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U.S. Air Force News

  • Security forces announces annual award winners

    The deputy chief of staff for air and space operations recently announced the 2003 Air Force Outstanding Security Forces Individual Award winners.These annual awards recognize the top security forces members in each category.The 2003 winners are:Career field-wide award:-- Col. Billy Jack Carter

  • Basic trainees now clean M-16s in new facility

    A recently completed 9,000-square-foot facility here has added a few hours and a new activity to the Air Force basic training program: M-16 cleaning.The more than 40,000 trainees who attend basic training each year will now use the $365,000 weapons cleaning pavilion to clean their rifles after

  • Combat Flightline keeps C-130s flying

    The year was 1965. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was still alive and man had yet to land on the moon. Amazingly, most of the C-130E Hercules aircraft currently based here were flying in 1965; many were used during the Vietnam conflict. Like a car, these aircraft will last longer and perform better

  • Silently surveying surroundings

    At first glance, it appears to be an airplane model a child might pull off a local toy-store shelf. But unlike the recreational remote aircraft, this force-protection asset is no toy. The 7-pound aircraft allows security forces to see beyond what the human eye can see and silently survey the

  • Donations arrive in Iraq, Afghanistan

    Donated goods collected here and nine other bases are beginning to arrive in Iraq. A similar donation program in Afghanistan is expanding to weekly visits, after a year of monthly deliveries. In January, workers here shipped nearly 500 pounds of school supplies, children's clothes and personal

  • Airman shares patriotism with thousands

    The honor guard team members were at attention on the sideline, hearts pounding and adrenaline racing, although the momentous game would not begin for another half hour. The honor and glory was not for the servicemembers themselves, but for their flag, their country and their military.Tech Sgt.

  • Civil engineers putting shivers aside

    Despite record-setting cold temperatures here, people assigned to the 319th Civil Engineer Squadron are keeping the base running as usual.From Jan. 24 to 26, the base received 21 inches of snow. By Jan. 29, temperatures dipped to a new winter low of minus 37 with a wind chill that hit 60 below

  • K-2 airmen use innovation to prevent ‘Groundhog Day’

    For 25 members of the aerial port flight here, every day would be "Groundhog Day" if they focused only on the day-to-day task of moving passengers and cargo. But for this team from the Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing, the mission is not just loading and unloading aircraft, it is

  • 'Force shaping' means some can leave active duty early

    There is good news for thousands of airmen considering leaving active duty who thought they could not because of existing service obligations.An effort dubbed "force shaping" is opening the exit doors to officers and enlisted servicemembers in select career fields and year groups by waiving some

  • Medical care at 15,000 feet

    On the ground and in the air, airmen in this part of the world can rest assured that medical care is always close by.If a person is injured, medical people on the ground stabilize and treat the patient. But if that person needs to be transported by air for specialized care, a team of medical

  • February issue of Airman available

    Take a look at changes to the face of U.S. bases in Germany, read about life at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, and take a behind-the-scenes look at Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. These features and more highlight the February issue of Airman magazine, now available in print and online at

  • Multimedia shop keeps focus

    An airman peers through the lens of the weapon, anticipating the moment the target is in sight. The target steps off the plane. “Closer,” the airman murmurs as her eye shoots back and forth in the lens, checking the scene. Her finger squeezes gently. Click. She shoots, and another distinguished

  • Civil engineers’ work noticed every day

    Every day, airmen of the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are seen doing a multitude of tasks, from digging trenches for electrical wiring to setting up restroom facilities.The unit’s accomplishments can be noticed when one makes a 2 a.m. trip to the restroom and comes face to face with a

  • Wing moves from Tallil to Balad

    The famed “Red Tails” were on the move recently when they relocated from a base in southern Iraq to just north of Baghdad.The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing flag was furled here before being flown to its new home at Balad Air Base, where the wing was reactivated Jan. 30. The move is part of the

  • Airmen combat sickness in community

    Airmen of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron joined soldiers to provide medical care and humanitarian assistance to residents of a local community Jan. 23. The visit to a small, impoverished town about 10 miles from here was part of the Medical Civic Action Program. The program

