NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • AFMC helps return damaged B-1B to friendly environment

    When a $283-million aircraft that's a segment of America's long-range bomber force loses one of its four engines - over the skies of Afghanistan - Airmen kick their fix-it instincts into high gear. Thanks to a unified effort led by Air Force Materiel Command, a maintenance team repaired a damaged

  • Officials offer programs for domestic violence awareness

    While stress is not the sole cause, it can be a major contributor to domestic violence among Air Force members and their families, according to Air Force family advocacy experts. In 2006, there were 3,914 reports of domestic abuse involving Airmen as either the victim or offender. Of those, 50

  • C-17 flight uses synthetic fuel blend

    A C-17 Globemaster III took off Oct. 22 on a flight using a blend of synthetic and JP-8 fuels in all four fuel tanks. This is the first time a C-17 has flown using a Fischer-Tropsch/JP-8 blend as the only fuel on board. Air Force members successfully flew a C-17 Oct. 19 with the Fischer-Tropsch/JP-8

  • Chain of successes leads to Reaper operations

    The new MQ-9 Reaper has flown daily missions over Afghanistan since late September.The 658th Aeronautical Systems Squadron, in the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Wing, comprises the team of program managers, functional supporters, testers and logisticians who were behind the team effort of getting the

  • Researchers fine-tune F-35 pilot-aircraft speech system

    When the first F-35 Lightning II rolls out in 2008, communications between pilot and aircraft will enter a new era thanks in part to testing and analysis conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Human Effectiveness Directorate. The F-35 will be the first U.S. fighter aircraft with a speech

  • Airmen train for Wideband Global SATCOM

    Five Airmen from the 3rd Space Operations Squadron here were the first to finish training recently for the Wideband Global SATCOM system, which is scheduled to launch Oct. 9. Wideband Global SATCOM, or WGS, is the successor to the Defense Satellite Communications System and will offer 12 times the

  • Double deck aircraft mockup aids firefighting research

    Responding to operational challenges posed by the new generation of large double deck aircraft, Air Force Research Laboratory engineers here have developed a mockup to research how to best fight fires and save lives in the event of a crash. The AFRL Materials and Manufacturing Directorate Airbase

  • Eglin team receives national award

    The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center's Small Diameter Bomb Test Team received the Air Force Association's 2007 Test and Evaluation Team of the Year Award Sept. 24 at the Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington. The nine-member test team from Eglin Air Force

  • Foreign air force members learn about C-130 programs

    Members of the Kazakhstan Republic air force visited here this month in an effort to learn more about how the U.S. Air Force takes care of business. The seven-person group visited the C-130 Hercules combat loss replacement program, where modifications are made to enable C-130s to be combat ready to

  • AIrfield inspection reveals excellence

    Eielson Airmen recently established themselves as being among the best in the Air Force during the 2007 Air Traffic System Evaluation Program and the Air Force Weather Standardization and Evaluation Program inspection. According to Capt. Jeffery Byman, 354th Operations Support Squadron airfield

  • Schriever Airmen transition to new GPS control system

    Space systems experts with the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here reached a crucial milestone in deploying the $800-million Architecture Evolution Plan ground control system Sept. 14. The transition from legacy to Architecture Evolution Plan, called AEP, was conducted seamlessly in real time without

  • Civilian pay raises become more performance-based

    Department of Defense officials will use half of a January 2008 government-wide pay increase to adjust base salaries for eligible National Security Personnel System employees. Remaining funds will be distributed by pay pools based on an assessment of individual employee performance in meeting

  • Aviano F-16 crashes in Italy

    An Aviano Air Base pilot successfully ejected from an F-16 Fighting Falcon while on a routine high-altitiude training mission Sept. 18 here. Initial reports indicate the pilot, Maj. Timothy Palmer, assigned to the 510th Fighter Squadron, is in good condition pending further evaluation at a medical

  • AFMC executive director discusses challenges

    Air Force Materiel Command's top civilian leader discussed several challenges facing the Air Force, including the increasing costs of personnel and military health care, during a speech to the International Test and Evaluation Association Antelope Valley chapter Sept. 5 here. Barbara A. Westgate,

