Sergeant's desire to serve aids recovery

Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro continues talking to Airmen about his experiences in Afghanistan even as he struggles to recover from burns he received in combat. The tactical air controller is fighting to stay in uniform so he can continue serving his country. The sergeant suffered severe burns over 80

Chairman of Joint Chiefs speaks to Airmen

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace spoke to Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, during a town hall meeting Feb. 23. The main message of his speech was only two words. "We came a long way to say, basically, two words to you and

Elmendorf Airmen put AFSO 21 to work

With the arrival of the F-22 Raptor this summer, Elmendorf Air Force Base Airmen are saying goodbye to the F-15E Strike Eagle. Before each plane can be transferred to its new home at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, it has to pass a 10-day aircraft transfer inspection, and now, using Air Force Smart

Pope unit begins transition to Little Rock

For 36 years, 41st Airlift Squadron Airmen have called Pope Air Force Base home, but Feb. 23's realignment ceremony marked a new beginning as the unit heads to Little Rock AFB, Ark. The 41st AS will stand up at Little Rock AFB April 5 under the command of Lt. Col. Dan Tulley, and is a significant

Air Force exploring renewable energy sources

Air Force officials are investigating the use of renewable energy like wind, solar and geothermal source for use in the future as an alternative to petroleum said the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics. William C. Anderson believes changes to how energy

This week's Roll Call focuses on energy conservation

As the Department of Defense's greatest fuel consumer, the Air Force must examine every aspect of fuel consumption while maintaining its core competencies and power-projection capabilities.Air Force leaders at every level are looking for innovative ways to conserve fuel and everyone, down to the

Keeping kids drug-free

One Airman here has taken a dare to make a difference in children's lives. Senior Airman Kristi Morrell spends her days teaching children at Aviano AB about the dangers of drug use through the drug abuse resistance and education program, or DARE. Drug abuse is a problem around the world. According

Vice president praises troops during Guam stopover

Vice President Richard Cheney rallied servicemembers during a Feb. 22 stopover at Guam while en route from Japan to Australia. The vice president spoke to more than 2,000 Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, Coast Guardsmen and Guam dignitaries, emphasizing the critical role Guam's position in the Pacific

Airmen continue training for quick response

When a tsunami devastated parts of Southeast Asia in 2005, Airmen from a special Air Force unit were ready to help. It's the job of the Airmen of the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis AFB to respond to crisis situations around the world at a moment's notice. They establish an aerial port,

'New Horizons' mission improves Nicaraguans' lives

The sun pounds the ground as Airman 1st Class Jean Colas wipes his forehead clean of sweat and Nicaraguan soil. He stands, eyes squinted, surveying the fresh concrete he just helped pour -- the foundation for a five-room medical clinic here. He and about 16 other 820th Expeditionary Red Horse

Services unite, leading logistics' way in Spain

The first two months of 2007 have been busy at Naval Station Rota. The task was to move over 100 Army helicopters to and from the Central Command theater using Air Force planes and Navy ships. With a mission this big, Rota's strategic location proved valuable."It's almost perfectly located between

Wilford Hall takes step forward in BRAC process

Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center take another step toward base realignment and closure. Effective March 1, the two medical centers will combine their Travel Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Henry M. Jackson Foundation clinics' outpatient services. The combined services, to

Working dog teams search, patrol together

Ensuring the safety of everyone at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here rests upon a group of Airmen and their highly trained four-legged partners. The 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Military Working Dog Section has several certified teams made up of handlers and their explosive

Incirlik Airmen test life-saving skills

Incirlik AB Airmen went one step further in an attack response exercise Feb. 8.Exercise Evaluation Team members added scenarios that challenged base Airmen with making the decisions that could save lives in the field. While still in mobility mission oriented protective posture gear, Airmen had to

Lakenheath Airmen learn to cook healthier

Members of the RAF Lakenheath Health and Wellness Center spice up their Body Composition Improvement Program by providing a healthy cooking class here. Staff Sgt. Natalie Gatewood, a nutrition counselor here, noticed there was something lacking to the required sessions Airmen were required to

Air Force medics treat Cambodians

Meeting patients' needs in remote Cambodia is a challenge to say the least, but for a team of primary care providers from Brooks City-Base, Texas, it's worth every barrier that is conquered.Members of the Medical Civil Action Program helped those in need Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 in Mondol Kiri, Cambodia.

