NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Afghan family treated for burns by Bagram medics

    Air Force health professionals train continuously, from medical school to retirement, to provide life-saving treatments to patients. In most cases, they count on providing those treatments to service members, but Airmen assigned to the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here are finding themselves working

  • CMSAF visits Tinker AFB Airmen

    The Air Force's top enlisted Airman came here Jan. 5 through 6 to speak to Airmen about being ready for the joint/coalition fight, building resiliency and developing Airmen. Chief Master of the Air Force James. A. Roy visited areas of the base and met with officers, chiefs and Airmen."There are a

  • Survey will assess Air Force community well-being

    Invitations to take the 2011 Air Force Community Assessment will be sent out Jan. 25. The assessment is designed to assist chaplains and people working in installation-level Airman and family readiness centers, family advocacy programs, health and wellness centers, mental health clinics and child

  • F-4 continues long-time service to Air Force with new mission

    The 82nd Aerial Target Squadron officials here are replacing the use of Lear jets for their banner tow missions with the F-4 Phantom, creating an air-to-air target that aircrews in training can safely evaluate, develop and test their weapons systems. "We developed the idea to use the F-4 for the

  • 'ONE Suit Pro' IDEA saves Air Force money

    Saving money and improving quality of service and efficiency in the workplace were the motivating factors behind the "ONE Suit Pro" idea that won awards for the members of the 17th Civil Engineer Squadron, Innovative Development through Employee Awareness program team recently.The idea submitted to

  • Photo essay: Nellis weapons load competition

    Airmen partake in weapons load competitions conducted quarterly to keep Airmen sharp and recognize superior performers here Jan. 7. Weapons load teams are evaluated for their use of the checklist, safety and overall speed. View the slideshow.

  • HAW, Ramstein AB Airmen team up for training

    Airmen from the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa Air Base, Hungary, and Ramstein AB will participate in for aerial port training Jan. 10 through 13 near here and Grafonvier, Germany.The Airmen will conduct two personnel airdrop flights and two heavy equipment airdrops, which will mark the first time HAW

  • Airmen develop Iraqi documentation and media exploitation capacity

    Forty joint expeditionary tasking Airmen, along with other members of the Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Tactical Documentation and Media Exploitation Team in Iraq, are helping Iraqi government officials to establish their own documentation and media exploitation mission. A

  • Aviano becomes first USAFE base to begin using AMT

    Airmen at Aviano Air Base are the first in U.S. Air Forces in Europe to begin using the new, revolutionary asset marking and tracking system being implemented at Air Force installations around the world. Once fully integrated, the new AMT system will provide 100-percent accountability for all Air

  • Holloman Airmen provide 5th generation fighter support

    Two T-38 Talons were delivered in December here with the help of NASA officials.NASA officials used an Aero Spacelines Super Guppy to deliver the first two of an eventual 15 T-38s that will be regenerated here and flown to operating locations at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., and Tyndall AFB, Fla.

  • Photo essay: Oleoresin Capsicum spray training

    Members of the 75th Security Forces Squadron participate in Oleoresin Capsicum spray training here Jan. 5. Oleoresin Capsicum is a non-lethal spray, similar to pepper spray, used to temporarily incapacitate individuals. All security forces Airmen receive the Oleoresin Capsicum training when they

  • Baltic air policing mission complete

    The 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, United Kingdom, relinquished command of the NATO Baltic air policing mission to the German air force at Lithuania Air Force Air Base here Jan. 5.The 493rd EFS, deployed from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, assumed responsibility for Lithuanian, Latvian and

  • Iraqi airmen fly record number of aircraft

    Iraqi air force pilots flew a record number of aircraft during the annual Iraqi Army Day Parade Jan. 6 at the International Zone here. Iraqi crews piloted 20 aircraft in 12 fly-overs and aerial demonstrations over a parade field filled with government officials from allied nations and Iraqi

  • Embassy applauds Airmen for founding Iraqi Women in Aviation chapter

    The U.S. Embassy Baghdad and U.S. Department of Transportation hosted a reception to honor and recognize the efforts of Horizon East Jan. 7 here.Horizon East, the Iraq chapter of the non-profit organization Women in Aviation, was started by female pilots deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The