  • Bold Quest improves coalition combat identification

    Officials from U.S. Joint Forces Command launched its premier Coalition Combat Identification Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration, known as Bold Quest, Sept. 10 to 24 at Nellis Air Force Base and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. The exercise has the monumental task of

  • Moody Airmen use AFSO 21 to get it right the first time

    Members of the 723rd Maintenance Squadron here are currently redesigning the incoming A-10 Thunderbolt II phase inspection operations with a top-to-bottom evaluation of its facilities in a rapid improvement event, or RIE. By redesigning the layout of the stations where Moody Air Force Base A-10Cs

  • Air Force units assist in search for adventurer Steve Fossett

    Air Force members from around the United States scrambled early Sept. 4 to assist in locating billionaire adventurer Steve Fossett in the border area around Southwest Nevada and California. The 1st Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Henry C. "Hank" Morrow, the Inland Search and Rescue Coordinator, is

  • Air Force medical group saves thousands with AFSO 21

    Members of the Fairchild Air Force Base medical group saved more than $75,000 in emergency room visit costs over the past year through a just-do-it initiative, a program associated with Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century. Through patient education and training, the 92nd Medical Group

  • 50 slots available for nurse enlisted commissioning program

    An Air Force supplemental board is scheduled for October to select 50 additional candidates due to a shortfall in the number of qualified applicants for the Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program.Program officials are looking to fill those slots for the spring 2008 start date with Airmen who want to

  • Annual unit award winners announced

    The Secretary of the Air Force Personnel Council recognized the following units as Air Force Organizational Excellence Award recipients during the period of 2006-2007. Headquarters, Air Combat Command, June 1, 2004 - May 31, 2006 Headquarters, Air Mobility Command, June 1, 2004 - May 31, 2006

  • Tops in Blue brings sergeant home for an encore

    A Tops in Blue performance at Veterans Memorial Park here Aug. 18 was an opportunity for one performer to catch up with friends and family. Staff Sgt. Mark Schmidt, the bass player for the Tops in Blue 2007 World Tour, grew up in nearby Biddeford, Maine, where he learned how to play the bass in high

  • 'Perspective' focuses on feedback, evaluation

    In his latest "Enlisted Perspective," the Air Force's top enlisted Airman discusses the the new feedback forms and the importance of honest assessment of Airmen by supervisors and rating officials. "These evaluation forms are a great improvement," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J.

  • Recent ops eval challenges Lakenheath Airmen

    While most Airmen either have participated in or are familiar with an operational readiness inspection -- both the Phase 1 and Phase II portions--some are scratching their heads over a recent evaluation exercise held here.  The operations evaluation, more commonly known as an "ops eval," looks and

  • To Stem the Tide - A Korean War Perspective

    Warnings had sounded as early as March 10, 1950. The U. S. Korean Military Advisory Group had relayed a report through channels to Washington, D.C., that North Korea would likely cross the 38th Parallel and invade its neighbor to the south--possibly as early as June. But there were plenty of

  • Global Cyberspace Integration Center hot bench active

    The Global Cyberspace Integration Center here houses an operations center that serves as a test bed or "hot bench" that assesses various software and information systems to detect potential problems before they are delivered to the field. A team guides innovation, experimentation and sustainment

  • Latest Roll Call addresses performance forms

    This week's Roll Call discusses streamlined officer and enlisted performance report forms.Air Force officials have already approved new forms incorporating fewer lines and a section to document annual fitness scores to better reflect a warrior ethos. Changes include new lables identifying

  • Air Force F-16 crashes in Iraq

    An Air Force F-16 deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing crashed on base during takeoff at 4:55 p.m. July 15. The pilot of the single-seat aircraft ejected safely and was transported to the Air Force Theater Hospital for evaluation. The aircraft was flying on a combat mission in support of

  • Air Force streamlines officer, enlisted evaluation forms

    Air Force officials are introducing new officer and enlisted evaluation forms as it transforms its personnel processes. The major part of this effort has been directed at reducing the workload associated with preparing officer and enlisted performance reports while ensuring the evaluation process

