Blood platelet collection begins at Balad

When coalition forces are wounded on the battlefield, sometimes it takes more than a skilled medical team to save their lives. It takes blood, and lots of it.With the help of apheresis, a new capability at the Air Force Theater Hospital here, doctors now have a ready supply of platelets, one of the

Reserve wing, Army unit join forces at Red Flag-Alaska

The Air Force Reserve Command's 934th Airlift Wing, lead wing for the Elmendorf component of Red Flag-Alaska 06-2, is working with the Army’s 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, to ensure both units receive the training they need. The coordination began about nine months ago

Security forces Airmen at SWAT competition

Guam reservists support cargo hub at Incirlik

Twelve reservists temporarily assigned to the 728th Air Mobility Squadron had to travel a long, long way from home to get here. The Airmen, who are with the Air Force Reserve Command's 44th Aerial Port Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, traveled more than 72 hours to participate in a

Air Force names 2005 Mission Support Award winners

The winners of the 2005 Mission Support Awards were announced May 2.The results are: PersonnelGen. Robert J. Dixon Personnel Award: Senior Master Sgt. Jimmy Jones, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Gen. Horace M. Wade Innovation Award: Tech. Sgt. Wendy Davis, Tyndall AFB, Fla. Gerrit D. Foster Jr.

Fewer Airmen delinquent on government travel card payments

More Airmen are paying their government travel card bills on time, allowing the Air Force to reach what many believed was an unattainable goal set by the Department of Defense, an Air Force official said. “We met our goal by lowering our delinquency rate below 2 percent for two consecutive months,”

Airmen help Iraqi pilots fly again

Pilots from the Iraqi Air Force are waiting patiently for a team of Airmen to arrive from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. It’s this team that can get them up in the air and flying again. The mission of the Iraqi 3rd Squadron hinges on the work of the Air Force Flight Test Center. The center sent a

Medical officer testifies before defense subcommittee

The Air Force’s medical Airmen are performing “magnificently,” said the Air Force surgeon general during testimony before the Senate Committee on Appropriations subcommittee on defense here May 3. “We take care of the nation’s heroes, past and present,” said Lt. Gen. (Dr.) George Peach Taylor Jr.,

B-52 presence welcomed by U.S., coalition forces

Thirty thousand feet above Afghan terrain, the presence of B-52 Stratofortresses is felt. Their presence is welcomed by U.S. and coalition forces fighting in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, but not welcomed by the terrorists who operate from there. Maintaining the fleet of B-52s here is no

Chief Murray: Are you ready?

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray sent out “The Enlisted Perspective” to Airmen on May 1. In his letter, Chief Murray tells Airmen how important it is to be ready to deploy. “We all have a role to play and we must continually evaluate whether we are doing everything we can to

Long hours the norm for deployed Globemaster crews

It is contrary to what common sense dictates. A series of short C-17 Globemaster III flights demand intense aircrew energy and stamina. But longer sorties remain more physically manageable. “Either way you look at it, our C-17 crews put in long hours that place physical and mental demands on the

Airmen make history in Iraq

Five Airmen have joined aviation pioneers Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, Gen. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle and Brig. Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager in a select group -- all are recipients of the Clarence Mackay Trophy. To the five-person crew, the flight over northern Iraq that put them in the record books

Air Force mandates virtual outprocessing

All Airmen undergoing permanent change-of-station moves, retirements or separations are now required to use the Virtual Outprocessing application available through the Virtual Military Personnel Flight. Airmen can enter the vMPF by logging onto the Air Force Personnel Center's secure Web site where

Andrews radio operators assist crewmembers worldwide

As an Air Force aircraft approaches Yokota Air Base, Japan, the pilot sets his radio to a specified frequency and says, “Main Sail, Main Sail” -- the call sign for any global radio station. Within seconds, the pilot hears, “This is the Yokota operator.” That operator is actually with the 789th

Incirlik controllers vital link in communications process

When the red light flashes, command post controllers react quickly because any delay could impact the mission of this base. The alarm could be a call about inclement weather. Or it could be a call for a first sergeant about a Red Cross notification. It could signal force protection changes or

Air Force sergeants MIA from Vietnam War identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, or DPMO, announced May 2 that the remains of two Airmen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified. They were crewmembers on a C-130 Hercules that was shot down in 1972.The Airmen are Tech. Sgt. Donald Hoskins of Madison,