Air Force, British firemen dampen off-base blaze

Air Force firefighters here joined British firefighters from the town of Mildenhall in response to an off-base fire Feb. 21. The 11 firefighters and one on-scene commander from the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department responded to the West Row fire after receiving a call from an on-base

Air Warfare Symposium features Air Force success, future

Aerial support is critical in Iraq and Afghanistan. It saves lives and enables re-supply for troops fighting in difficult, remote terrain. But the heavy demand for aerial support is wearing down available assets, compounding problems already faced by aging Air Force fleets. The necessity to

Air Force builds new houses at overseas bases

As the Air Force undergoes constant transformation from deployments to manning issues, the importance of Airmen's quality of life hasn't changed. One quality-of-life improvement was the $1 billion the Air Force spent upgrading base housing in various overseas locations in Korea, the United Kingdom

Radiology staff provides reliable, rapid response in Iraq

The third Monday of February did not bring the radiology flight a day off from work, like it did for most of their counterparts in America on Presidents Day. The radiology staff kept uttering the phrase, "Man, we've been very busy today." As the sixteenth hour of the day passed, 38 patients had been

First JPADS improved system airdrop over Iraq a success

Eight aircrew members from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron used the Joint Precision Airdrop System, or JPADS, mission planning software for the first time over Iraq Feb. 16 to deliver six 1,200-pound Improved Container Delivery System, or I-CDS, bundles. The

Air Force leaders speak at annual AFA convention

History and heritage, recapitalization and mission readiness and accomplishments were just a few of the topics covered by the Air Force's senior leaders at the Air Force Association's 23rd annual Air Warfare Symposium here Feb. 8 and 9. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne introduced his

Firefighters free pilots from cockpits in worst case scenarios

Firefighters use exercises as a venue for training in specialized scenarios. Extended hours and varied shifts for the Misawa AB members recently provided firefighters the opportunity to conduct training sessions that require extra attention and set up. One such scenario is pilot extraction. If a

General swears in new Airmen at Daytona 500 race

Airmen, start your engines! Thirty six delayed-entry-program recruits were sworn into the Air Force Feb. 18 by Gen. Ronald Keys, Air Combat Command commander, before the NASCAR Daytona 500 race. The event took place outside the track at the Air Force recruiting booth, which featured large scale

New command may change USAFE's role in Africa

U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen have played an active role in Africa since the 1970s, but future participation has yet to be defined due to the recent establishment of U.S. Africa Command. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates announced the creation of AFRICOM Feb. 6, but how that will affect Airmen

World powers bring soft touch to African neighbors

World powers!  The words often bring to mind the image of a military might with continuous armed presence around the world. Although this is definitely a key capability, there is also a softness demanded of world power leaders and that is exactly what people of Africa have found in their western

Wing responsible for wide range of support, missions

Coalition forces have supported operations in Afghanistan for more than five years and the Airmen of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here perform a wide range of missions in support of those operations. Afghanistan operations are broken up into five regions that operate under the International

Pope Airmen to honor fallen member

Airmen at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., are preparing to honor a pararescueman assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron who was among those killed in an MH-47 special operations helicopter crash Feb. 18 in Afghanistan. Tech. Sgt. Scott E. Duffman, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., and seven others were

Feb. 20 airpower: Coalition tankers refuel the fleet

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have released the airpower summary for Feb. 20. In Afghanistan Feb.19, Air Force F-15 Eagles conducted a strike against an enemy staging point in a cave near Pech. The F-15s dropped guided bomb unit-31 joint direct attack munitions one meter above the cave

DOD identifies Air Force casualty

The Department of Defense announced Feb. 19 the death of an Airman who died Feb. 18 when the coalition MH-47 special operations helicopter he was riding in crashed in eastern Afghanistan. Tech. Sgt. Scott E. Duffman, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope

Survivors of Afghan helicopter crash airlifted to Germany

Only hours after a helicopter crashed in Afghanistan, Airmen from an aeromedical evacuation control team in Southwest Asia got 11 of fourteen injured survivors onboard a C-17 Globemaster III bound for Germany."That really made a difference in saving lives" said Lt. Col. Lenora Cook, the evacuation

Raptors arrive at Kadena

Ten F-22 Raptors arrived here Feb. 17 and 18 for the first overseas deployment of the Air Force's newest air supremacy aircraft. The aircraft, assigned to the 27th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., started their deployment to Kadena almost 10 days previously with a stop at Hickam AFB,

Airmen kick off part two of Falcon Condor 2007

A crowd of more than 15,000 Peruvians watched in amazement as the skies above Las Palmas Air Force Base in Lima, Peru, were filled with Peruvian and U.S. aircraft during a joint air show that kicked off here Feb. 17. The air show, Falcon Condor 2007, is in addition to a joint exercise that took

Air Force supports NASA mission to study auroras

Airmen from the 45th Space Wing supported the Feb. 17 launch of a Delta II booster carrying five NASA probes on a mission called "THEMIS," which will study auroral substorms, an avalanche of solar wind powered magnetic energy that intensifies the northern and southern lights. "We made history. This

Air Force band builds relations in Peru

An Air Force regional band is on tour here sharing the Air Force story through music and entertainment while supporting Airmen participating in a joint military exercise and air show this weekend. The Air National Guard Band of the Southwest, located at Port Hueneme Naval Station, Calif., is

Patrick reservists practice astronaut rescue

Reservists from Air Force Reserve Command's 920th Rescue Wing here took part in a Mode 7 Exercise at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Feb. 13. Helicopter crews from the wing's 301st Rescue Squadron provide range security during space shuttle launches. Pararescuemen in the wing's 308th RQS are on

Osan remembers Battle of Bayonet Hill

Osan held its annual remembrance ceremony for the Hill 180 "Battle of Bayonet Hill" Feb. 9. The crowd of 200 people included distinguished guests such as Lt. Gen. David Valcourt, 8th Army commander, and Larry Lyons from the Pacific Area Veterans of Foreign Wars.It was here 56 years ago that nine

Training prepares Airmen to handle violent situations

In most schools, students are expected to behave. At Homestead, one group of students not only fought with their instructors, but it was encouraged. Twenty-five security forces Airmen took part in unarmed defensive tactics training here Feb. 10. The class taught skills such as law enforcement

Andersen takes small dental clinic of the year honors

The 36th Medical Operations Squadron Dental Clinic was awarded the USAF Small Dental Clinic of the Year for 2006."Our dental readiness at Team Andersen is outstanding," said Maj. James Kutner, 36th MDOS officer in charge of the clinical dentistry and laboratory dentistry elements. "This is a very

Air Force's top leaders address service concerns

The Air Force secretary and chief of staff took the opportunity to discuss the service's challenges and ongoing efforts in the war on terrorism Feb. 8 at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla.Michael Wynne and Gen. T. Michael Moseley spoke about the challenges of force

Airmen foster relations as ambassadors

It was smiles galore as Airmen paid a visit to a local foster home Feb. 16, while here for a joint air show with the Peruvian Air Force. More than 400 children were treated to a performance by the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest and conversation with Airmen. The children, some of whom are

Newest 'Chief's View' highlights conduct

In his latest Chief's View video, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley reminds Airmen that they are a reflection on the service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Chief McKinley said Airmen serve as ambassadors for the Air Force, both on and off duty. "You've heard the term 'first

New chiefs inducted into elite group

Two senior master sergeants were recognized as the newest members of the chiefs group in a ceremony Feb. 9 here. The two chief selectees, Denise Mikolajczyk and Steven Lantz, lit candles representing each of the nine enlisted grades achieved over their careers in order to remind them of where

Lajes NCO's job saves water, money

A Lajes Field NCO may not fly a jet or drive a tank, but carrying a pipe-wrench for the 65th Civil Engineer Squadron can be just as important. "We're here for the main plumbing and water distribution," said Staff Sgt. Kellen Buss, who works in the utilities shop. "Any water that goes from the wells