  • Two Space & Missile Pioneers selected for 2007

    Air Force Space Command officials have announced the 2007 Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers are retired Gen. Lew Allen Jr. and retired Maj. Gen. Joe H. Engle. They will be honored at an award ceremony and a hall of fame induction luncheon here Aug. 8. General Allen, a former Air Force chief of

  • New C-17 checklist reduces redundancies

    A team here has developed a way to shorten C-17 Globemaster III preflight time by one hour and 30 minutes by reducing redundancies and eliminating overlap during the aircraft preflight procedures. The plan is to implement checklist changes at all Air Force bases flying the C-17s, which include C-17

  • Top Air Force recruiters, trainers of year announced

    Air Education and Training Command announced the following Air Force winners of the 2007 U.S. Air Force Recruiter, Military Training Instructor and Military Training Leader of the Year Awards in the following categories: Recruiter of the Year Category: Staff Sgt. Jason Rodriguez, 344th Recruiting

  • Convoy ops takes training, readiness, communication

    One key to successful convoy operations is preparation and if practice makes perfect, then the goal of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron is perfection. A refined tactical security escort program devised by Tech. Sgt. Joseph Ilsley, is one way the security forces here hope to reach

  • Aircraft incident at Eielson Air Force Base

    An F-15 Eagle and an F-16 Fighting Falcon were involved in a midair collision over the Pacific Alaska Range Complex at 11:23 a.m. June 11. Both aircraft were participating in a training mission. The F-15, assigned to Langley Air Force Base, Va., crashed in a rural area. The pilot ejected safely and

  • Personnel services transform from 'in line' to 'online'

    Airmen around the world are trading in long lines and filling out lengthy paperwork at personnel offices for the convenience of online and phone-based self-service capabilities. These advances in technology allow individuals to manage their personal tasks more efficiently and conveniently, even from

  • AF releases draft amendment for new helicopter proposals

    Air Force officials here announced May 14 the release of a draft amendment to the combat search and rescue replacement vehicle request for proposal."We're releasing this draft RFP amendment to foster open communications with our partners in industry, the Department of Defense and Congress as we

  • Pilots, attack controllers sharpen war skills in Nevada

    Pilots and joint terminal attack controllers, or JTACs, here practiced skills needed in both Iraq and Afghanistan during training over two southern Nevada towns April 23 and 24. The two towns were Caliente and Panaca, with a combined population of about 1,500 residents, and the training was urban

  • Air Force officials evaluating KC-X proposals

    The Air Force source selection evaluation team is poring over industry proposals for the KC-X program, the replacement for the Air Force's aging KC-135 Stratotanker strategic refueling aircraft.The evaluation team, made up of a broad spectrum of acquisition and operational professionals, is

  • Officials react to CSAR-X report

    The Government Accountability Office released its redacted report May 3 regarding the Air Force's Request for Reconsideration on the Combat Search and Rescue Replacement vehicle, the CSAR-X. The report states that GAO officials had "reviewed all of the additional arguments raised by Sikorsky and

  • Edwards team stars in 'Iron Man' superhero movie

    Edwards Air Force Base recently became a Hollywood set, as about 150 Airmen, about a dozen Marines and some of the Air Force's new aircraft shared the spotlight with Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow in filming Hollywood's next superhero blockbuster. Director Jon Favreau and his

  • ACC approves Raptor demonstration

    Maj. Paul "Max" Moga and the world's only fifth-generation fighter aircraft may be appearing at an airshow near you this season. Following a 12-minute performance April 27, Air Combat Command officials gave Major Moga and his F-22A Raptor demonstration the official seal of approval. The evaluation

  • Airmen, Junior ROTC cadets 'victims' in casualty exercise

    Airmen from the First Term Airmen Center here and cadets from the base's high school's Junior ROTC program volunteered to be victims in a mass casualty exercise for the base's emergency responders. To make the scenario more realistic, "wounds" were applied to the volunteers. Junior ROTC cadet

  • Air Force officials discuss way forward for new helicopter

    Air Force officials announced here April the way ahead for the replacement combat search and rescue helicopter, the CSAR-X.To foster open communications and a fair and open competition, Air Force officials expect to release a draft Request for Proposal amendment to the CSAR-X offerors in May, and