  • Proposed budget shows AF path

    The fiscal 2005 Defense Department budget provides the foundation upon which the Air Force will continue the war on terrorism.Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, Air Force deputy assistant secretary for budget, discussed how the service’s budget priorities would allow airmen to be a better air and space

  • Japanese forces arrive to help

    Three Japanese air self-defense force C-130Hs arrived here Jan. 30, bringing to fruition an initial deployment plan Japanese forces thought would never happen.This is the first time since World War II Japanese troops have deployed supporting humanitarian activities in a hostile area.The JASDF joins

  • Winter record set at Grand Forks

    A record was set here for the coldest day in January when temperatures reached minus 37 on Jan. 29 and 30, said officials at the 319th Operations Support Squadron weather flight here.The base is also experiencing one of the snowiest winters on record,From Jan. 24 to 26, the base received 21 inches

  • Helpline gives airmen vital info

    The Air Force will expand efforts to take care of its own Feb. 1 with the 24-hour-a day “Air Force One Source” live helpline for airmen and their families.The “beyond-the-gate” support and referral service is intended to help address personal and family support needs for active-duty airmen,

  • USTRANSCOM tackles rotations

    The U.S. Transportation Command's basic mission is moving the nation's military wherever and whenever required. The current task is to redeploy the forces who defeated the Iraqi military and liberated that country and replace them with fresh troops. At the same time, forces must be redeployed from

  • Airmen should file vouchers promptly

    When returning from a deployment, the first thing a person should do is go to his or her base finance office, said 1st Lt. Mary Ward, budget officer.“Your voucher is used to determine dates for certain entitlements and if you don’t file your voucher in a timely manner, you run the risk of being

  • New equipment saves time, money

    Paying at the pump is always cheaper and faster than using the old system with a full-service gas station attendant. The staff at the 445th Maintenance Squadron’s machine shop has a new piece of equipment that does not pump gas, but it is saving them time and money. Plus, it is great for the

  • Volunteers take weight off staff

    Aside from the occasional mortar attack, people at Camp Sather sometimes forget they are in a combat zone. Not everyone serving in Iraq is that lucky. Of all the units here, the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility gets almost daily reminders of what goes on outside Baghdad International

  • Guard legal team working hard

    For some, the base legal office is a place to take care of wills or powers of attorney, but the office staff here does a lot more than that.Lt. Col. Brent Wright, an Oklahoma Air National Guard staff judge advocate, and Master Sgt. Mary Alice Rebis, a New York ANG paralegal, are teamed together to

  • Sergeant sentenced for larceny

    A staff sergeant with the 377th Security Forces Squadron was found guilty of larceny, making false official statements and destroying and altering public records. He was sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge, reduction in rank to airman basic, 10 months confinement and total forfeiture of pay and

  • February issue of Citizen Airman available

    Air Force Reserve Command's 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., is on the leading edge of the Air Force's effort to modernize its fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft.C-130H-2s from the 908th, along with C-130E models from the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Wing in Boise, will be the

  • Airmen test skills on Korean peninsula

    More than 100 airmen, 12 F-15 Eagles and three KC-135 Stratotankers returned to Kadena Air Base, Japan, on Jan. 27 after a four-day deployment here. The mission was a test of the 18th Wing’s ability to deploy during a scheduled operational readiness exercise that began at Kadena on Jan. 24 and is

  • Soldiers leaving AF gates

    A mix of airmen, civilians, contractors and new technology will replace Army National Guard military policemen now posted at Air Force bases.The original agreement struck between the Air Force and the Army called for using the Guardsmen at base entry points for two years, enough time to find a

  • Sergeant deploys with casino

    As a child, Master Sgt. Thomas Shircel enjoyed sharing games of rummy with his grandparents, and playing black jack on his video game system.Some years later, as a college student, his appreciation for casino games expanded to providing casino equipment for charity and social functions. He