Ramstein inbound section delivers

Each year an average of 30,000 packages pass through the Cargo Movement Center's inbound section helping ensure Ramstein Air Base runs smoothly. Nestled on Ramstein's southside is a large warehouse. It is the home of the inbound section and just down the road from Ramstein's flightline. "We touch

Eagle Flag role players: Airmen helping Airmen

In a matter of minutes, one master sergeant here became a "chief" during a briefing for Exercise Eagle Flag 07-3 Feb. 5 at Fort Dix, N.J. "As a role player, you're deployed here to help push the students to do better, but we learn right beside them," said Master Sgt. James Gardner of the 60th

Medical teams provide priceless gift

Most people get cards, chocolate and flowers from someone special on Valentine's Day. On this particular day, the treatment, care and attention patients in a C-17 Globemaster III received from a combined aerial medic team far surpassed any typical Feb. 14 gift. The critical care air transport and

Officer reduction in force subject of this week's Roll Call

Meeting the Air Force's lower authorized end strength will result in approximately 40,000 active-duty Airmen separating from the service. This week's Roll Call explains one of the ways the Air Force is ensuring it has the right mix of skill sets.The Air Force needs to maintain its combat capability

Firefighter brotherhood reaches across international borders

Thirteen could prove to be a lucky number for Iraqi citizens in An Nasiriyah as that is the number of firefighters whose abilities have been enhanced through training with Airmen deployed here. Airmen firefighters from Air Expeditionary Forces 3, 4, 5 and 6 introduced the Iraqis to American

New Horizons kicks off in Nicaragua

More than 500 Nicaraguans along with deployed members of the United States military celebrated the official start of the New Horizons 2007 humanitarian exercise Feb. 15. New Horizons is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored readiness training exercise designed to help Nicaraguan people in Santa Teresa

Convoy reduction flights keep Airmen out of harm's way

Convoys transporting Airmen and supplies on the highways of Iraq face a constant risk from terrorist attacks. In an effort to reduce the number of convoys going out, the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron performs regular airlift convoy reduction missions out of Balad Air Base, Iraq.The focus of

Airmen honored for combatant deployment roles

The Air Force recently named three Fort Hood, Texas, Airmen the first recipients of three new awards during a ceremony at the Hall of Heroes in the Pentagon. The new awards honor members of the tactical air control party career field. Two of the awards are named after TACP Airmen who gave their

Leaders focus on Air Force priorities at Corona South

The secretary of the Air Force, the Air Force chief of staff and other key service leaders met for Corona South to discuss key strategic issues, priorities and initiatives of the Air Force Feb. 12 to 14 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.Michael W. Wynne and Gen. T. Michael Moseley led the meeting, with

AAFES adjusts gas pricing overseas

Army and Air Force Exchange Service officials began a new gas-pricing plan Feb. 1 that should make buying gas overseas easier on a person's budget as prices are now updated on a weekly basis instead of monthly changes. The decision is based on customer feedback for more immediacy in the price

F-22s make mark at Red Flag

The F-22 Raptor flew in its first Red Flag exercise that started Feb. 3 here, showcasing its stealth, super cruise and other advantages absent in legacy fighters. Pilots from the 94th Fighter Squadron at Langley Air Force Base, Va., are flying F-22s against Red Flag aggressors, with pilots from the

Lessons learned program to improve deployments

U.S. Central Command Air Forces officials have established a program to help solve problems and improve things for new people rotating into the area of responsibility. The CENTAF Office of Lessons Learned, established in October 2004, has increased its staff and now has two specialists working to

Simulation center provides edge to medics

For nearly two years, Wilford Hall Medical Center's simulation center has been preparing Airmen for real-world medical scenarios here and in the deployed setting. The center was established as a task to create a needs assessment for the incorporation of medical simulation into Air Force Medical

Fuels flight pumps out record

Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's petroleum, oil and lubricant, or POL, flight pumped a lot of gas recently. In fact, they set a record for the highest number of gallons of fuel issued in a single month over the last three years. POL Airmen received and issued a