  • Air Force civilians win presidential rank awards

    Several Air Force civilians were presented the 2006 Presidential Rank Awards here in a ceremony held April 20 in the Women's Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. The President of the United States annually awards distinguished and meritorious ranks to career members of the senior executive

  • Upcoming survey to assess post-op deployment health care

    A telephone survey of ill or injured servicemembers who have returned from operational deployment will begin May 1 to examine post-deployment health care experiences. This health care survey is being conducted in response to the Secretary of Defense's request to comprehensively assess the quality of

  • Joint integration vital for Atlantic Strike participants

    The Joint Fires Integration and Interoperability Team from Joint Forces Command helped Exercise Atlantic Strike V participants improve joint combat effectiveness April 14 to 20 here. "Through our participation, we are able to help the context of the scenarios and increase joint play," said Marine

  • Phase team keeps F-16s in the fight

    The sound of electric drills and pounding hammers resonates inside the hardened aircraft shelter here as crew chiefs shout orders over the noise of wielding power tools and a variety of gadgets: Welcome to Day One of an F-16 Fighting Falcon phase dock. Members of the 35th Expeditionary Maintenance

  • Air refueling publication provides NATO nations better combat effectiveness

    A significant milestone in coalition and international military interoperability occured when the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy adopted a single manual for fixed-wing air-to-air refueling, or AAR, procedures April 1, replacing more than 17 separate weapon system-specific AAR manuals.More

  • Air Force official testifies on UAV executive agent issue

    The deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance explained why Air Force leaders support the idea of creating an executive agency for unmanned aerial vehicles before the House Armed Services air and land forces subcommittee April 19 here. Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula joined

  • Unit scrambles to guide troubled aircraft to safe landing

    Airmen of the Air Force Reserve Command's 916th Air Refueling Wing here scrambled to launch an early morning mission April 17 to rendezvous with and help safely land an Air Force aircraft that lost critical instrumentation. The NCK-135 aircrew from Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., called an in-flight

  • Goodfellow hosts premier firefighter school

    It's burning. It's burning. The flames swell as the firefighters move into the mouth of the "dragon." In front of them -- a 500 degree wall of propane flames. The giant can's steel walls force the jets of fire to sweep over their heads and land behind them. At the nozzle is Airman 1st Class Cole

  • Airmen, Soldiers mentor Afghan medical instructors

    A team of five highly-skilled Air Force and Army medics mentor Afghan National Army instructors at the Combat Medic School in Kabul. Their mission is to guide the ANA instructors into leading the Combat Medic Course, which was recently extended to eight weeks. As instructors, they serve as mentors

  • Air Force, Kenyan maintainers turn wrenches together

    A team of Air Force maintenance experts traveled to Kenya March 21to 28 to work with their Kenyan counterparts. Their goal was to improve F-5 fighter maintenance, operations, supply and aircraft support equipment. The eight-main Air Force team, led by Col. Dennis Mitchell, chief of standardization

  • McGuire commander is 'hands-on' saving energy

    In January, the Department of Energy chose McGuire as one of the lead bases in the Air Force to be given an Energy Efficiency Expert Evaluation Audit; commonly referred to as the "E4" Audit. On the final day of the E4 visit, Michael Aimone, the Air Force assistant deputy chief of staff for

  • F-16 accident report released

    Air Force officials recently completed an investigation of the F-16C Fighting Falcon accident 20 miles northwest of Baghdad Nov. 27, which resulted in the death of the pilot, Maj. Troy Gilbert. The official cause of the accident was Major Gilbert's "channelized attention manifested by his desire to

  • GAO clears way to move forward on CSAR-X

    The Government Accounting Office informed Air Force officials March 30 that all other protest issues surrounding the CSAR-X contract award have been denied. In a March 29 decision, the GAO denied all of the additional arguments raised by Sikorsky and Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, "finding

  • Deployments, assignments added to senior NCO board briefs

    Two new sections are being added to senior noncommissioned officer evaluation briefs to give a snap shot of a person's career for promotion boards. Beginning with the Chief Master Sergeant Evaluation Board in October 2007, deployment and assignment histories will be included on all evaluation briefs