  • Firefighters keep flames at bay

    Sixty seconds. Just 60 seconds is all it takes for a fire to decimate a tent in a deployed environment.But the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing’s team of firefighters is here to prevent that from happening. The team has many missions, but fire prevention is the most critical so the team never has to

  • Exercise tests shuttle rescue capabilities

    Lajes Field's capabilities to save a downed space shuttle crew will be put to the test during a daylong exercise here Jan. 30.The exercise involves American and Portuguese forces and a Defense Department agency for space flight.The combined event joins 65th Air Base Wing and Portuguese Air Base 4

  • Escorts keep base safe

    When it comes down to getting the mission done, there are few things more valuable than a reliable force multiplier.Each day dozens of mostly one-, two- and three-stripe airmen provide the multiple necessary to ensure base functions continue unimpeded. Wearing arm bands identifying them as “Force

  • Tallil NCO makes history

    With history occurring here every day, there needs to be someone to make sure it is never lost. The person who makes sure that happens is Tech. Sgt. Yancy Mailes, 332nd Expeditionary Air Wing historian, deployed from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho.“I collect the raw documentation that allows

  • Wife helps identify drug problem

    “No matter what kind of person you are, drugs will ruin you,” said an obviously uneasy, 21-year-old Airman Basic Michael Dancer as he nervously turned the wedding band on his finger.Wearing a blue correctional custody jump suit, Airman Michael spoke from experience. Though he was not caught driving

  • ‘Spiderman’ joins OEF

    Airmen are known for their innovation, and are encouraged and challenged to continually look for better and smarter ways to accomplish the mission.For one senior noncommissioned officer supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, that challenge led to a labor of love. He developed a computer tool --

  • How to spend a million

    They have what many people would consider the ideal job -- getting paid to shop all day while spending other people’s money.But unlike many shoppers, the contracting office here cannot go downtown and browse through the shops or cruise the mall.“(We) don’t go off base (because of) the dangers around

  • Dedicated airmen fix, manage base vehicles

    When a vehicle breaks down here, airmen do not have the luxury of calling a commercial roadside assistance team for help. Instead, a team of 48 people work behind the scenes 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep the base’s fleet of vehicles on the road.With almost 470 vehicles to watch over and

  • ‘Legend’ goes home after six months

    She is outgoing and friendly. She is an icon at the base’s shopette, and she is going home Jan. 24 after serving six months here.Anyone who has shopped at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service’s shopette in the Air Force’s tent city here cannot help but know Heidi Stover, the store manager.A

  • Manas airmen assist local school

    Leaving the place better off than when they arrived is one of the goals of the airmen here, and 11 airmen did just that for the local community Jan. 23.The airmen delivered 30 heaters to a vocational school for underprivileged students in the local village of Jany Ger.The request for help from this

  • Airman at State of Union address

    Staff Sgt. Clinton Smith, of the 11th Security Forces Squadron at the Pentagon, was pleased and surprised with the additional temporary duties he assumed Jan. 20.Two months ago, Sergeant Smith was serving his country by performing security-forces duties while deployed in Iraq. On Jan. 20, he was

  • Forces prepare for Yama Sakura

    U.S. airmen and Japan self-defense forces are gearing up for exercise Yama Sakura ‘04 taking place here Jan. 25 to 31. Yama Sakura is an annual joint/bilateral command post exercise, and is one of the most important simulation-driven, force-on-force battle staff training exercises in Japan, said

  • Dental techs to train as hygienists

    The Air Force has teamed up with Trident Technical College in Charleston to send dental technicians to an Air Force-sponsored dental hygiene training scholarship program.Tech. Sgt. Alycia Miller from Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and Staff Sgt. Noreena Svoboda from McChord AFB, Wash., are the

  • Center helping deployed airmen

    Deployed personnel specialists now have around-the-clock assistance in performing personnel actions for deployed airmen that previously may have taken days to complete. The Air Force Contact Center will now provide one-stop customer support for deployed operations, said Lt. Col. Jacqueline Harry,