  • Air Force officials lift rated requirement for air liaison officers

    Air Force officials announced here Jan. 7 the removal of the air liaison officer rated requirement, allowing any company grade officer, accession candidate or enlisted Airman the possibility of a career change.ALOs, once drawn strictly from fighter, bomber and air battle manager communities, now

  • Airmen, Soldiers redeploy aircraft

     A CH-47 Chinook helicopter was returned home to Fort Wainwright, Alaska, by the joint efforts of Soldiers and Airmen working here Dec. 15.Soldiers from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade worked alongside Airmen here to complete the final stages of their redeployment. The brigade was a vital part of

  • Air Force Global Strike Command gets new top leader

    Lt. Gen. James Kowalski assumed command of Air Force Global Strike Command here Jan. 6, becoming the second commander of the organization.  As such, he is responsible for all of the nation's ICBMs and nuclear-capable bombers.Presiding over the ceremony, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz

  • New Afghan facilities key for Kandahar Air Wing

    Afghan air force's Kandahar Air Wing officials invited coalition forces, tribal elders and school children here Jan. 1 to the open house for their newly constructed facilities and aircraft inventory.With assistance from the international community, the $60 million facility improvement project now

  • Expeditionary center formally assumes command of five AMC units

    U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center officials assumed command of five Air Mobility Command organizations during a ceremony Jan 6 here. The AMC restructuring allows 18th Air Force officials to focus almost exclusively on worldwide mobility flying operations and gives the expeditionary center added

  • Radiologists see from the inside out

    When doctors need to look inside a patient, they call on a team of radiological professionals to reveal the answers that lie beneath.The eight-person 35th Surgical Operations Squadron diagnostic imaging team, commonly known as radiology, at Misawa Air Base performs an average of 500 image-gathering

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • Airman named MVP, helps Team USA win gold

    An Airman stationed here contributed to Team USA's gold medal finish at the 2010 SHAPE International Basketball Tournament on Dec. 4 in Mons, Belgium. Team USA is the U.S. armed forces basketball team.Second Lt. Mathew Holland, an intelligence analyst assigned to the 614th Air and Space Operations

  • Program helps Airmen cope with divorce

    Anyone who has been in the Air Force for more than a year has heard the horror stories about failed marriages and how hard it is to stay in a relationship with constant deployments and work stress. While falling in love and getting married can be the greatest experience of one's life, a divorce can

  • Inter-American NCO Academy opens to U.S. NCOs

    Two Airmen are making history as the first Air Force NCOs to attend the Inter-American Air Forces Academy's Inter-American NCO Academy. In addition to earning NCO academy enlisted professional military education credit, Tech. Sgts. Leonardo Cepero Febres and George Nikolakakos are studying alongside

  • Passenger terminal becomes pet hotel for a night

    Often when people think of the Air Mobility Command Passenger Terminal here, they think of people coming and going, not a place for housing pets.But a "pet hotel" is exactly what the terminal became Dec. 30 when a snow storm in South Korea grounded a Yokota AB-bound Patriot Express, keeping the

  • Service demographics offer snapshot of force

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here recently published a demographics report offering a snapshot of the service's active-duty and civilian force. This data is current as of Dec. 30 and can also be found on the Air Force personnel statistics Web page at

  • Operation CCAF Blitz targets technical sergeants

    With the implementation of a new initiative, 23rd Force Support Squadron education center officials here are making an effort to increase the number of Airmen eligible for senior-rater endorsement on enlisted performance reports.Operation CCAF Blitz will be carried out in three phases and encourages

  • Air Force officials approve changes to officer selection brief

    In an effort to better highlight candidates who possess the skills necessary for officer promotion in today's expeditionary Air Force, senior Air Force officials approved changes to the officer selection brief. The modified officer selection brief will be used beginning with boards in June and

  • Nellis AFB selected to host new joint MWD training program

    Air Force officials selected Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as the location of a new joint military working dog training program in late November. The officials made their decision after Nellis AFB members graduated their beta-test class of 15 security forces dog handlers and their MWDs Nov. 9.