  • Iraqi air force takes flight with help from U.S. Airmen

    The Iraqi air force is taking off once again with the help of U.S. Air Force Airmen who serve with the Coalition Air Force Transition Team in Iraq. The U.S. Air Force's contribution to enabling the Iraqi air force to build and sustain itself is focused through the CAFTT, composed of four Air Force

  • Air Force officials seek UAV enterprise interdependence

    Army Brig. Gen. Stephen Mundt, director of Army aviation in the office of the deputy chief of staff for operations, recently disparaged the Air Force chief of staff's efforts to optimize our nations intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and enhance the joint, effective and

  • Air Force fosters "warrior ethos" in all Airmen

    Whether it's the recent changes to basic military training, continual preparation for deployments, engaging in combat or new and better uniforms, Air Force leaders are instilling a warrior mindset in Airmen. That warrior ethos -- the foundation of what it means to be an Airman -- traces its roots to

  • Aviano Airmen put skills to test

    A NATO Tactical Evaluation kicked off here recently to inspect Aviano Air Base's ability to respond to crisis. As part of the TACEVAL the evaluation team tested security forces Airmen with a surprise mob of demonstrators protesting the U.S. military. During the scenario, the demonstrators became

  • Letter to Airmen focuses on education, training

    In the latest Letter to Airmen, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne recognizes the importance of the training every Airman receives, and credits these knowledge-enabled Airmen with exploring new technologies to get the job done.The secretary said that the training, skill and knowledge of a

  • Aviano Airmen put operations support to test

    A recent inspection here is showing how Airmen are prepared to support operations during the war on terrorism. NATO exercise evaluators travel across Europe to assess how well a country's military is able to handle certain scenarios they may face during war time. More than 100 NATO inspectors are

  • Data links give Airmen attack controllers 'big picture'

    A small group of Airmen are having a dramatic effect on the battlefield. They're in demand from everyone from Army squads and platoons to large defense contractors. Everyone wants a joint terminal attack controller on their team -- and with good reason. They are crucial to putting air force bombs on

  • Life-saving turret prototype stems from Airman's death

    Less than 80 days after Airman 1st Class Leebernard Chavis was felled by a sniper's bullet near Baghdad, Airmen in Iraq were testing an improved turret that designers hope will offer service members better protection. Airman Chavis, of Hampton, Va., was killed by enemy gunfire Oct. 14 while

  • Wing has long heritage of serving others

    The 59th Medical Wing is the Air Force's premier medical unit, located here in San Antonio.  The 59th MDW operates Wilford Hall Medical Center. The wing provides global medical readiness capability and comprehensive peacetime healthcare benefits through education, training and research. There are

  • Keep up Air Force records, personal info for promotion sake

    The one constant among Airmen is the desire to be promoted. There are many things Airmen can do to affect their chances for promotion, but perhaps the most important is ensuring their personal information is correct. Missing or inaccurate enlisted or officer performance reports, decorations, awards

  • Proper training, protection help prevent hearing loss

    Hearing loss can be due to personal choices such as firing a weapon without wearing proper hearing protection, listening to loud music or riding motorcycles. To help prevent hearing loss, people should wear hearing protection devices as taught and trained by public health personnel, and by their

  • Supercomputer to boost Aeronautical Systems Center's capabilities

    With the addition of an SGI® Altix® 4700 computer this summer, the Aeronautical Systems Center Major Shared Resource Center will house one of the Department of Defense's High Performance Computing Modernization Program's largest supercomputers. Installation of the SGI® Altix® 4700 - a

  • Test squadron demonstrates Sniper pod capability

    Members of the 419th Flight Test Squadron here recently completed its initial developmental testing of the Sniper pod installed on a B-1B Lancer, designed to increase the aircraft's self-targeting capability. The Sniper pod, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, is an advanced targeting pod with

  • T-38 crashes in Texas

    An Air Force T-38 Talon crashed at about 12:45 p.m. today approximately 12 miles south of Hondo, Texas. The aircraft was assigned to the 12th Flying Training Wing here. The aircraft was performing a training mission. The pilot safely ejected and is being transported to Wilford Hall Medical Center at