  • Program offers ‘Vigilant Look’ at AFSPC

    While the Air Force encourages its personnel to "cross further into the blue" through its new force-development philosophy, Air Force Space Command officials have been using a unique application of that philosophy -- the Vigilant Look program.Nearly four years old, Vigilant Look encapsulates the

  • Reserve command seeks recruiters

    Air Force Reserve Command officials are looking for exceptional airmen and noncommissioned officers to become Reserve recruiters."We have a number of openings for recruiters throughout the country," said Capt. Chuck Pittman, chief of the Air Force Reserve Recruiting Service operations branch at AFRC

  • Assignment listing available Feb. 3

    The Enlisted Quarterly Assignment Listing for overseas assignments for the October-to-December cycle will be available Feb. 3.Individuals need to contact their military personnel flights to update their preferences by Feb. 19, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here. Airmen will be

  • Five servicemembers laid to rest

    Five veterans of the war on terror were laid to rest Jan. 21 in Arlington National Cemetery.The five military members -- four from the Air Force and one from the Army -- were aboard an MH-53M Pave Low helicopter when it crashed in Afghanistan Nov. 23 while supporting Operation Mountain Resolve, part

  • Vehicle remodeled for mortuary

    Airmen from the 436th Equipment Maintenance Squadron’s fabrication flight here finished remodeling a mortuary transfer vehicle Jan. 16, raising its capacity from two transfer cases to six.When servicemembers die on foreign soil their remains are transported to the Charles C. Carson Center for

  • Now showing: Jan. 19 edition of AFTV News

    The last of four special editions of Air Force Television News focuses on Air Force people and some of the outstanding contributions they have made to the service’s mission and to their communities during 2003.In the first segment, Staff Sgt. Joe Wallace discovers what life is like for an airman who

  • Simulator gives airmen realistic training

    A new simulator is providing realistic, localized training for 72nd Operations Support Squadron air traffic controllers here.The simulator gives airmen the opportunity to operate in a computer-based environment before they take the helm in the tower.“Our new controllers customize what they have

  • Small base has big mission

    At first glance, the little-known airfield in Karshi-Khanabad, often called K-2, appears to be nothing more than a sleepy, little whistle-stop for aircraft supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.For airmen assigned to the 416th Air Expeditionary Group here, and the aircrews they support, the base and

  • Hold off embroidering logo

    Air Force clothing office officials are asking airmen to wait a few weeks before having their lightweight blue jackets embroidered with the Air Force logo.“We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response in regards to placing the logo on the jacket,” said Libby Glade, Air Force clothing office chief.

  • Be leery of fraud, theft

    Credit card fraud and identity theft are things to be leery of. Even so, often times people do not think they can become a victim of these crimes. But either can ruin the victim’s credit line for years.“Identity theft and credit card fraud occur in several different ways,” said Capt. Patrick

  • Combat Nighthawk increases awareness

    Company grade and senior noncommissioned officers here are teaming up to further develop their leadership skills and increase their overall understanding of all aspects of the operational mission, as part of a Combat Nighthawk initiative.Combat Nighthawk is a leadership development and

  • Eyes, ears work for Tallilians

    At an Air Force base it is important that someone know what is happening while it is happening, especially at an Air Force base in the middle of a combat zone. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s command post here makes sure the commander knows what is happening while it is happening in Iraq.“We are

  • Tactical controllers stand strong

    For Air Force tactical air control party airmen, "The strong will stand, the weak will fall by the wayside," is more than just a motto; it serves as a battle cry.Wherever American military forces are found, TACP airmen are usually nearby. Unofficially nicknamed the "Air Force infantry" because they

  • Service demographics available

    Air Force Personnel Center officials recently published the quarterly demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force as of Dec. 31.The report outlines information regarding the Air Force’s 372,305 active-duty airmen and 139,083 civilian employees, such as