Retreat reconnects couples before, after deployments

On the banks of the Guadalupe River, a veterans group hosts a retreat that helps couples reconnect so they can better cope with life after deployments. Six couples attended the retreat hosted by the Military, Veteran and Family Assistance Foundation at the Heart of the Hills Camp here from April 20

Air Force leaders highlight contribution to warfighters

Participants in the Joint Civilian Orientation Course touring the U.S. Central Command area of operations April 29 learned about the mission the Air Force carries out in support of troops on the ground. Lt. Gen. Gary North, commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces, described the magnitude of the

Air Force flight bring smiles to Iraqi children

As they stepped into the large, gray military cargo plane, their eyes widened and their expressions were equal parts wonder and bewilderment. This was the first time many of the Iraqi children and their parents had ever flown in an airplane, and none had ever been in an aircraft as large as the Air

Air Force automates training records process

Airmen in logistics career fields soon will have access to an online tool that takes an Airman's training records out of a desk drawer and makes them available through a desktop computer. The automated training records and management application, called "Training Business Area," or TBA, on the Air

Terrorism: more than just al-Qaeda may be in your back yard

In the wake of the attacks that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, the Department of Defense implemented new initiatives to thwart future attacks on U.S. soil. These measures were called “threat conditions.” It wasn’t until 2004 that the Defense Department revamped threatcon procedures into what are now

‘Paintbarn’ Airmen improve mission, preserve environment

Airmen at the paintbarn here not only are working more efficiently, they also are doing their part to help preserve the environment. Thanks to a paint gun and equipment-cleaning system, the Airmen have reduced the amount of paint thinner contaminant waste they create by 99.991 percent. The base,

Guard, Reserve leaders testify before appropriations committee

In recent testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, representatives of the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve updated senators on the status of the forces. The panel questioned Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, chief of Air Force Reserve and commander of the Air

Chief McKinley selected as 15th CMSAF

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley has named Chief Master Sgt. Rodney J. McKinley to serve as the 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force. Chief McKinley will assume his new position July 1, following the June 30 retirement of Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray.

Army clinic's lone Airman manages pharmacy

Staff Sgt. Guanina Palermo works in what is, to her, another world -- one colored in Army green. The sergeant from Liverpool, N.Y., is a certified pharmacy technician working at the health clinic at this U.S. Army camp just outside Kaiserslautern, Germany. The camp isn’t exactly another world.  It’s

Air Force selects 28 Airmen for medical training

The Air Force selected 28 enlisted members to take part in the Tri-Service Physician Assistant Training Program at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The board met here in March, selecting 28 people from 57 applicants. The average selectee was 28 years old with 7.1 years time in service and had a 3.5 grade

Aircraft maintenance accident investigation complete

Air Mobility Command today released the results of its investigation into the Dec. 17, 2005, mishap involving an aircraft maintenance technician assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif. The Accident Investigation Board, convened by AMC, concluded the primary cause of

Loadmasters use new parachute jettison device

An emergency parachute jettison device was used for the first time during a Joint Forcible Entry Exercise here April 25. Loadmasters from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., and Dyess AFB, Texas, participated in the exercise. Chief Master Sgt. Steven Pyszka and Master Sgt. Lee McDaniel, loadmaster

Air Force engineers take a jump

Joint operations are not a new concept here. It’s a way of life for many units on base. But for a new breed of Air Force joint operators, this week’s Joint Forced Entry Exercise was a chance to get off the ground -- literally. The Airmen are part of Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair

Orphanage favorite off-duty destination for Manas Airmen

Children at an orphanage here have become accustomed to a weekly ritual. Teachers wake them from naps or gather them from activities into a common area, the door opens, and people with boxes, bags and armfuls of treats walk in. The kids run for hugs and in a moment they’re scattered like it’s

HVAC: Keeping you cool

Most people either love them or hate them. Maybe it isn’t that melodramatic, but when people are sweating at their office or while trying to sleep they don’t have many good things to say about the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, or HVAC, shop. The HVAC shop here is responsible for more

CMSAF Murray enjoys day at work with his children

Not many children can say they have shaken hands with a former astronaut or wandered the halls of the prestigious E-ring at the Pentagon as their parent conducts business with some of the Air Force's top leaders. But not every child has the highest-ranking enlisted Airman for a father, either. That

Air refueling squadron takes flight to fuel the fight

Fighters are in the air 24 hours a day, providing constant support to ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Without midair refueling, that coverage would be lost. The 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron provides fuel to those thirsty fighters as they keep troops on the ground safe, said Lt.

