AF general to retire at reduced rank

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne has directed that Brig. Gen. Richard S. Hassan, former director of the Air Force senior leader management office, retire in the permanent grade of colonel effective March 1. The retirement grade determination follows an Air Force Inspector General

Air Force’s FY 2007 budget released

As part of the president's fiscal year 2007 budget plan, the Air Force is set to receive $105.9 billion. This budget meets the vision of Air Force leaders to fight and win the global war on terrorism; to develop, train and care for Airmen; and to recapitalize and modernize the force, said Maj. Gen.

Space transformation prepares for Air Force future

Information superiority is the difference between today and tomorrow, said Air Force Space Command commander, Gen. Lance W. Lord. The general told more than 800 attendees at the Air Force Association meeting, here Feb. 3, that there is a tremendous threat “out there,” which is why it is extremely

Interdependence is key to future success

Interdependence is the key to future Air Force success, according to the service’s secretary and chief of staff as they addressed more than 800 attendees at the Air Force Association meeting here Feb. 2. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley

QDR directs Air Force future

The Department of Defense released the results of the quadrennial defense review Feb. 3 here. "The QDR guides and supports Air Force transformation in pursuit of key joint, interdependent combat capabilities that enable us to deliver more sovereign options for the defense of the United States of

Sensor increases battlefield awareness

Air Force Research Laboratory engineers are developing a tool that will provide troops superior battlefield awareness with real-time threat information. The tool is the Cross Dispersion Prism sensor. According to William Ewing, one of the principal developers, the sensor is a passive electro-optical

Missileers reunite for 45th anniversary of first Minuteman launch

The return of the “missileers” here Feb. 1 marked the 45th anniversary of the first launch of an Air Force Minuteman missile. About 100 people who worked on various intercontinental ballistic missile programs here during the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s gathered for a reunion in the city of Cape Canaveral.

A hero’s philosophy on life may inspire others

Articles and other news clippings commemorating a hero’s life lay safely tucked away inside a plastic box. Photos and plaques recounting his numerous achievements adorn the walls. In one corner, a stack of accident analysis reports and an actual piece of the Space Shuttle Columbia’s wreckage lie,

12th Air Force embraces 'A staff' structure

The Air Staff at Headquarters Air Force in Washington is switching to the “A staff” structure today. However, the staff functions at 12th Air Force are already organized under the “A staff” structure.Twelfth Air Force, located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., restructured in June 2004. Since

Gunsmith shop gets new name, command

The U.S. Air Force Gunsmith Shop is getting a new name and command. After 48 years of operations here under Air Training and then Air Education and Training Command, the shop is realigning under Air Force Materiel Command. Now known as the U.S. Air Force Gunsmith Integrated Product Team, the

Into space

Field medics move in out of the dust

The thought of a field hospital conjures up images of medics rolling battle-wounded troops on gurneys into a dimly lit operating room. The 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron at Sather Air Base located at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, no longer battles the desert dust or works in cramped

Headquarters Air Force realigns similar to 'J-staff' model

The staff functions at Headquarters Air Force, major commands and warfighting headquarters will soon all share the same "A-staff" structure. By Feb. 1, the Air Staff at Headquarters Air Force here will adopt an organizational structure that closely mirrors the Army's "G-staff," the Navy's "N-staff"

High-speed air vehicles designed for rapid global reach

For an aircraft to achieve hypersonic speeds, ranging from 6,000 to 15,000 mph (Mach 9 to Mach 22), and reach altitudes between 100,000 to 150,000 feet, it needs an airframe structure designed to survive intense heat and pressure. Such technology is in development by scientists and engineers with

Official outlines voting guidelines for overseas citizens

U.S. servicemembers and federal employees stationed overseas need to act quickly to request absentee ballots for this year's primary and general elections, a Defense Department official said here Jan. 25. This year, U.S. citizens will elect 34 senators, the entire House of Representatives, 37 state