  • Airmen restoring old mosque

    Among a landscape filled with tree stumps, old barbed wire, concrete and rebar, airmen from the 506th Air Expeditionary Group found a hidden jewel -- an old building in desperate need of repair. Thanks to base chapel, contracting and civil engineers leaders, and with the help of a large volunteer

  • Wing helps with Capitol exercise

    People from the 11th Wing here participated in a "State of the Union Address" field exercise at the U.S. Capitol in downtown Washington on Jan 10.Nearly 20 men and women assigned to the wing filled in as role players to help the U.S. Capitol Police, U.S. Secret Service and District of Columbia fire

  • Cargo, pax all in a day’s work

    Air Force and coalition forces are working together to keep cargo and passengers moving through the aerial port here.Airmen from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and Lackland AFB, Texas, have teamed with members of the Estonian military to move more than 4,000 passengers and 880 tons of cargo on

  • Transient alert keeps airflow moving

    Unlike the old saying which goes, “jack of all trades, master of none,” the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing’s transient alert team here are "airmen of all aircraft, masters of most."The team is primarily responsible for meeting the fuel, cargo and maintenance needs of military and commercial passenger

  • Defense institute gets new home

    The new home of the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute officially opened here Jan. 14.Dr. Davis S. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, cut the ribbon to open the two-story, 92,000-square-foot facility.A new-campus task force was established in the early 1990s,

  • Air Force translator arraigned

    The opening session in the court-martial case involving Senior Airman Ahmad A. Al Halabi convened here Jan. 13. The accused is charged with Uniform Code of Military Justice violations including failure to obey a lawful general order, making false official statements and attempted espionage. The

  • AAFES receives special award

    The Army and Air Force Exchange Service received the American Spirit Award during the National Retail Federation's annual convention recently.AAFES was selected for the 2004 honor because of its support of U.S. servicemembers fighting terrorism. The award is designed to recognize exceptional

  • AF committing 2,000 airmen to war

    Airmen vulnerable to deploy as part of the Silver Air and Space Expeditionary Force but not originally asked to go, could end up going after all. In a message sent to the major commands in late December, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said continuing efforts in the war on terrorism

  • Forces winning Iraqi ‘hearts, minds’

    While overwhelming force brought a quick end to major combat operations in Iraq, it is the coalition’s ability to win over its people that will ultimately lead to a free Iraq, said U.S. Central Command’s deputy commander.During a quick visit here Jan. 12, the first of three in a daylong tour of

  • Medical team helps accident victims

    Two Iraqis and one Pakistani, all seriously injured, were transported to the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group here Jan. 9 after an automobile accident left two dead and more injured outside Camp Cedar, Iraq.“It was a great medical response,” said Col. (Dr.) Bob English, commander of the 332nd EMG

  • Elmendorf squadron gets 'the goods' in Iraq

    "Get in and get out." That was their motto whenever they journeyed to downtown locations in Iraq. "Our air base got hit a lot. We had drive-by shootings, and we knew that hostilities lay just outside the gate. So, every day we looked to intelligence, and we evaluated whether or not it was safe to

  • Airman selected for flight attendant program

    It is not every day you get to cook dinner for Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, but that is what Staff Sgt. Melissa Magyari will soon be doing -- and at 30,000 feet, no less.The 19th Air Refueling Group command section information manager was one of 10 active-duty servicemembers recently

  • Four airmen vie for GEICO awards

    Four Air Force noncommissioned officers have been chosen to represent the Air Force and vie for the 2003 Government Employee Insurance Company Military Service Awards.The NCOs' records will compete against other members of the armed forces in three categories. Staff Sgt. Mashawn Black and Senior

  • Airmen ensure runway safety

    Aircraft come, and aircraft go. Whether it is for training or a real-world mission, it is an everyday part of Air Force life.Without certain people to accomplish certain missions, the aircraft will not come, and the aircraft will not go. Maintainers, air traffic controllers, flight engineers,

  • 'Fellows' get front-row view of government

    At a time when citizen airmen are being activated and deployed, making personal sacrifices and being placed in harms way, it is important the government they defend understands the issues facing them.To ensure they are represented in Congress, Air Force reservists participate in the Air Force

