to Col. Mark Holland, the 56th MDG commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Monica Hill, the 56th MDG

  • DOD officials strive to strengthen, empower military families

    From educational opportunities to spouse employment, Defense Department officials are expanding military family support programs to better meet families' current needs, as well as to empower them for the challenges that lie ahead, the DOD official who oversees military family programs said Feb.

  • New deployable air traffic control system program taking shape

    Electronic Systems Center officials intend to call for proposals within the next few months for development and production of a new deployable air traffic control system. Referred to as the Deployable Radar Approach Control the system could be used at forward operating locations, however austere,

  • SecAF, CSAF provide FY12 budget details

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz provided details on the service's fiscal 2012 national defense authorization budget request during a House Armed Services Committee hearing here Feb. 17.Air Force officials are requesting $150 billion in the

  • Space-A travel: Did you know?

    Every day hundreds of military and military-contracted commercial aircraft travel the world delivering troops and cargo. These missions allow hundreds of thousands of military personnel, retirees, family members and other Department of Defense-eligible travelers to fly at almost no cost, courtesy of

  • Army, Air Force win first-round bouts

    The Marine Corps boxing team was the first service branch to capture a win on opening night of the 2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championship here.Marine middleweight Damarias Russell showed in more than one way Feb. 15 that he's committed to being first-to-fight.Russell's convincing 24-4 decision over

  • Eagle Vision program garners key award for keen Earth observation

    An Electronic Systems Center program has been named the winner of a prestigious award presented by officials from NASA and the U.S. Department of the Interior.The agencies honored the Eagle Vision program with the 2010 William T. Pecora award during a Pentagon ceremony Feb. 15. Eagle Vision was

  • Results of command, control training study show roadmap ahead

    Standardizing command and control, or C2, training across air, space and cyber domains and consolidating training here were the main recommendations of a recent independent study completed for Air Combat Command.Results and proposed priorities of the study examining Air Force operational-level C2

  • AFSO21 makes improvements for AF

    With the help of the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program, Airmen all around the globe have been coming up with ways to work smarter, not harder. And saving big bucks in the process.The AFSO21 program is the Air Force's process improvement program to help make its mission run as

  • 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.

  • Stop loss pay application window closing March 4

    The deadline for eligible members or legally designated beneficiaries to apply for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay is coming to a close March 4.Nearly 6,000 current and former Airmen have received a total of more than $19 million in special pay since Air Force Personnel Center officials here began

  • Airmen, Soldiers team up to train Iraqi airmen

    Nearly a dozen Iraqi airmen graduated from a week-long security forces training session Feb. 12, organized by Airmen from the 321st Expeditionary Mission Support Advisory Group's base transition team and Army military policemen stationed at Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq. The training session, spearheaded

  • DOD surgeons general visit Bagram Airfield medics

    The Department of Defense surgeons general visited the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here Feb. 13.During their brief visit to Afghanistan's most advanced military medical center, Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green, Army Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Eric B. Schoomaker and Navy Vice Adm. (Dr.) Adam M. Robinson Jr.,

  • Adjustments put F-35 on track, program director says

    The Defense Department's joint strike fighter program is on track to field the F-35 Lightning II in fiscal 2016, the program's director said here Feb. 15.In remarks to the National Aeronautics Association, Navy Vice Adm. David Venlet said that although changes made to the program in January extended

  • U.S., Polish military enhance partnerships through training

    Airmen from Ramstein Air Base traveled to the 33rd Air Base in Powidz, Poland, Feb. 4 to 12 for a joint training mission with Polish military forces.More than 60 Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing participated in the week-long, off-site training aimed at sharing

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

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," meet a tech. sergeant who's teaching future officers at the Air Force Academy. Plus, it's Military Saves Week, and you'll get a few helpful hints on how to get your finances on track. And, Airmen in Japan get the PT session of a lifetime with the creator of

