Airfield managers keep runways ready

The 379th Expeditionary Operational Support Squadron is tasked with the demanding job of managing an entire airfield. An airfield manager’s job encompasses almost anything that deals with the airfield, said Tech. Sgt. Michael Adams, 379th EOSS airfield manager and reservist deployed from Dobbins Air

Andersen host unit undergoes name change

An official name change has been granted to Andersen’s host unit. Andersen is now home of the 36th Wing -- a designation that was announced March 16 to better reflect the growing mission. Previously, the official designation of the wing was the 36th Air Base Wing, while recently the wing was using a

Commander shares vision for future force

Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander, shared his insight and vision for the future at the Combined Air Operations Center March 10. During his first visit as CENTAF commander, General North discussed the CENTAF mission and challenges facing Airmen and

First Air Force dive course graduates 17 Airmen

This was the final test. An underwater compass and a buddy harnessed three feet from their bodies provide direction. A 25-pound breathing device strapped to their chests provides vital oxygen while underwater without making surface bubbles. A 50-pound rucksack and weapon weighted on their backs are

CMSAF speaks about future changes

As threats against the United States evolve, Airmen can expect the Air Force to evolve as well said the Air Force’s senior enlisted member during his visit here, Friday, March 10. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray talked about the Air Force’s evolution and the initiatives

Air Force gets aggressive about combat training

To become the best Airmen in the world, the Air Force trains against the best Airmen in the world. Aggressors, as they’re known, scrimmage against their fellow Airmen, much like football teams preparing for a game. Traditionally, aggressors have focused on aircrews, but in the near future, the Air

Pegasus launch delayed

The launch of an Orbital Sciences Corporation Pegasus XL rocket has been delayed due to weather restrictions. The launch has been rescheduled for March 15. The launch window extends from 5:57 a.m. to 7:19 a.m. The rocket, carrying the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Space Technology

Air Force captures five Nunn-Perry awards

Five Air Force company teams captured Nunn-Perry awards at the annual Department of Defense Mentor-Protégé conference in Atlanta on March 8. The awards recognize efforts by DOD prime contractors (mentors) and their protégé small businesses to advance the protégé company as a competitive partner in

What’s in a name?

The Space Warfare Center here became the Space Innovation and Development Center in a formal ceremony March 8. The name has changed, but the organization’s mission remains the same, the commander said. “One of the things I want people to understand is that there’s no change in our mission,” Col.

Weather info delivered to warfighter faster with integration

Net-centric weather integration is one of the many important initiatives being tested during the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. This integration, sponsored by the Air Force Weather Agency, demonstrates the capability to provide critical, time-sensitive

Electronic initiative gets critical information to commanders

An initiative designed to electronically transmit intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information to commanders is currently being tested here at Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006. With non-traditional ISR services, information will flow directly from aircraft to the Air and Space

Senate support essential to achieve goals in Korea

Continued Senate support is essential to maintaining readiness and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the region, said the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in South Korea March 7. "United States forces based in South Korea, along with military forces from the Republic of Korea and other

Integration builds on fighter wings' strengths

The ongoing association between the 419th and 388th Fighter Wings here will make both organizations stronger by capitalizing on the strengths of each, said Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, commander of Air Force Reserve Command. General Bradley welcomed reservists from the 419th FW home in late January

Reserve doctor makes house call to developing nations

An Air Force doctor is helping thousands of people in developing countries as a results of a chance encounter with Texas reservists at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, eight years ago. Lt. Col. (Dr.) Josef Schmid was in the regular Air Force working in the Rhein-Main clinic when a team of reservists

National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex set to reopen

The Arnold Engineering Development Center and the Air Force recently signed a lease to reopen the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex located on NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif.Under the terms of a 25-year lease, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will retain

Officials announce Air Force safety awards

Air Force safety officials announced the winners of the 2005 safety awards. They are: -- Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award: Category 1, U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Category II, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. --