  • Medical Airmen ready Soldiers for medal ceremony

    Working as gently as they could, medical Airmen from an intensive care and in-patient care unit helped ready two injured Soldiers for a Purple Heart ceremony Jan. 4. The Soldiers of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, were injured just days earlier in an improvised explosive

  • AMC Fuel Efficiency Office shows how 'efficiency promotes effectiveness'

    Officials with Air Mobility Command's Fuel Efficiency Office here are putting forth an initiative called precision loading. By refining the ability to maximize available space on mobility aircraft, fewer missions are required and fuel and resources are saved, and Air Force officials find another way

  • Security forces advisers provide advanced training for Iraqi airmen

    Airmen deployed in support of Operation New Dawn recently trained a small detail of Iraqi security forces airmen to teach several advanced techniques for one-on-one confrontations.Master Sgt. Grady Driver, a security forces adviser, is a member of the Iraqi Training and Advising Mission. He said

  • Royal Air Force aircrews to train at Offutt

    Whether it's performing strategic bombing missions in World War II, defending Europe during the Cold War, monitoring Iraqi no-fly zones, or battling the Taliban in Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force and the U.K. Royal Air Force have been close allies for many years.Recently, this partnership was

  • General Klotz reflects on command, career

    Editor's Note: When he enlisted in the Air Force Reserve in 1968 to attend the Air Force Academy Prep School, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz says he never imagined where his Air Force career would take him. Now, after more than 37 years of commissioned service, he took a few minutes to sit down and reflect on

  • Chief Roy visits Kunsan

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader visited members of the 8th Fighter Wing here Dec. 29 and 30 during a year-end tour of Pacific Air Forces bases.During the visit, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy, and his wife, Paula, toured the base, presented stripes to Airmen who were promoted,

  • Networthiness sets standards for DOD, AF networks

    The Air Force soon will have a relatively new term to add to its network operations lexicon: "Networthiness." Air Force Network Integration Center officials recently led efforts to develop the Department of Defense's networthiness concept, an operational assessment that goes well beyond information

  • Maintainers earn awards for sortie generation

    Two Airmen were honored for excellence in aircraft sortie generation during an award ceremony at the Pentagon Jan. 4.Maj. Scott Hall, an F-16 Fighting Falcon and E-8C Joint Stars requirements action officer for the National Guard Bureau here, and Senior Master Sgt. Anthony Smith, the 57th Aircraft

  • Nellis Airmen, joint partners prep Marines for Afghanistan

    U.S. Joint Forces Command joint fires experts joined Marine Corps Tactics and Operations Group and other joint enablers during a mission rehearsal exercise here to prepare Marine Corps Regimental Combat Team-8 for its upcoming deployment to Afghanistan.Exercise Spartan Resolve, led by MCTOG

  • Cheerleaders bring holiday cheer to Osan

    Members of the Dallas Cowboys' cheerleader team visited here Dec. 29 as part of their 72nd USO tour.During their visit, the cheerleaders had lunch with Airmen, held a free cheer clinic for kids, performed at the base theater, signed autographs and posed for photos with members here.Senior Airman

  • Afghan air force airmen first to graduate Mi-17 maintenance course

    Ten Afghan air force Airmen graduated from the Mi-17 helicopter engine and body maintenance course Jan. 1 here, marking the first time AAF members completed the training.The graduating Airmen, both officers and enlisted, completed the course, none of the in the instructors in the Mongolian-led

  • Biggest-loser contest encourages weight loss

    Fitness center and health and wellness center officials here are starting a biggest-loser contest to encourage Airmen and civilians to lose weight and build better lifestyles. The competition begins Jan 5, and is scheduled to continue through early April."This contest is about losing weight," said

  • CMSAF visits Osan Air Base, concludes PACAF tour

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Osan Air Base Dec. 30 and 31, wrapping up a year-end tour of Pacific Air Forces bases.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy and his wife, Paula, met with Osan Airmen and families, visiting facilities and organizations across the base.Spending

  • Wingmen: Airmen look after military working dogs

    Every day Airmen take care of each other, and the 52nd Security Forces Squadron's military working dog handlers have a furry wingman that requires a little extra care during the winter here."There are a few extra precautions we have to take during the winter months while working and training the