Family support center eases résumé worries

The average employer will view a résumé for 15 to 20 seconds before moving on to another, according to family support center officials here. For this reason, they said it is vital for job seekers to have a résumé that represents their skills and abilities in the best manner. "The résumé is your

CROWS gets Airmen out of the turret

A new weapon system in the Air Force arsenal takes Airmen out of the gun turret and into the safety of a fully up-armored Humvee. The 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron operates the only Common Remote Operated Weapon Station, or CROWS, in the Air Force inventory. As one of three security

SECAF discusses current, future personnel issues

Ensuring the Air Force operates fiscally is akin to anyone budgeting and paying for household and living expenses. The costs involved must be balanced and paid in order to maintain a certain lifestyle. For the Air Force, some of the business costs reside in the targeted reduction of 40,000 full-time

Air Force test team launches 'overhauled' Iraqi aircraft

Airmen from several Air Force bases spent two months preparing, disassembling, rebuilding and testing an Iraqi Air Force Comp Air 7SLX, which had its first test flight here April 25.The aircraft is considered experimental, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. It is designed to be an

Luke sees big rewards from marketing environment

The environmental flight at any one Air Force base is like any other across the Air Force. They are always looking for new ways to protect the environment while improving the Air Force’s quality of life. That is why education and awareness programs are their bread and butter. “I love to educate,”

Reward of dangerous job is saving lives

One might think explosive ordnance disposal troops are adrenalin junkies. But they are meticulous about their work and don’t take unnecessary risks. However, because they deal with explosives placed by the enemy, the risk is real. “We all know the consequences,” said Tech. Sgt. William Sistler, a

FAST Airmen fly thousands of miles to keep aircraft safe

Gathering equipment and getting weapons from the armory in preparation for the day’s patrol is something security forces Airmen do every day. But for the members of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron’s fly-away security team, the patrol will take them to five airfields and cover almost

Medical team shares invisible bond

“After what I saw last night, I understand why American Soldiers love their country. America values human life. Last night, no matter what the soldier’s injuries or the soldier’s rank, there were 10 medical specialists working on each Iraqi soldier. We are proud to have American Soldiers as our

Exercise lets Airmen prepare for real thing

Surface-to-air “threats” are frequent at Red Flag-Alaska 06-2, as aircrews try to slip past simulated, enemy ground fire during the exercise that began here April 24. The challenge helps aircrews practice their warfighting skills over the Pacific-Alaska Range. There are Airmen from some 20 Air Force

Airmen improve base for Soldiers in northern Iraq

In the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, Airmen from the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing are using their construction expertise to help the U.S. and Iraqi governments and the U.S. Army. The 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron is deployed in support of the Army's 555th Combat Support Brigade (Maneuver

Travis cyclists pedal with the president

When the person on the other end of the telephone line told Capt. James Weinstein to choose four of his mountain biking club’s best riders to join the president of the United States for a ride, he thought it was a joke. “I was like, 'Yeah right, who is this really?'” he said. However, after the

Independent duty tech's role a versatile one

Although they have officially existed in the Air Force since the early 1950s, independent duty medical technicians can trace their roots to the days of the Roman Empire, who put the word medic into our vocabulary. Today, these IDMTs are often known as "Doc" to the Airmen they treat. Medical care has

Professional, personal education key to Air Force future

The Air Force is the most technologically advanced and capable air force in the world, in part due to the professional and personal education Airmen obtain, the secretary of the Air Force said recently. “We need our people to be highly qualified and we set that standard from the first line of

Munitions distribution involves detailed accuracy

Not all of the Airmen assigned to the 23rd Maintenance Squadron’s munitions flight build bombs. “Having munitions issued to any customer, whether it is for the A-10 (Thunderbolt II) or C-130 (Hercules) aircraft, a special tactics troop or a cop, involves a significantly detailed process,” said

Fallen Airman Memorial recognized

Experiment delivers battlespace awareness

The Combined Air and Space Operations Center, or CAOC, houses the systems that provide the U.S. and its allies with critical warfighting information. Air Force Materiel Command's Electronic Systems Center, at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., delivers and manages those systems inside the CAOC, thus

C-130 Hercules support coalition operations

The 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here has been supporting Operation Mountain Lion since it began April 12. The squadron’s C-130 Hercules aircraft have delivered supplies such as food, water and ammunition for coalition combat operations. “Our crews helped position personnel and equipment to

Warfare flight works behind the scenes

The hum of computer fans, the tapping of fingers on keyboards and the occasional ring of a telephone are all that are normally heard in this office. But don't let the quiet fool you -- the office staff is working to ensure that technological advances aren’t being used against the Air Force. The 8th