  • Airman fulfills 'the American dream'

    She is of Bulgarian descent, her last name is Irish and she picked up English as her fifth language.Although Senior Airman Deliana Kelly, of the 376th Mission Support Group, has lived in the United States for less than five years, she feels she is the living, breathing embodiment of “the American

  • Plant could get airmen in legal hot water

    A hallucinogenic plant, lawful to possess and use, is being reviewed as a controlled substance that could land airmen in legal hot water.The plant, Salvia divinorum is a perennial herb related to sage and a botanical cousin to an ornamental favored by gardeners, said Ven Sovo, of Tinker's Joint Drug

  • Airmen airlift injured Afghan children

    Eighteen Afghans were emergency airlifted to an American medical facility after two improvised explosive devices detonated shortly after 8 a.m. in Kandahar on Jan. 6.More than 45 Afghans were killed or injured in the explosions.Coalition forces used U.S. Air Force HC-130 aircraft on alert from

  • Leaders do first official PT test

    The Air Force’s most senior leaders, both officer and enlisted, completed their fitness evaluations Jan. 7 at the Bolling Air Force Base Wellness Center. The group was among the first in the Air Force to have their physical fitness evaluated using the service’s new fitness standard. Under the

  • SVS helps airmen stay fit, fed, entertained

    Adopting the slogan “Not without us,” airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Services Squadron routinely take on the daily challenge of keeping the people assigned here fed, fit and entertained. “You can’t sustain a long-term forward presence and world-class combat capability … without bringing services

  • Balad medics aid villagers

    She could not walk or sit. The 5-year-old girl was the size of a child two years younger. In the United States she would have had surgery in infancy and would have likely grown and developed normally. That is in the United States. In Iraq, millions of Iraqis have gone without proper medical care

  • More airmen may live off base

    A change in how the Air Force figures unaccompanied housing requirements will call for fewer dormitory rooms -- meaning more airmen could move off base in the future.Under the new policy, which took effect Jan. 1, the Air Force must provide dormitory housing for unaccompanied E-1s through E-3s and

  • Airmen escape minefield unharmed

    Two security forces airmen on patrol along the base perimeter here Jan. 5 were rescued two hours after becoming trapped in an unmarked minefield.Staff Sgt. Michael Klinkert and Airman 1st Class Christopher Coble were in a heavily armored Humvee at about 8 p.m., when six explosions rocked the

  • FDA issues ephedra alert

    Following an FDA alert, Air Force Medical Service officials are once again "strongly advising" airmen to contact their physicians or health-care providers before taking dietary supplements containing ma huang, ephedra or ephedra alkaloids.Food and Drug Administration officials have issued a consumer

  • Kirkuk airmen provide relief supplies

    The words of a Kurdish refugee woman living in a tent on the outskirts of Kirkuk keep ringing in the ears of all who heard it. “This is no life for my children here,” the mother said, pointing to the dirt her young child walked through with no shoes. “This is no life in Iraq,” she cried out as

  • Second language just what doctor ordered

    Imagine how frightening it must be to lie in a hospital bed and not be able to understand the people taking care of you. Now imagine how frustrating it would be if you are the doctor or nurse trying to care for a patient who cannot tell you where they hurt. A call went out Jan. 3 for anyone who

  • Air Force convoys end in Iraq

    With the closure of the Tallil Tavern Dining Facility, the dangerous 150-mile convoy trip from here to Kuwait has ended for the Air Force convoy team.“Most of the convoys were for food supplies,” said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron superintendent.

  • Now showing: Jan. 5 edition of AFTV News

    The celebrated history of the Air Force’s precision aerial demonstration team, the Thunderbirds, is the subject of the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Produced and anchored by Staff Sgt. Marty Rush, the program is the third in a series of four special editions during the holiday

  • Airmen provide humanitarian relief

    An adolescent Afghan girl watched protectively over a group of small children as they looked for winter clothing amidst a pile of boxes containing humanitarian relief supplies. As crowds of people from neighboring villages pressed their way forward, the girl stood her ground and pushed people back

  • Airman country, faith ambassador

    In the military, servicemembers pull double duty as worker bees in their daily jobs and, on a more far-reaching level, U.S. ambassadors in their communities and around the world. One noncommissioned officer here pulls triple duty. He is also an ambassador for his religion -- Islam. Tech. Sgt.