Combat skills training prepares security forces

The 60th Security Forces Squadron here offers a two-day expeditionary combat skills training course to prepare Airmen for deployments."(We want to) give the students a set of basic skills to work with so if they ever encounter a force protection scenario, it'll give them that basic skill set to act

Air Force Reserve A-10s get 'smart' systems

You can build just about anything on a good foundation. Air Force reservists from the 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 303rd Fighter Squadron here are being reminded of that as five of the 442nd Fighter Wing's A-10 Thunderbolt IIs are being equipped with "smart" multi-function color

Horn of Africa task force welcomes new commander

Formations of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines provided the backdrop Feb. 14 as Rear Admiral James M. Hart accepted command from Rear Adm. Richard W. Hunt in a ceremony on the flightline of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.Admiral Hart addressed his vision for

Planning critical to Red Flag - Alaska success

Coalition and American pilots, aircrews and support members need a realistic training environment, and Red Flag - Alaska provides some of the most realistic training on earth. Coordinating this training is the responsibility of the 353rd Combat Training Squadron members, who plan and prepare each

Refueling maintainers run largest 'gas station' in Atlantic

Imagine pushing your vehicle down the road to a service station to refuel. Now imagine pulling a more than 30,000 pound F-16 Fighting Falcon to an island in the middle of the ocean to get gas. Airmen at Lajes Field like Senior Airman Justin Madsden keep the biggest gas station in the Atlantic

Mission failure means 'lights out' for engineers

Every Air Force job is vital to accomplishing the mission. But the work of civil engineers affects anyone who uses power; if there is no one do to their job, it's lights out. Staff Sgt. Brian Sawyer is one of those civil engineers. When asked what he loves most about his job, Sergeant Sawyer

Airmen help neighbors through Operation Iraqi Child

Members of Air Expeditionary Force 5 and 6 are reaching out to their host nation neighbors while lending a helping hand through Operation Iraqi Child."Many members of AEF 5/6 have voiced the desire to help the Iraqi people outside the gates of our base," said Chaplain (Capt.) Christine Blice-Baum of

Vandenberg Airman sparks change throughout DOD

When she stood in front of senior leaders Dec. 21 at Breaker's Dining Facility here and voiced her concern, she had no idea her question would be heard by Department of Defense officials. The question Airman 1st Class Erica Hudson presented during an Airmen's breakfast that morning came from a

Pro Bowl Airmen

First F-22 bound for Pacific unveiled

Representatives from the Air Force and Lockheed Martin gathered to accept Pacific Air Forces' first F-22 Raptor Feb. 12 at Marietta, Ga. This latest F-22 will be among 36 others that will make up the first F-22s assigned to PACAF at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens

Atlanta kicks off 'Heritage to Horizons' celebration

Southern hospitality, total force and joint partnership were the ingredients that formed the inaugural kickoff for the Air Force's 60th Anniversary celebration Feb. 12 in Atlanta. The official kickoff was held at the State Capitol, where Gov. Sonny Perdue welcomed the "Heritage to Horizons" Air

36th OG reactivates to meet Pacific theater mission

The 36th Operations Group was reactivated after more than a decade to serve as the focal point for the Air Force's expeditionary operations taking place here. The 36th OG will assume the mission of the 36th Expeditionary Operations Group and establish a permanent command structure for deployed Air

Reserve wing closes chapter in history

Reservists from the 944th Fighter Wing here bid farewell to the last three F-16 Fighting Falcons after almost 20 years. The unit's F-16s are being reassigned to other locations on the recommendations of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. "This is like a family that's moving on," said Lt.