DOD plans to boost access to military child care

The availability of child-care services for military families will receive a boost from a multifaceted approach by the Defense Department, a senior official here said Jan. 26. "We project the (child-care) needs as greater than what we're offering at this point," said Jan Witte, director of DOD's

Services Airmen handle record-breaking ‘invasion’

More than 3,000 transient servicemembers invaded this desert base recently. These travelers broke the base’s records for lodging and dining. "They came in droves, hungry and tired," said Lt. Col. David Preston, the commander of the 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron. "But, Services was up for the

AMC Airmen deploying 'a little lighter'

Air Mobility Command Airmen who deploy are traveling a little lighter -- nearly 90 pounds lighter -- thanks to the mobility bag pre-positioning initiative. The program, now in its second phase, will allow 5,000 Airmen -- about 1,000 from AMC -- to deploy without carrying the typical three mobility

AFRL breakthrough furthers space optics

Positioning three delicate, circular mirrors to one one-thousandth of the width of a human hair challenged scientists at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s space vehicles directorate here. But, not anymore. For five years they studied the deployable optical telescope, or DOT. The telescope

EOD working to protect others

It takes a special person to deal with the stress of working with explosives. That pressure motivates the 34 Airmen assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron’s explosive ordnance disposal flight here and at five forward-operating bases. Staff Sgt. Micah Jobe, EOD team leader, is

Firefighters do more than name implies

The 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron Fire Prevention Flight does more than fight fires. "In addition to fire and medical calls we respond to hazardous materials, confined space and high angle rescue calls," said Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Raymond, 332nd ECES fire chief. The flight also

Rocket journeys to edge of solar system

The 45th Space Wing helped successfully launch the NASA Pluto New Horizons spacecraft on an Atlas V rocket here Jan. 19. The wing provided launch base support to Lockheed Martin and International Launch Services, who serve as the commercial spacecraft and booster vehicle provider to the National

Vehicle management flight keeps Barksdale moving

The responsibility for all government vehicles here falls to the 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron’s vehicle management flight. That accountability includes buying 25 vehicles a year and managing 894 vehicles, with an annual repair budget of $1.6 million. Master Sgt. Michael Boyles, vehicle

A-10 pilots, support personnel head to OEF

More than 400 Airmen with the 355th Fighter Squadron and the 354th Maintenance Group and their A-10 Thunderbolt IIs recently left for a 120-day deployment. “I’m excited to go on this deployment,” said Capt. Darrell Walton, a pilot with the 355th. “With so much training space here in Alaska, I

ACC chief visits with deployed Airmen

The top Air Combat Command chief master sergeant recently toured units here to ensure Airmen were properly trained and equipped before deploying. Command Chief Master Sgt. David Popp said the No. 1 reason for his visit was ensuring that the Airmen deploying from ACC units are trained, equipped and

Leasing option increases Air Force land value

Underutilized Air Force land does not need to sit idle any longer. The Air Force Real Property Agency converts underutilized land and infrastructure into real value for the Air Force, installations and communities through the enhanced use leasing option, officials said. "Enhanced use leasing is a

Security forces transformation to affect total force

As the Air Force continues to adapt for the future, changes to the security forces career field will affect the total force. Brig. Gen. Robert Holmes, director of security forces and force protection, calls these transformations a “refocus” on how his people train and fight. “We’re not in the Cold

5+1+1 equals U.S. air superiority

Five + one + one = the ability to direct the command and control of U.S. and coalition air power across the globe. “It also equals seven of course. That's the number of ‘Falconer’ air and space operations centers, and Falconer support centers, how online with common capabilities,” said Lt. Col. Rob

Airmen train on latest technology

A shadowy silhouette is seen through dust clouds, brush and trees. There’s neither enough sun nor moonlight to distinguish the surroundings. The atmosphere is unfamiliar, uncomfortable, dangerous and unpredictable. You know your enemy is watching your every move. Relief is found in a locked and