  • Chief Roy visits Misawa, meets with Airmen

    The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited here Dec. 28 through Dec. 29, as part of a tour of several installations within the Pacific Air Forces.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy met with Airmen at their duty sections, which culminated in an enlisted call where he

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • Air Force secretary lauds F.E. Warren Airmen during holiday visit

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited with Warren Airmen here Dec. 23 to recognize Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen who carry out the nuclear deterrence mission. "We have missile crews and Airmen standing alert over the holidays, and we want them to know their leaders appreciate

  • C-17 marks 2 millionth flight hour during airdrop

    This month, the C-17 Globemaster III celebrated its two millionth flight hour. As a testament to the C-17 mission tempo, the aircraft passed its two millionth flight hour just four years after passing its first million-hour mark, and the first million hours took 16 years to reach. Although Air

  • Airmen from across the world participate in Silver Flag

    Airmen from around the world came together at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe training area recently for a weeklong contingency operations training exercise. During Silver Flag, Airmen from several different career specialties work together to learn how to build and sustain a base in a contingency

  • Heart Link links hearts and minds of military spouses

    The words "Heart Link" may evoke a mental image of animated cartoon hearts holding hands or perhaps the infamous paper heart chain that has become a staple around school rooms during Valentine's Day. Sometimes spouses may feel like that flimsy chain of paper hearts, vulnerable and alone. Heart Link

  • Air Force rescuers pull female hiker to safety

    Senior Master Sgt. Mike Flake, an HH-60G Pave Hawk flight engineer with the 305th Rescue Squadron here, had been flying a training mission Dec. 22 around Tucson, Ariz., where his unit trains regularly. Upon clocking out, he was home by 9:30 p.m., enjoying family time, when he received a call from a

  • Combat camera Airmen learn battlefield forensics

    It was a first for the Air Force when a cadre of instructors from Six3 Systems Inc. arrived here to teach a battlefield forensics course to 4th Combat Camera Squadron Airmen. In the past, company officials taught the course to only Army and Marine Corps units, but 4th Combat Squadron officials

  • Crash recovery team demonstrates innovation through unique lift operation

    Airmen from the 51st Maintenance Squadron's Transient Alert Crash Recovery team performed a unique operation in response to a real-world situation Dec. 11, which proved valuable training for the entire shop. What started out earlier that week as a routine aircraft maintenance operation took an

  • Operations security goes digital

    Click through any photo-sharing site and you will likely find at least one random shot of someone you know doing something highly inappropriate. While these photos may be hilarious, could they have the potential to reveal intimate details of your life to the world?Walk through a mall during a

  • Officials seek bilingual officers for training school

    Air Force officials are seeking nominations from bilingual officers to participate in the 2011 Inter-American Squadron Officer School Program. This program focuses on inter-Americanism and developing Latin American regional affairs specialists for the Air Force.Captains from all Air Force

  • CMSAF visits Yokota Airmen

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force kicked off his tour of Pacific Air Forces bases with a visit to Yokota Air Base, Dec. 27 to 28. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, along with his wife, Paula, visited Yokota AB Airmen to receive an overview of the 374th Airlift Wing's mission as

  • 386th AEW first with all-AF customs team

    Due to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's all-Air Force customs team, a first in the Air Force Central Command area of responsibility, a process that would usually require Airmen who are redeploying to stay confined to the passenger terminal for more than 14 hours was greatly reduced.Senior Airman

  • Airmen work side-by-side with Iraqi AAC members

    As part of efforts by U.S. officials in Iraq to continue strengthening a long-term partnership, Airmen assigned to the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron train, advise and assist members of the Iraqi Army Aviation Command with all helicopter operations here."The air advisers are applying

  • ROBOTx adds helping 'hands' to pharmacy

    The pharmacy staff here recently added a new member to their crew:  a robot designed to count medication for prescriptions. The PharmASSIST ROBOTx stores the counted medications until electronic prescriptions are received from doctors. Then, using bar code scanning checks, it ensures patients

  • Academy grad killed in plane crash

    Air Force officials confirmed Dec. 23 the identity of an officer who died Dec. 22 as a result of a civilian aircraft accident near Colorado Springs Airport, Colo.First Lt. Martin Anthony Riggan, 25, of Little Rock, Ark. and his wife died after their Mooney's M20E aircraft crashed east of the runway.