  • Air Force general receives analysis award

    The Air Force Heritage to Horizons focus was highlighted recently when the Air Force vice chief of staff received the Lt. Gen. Glenn A. Kent Leadership Award here. Gen. John D.W. Corley was recognized for his long-term vision and leadership in guiding the Air Force to set the standard for Department

  • 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

  • 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

  • Emergency crews practice techniques in mock car crash

    To test how fire, medical and security forces respond to a real emergency, exercise planners put together a mock car crash using two battered cars and three crash victims Feb. 14 at Yokota AB. "Basically, we like throwing different things at our units to see how the personnel handle this," said

  • 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

  • Kadena's hospital gets a check-up

    Patients at the Kadena clinic can rest a little easier knowing clinic staff members are doing all they can to make sure they get the best care possible. The 18th Medical Group recently underwent two simultaneous evaluations. The hospital was scored on the nine functional areas of the medical field,

  • New space technology provides less shake, rattle, roll

    Current deployment mechanisms operating aboard spacecraft primarily consist of heavy springs which, when activated, inflict shock to components such as solar arrays and antennae. This often hinders the equipment's efficiency in the harsh environment of space. Air Force Materiel Command's Space

  • Air Force unit wins 2006 DOD Patient Safety Award

    The 59th Medical Wing staff was recognized as a Department of Defense Patient Safety Award winner for their use of new technology and innovation for patient care and safety tracking in an emergency department setting Jan. 30. The award was presented to Brig. Gen. (Dr.) David G. Young III, the 59th

  • Air Force FY 2008 budget includes pay raise, new facilities

    In the president's fiscal 2008 budget, released Feb. 5, Air Force leaders are asking Congress for about $110.7 billion. The Air Force budget request, about $6.2 billion more than it received in FY07, is divided into three primary areas: people, readiness and modernization and recapitalization. About

  • 'Top Gun' instructor helps with Raptor integration

    What do you say when the Air Force chief of staff asks you to be the first F-22 pilot for the Navy? In Navy Lt. Cmdr. Michael Wosje's case, it was, "How could I refuse?" In a program that lets Navy pilots jump ship to train and integrate with the Air Force, this F/A-18C Hornet pilot from the USS

  • Spooky gunship armed with new cannons

    Spooky is about to get a little scarier. Crews at Hurlburt Field have put the finishing touches on the first AC-130U Spooky gunship armed with the 30 mm Bushmaster cannon. The rearmed Spooky retains its 105 mm cannon but replaces the 25 mm and 40 mm guns with Bushmasters. The project is a "win-win,"

  • Tanker recapitalization proposal released

    Air Force leaders officially released a request for proposal for a replacement tanker aircraft Jan. 30. The RFP is the official invitation to manufacturers to begin making offers to build a replacement for the Air Force's aging "Eisenhower-era" fleet of KC-135 Stratotankers, said Sue Payton, the

  • Moody Airmen test new, nonlethal method of repelling enemy

    Airmen of the 820th Security Forces Group here are currently evaluating a long-range, nonlethal weapon system that could eventually save lives in the war on terrorism. The Active Denial System is designed to engage and repel human targets by projecting a beam of energy that creates an intolerable

  • New technology expands Air Force's combat capability

    The 820th Security Forces Group was selected recently as the first Air Force unit to purchase and deploy the Ground Situational Awareness Toolkit. The GSAT system, consisting of the Scan Eagle unmanned aerial system and ShotSpotter gunfire acquisition technology, will allow Airmen to identify

  • Evaluation board application process moves to virtual MPF

    Active-duty Airmen seeking a correction to or removal of an evaluation report may initiate an appeal to the Evaluation Reports Appeal Board through the virtual Military Personnel Flight effective Jan. 22. Airmen may choose to apply to the board to seek a correction or removal of a performance

  • Keesler's Flying Jennies receive final C-130J-30

    A crew from Air Force Reserve Command's 815th Airlift Squadron recently delivered the unit's final C-130J-30 aircraft here after accepting it from the manufacturer at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. Maj. Gen. Hanferd "Rusty" J. Moen Jr. piloted the aircraft from Georgia to Mississippi Jan. 9. General