ROBE upgrade sets KC-135 on forefront of battle communications

A KC-135 Stratotanker here was fitted with upgraded communications equipment recently which will revolutionize battle space and the way the United States and its allies fight wars. After 18 months on the drawing board, the Roll-On Beyond Line-of-Sight Enhancement Spiral 2 program, ROBE, has been

Air Force to replace combat search and rescue helicopters

Air Force combat search and rescue teams will use a new helicopter -- the now under development CSAR-X -- to help recover downed pilots around 2012. The new helicopter will replace 101 HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters Air Force combat search and rescue teams now use. The Air Force expects to begin

Trainees learn attention to detail through 'warrior' mindset

You won't find today's basic trainees hunched over brown T-shirts, tugging at them with tweezers to make perfect 6-inch squares. Instead, you will soon find Airmen who have mastered the M-16 rifle, can identify its components, field-strip and clean it, and reassemble it without the slightest

Think of safety first

Keeping Airmen here safe is not a task taken lightly by the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s ground safety office. "Our job is to prevent the loss of life or damage to government equipment," said Tech. Sgt. Clyde Lathon, 332nd AEW ground safety manager. "We are the Air Force equivalent to the

Andersen AFB: growing to meet its mission

The eyes of U.S. military leaders are once again focused here to provide peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. “The strategic importance of Andersen is rejuvenating,” said Col. Michael Boera, the 36th Expeditionary Air Wing commander. “No longer is Andersen the sleepy hollow it’s been

Civil engineers plan for the future

Expansion plans here have civil engineers drawing up blueprints for construction projects for next year, the next five years, even the next decade. “We’re planning for the future so that 50 years from now people will be glad we designed everything right the first time,” said Lt. Col. Marvin Smith,

'Air and Space Power Journal' winter edition available

The College for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education at Air University has published and distributed the Winter 2005 edition of the Air Force's professional journal, "Air and Space Power Journal." Published here, the Air and Space Power Journal serves as an open forum for the presentation and

Rex the Dog finds new home

A 21st Security Forces Squadron Airman is the first military working dog handler allowed to adopt her K-9 partner from active duty. Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana, a military working dog handler, has been waiting since August for the official word after she requested to adopt her K-9, Rex. The two were

SECAF celebrates welcome to the blue

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne was “welcomed into blue” during a ceremony here today. He was received by a hundreds of Airmen, the Air Force Honor Guard and Air Force Band. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, chief of staff of the Air Force, presided over the event and told everyone present it was

CENTAF commander visits deployed Airmen, Sailors on last trip to Afghanistan

As part of his final trip to Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces visited deployed Airmen and Sailors here Jan. 10 to 11. During a troop call, Lt. Gen. Walter E. Buchanan III addressed Airmen and Sailors who are deployed to Bagram as part of Air and Space Expeditionary Force

Battlestar Galactica docks for sneak-peek at Columbus

The Sci-Fi Channel’s mantra -- “Fuel the Imagination” -- was the theme of the night as Battlestar Galactica television series fans invaded the Columbus Club for a celebrity-style sneak preview. The Season 2 premiere episode of Battlestar Galactica was shown a day early -- Jan. 5 --to approximately

Improved earpieces reaching Falcon pilots

F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots here will soon start using an earpiece that will afford better hearing protection and an improved mission focus. The 4th Fighter Squadron's "Fighting Fuujins" will receive the new attenuating custom communication earpiece system this month. The earpiece was developed at

Wynne: AF needs to recapitalize

With the combination of aging and heavily used equipment, the Air Force needs recapitalization across the board, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne said. In past discussions about Air Force recapitalization, aircraft usually took center stage. Although aircraft still need to be