JEFX focuses on battle operations, communications

The Theater Battle Operation Net-centric Environment and the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node -- known as TBONE and BACN -- are two of the initiatives being tested during the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006. The combined air operations center, or CAOC, is the experiment’s

AFSA members clean Vietnam Memorial

Forty years ago, troops in Vietnam were issued rifles, ponchos and helmets. Last weekend, members from the Air Force Sergeants Association were armed with brooms, soap buckets and hoses. About 140 AFSA volunteers and family members traveled here from six Air Force bases to clean the Vietnam Veterans

Luke Airmen share environmental innovation

A small group of Airmen here have spent the past several days sharing an Air Force environmental innovation and educating some leaders of tomorrow. These environmentally conscious Airmen are volunteers in the base’s environmental quality program. The innovation is a new environment-friendly

Missions begin with air tasking order

Though Red Flag-Alaska 06-2 is an enhanced training opportunity for the U.S. military, the game is still the same: war. Air Force active duty, National Guard and Reserve units from across the United States are participating in the two-week joint training exercise that started April 24.Since

DUIs carry all sorts of consequences

A conviction for driving under the influence can be deadly to an Air Force career.Four Moody Airmen have been arrested in the last six weeks for DUIs; these convictions will likely follow the Airmen for the rest of their careers. Both civilian and military DUI convictions can bring sobering effects

Surviving sexual assault: One victim’s story

When she woke up, everything in her life had changed. Her best friend no longer existed. At least his status as her best friend was now gone. That changed instantly and forever when she found him on top of her, assaulting her. The evening began as any other for Amanda -- not her real name. The

DOD committed to environmental conservation

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, the Defense Department showed its commitment to conserving and improving the environment, while still maintaining the nation's military readiness, a DOD official said.The war on terrorism presents the U.S. with an agile, unpredictable enemy, so DOD's focus

Center provides life-like situations for real-time training

A civilian aircraft exploded over the skies of western Virginia, shot down by two F-16 Fighting Falcons flying nearby, while an unmanned aerial vehicle was blasted away as it buzzed up the Potomac River toward the nation’s capitol April 19.But no one was ever in any danger. That’s because the

NCO awarded $10,000 for IDEA

A good idea led to a good reward for an Airman from the 5th Maintenance Squadron here. Tech. Sgt. James Mazurek was awarded $10,000 from the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program April 13. He submitted an idea to insert a warning paragraph to the technical orders for

Marathon runners conquer Boston, Heartbreak Hill

Runners from around the world hit the streets of Boston and its suburbs April 17 on a winding, 26.2-mile course that is the Boston Marathon -- a Patriot's Day tradition here in "The Hub." Mixed in with the world's elite sneakers pounding the pavement, were runners from the Air Force and the military

Rough conditions take their toll on vehicles

Vehicles -- everybody needs one, everybody wants one. But without proper upkeep, they break. That is where the mechanics with the 407th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle maintenance flight come in. The flight’s 27 technicians and two supply Airmen maintain about 400 vehicles here.

9th Air Force commander visits Moody

The 9th Air Force commander visited here April 18 and 19 to welcome the 347th Rescue Wing back to Air Combat Command, and visit other units. During his visit, Lt. Gen. Gary L. North toured the Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham Airman Leadership School, various wing squadrons and the 820th Security

CENTCOM’s command chief postures Airmen for long haul

The command chief master sergeant of U.S. Central Command expressed the importance of deployed Airmen postured for a long war. Chief Master Sgt. Curt Brownhill said becoming a joint force, understanding the uniqueness of the enemy we’re fighting and working toward stability in CENTCOM’s area of

Airmen missing in action from WWII identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office has announced that the remains of 11 U.S. Airmen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Capt. Thomas Paschal, El Monte, Calif.; 1st Lt.