Joint patrols keep Incirlik in good hands

They may not be known as well as partners Batman and Robin or Starsky and Hutch, but members of the 39th Security Forces Squadron and the Turkish air force are partners protecting the citizens here all the same. They may wear different uniforms, have a different culture and even speak a different

Airmen work alongside Peruvian military during joint exercise

Approximately 150 Airmen are participating in a joint military exercise with the Peruvian air force scheduled to continue through Feb. 16 here.Exercise Falcon Condor 07 allows the U.S military to build relationships with military and civilian leaders of Peru."This exercise give us the opportunity to

Hurricane Hunters track Pacific winter storms

While most people flee when a pending storm is coming, Keesler AFB Airmen go right into the heart of storms to provide detailed information about storms to warn people of hazardous weather.Airmen and WC-130J Hercules aircraft, also known as Hurricane Hunters, left here Feb. 12 for Anchorage, Alaska,

Air Force reopens job reservations for nine career fields

Most first-term Airmen serving in nine Air Force specialty codes will now be eligible to apply for a career job reservation. Airmen serving in the 2A0X1D, 2A5X3D, 2E0X1, 2M0X2, 3E0X1, 3E0X2, 3E1X1, 3E2X1 or 3E3X1 AFSCs will be granted a CJR regardless of their CJR window of eligibility. "This change

Air Force ads to feature Charleston Airmen

Filming for the next campaign of Air Force commercials began here Feb. 9. The Air Force's contract ad agency, GSD&M Advertising, flew with active-duty and Reserve Airmen from here onboard three C-17 Globemaster IIIs to the North Auxiliary Field in North, S.C., where crewmembers performed airdrops

Active military meets January recruiting goals

All active components of the military services met or exceeded their recruiting goals for January, the Defense Department announced Feb. 12. The Air Force achieved 100 percent of its goal with 2,552 Airmen; the Army, 111 percent of its goal with 9,306 troops; the Navy, 100 percent of its goal with

Airmen return from Urban Sniper School

Two Airmen from the 736th Security Forces Squadron here recently returned from 11 days of training in an Urban Sniper School with a Marine expeditionary unit at Kadena Air Base, Japan.Tech. Sgt. Samuel Howell and Staff Sgt. Patrick Pendergest along with nine Marines attended the school taught by the

Lajes Airmen impact mission at Naval Station Rota

Helping with the war effort doesn't always mean Airmen have to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan. Naval Station Rota in Spain houses an average of 50 Airmen who are on temporary duty from bases throughout U.S. Air Forces in Europe who are fighting the war on terrorism by supporting the Air Force's

Air transportation specialists key to life at Lajes

Keeping Lajes Field members fed and informed is a vital job that falls on the shoulders of a 28-year-old sergeant's team, since virtually everything the base needs is flown into the small island off Portugal that Lajes Field calls home.Staff Sgt. Eric Brooks and the rest of his team at the 729th Air

Aviano Airmen train in self aid, buddy care

Wrapping second- and third-degree burns and splinting bone fractures were just two parts of the self aid and buddy care training Airmen learned from instructors from the 31st Medical Group Feb. 6 here. This training will be put to the test during a tactical evaluation here in March, and can be

Iron Thunder roars through Shaw

Thunder was heard throughout the Carolinas in early February as more than 100 Air Force, Navy, Marine and Royal Air Force aircraft participated in Exercise Iron Thunder.The four-day, multiservice and multinational exercise, hosted by the 77th Fighter Squadron here, prepared participants for future

Chief McKinley testifies before Congress

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley spoke to the House Appropriations Committee's quality of life and veterans' affairs subcommittee Feb. 9 in Washington, D.C. Chief McKinley spoke about training and quality of life initiatives in the Air Force. "America's Airmen know what it means

Loadmasters learn from mentors

A hefty responsibility rests on the shoulders of many junior expeditionary Airmen in the war on terrorism. Daniel Stone, Brian Mulkey and Sheldon Cary, all loadmasters and airmen 1st class from the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, are among the many junior Airmen making a difference on a daily

Mentoring helps develop future Air Force

When leaders mentor their subordinates, they are helping develop the Air Force as an organization. By taking an active role in each Airman's career, a supervisor can develop his or her personnel into better leaders. "It helps the Air Force tremendously because our individuals are now motivated,

USAFE, Liberian medics team up to save lives

Within minutes of completing two days of medical training in Liberia taught by medics from U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen, 23 Armed Forces of Liberia medical technicians were put to the test when they responded to a high-speed vehicle rollover Jan. 28 here. Outside the gate to the remote military

U.S. Central Command air power official meets with Kenya Air Force

On a recent return visit to Kenya, the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces continued a dialogue of cooperation and mutual operational goals with Kenya Air Force officials this week. Lt. Gen. Gary North met with Brig. Gen. Jackson Waheru, deputy commander of the Kenya Air Force, among other

F-15 Strike Eagles take over close-air-support mission at Bagram

The F-15 Strike Eagle recently swapped out with the A-10 Thunderbolt II to assume responsibility of the close-air-support mission here. The F-15s are assigned to the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and are deployed from the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.