Mission is out of this world

Its material is found nowhere else on Earth but here, while its mission is out of this world. Detachment 5, 22nd Space Operations Squadron has an antenna that uses a durable Kevlar mix as its cover, the first of its kind in the world. They use it because the material must withstand 195-mph typhoon

Leaner processes working at Kirtland

The Air Force is becoming leaner without the help of fad diets or abs-crunching exercise regiments. Logistics and maintenance programs imported from the private business sector, like Lean, are turning once-bloated processes into models of streamlined efficiency. The payoff is less cost, improved

New Mexico Tech to build on Kirtland

The Air Force conveyed more than eight acres of base land to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology during a ceremony here Jan. 6. The agreement is designed to stimulate business efficiencies and technological advancement through the construction of new facilities. The land conveyance, a

Group chops away at space system’s weaknesses

Several times a year, a group of junior U.S. military officers and federal government employees use open source databases -- such as the Internet and libraries -- in an attempt to reveal potential weaknesses in the Department of Defense's space systems. More often than not, participants in the Space

23:59:60… Atomic clock takes quantum leap

A leap second. It’s a time on the clock that doesn’t come along very often, and it’s a subject of debate between astronomers and clock watchers. Outside the debate is the job of making sure everyone who relies on the leap second receives it. That job, in the hands of the 2nd Space Operations

Patrick auto hobby shop achieves Air Force first

The 45th Services Squadron auto hobby shop earned the highest honor any automobile repair facility can earn -- the National Institute for Automotive Excellence Blue Seal of Excellence. After 10 years of automotive knowledge tests, equipment inspections and certifications, the auto hobby shop earned

Aggressor squadron stands up at Nellis

The Air Force will reactivate the 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 12. In a letter to Airmen, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, cited the history of the unit as “legendary” and said the aggressors will “directly contribute to the combat capability of our

Airmen participate in Rose Bowl events

A B-1B Lancer kicked off the national college football title game Jan. 4 with a flyover of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Gen. Ronald Keys, commander of Air Combat Command and Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center here, represented the Air Force at several

California Guard to get the Predator

As part of ongoing Total Force initiatives, the Air Force, the National Guard Bureau and the Adjutant General of California announced today that the California Air National Guard’s 163rd Air Refueling Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., will become the home for a new MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial

Keeping Predators flying helps keep Balad safe

Airmen who maintain the MQ-1 Predator here take great pride in ensuring the unmanned aerial vehicles they look after can keep and eagle eye on what goes on in Iraq. The 61 Airmen of the 46th Aircraft Maintenance Unit -- and three Royal Air Force Airmen -- keep the Predators flying for the pilots who

Controllers keeping Iraqi skies safe

Another small dot drags a string of numbers with it as it hesitantly shuffles onto the screen. Now there are 30 dots with numbers. Airman 1st Class Grant Gers slips a strip of paper, no wider than a magazine and shorter than two end-to-end sugar packs, neatly but quickly enters the squawk (four of

2005: an Air Force year to remember

It’s going to be hard to forget 2005, with the war on terrorism, tsunami response, hurricanes and floods. But light did find its way through the darkness. Most memorable are the Airmen who lent a helping hand to those in desperate need. This year also brought new technology, a continued presence at

Wynne: more integrated operations in Air Force’s future

The secretary of the Air Force said the service is headed toward more integrated operations. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne stopped at this airlift base Dec. 23 after trips to bases in Southwest Asia and Germany. He talked about the importance of force integration, new weapons platforms

Space group to activate new unit

Air Force Reserve Command’s 310th Space Group will travel deeper into the space program when it activates a new unit Jan. 7. Headquarters Reserve National Security Space Institute will be a Reserve associate unit to the National Security Space Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo. The institute is

Vandenberg activates Area Control Center

The 30th Space Wing activated the first major center in the new Western Range Operations Control Center Dec 15. The WROCC will be used for command and control of all Vandenberg launches and to oversee the Western Range, an area that encompasses the west coast of the continental United States and