Remote weather system online again at Minot

Maintenance was recently completed on five Remote Automated Weather Stations, or RAWS, located at missile alert facilities throughout North Dakota. The maintenance, which began in fall 2005, was completed Feb. 17 and made the RAWS fully operational after a four-year hiatus. The RAWS have sensors

Class selected for cyber security boot camp

Forty men and women from across the country will focus on a futuristic "cybercraft" as they participate in the 2006 Class of the Advanced Course in Engineering Cyber Security Boot Camp. A joint selection committee of Syracuse University and Air Force Research Laboratory officials reviewed the

General Lord retires from Air Force Space Command helm

After a 37-year career, Gen. Lance W. Lord, commander of Air Force Space Command, retired in a ceremony here today. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley presided over the event. There were more than 700 current and former defense leaders, active and retired military members and civic

Spiral 3 underway for JEFX ’06

Spiral 3 of the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment ‘06 kicked off March 2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. JEFX is an Air Force chief of staff-sponsored, major command-executed series of experiments that combine live-fly, live-play ground and naval forces, simulation and technology insertions into a

Guard rescue wing still making mark on history

Amid the quiet picturesque towns sprinkled across Long Island, N.Y., are more than 800 Airmen who are a part of history. They are the men and women of the 106th Rescue Wing -- a unit that battled the “Perfect Storm,” witnessed the TWA Flight 800 disaster, supported response efforts after the

Commander declares 2006 ‘Rebirth of SMC’

Stressing processes, partnerships and people, the Space and Missile Systems Center commander told about 100 Aerospace Corporation employees they play a vital role in the “rebirth of SMC” and continued mission success. Lt. Gen. Michael A. Hamel spoke Feb. 16 as part of The Aerospace Corporation’s

GPS helps warfighters track ‘bad guys’

When U.S. forces get to Iraq and Afghanistan, they’re finding dry, featureless terrain with no real landmarks or points of reference to use when they travel across these wide-open and often dangerous landscapes. In the past, maps and a compass were the decisive tools used by servicemembers to track

Colorado College students study Schriever’s falcons

Although wildlife on and around the “little base on the prairie” seems scarce, if people were to roam the base’s acreage, they would see a landscape teeming with animal life. While a visit to Schriever Feb. 8 did not result in a wildlife encounter for a Colorado College group, it did offer an

Guard tests world’s first multi-person rescue basket

An Air National Guard rescue unit successfully tested the world’s first multi-person rescue basket, a cage-like device that, once certified, can carry up to 15 people. “We really could have used this after hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” said Lt. Col. Brad Sexton, a program manager in the Air National

Big leap forward in detecting ground targets from cosmos

When launched in 2010, a football-field-in-length demonstrator radar antenna, weighing more than 5 tons, will serve as the forerunner for the future of America's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets in space. Administered by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles

Special operations focus of senior leader discussion

Senior leaders from the U.S. Special Operations Command and the Air Force Air Staff met recently to discuss the role of airpower in special operations. The talks involved 16 senior leaders, including Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Army Gen. Bryan Brown, commander of SOCOM. The

Air Force symposium promotes better environmental stewardship

The 2006 U.S. Air Force Environmental Training Symposium, an educational training program for nearly 2,000 members of the Air Force, other government agencies and national academia began Feb. 27 and runs through March 3 at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. "The United States Air

First deployed civilian sexual assault response coordinator arrives in region

Airmen already know the pace here is much different than home. “Frenetic” is the word Donna Rathbun uses to describe the operations tempo on base. “The mission is always in the forefront,” she said. “There isn’t time for outside distractions or mistakes. Airmen are working long hours, and there’s

Air Force realigns combat search and rescue ops

Administrative control for select active-duty Air Force combat search and rescue assets is transferring from Air Force Special Operations Command to Air Combat Command. “Our military must always have the combat capability to rescue its people ... our warriors ... wherever and whenever required,”

Insurgent to ambassador: Journal editor tells harrowing tale

When Algerian-born Remy Mauduit, editor of the new French edition of the Air and Space Power Journal, sees terrorism and insurgency taking place in Iraq, he recalls a time when he, too, was an insurgent. Life was not good for Algerian citizens in the early 1950s. After French colonization, native