  • DOD program offers leadership development opportunities

    Department of Defense officials seek active-duty officers to participate in the 2012 Executive Leadership Development Program beginning in September.This DOD program is designed for officers who have demonstrated strong leadership, commitment to public service, integrity and who have an interest in

  • Gates welcomes House vote against extra F-35 engine

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates Feb. 15 welcomed the full House of Representatives vote to kill the extra engine for the F-35 Lighting II, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said.The House voted 233-199 to strip funds for the engine from the fiscal 2011 defense spending bill."Secretary Gates

  • Exhibit features work of Tuskegee Airman turned artist

    In the 1930s, a teenage boy paid 50 cents for a "barnstormer" flight aboard a Ford Trimotor plane that carried him across the sky of rural Pine Bluff, Ark.That boy was Roy LaGrone, and the flight sparked his passion for aviation. Mr. LaGrone would go on to serve as one of the original Tuskegee

  • Programs will suffer without adequate funding, Mullen says

    Military programs will suffer if the Defense Department's budget for fiscal 2011 isn't passed immediately, the nation's top military officer told the House Armed Services Committee here Feb. 16.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, echoed the warning issued by Defense

  • Lynn gains IT industry's cybersecurity perspective

    Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III returned Feb. 15 from a two-day cybersecurity-focused trip here that included a keynote speech and meetings with industry leaders.Throughout his visit, Mr. Lynn focused on communicating with information technology professionals, whom he terms critical to

  • Deployed firefighters induct fallen teammate into "Department of Heroes"

    The overhead radio crackled to life. "Firefighter Kozorosky, fire dispatch." Five seconds of silence passed, and the radio again sounded the call, "Firefighter Kozorosky, fire dispatch." Again, there was no answer. After the third, unsuccessful attempt, mayday tones sounded in the fire station at

  • Airmen assist in Air Force-wide missile modification

    Members of the 86th Munitions Squadron here recently assisted a joint air to surface standoff missile team in a weeklong project of modifying several missiles as part of an Air Force-wide initiative.Officials from Lockheed Martin Corporation, the developer of the missiles, dispatched a team to work

  • New fuel savings concept evaluated at JB McGuire

    As the Air Force's largest consumer of aviation fuel, Air Mobility Command officials are taking a leadership role in efforts to reduce fuel consumption across all mobility Air Force missions. Members of AMC's Test and Evaluation Squadron here recently completed an operational evaluation of a new

  • Top gloves to meet in interservice bouts

    With national champions, world military champions and 2012 Olympic Team hopefuls stacking the upcoming 2011 Armed Forces Boxing Championships at Lackland Air Force Base Feb. 15 to 18, the interservice event is truly an elite competition.Foremost among the military teams, the Army team enters as the

  • Defense communities cope with uncertain times

    Representatives from around the country have gathered here Feb. 14 through 16 for a three-day Winter Forum sponsored by the Association of Defense Communities to discuss the challenges faced by U.S. military installations, both those which are active and those which were closed over the years during

  • Fiscal year recruiting, retention remain on track

    Fiscal 2011 recruitment and retention remained high throughout the services through January, with all active and reserve-component services meeting their recruiting goals, Pentagon officials announced Feb. 15.The fiscal year began Oct. 1, 2010, and ends Sept. 30.All four active-duty services met or

  • Fuel savings officials plan to broaden impact with AF-wide summit

    Members of the Air Force's Fuel Efficiency Office plan to host their first service-wide Aviation Operations Energy Steering Group summit here Feb. 16 and 17.Representatives from all Air Force major commands were invited to attend the summit. The event will be the first major meeting across the

  • DOD officials ask service members to kiss the spit goodbye

    When the Department of Defense weighs in on kissing and spitting, it's with good reason - two good reasons, in fact: love and health. Using smokeless tobacco - spit, dip, chew, snus, etc. - can pose a stinky, unsavory obstacle to sharing a kiss with a loved one, parent, child or sweetheart. It also