Red Horse team maintains smooth operations in, out of Kandahar

A team of about 20 Red Horse civil engineers from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., are doing their part to keep flights coming in and out of here in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As part of a $7 million construction project, warfighters can expect to see more than 150,000 square feet of

Sega: Integration key for space operations

The under secretary of the Air Force and executive agent for space, Dr. Ronald M. Sega, sees space-based platforms continuing to be a vital asset to our nation’s military forces.He is looking to get back to the basics on space acquisitions, while aiming for increased integration of individual space

Schriever family members ‘deploy’ to fitness center

About 60 Airmen and family members came to the base’s main fitness center recently for a three-hour “deployment.” Children moved through a processing line and received necklaces, certificates and hand-pressed buttons. Some went into the racquetball court to practice their marksmanship on skee-ball

SECAF visits deployed Airmen, shares insight

The world and the Air Force have gone through remarkable changes since Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne hung up his Air Force uniform more than 30 years ago. The enemies, tools to fight them and tactics are all different now. But just six weeks into the job, the secretary visited Airmen

23rd SOPS volunteers donate time at local soup kitchen

Among other items, the recipe calls for 14 pounds of ground beef, 12 eggs and one quart of milk. It yields 50 portions of meatloaf, just about right for another hot meal at the Sonshine Soup Kitchen. Since 1989, the small soup kitchen in Derry, N.H., has served about 40 hot meals to local area

Moseley: Airmen engaged worldwide

Since August 1990, when the first wing deployed for Operation Desert Shield, the Air Force has been engaged in solid combat, the Air Force chief of staff said. Gen. T. Michael Moseley took time recently to discuss Air Force issues and Airmen performing the mission. For 15 years, Airmen have been

Moseley discusses past, plans for future

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley brought up several points of Air Force history at a three-day Air National Guard senior leader conference here. He addressed generals, command chief master sergeants and adjutants general during the opening day of the conference as they prepared to

Special tactics Airmen train on submarine

A U.S. fighter pilot has been shot down. He is injured and behind enemy lines. But he has established communications and is evading the enemy. Time is a critical factor. He needs to be rescued, and he needs to be rescued now. Submerged off the coast lies 19,000 tons of stealth in the form of a

Air War College hosts diplomats

When thinking of the war on terrorism at home and abroad, two pictures emerge for many Americans: the military on the battlefield and the diplomats working foreign policy here and overseas. Both work to ensure America's security. These pictures merged here when 19 Department of State officials

Security forces help hurricane victim

We see them everywhere. At the gates. In their cars and our rearview mirrors. By the flightline. They’re so omnipresent that many of us ignore them as part of the landscape. However, at least one man in the civilian community can't miss the 45th Security Forces Squadron Airmen who helped him rebound

Airmen earn awards for innovations, improvements

Airmen from seven major commands received the Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards and Air Force Best Practice certificates for mission process improvements. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel Gen. Roger A. Brady presented the trophies and

Air Force leaders discuss current issues

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley met with the media at the Pentagon to discuss a wide range of topics and issues. The leaders provided updates on aircraft and the new Air Force mission statement at the Dec. 13 meeting. F-22A Raptor The

Comm squadron develops Air Force Standard Desktop

The 50th Space Communications Squadron here is spearheading development of the Air Force Standard Desktop Configuration. This move will strengthen network defenses on all Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Guard installations in 2006 and may become a part of an approved configuration for all federal

From the frying pan into the gas tank

What smells like barbecue and can go 80 miles per hour? Master Sgt. Brian Hosken’s ride to work. Sergeant Hosken, the 45th Space Communications Squadron base land mobile radio manager, uses used vegetable oil to fuel his 1985 turbo-diesel Mercedes Benz car. He’s been doing that for nearly three

Vandenberg helicopter crews help seize drugs

The 76th Helicopter Squadron here helped seize $284 million of marijuana while supporting Joint Task Force North counterdrug operations this year. The joint task force bases operations on requests for Department of Defense assistance from the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Border Patrol in