  • President calls airman for Christmas

    An airman here got an extra Christmas gift this year.Senior Airman Sean Strong, an air traffic control specialist with the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron, received a call from a White House operator Dec. 21 informing him he was going to receive a call from the president Dec. 24.“I

  • Visual information flashes light on mission

    Thousands of unsung heroes are contributing to the rebuilding of Iraq, and a team of military visual information specialists at Baghdad International Airport are letting the American public see more of these dedicated airmen.“Primarily, we support the 447th Air Expeditionary Group by documenting

  • Airmen provide aid to Iran

    An Air National Guard C-130 Hercules landed here Dec. 28 with five pallets of humanitarian aid destined for the earthquake-stricken residents of Bam.The cargo included medical supplies, food and purified water. American airmen and Iranian soldiers worked side-by-side forming a human chain to unload

  • Prior-service airmen receive SKT exemptions

    Prior-service airmen who do not possess the minimum required primary Air Force specialty skill level commensurate with their grade will now automatically receive a two-year exemption from taking the Specialty Knowledge Test during promotion fitness exams.The change will become effective with the

  • AF leaders send holiday message

    The following is a joint message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“During this holiday season, Americans have placed their hopes for peace with those who have answered the call to secure freedom: The soldiers, sailors, airmen and

  • CMSAF sends holiday message

    The following is a holiday message from Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray:“To our airmen stationed at home and abroad, and their families -- Sherry and I send our warmest wishes to you this holiday season. It is an honor for us to serve in our U.S. Air Force with each of you.“The

  • First sergeant testifies to seatbelt safety

    When Master Sgt. Thomas Dunlap buckled his seatbelt after climbing into his truck recently, he was not thinking about personal-risk management. He was simply doing what came naturally after years of accident-free driving.But as the 436th Services Squadron first sergeant crawled out of his wrecked

  • UK now requires entry clearance

    New immigration regulations enacted by the United Kingdom require people visiting for more than six months to obtain entry clearance before travel.These new rules apply to military family members, as well as civilian personnel, contractors and their families. Active-duty military members on orders

  • Operation C.H.I.P. offers ‘a taste of home’

    The Incirlik Officers’ Spouses Club, in conjunction with the family support center here, has baked, collected and packaged more than 8,400 cookies to distribute to unaccompanied airmen this holiday season. The goal of Operation C.H.I.P. (Cookies Help Incirlik Personnel) is to give every

  • Class project teaches movie-making

    He is dry-witted, serious about his craft, and worried about budget and deadlines. He produced and directed his first movie last spring and, perhaps most notably, he is too young to legally see many movies playing in the theaters.Steven Watts, a 13-year-old Spangdahlem Middle School student, and

  • Capturing holiday with one shot

    “Just like senior pictures.” More than one airman or soldier made that remark on a recent weekend as they waited their turn to pose for digital Christmas portraits.The picture-perfect gifts were meant for family and friends.A 455th Expeditionary Operations Group aircraft maintenance hangar was

  • Airmen deliver holiday supplies to islanders

    Airmen here teamed up with people from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and the surrounding Guam communities to airlift Christmas supplies to more than 50 Micronesian islands. This was the 51st anniversary of the Christmas Drop mission.Four C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 36th Airlift Squadron

  • Time selects military as Person of the Year

    Three 1st Armored Division soldiers -- Sgt. Ronald Buxton, Spc. Billie Grimes and Sgt. Marquette Whiteside -- graced the cover of Time magazine Dec. 22. They represent "The American Soldier" -- all men and women in uniform -- who have been chosen as Time's 2003 Person of the Year."For uncommon