Balad exercise hones response skills

A joint Army and Air Force exercise recently tested the emergency response skills of Airmen and Soldier firefighters at Balad Air Base, Iraq. "Our No. 1 goal is to coordinate an emergency response that'll safely take the injured to a medical treatment facility," said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin

U.S. airpower strikes suspected terrorists in Baghdad

In response to a call for air power, a U.S. Air Force F-16 Falcon aided U.S. ground forces by delivering precision munitions on eight hostile personnel in an air strike south of Baghdad Feb. 8. The F-16 pilot, launched from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Balad Air Base, responded to a U.S. Air

AFSO21 streamlines deployment processing

Deploying Airmen had an easier transition into the area of responsibility this January because the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Squadron Readiness Flight revamped the way the Aerial Port of Debarkation processes Airmen departing and arriving. Fellow Airmen redeploying in January may not have

Life-saving attempt earns Airman praise, accolade

A 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Airman received a medal recently that will serve as a reminder of the day he unwittingly stepped into the spotlight while on a mission in Africa. While waiting for his dinner companions at a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, Tech. Sgt. Bryant Billingsley heard a call for

Helicopter support trailer provides rapid mobility

It appears to be just a plain gray box, with a drop down rear ramp and external lighting. There are no flashy unit murals or logos. In fact, there is no labeling on the trailer at all, other than a government license plate. This nondescript trailer, recently purchased by the 723rd Aircraft

Deterrence keeps secluded Minuteman crew focused

After more than a hour's drive from civilization, down sometimes treacherous country dirt roads, 1st Lt. Matthew Bejcek still has about 90 minutes of security checks to pass through before he can start his job as a caretaker of this nation's single biggest deterrent to terrorism. There is a reason

Moody Airman receives Purple Heart

When a sniper's bullet careened off his turret-mounted machine gun and struck his side, the last thing the young Airman thought was that he had just been shot. Senior Airman Jeremy Birchfield, 824th Security Forces Squadron turret gunner, had just paid a local Iraqi boy to get him a pizza, while he

Expeditor training part of AFSO 21 initiatives

Members of the 60th Aerial Port Squadron here are holding a two-week class to develop ways to eliminate time aircrews and loadmasters are spending on the ground after a flight. Tech. Sgt. Ryan Holmes, a course director from the Air Mobility Warfare Center at Fort Dix, N.J., said they will train

Program helps Airmen reintegrate after deployments

Returning home from a deployment can be a time full of excitement with hopes of getting back into normal life and reuniting with loved ones. But reintegrating back into normal life can be difficult as things at work and home have changed. The reintegration program at Ramstein AB seeks to help make

Vehicle registration streamlines customer service

Airmen who work in the vehicle registration office here realized not all of their customers were happy all the time. There were a variety of concerning factors, but the main area of dissatisfaction was waiting times. "In the summertime I believe our max wait was three hours and 45 minutes long. And

Air Force Assistance Fund 2007 campaign begins Feb. 12

This year's Air Force Assistance Fund "Commitment to Caring" campaign, from Feb. 12 to May 4, will provide Airmen the opportunity to contribute to any of the four official Air Force charitable organizations. Now in its 34th year, 100-percent of designated AFAF contributions will benefit active-duty,

ABU wear policy effective immediately

Air Force officials at the Pentagon released the wear policy for the new Airman Battle Uniform Feb. 7. The policy comes in time to help many of the Airmen deploying to the AOR in May, as these Airmen will be among the first to get the ABU. Further ABU distribution plans will be based on production