Air attachés end conference on regional issues

The Latin American Air Attaché conference that brought together Airmen serving in 21 countries to discuss concerns including the global war on terrorism ended here today. 12th Air Force hosted the event, which started Dec. 5, for Bruce Lemkin, the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for

Air Force releases new mission statement

The realities of the world have changed dramatically since the creation of the Air Force in 1947 and continue to change almost daily. With these changes in mind, Air Force leaders released a new mission statement Dec. 7 that defines the current and future direction of the Air Force. "Today, our

Airman meets doctor who saved her

More than five months, 8,000 miles and countless prayers led to an unlikely reunion at a Colorado animal sanctuary. Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana and Maj. (Dr.) Paul Morton first met June 25 in Kirkuk Air Base, Iraq -- a hot summer day the major described simply as chaotic. They met again Dec. 2 on a cold

Defender training readies ‘brass’ for deployment

A new Air Force Materiel Command program helps train security forces leaders for deployment to combat zones. “Brave Defender,” developed by the command’s Security Forces Regional Training Center, prepares security forces commanders and senior enlisted leaders for success in the field. "This course

Moody rescue crews receive Mackay Trophy

Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrews received the Mackay Trophy from Gen. John D. W. Corley, the Air Force vice chief of staff, at a ceremony here Dec. 5. The 13 Airmen earned the award for rescuing five Soldiers whose helicopter crashed in a sandstorm near Kharbut, Iraq, in April 2004. The

Help desk changes speed up response times

Response times to communications outages are now almost immediate after the 386th Expeditionary Communications Squadron here made changes to their help desk operations. The rapid response is the result of fixes that emphasize command-and-control in help desk operations. Most visible is the

Americans, Germans ink Ramstein support agreement

German and U.S. Air Forces in Europe leaders signed an agreement that continues the Ramstein support arrangement between the two nations. The agreement covers logistical and administrative support provided to the German support unit at Ramstein, including housing and work space. Lt. Gen. Horst

Airmen ensure deployed troops get their mail

When the truck backs into place and the back doors open, brown and white cardboard boxes are stacked far and wide. These are not ordinary boxes. They may be special links to families and friends back home during the holiday season. Knowing this, the five people at the post office at this base do

’Patriot Express’ reengineering on track

The reengineering process to significantly scale down Patriot Express is on track, said experts in Air Mobility Command’s Air Transportation Division. Patriot Express is an AMC-managed, military-chartered commercial air service for transporting Department of Defense customers to and from overseas

Immersion turning out culturally savvy officers

Traveling to a foreign country, speaking the native tongue and understanding the culture are dreams to some people. But thanks to an Air Force program, line officers have the opportunity to turn those dreams into reality. Language and Area Studies Immersion is a program designed to build a force of

Peterson teams among 'top dogs' at K-9 trials

Two 21st Security Forces Squadron teams placed near the top in the tactical obedience and top agency areas at a national competition for working dogs. This is the sixth consecutive year squadron’s military working dogs and their handlers from here competed at the Tucson Area Police K-9 Trials in

Symposium keys on space support

The theme for this year’s Air Force Association National Symposium was “Space – Enabling the War Fighter.” With this in mind, Space and Missile Systems Center commander Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel and other Air Force leaders, and industry partners met in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Nov. 18 to discuss their

Second chance: Active-duty father donates kidney

It’s evening, and the Pitman family is playing Candyland in their living room. Devin, 5, bounces from the sofa to the gameboard and pulls a card. “Ice cream!” the blue-eyed boy shouts, and moves his yellow pawn toward the end of the trail. “My turn,” his father says, leaning over the board to pull a

ORIs evolve with modern war fighting

Airmen today can face deployment with increased confidence after practicing modified operational readiness inspection scenarios that reflect current wartime conditions. According to Air Combat Command's Inspector General Col. Tom Jones, with the expeditionary nature of today's Air Force, it is