  • DOD releases results of 2005 health-related behaviors survey

    The Department of Defense announced results Jan. 12 of its "2005 Survey of Health Related Behaviors Among Active Duty Military Personnel." The findings show notable decreases in the use of cigarettes and illegal drugs since initiation of the surveys in 1980 and progress toward meeting selected

  • Air Force Reserve to form associate unit at Eglin

    As part of Air Force total force integration initiatives, the Air Force Reserve Command is teaming up with Air Combat Command to establish an associate unit at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The process is tentatively scheduled to start in fiscal 2008. Plans propose support of the 53rd Wing and its test

  • Historian revisits wing's past

    The 1st Special Operations Wing has a rich and honored history that began in Burma and continues at Hurlburt Field. The 1st SOW can trace its lineage back to "Project 9" which evolved into the 1st Air Commando Group during World War II. During the Quebec Trident Conference of August 1943, it was

  • Chief McKinley returns 'home' to Tinker

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley returned to his old stomping grounds here Dec. 13 and, in the process, took a stroll down memory lane. The chief, a former first sergeant at Tinker AFB from the mid '90s to July 2000, was on leave to visit family members in the area and to attend

  • Contract modification adds 4 aircraft for Air Force, Marines

    Officials from the 657th Aeronautical Systems Squadron here issued an undefinitized contract action in December that will add four aircraft to be used by the Air Force and Marine Corps. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. of Marietta, Ga., was awarded the $256 million firm-fixed-price contract

  • New antenna begins testing

    The 23rd Space Operations Squadron here began operations confidence testing of its newest Air Force Satellite Control Network antenna Dec. 14. Operational testing will verify the antenna is fully prepared to conduct satellite supports as part of the squadron's 24-hour mission, said station manager

  • Combat Hammer tests air-to-ground bombing capabilities

    Eglin Air Force Base's western range, Bravo 70, was the site for the largest-ever Combat Hammer weapons system evaluation program Dec. 4 to 8, sponsored by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. More than 40 precision-guided weapons were dropped, including laser-guided bombs, joint direct attack

  • DOD, U.K. sign next stage Joint Strike Fighter agreement

    United States and United Kingdom officials signed a memorandum of understanding Dec. 12 to begin future cooperation in the production, sustainment and follow-on development, called PSFD, phase of the Joint Strike Fighter program. Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon R. England and United Kingdom

  • Air Force plays in pandemic flu exercise

    The Air Force is participating in a pandemic flu exercise Dec. 11-13 in Boerne, Texas, linking a variety of major south Texas crisis response agencies and Air Force medical personnel. The Regional Pandemic Flu Conference, facilitated by the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council, involves 59th

  • University of Idaho students study human factors on B-52

    Seven students and a professor from the University of Idaho visited several organizations here Dec. 5 for a subsystem evaluation on the B-52 Stratofortress. The University of Idaho students are attending a graduate-level course, called advanced human factors, and were assigned to a class project

  • Air War College receives joint Phase II certification

    Air War College, the Air Force's senior service school, located at Air University here, received Joint Staff J-7's recommendation for Joint Professional Military Education Phase II certification at the culmination of a visit by a certification assessment team in late November. The recommendation

  • Moody maintainers take initiative with AFSO 21

    A handful of Moody AFB maintenance professionals brought Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century to the forefront during a meeting Nov. 20 and 21 that reflected on improving inspections for the HC-130P. Sixteen Airmen from the 723rd Maintenance Squadron, Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and

  • Multinational agreement to advance high-speed flight

    The U.S. Air Force and Australian Department of Defence signed a multinational research partnership Nov. 10 in Canberra, Australia, to explore and develop fundamental hypersonic technologies and experimental methodologies that could enable the next generation of weapon systems. The Air Force

  • Air Force declassifies elite aggressor program

    After decades of secrecy, Air Force officials acknowledged Nov. 13 that Communist-built fighters were flown at the Tonopah Test Range northwest of Las Vegas, Nev. From 1977 through 1988, the program, known as Constant Peg, saw Air Force, Navy and Marine aircrews flying against Soviet-designed MiG