  • NATO program enhances multinational tactical operations

    This year, six pilots from the 480th Fighter Squadron here completed Allied Command Europe's Tactical Leadership Program at Albacete-Los Llanos Air Base, Spain, for the first time."This training is essential for fighter squadrons in Europe that have active participation roles with NATO," said Lt.

  • Air Force Safety Center recognized for young drivers program

    Members of the Air Force Safety Center's Ground Safety Division received the National Safety Council's Outstanding Effort in Training Young Adult Drivers award for "sincerity of heart" in keeping young adult drivers alive and safe behind the wheel of Air Force vehicles and their own personal

  • Runway repair team keeps airlift moving

    Senior Airman Jacob Cleer wrestles his 30-pound jackhammer into place and begins pounding the pavement on one of two landing strips at an air base here.Chunks of concrete fly into the air as the steel-tipped chisel digs into the tarmac, demolishing a patch of runway that had begun to crumble a few

  • Air Force secretary visits Minot to thank Airmen

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen here Dec. 23 and 24. "The Airmen here are doing an outstanding job," Secretary Donley said. "Minot carries a heavy load and is always very busy, but I feel the Airmen and leadership team here are very supportive

  • New fuel system enhances Bagram's refueling capabilities

    Airmen from the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuel Management Flight used a new fuel delivery system Dec. 21 that will change the way large aircraft are refueled here. The $130 million type III constant pressure system, owned by the 101st Sustainment Brigade, consists of two 1.1

  • Troops turn out early for Jingle Bell Run

    More than 400 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Marines turned out early to participate in the 5K Jingle Bell Run here Dec. 25.The event was sponsored by 332nd Expeditionary Force Support Squadron and took place at Holt Stadium on the base.

  • Falcons coach fires up home crowd for Independence Bowl

    The term "home team" will have special meaning to the Airmen of Air Force Global Strike Command when two of the nation's top college football ground attacks take the field in Shreveport, La., for the Independence Bowl Dec. 27.The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons, with the nation's second best rushing

  • Airmen ready to track Santa

    On Christmas Eve, members of the 601st Air and Space Operations Center will track Santa on part of his journey to deliver toys to children around the world.In conjunction with the North American Aerospace Defense Command's 'NORAD Track Santa' program, AOC volunteers will monitor jolly ol' Saint Nick

  • Barksdale sergeant streamlines maintenance process

    For Air Force maintainers, the shift is not over until the job is finished. This means every minute counts, and time is wasted every time an Airman has to wait in line for an aircraft part. Where most people saw an unavoidable delay, one Airman found a way to ensure Barksdale Air Force Base and the

  • Air Force Week in Photos Holiday Edition

    This holiday edition of photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in seasonal celebrations while supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force. View the slideshow.

  • Fitness regulation changes based on Airmen's feedback

    As Air Force officials continue to sculpt their fitness program based on Airmen's feedback, service officials issued an AF Guidance Memorandum here Dec. 20 that provides policy changes to AFI 36-2905, Fitness Program, with an implementation date of Jan. 1, 2011. Compliance with the program is

  • Photo essay: Load crews compete at Misawa

    Members from the 35th Fighter Wing compete in a load crew competition here Dec. 17. During the competition Airmen are graded on a variety of areas including, speed, accuracy, appearance and safety.View the slideshow.