Vandenberg Airmen put eyes in sky

Somewhere on Vandenberg, two Airmen wearing berets and rifle slings have their heads in a monitor as they fly a remote control plane. The Airmen are demonstrating a new capability for security, surveillance, reconnaissance, battle damage assessment and more, in the form of a four-pound,

Discovery Channel show visits McConnell 'Dirty Jobs' crew

“It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.” That’s a cliché jokingly thrown around in everyday life. But a team of 22nd Maintenance Group Airmen tackle their “dirty job” with such aplomb, the Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe” taped an episode about the Airmen here Nov. 21 and

Airmen graduate from Army interrogator school

More than 90 Airmen stood next to Soldiers when the first “bluesuiter” graduated from the U.S. Army Intelligence Center’s interrogator school at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. The Airmen -- with youth ministers and Scout leaders in their midst -- graduated Nov. 10. The Airmen volunteered after the Army asked

PME boosts civilian leadership opportunities

In the Air Force's current climate of shared leadership, civilians are being provided opportunities to fill positions that have historically been held by military officers. For goal-oriented civilians, there are many opportunities to attend professional military education courses to prepare for

Chaplains deal with deployment issues

Whether conducting service or casually chatting with Airmen seeking spiritual guidance, military chaplains here stand ready to help. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s five chaplains and three assistants offer the same services found at stateside bases. That is in addition to dealing with the unique

Minot completes Minuteman emergency communications upgrade

The 91st Space Wing completed the last modifications to its Minuteman minimum essential emergency communication network at the Oscar-01 missile alert facility in the Minuteman missile complex. The completion of Oscar-01, Nov. 11, marked the final modification to the last of 50 launch control centers

New lieutenant colonels to attend senior developmental education

The P0505A Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board selected officers for promotion and identified senior developmental education "selects." The board met at the Air Force Personnel Center here. Selects join a resource pool of officers who will be considered for future attendance at in-residence

Pararescuemen continue Pakistan humanitarian relief

Above the mountainous countryside of northern Pakistan, two Air Force pararescuemen aboard a Russian-made MI-8 helicopter survey areas where people may need relief supplies. These Airmen, known as PJs, are part of a unit that traveled halfway around the world to participate in the ongoing

Los Angeles center partners with AFIT, Loyola

The Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force Institute of Technology entered a new partnership with Loyola Marymount University to meet the center’s educational goals. Lt. Gen. Michael Hamel, SMC commander, Brig. Gen. Mark Matthews, AFIT commandant and Dr. Richard G. Plumb, Dean of the Seaver

Fundamentals course gives space students head start

A training squadron here is offering students the first-ever spacelift course. Taught by instructors of the 392nd Training Squadron, the two-week class provides students training in spacelift concepts, capabilities and operations. There was a need for the course. In January 2004, Air Force Space

Teamwork keeps Balad power on

A group of Airmen has the tough and fast-paced job of maintaining all the generators that power this desert base. The Airmen are with the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron’s aerospace ground equipment and heating ventilation and air conditioning shop. They stay busy. "Power generation is the

Wargames are serious business

To the untrained eye it seems to be a room full of computers. However, to Airmen of the 608th Combat Operations Squadron the combined air and space operations center here is a lethal weapon system. “It’s the total package, we find the target, fix the position, track it, engage the target and assess

Airman, volunteers working to renovate hospital

Airmen from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here are revamping the Air Force theater hospital, creating a brighter and safer environment for patients and providers. The 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron and 332nd Expeditionary Medical Support

AWACS crews watch over president

Members of the 552nd Air Control Wing were in Argentina through Nov. 7th to provide airborne surveillance for the Summit of the Americas attended by President George W. Bush. Thirty-three North and South American leaders convened at the summit to discuss solutions to common political, economic and