AFNORTH activates at Tyndall

First Air Force took on a second designation here Feb. 15 as part of the Air Force’s ongoing development of the warfighting headquarters. Air Forces Northern, or AFNORTH, became 1st Air Force’s provisional moniker under Air Combat Command. It is part of the Air Force’s move to redesignate 10

Deployed wing counts down to ‘The Move’

The next time Airmen from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing pack their bags, it will not be to return home. Instead they will travel to a new home right here. That home is the Temporary Cantonment Area, or TCA. As construction progresses at the TCA, base leadership scheduled April as the month “to

Civilian sector the biggest space customer

The head of Air Force Space Command said people might be surprised to learn that corporate America is the biggest user of Air Force space products. Gen. Lance W. Lord said the main reason for this is the reliability of space-based assets and because the technologies -- which are giving coalition

General Lord launches high frontier adventures

Air Force Space Command’s senior leader headed back to the classroom this week, not to brush up on the latest space concepts, but to share some of his expertise with the students. Gen. Lance W. Lord shared his space experience with some of Discovery Canyon’s fifth and sixth graders. The AFSPC

Minuteman III launches from Vandenberg

An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, was launched from Launch Facility-10 on North Vandenberg at 12:01 a.m. today. The launch was part of a test to demonstrate the ability to integrate modified products into existing weapon systems. “The purpose of the flight was to

General Lord receives highest enlisted honor

Air Force Space Command’s enlisted personnel bestowed the Order of the Sword upon Gen. Lance W. Lord, Air Force Space Command commander, Feb. 11. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor enlisted Airmen can bestow on a leader. More than 500 active-duty and retired enlisted Airmen gathered from

Air Force regains decision authority on acquisition programs

The Air Force recently regained oversight authority on some of the acquisition programs taken from it more than 10 months ago. The Department of Defense returned major milestone decision authority to the Air Force on 10 of 21 acquisition programs in January. The DOD had taken that authority from the

Twelfth Air Force becomes Air Forces Southern

Headquarters 12th Air Force is taking on an expanded mission and a new name. As part of the Air Force transformation, 12th Air Force transitions today into a warfighting headquarters and became Air Forces Southern (12th Air Force) provisional. “Along with the name change AFSOUTH is also changing its

Base honor guard goes Hollywood

Seven of the base’s elite took part in the filming of a primetime network drama Feb. 9 at a local church. The Los Angeles Air Force Base Honor Guard supported a request from NBC’s “The West Wing” for an Air Force presence in a television episode featuring the funeral of the series’ White House chief

International affairs specialists to enter training pipeline

The Air Force recently selected 87 officers out of more than 400 volunteers to become its first class of international affairs specialists. Those officers will enter training this summer to become either Political-Military Affairs Strategists, or PAS, or Regional Affairs Strategists, or RAS. The

Schriever holds African-American Month kickoff breakfast

It was a central question the guest speaker for the African-American History Month kickoff breakfast asked the 150 people in attendance Feb. 1 at a dining facility here. “Can a neighborhood be a community? Absolutely,” said Dr. Jacqueline Taggart, a business professor at a community college in

Top generals meet at Corona

The Air Force’s top-ranking leaders met recently for a two-day forum at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., continuing a tradition that has shaped the service’s leadership since 1944. The Corona meetings happen three times per year and they allow Air Force senior leaders to come together for frank, open

Cope Tiger ’06 draws A-10 thunder

Cope Tiger ‘06, an annual multi-lateral exercise involving the U.S., Thailand and Singapore, began Feb. 7. More than 1,300 people, including 300 U.S. servicemembers and 1,000 servicemembers from Thailand and Singapore, are participating in the exercise that involves aviation and ground units. The

Red Flag joins American, allied airpower

Units from across the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Australia and the United Kingdom gathered here for the second part of the Red Flag 06-1 exercise, which started Feb. 6. More than 130 aircraft and 2,500 personnel will fight and support in a simulated air war over the Nellis Test and Training

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