Weather squadrons complete merger

Moving with the Air Force’s Smart Ops 21 initiative, the 20th Operational Weather Squadron from Yokota Air Base, Japan, merged into the 17th Operational Weather Squadron at Hickam. To cover its vast, new 95-million square mile area of responsibility, the 17th OWS assembled into one center, improved

Air Force wrestlers compete in Las Vegas tournament

The Air Force wrestling team competed April 12 through 15 in the USA National Senior Men’s and Women’s Wrestling Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Of the approximately 30 Air Force members who competed, one was able to advance to the USA Wrestling World Team Trials. Capt. Anthony

Main experiment under way for JEFX ’06

After three spirals spanning five months, the main experiment for the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 is finally under way here. JEFX combines live-fly, live-play ground and naval forces, simulation and technology insertions into a warfighting environment. This year, JEFX is assessing

Red Flag-Alaska readies Airmen for deployment

Red Flag-Alaska 06-2 participants have arrived and set up shop at this interior Alaska base to prepare for the annual exercise previously called Cope Thunder. More than 1,500 active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen, 84 aircraft and an Army and Navy unit will train for two weeks in the Air

All together now: Civil engineers team up for project

Almost nothing changed on the outside of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing headquarters here until the final week of the renovation. There was always something indicating work -- trenches, heavy machinery, dusty workers taking a quick break at the gazebo. But the metal exterior itself didn’t give any

Air Force photographer receives exceptional civilian award

A civilian Air Force photographer was presented an Exceptional Civilian Service award by the Secretary of the Air Force here April 17. For 50 years, Ron Hall has documented Air Force history using still photography.“He’s made more than 18 secretaries of the Air Force and 16 chiefs of staff look a

OPSEC expands focus, remains critical

"Do you think you'll deploy this year? How long will you be gone? What do you think you'll be doing? Where? Will you be going with a lot of people?"At this point in the conversation you should be wondering who is asking, why are they asking and who else might get their hands on the answers. Although

Exercise prepares academy students for cyber warfare

In an obscure office park midway between Baltimore and Washington, about 50 men and women use laptop computers to break into networks at the nation's military service academies. When one of them is successful at penetrating a networked computer, they get up and ring a bell."We hit a remote desktop

Doolittle Raiders celebrate 64th reunion

The Doolittle Raiders started the celebration of their 64th reunion this year with a solemn goblet ceremony April 18 in Dayton, Ohio. The ceremony, normally held in private, was opened to the media to honor the significance of the historical Tokyo Raid on April 18, 1942. With eight of the 16

Virtual villains ruin accounts, credit ratings

Crooks made off with an estimated $5 billion from individuals whose identities were stolen last year. In what is becoming America's fastest growing type of robbery, identity theft involves a shrewd charade instead of a hold-up at gun point, and military members increasingly are becoming the targets

Team tests pod at 'LITENING' speed

Three Air Force units have started accelerated testing of a LITENING-AT targeting pod. The 416th Flight Test Squadron here is working with the 85th Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and the 422nd OTES at Nellis AFB, Nev., to update the existing LITENING pod with

Air Force honors cadet of the year

The Air Force honored its 2005 Cadet of the Year at a ceremony in the Pentagon April 17. The honoree, 2nd Lt. Janelle Jenniges, is a graduate of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 465. “She’s the top graduate out of all our commissioning

Cheney thanks Fairchild Airmen for support

Vice President Richard B. Cheney told servicemembers gathered at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., they are playing a key role in the war on terrorism and that their countrymen believe in them and their mission. The vice president visited the home of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing April 17 and told a

Service demographics offer snapshot of force

The Air Force Personnel Center here recently published its quarterly demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force, as of March 31. More information can be found at the center's analysis branch website: www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/demographics/. Statistics

Base defense mission goes beyond perimeter

Most security forces Airmen patrol the base looking for anything out of the ordinary and pull 12-hour shifts in towers along the fenceline.But, for Airmen assigned to the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, their mission is different. They take the base defense mission beyond the wire and

Chaplain goes south of the Equator for Easter

Deployed members of the 552nd Air Control Wing could not attend Easter services in Oklahoma this year, so the base took Easter Sunday to them.Chaplain (Capt.) Mike Curtis of the 72nd Air Base Wing here deployed to South America to provide Easter services for troops who do not have a chaplain

New radio technology keeps troops in touch

Riding as part of a convoy escort team outside the wire, the Airman feels alone. Feeling nervous, he keys his radio mic to check in with his base -- and hears nothing but dead air. To ensure scenarios like this don’t occur, the Air Force is leading a joint implementation of a new “Radio over

25th Air Support Operations Squadron prepares to deploy

Tactical air controllers from the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron are practicing basic close-combat skills to prepare themselves for an upcoming deployment in support of the war on terrorism. “Not only is the training fun and keeps you physically active, but it is very practical for (Tactical

Eielson units initiate total force integration

Eielson units are combining efforts in the spirit of the total force vision by streamlining cooperative continuity and training. The total force concept eliminates redundancy and simplifies resources, allowing active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen to meet challenges with smaller and more

C-130s keep convoys out of Sunni Triangle

It’s not as fast as the latest-model cargo jets. It can’t carry as much cargo as its sister transports and its ride can be a bit bumpy. But the C-130 Hercules -- a 50-year-old transport -- is dependable. It can carry anything from Airmen to office supplies. “We’re like the (pickup truck) of the Air

Dover Airmen stabilize C-5 crash site

When the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief responded to an emergency notification here April 3, he wasn’t sure what to expect. “Anytime you see an aircraft not sitting on its wheels, it is worse than you expected,” said Senior Master Sgt. Dwight Davis.More than 20 firefighters arrived to find

USAFE quintet helps educate children

Airmen from U.S. Air Forces in Europe recently visited the RAF Lakenheath Middle School to help further the students' education. The Airmen, members of “Headwinds,” USAFE's wind quintet ensemble, are visiting the school as part of Music in our Schools Month program, which affects schools all over

Services functions realign with manpower and personnel

Two Air Force functions are coming back together, an Air Force official here said recently, but initially the effects won’t be felt outside the Pentagon. When the services and manpower and personnel functional organizations combine, the change will be invisible to those in the field at base-level,

'Foam test' e-mail overflows with perception problems

A B-1 hangar is filled with more bubbles than a dinosaur-sized hot tub. There are people standing around with suds up to their eyeballs. People are standing on top of the rafters in the building as foam and bubbles continue to rise. Did a glacier melt? Did some kind of ultra-secret government

Officer educational records unmasked

Air Force leaders announced April 13 that promotion boards will once again consider officers’ educational progress as they advance in rank. In a joint letter released from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff T. Michael Moseley, they state, “Our expeditionary Air

Desert duty: crew chiefs keep C-130s flying

No one wishes for an aircraft to break -- especially flying crew chiefs. But, that’s when the mobile C-130 Hercules maintainers receive the most attention -- when something is wrong with the plane and they are far away from home. “Fortunately, C-130s are extremely reliable,” said Senior Master Sgt.

Hickam C-17 crews learn Lean concepts

Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Maintenance Squadron here are learning how to streamline the processes they’ll use to maintain Hickam’s new fleet of C-17 Globemaster IIIs. Officials from the Boeing Company, which manufactures the C-17, headed the week-long Lean Concepts Workshop.

Airmen can reduce combat stress when deployed

Many things can cause stress when deployed. The experience can be as serious as coming under attack during convoy operations, or as simple as having to deal with a new boss. Missing family and friends back home can also strike a nerve. Even if servicemembers realize they might need help, the thought

How harmful is binge drinking?

If two friends drink six beers every night for six months, do both have the same risk of becoming alcoholics or substance abusers? “Anyone is at risk for alcoholism, but studies have shown that individuals who have a family history of alcoholism are more prone to it,” said Tech. Sgt. Michelle Wilson

Manhattan club offers cheap lodging for 'Those Who Serve'

A vacation to New York City is just plain expensive. After taking a three-hour no-frills flight, then shelling out $45 for a taxi ride from the airport into the city, the last thing you want to do is to pay $200 to $300 each night for a room. For servicemembers and their families, there is a way

Letters to Airmen focus on education

In the two most recent "Letters to Airmen," the Air Force's top leaders focused on the importance of education for both enlisted Airmen and officers. “We must take the Air Force’s basic educational foundation to the next level and be relentless in our continued pursuit to become knowledge-enabled

Boston cardinal selects Air Force chaplain for No. 2 post

The early 20th century American author Thomas Wolfe wrote a book titled “You Can’t Go Home Again.” That saying doesn't hold true for a priest in the Air Force chief of chaplains office.Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Richard Erikson will be coming home again, courtesy of Cardinal Seán O’Malley of the Boston

Space superiority a priority for Air Force authority

They almost scrapped the mission. An Air Force weather officer and the satellites at his disposal talked them out of it. It was a cold night in March 2003. With rain and low visibility, more than 1,000 Soldiers aboard 16 C-17 Globemaster IIIs waited to either go on their parachute mission into

Stop, check the tires

"Foreign objects and debris" checkpoints are important to helping win the war against foreign object damage.FOD is anything that does not belong on the flightline. It could be as small as a pebble or as large as a steel pipe. Several "weapons" are used to help in the battle against FOD. One of the

Phoenix Stripe brings together total force

Forty-six junior noncommissioned officers and civilians from around the Air Force participated in Air Mobility Command's Phoenix Stripe program here April 4 to 7. Phoenix Stripe is a professional development program geared toward providing up and coming staff and technical sergeants with an overview