  • Minot Airman dies after incident

    An Airman assigned to the 5th Munitions Squadron here died Dec. 20 after an incident in an off-base apartment in Minot, N.D.The incident occurred at that residence at about 7:30 p.m., Dec. 20, according to Minot Police Department officials.The Airman was taken to Trinity Medical Center where he

  • USAFE vice commander discusses Air Force operations

    More than 100 business and military professionals gathered here recently to hear the U.S. Air Forces in Europe vice commander's perspective on Air Force operations and what it means as Air Force communications and information Airmen transition from a support role to an operational cyberspace

  • Remembering Linebacker II: It's about the heroes, not the missions

    A ceremony to honor the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in support of Operation Linebacker II took place at Arc Light Memorial Park here Dec. 17.Often referred to as "the 11-day war," Operation Linebacker II was conducted from Dec. 18 to Dec. 29, 1972, after peace talks between the U.S. and

  • Voluntary separation, retirement programs extended

    Air Force officials have announced an extension of voluntary separation and retirement programs for fiscal 2011 as part of the service's ongoing force-management initiatives.Voluntary and involuntary force-management programs were implemented in fiscal 2010 due to record-high retention. For fiscal

  • Airmen win honors at worldwide talent search

    Air Force entertainment officials selected the top 11 entertainers Dec. 13 at an awards banquet here during the annual Air Force Worldwide Talent Search.More than 70 Airmen participated in the event Dec. 6 through 13 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.The annual competition allows Airmen to showcase

  • Mobility rodeo prepares Airmen for exercises, deployments

    More than 400 Airmen participated in an ability to survive and operate, or ATSO, rodeo Dec. 13 here in preparation for upcoming exercises and deployments.Participants attended one of five two-hour long classes where they learned proper chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear-active defense,

  • Support agencies help Airmen, families manage holiday stress

    The holiday season can bring joyful smiles and priceless moments with friends and family. But for some, it can bring a sense of worry, self-doubt, frustration and agony.Numerous agencies at Air Force bases provide programs and assistance to those who are experiencing the tougher side of life this

  • 96th ARS Airmen start flying at Hickam

    Airmen from the 96th Air Refueling Squadron here performed their first operational mission Dec. 13 by refueling B-52 Stratofortresses from the 5th Wing at Minot AFB, N.D.The 96th ARS was activated here in September and has been conducting training sorties since then.The squadron won't be fully

  • Operation Christmas Drop a team effort

    Airmen stationed in Japan and Guam are experiencing the joy of giving on an epic scale this holiday season. This year marks the 23rd year Airmen from Yokota AFB are participating in Operation Christmas Drop, an annual humanitarian mission hosted in conjunction with volunteers and personnel from

  • Santa's new address: No. 1 Santa Claus Lane, North Pole

    The city of North Pole, Alaska, with the assistance of the North Pole Economic Development Corporation, has erected a permanent candy cane marker designating "No. 1 Santa Claus Lane" as the address to which letters to Santa should be addressed.The recent installation of the candy cane marker, along

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photo highlights feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.View the slideshow.

  • First 24th AF Portraits in Courage recipient: 'I was just doing my job'

    Staff Sgt. Alexander Yessayan said he's not a hero, and you might just believe him unless you talk to anyone who knows him, or he begrudgingly tells you about what happened more than a year ago in Afghanistan.Those who know him use words like humble, straight shooter and, yes, hero to describe

  • Photo essay: Operation Christmas Drop

    Airmen from the 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, come together each year during Operation Christmas Drop to drop thousands of pounds of donated supplies over various Micronesian Islands Dec. 14.View the slideshow.

  • Select CDCs become available online

    Airmen in select career fields can now complete their career development courses through Air University's AU Online website -- a derivative website of Air Education and Training Command's Advanced Distributed Learning System -- that provides course access from work or home computers.Electronic CDCs

  • Klotz: Minot AFB Airmen are what make the difference

    The Air Force Global Strike Command commander and command chief met with Airmen here to thank them for their service and seek input about their mission.As the only base with both intercontinental ballistic missle and nuclear-capable bomber missions, Minot AFB is unique, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz said.

  • Airmen turn aeromedical staging facility into 'home-like atmosphere'

    Your plane lands after multiple flights and long hours. The door of the C-17 Globemaster III opens, and the cold air hits your face. It's the middle of winter in Southern Illinois, and several men and women in uniforms escort you to a bus that will take you to your room. When the bus comes to a

  • Communications Airmen prove vital to Regional Command-West mission

    Imagine a small group of elite Soldiers on patrol in the mountains of the northern Herat province of Afghanistan coming under heavy attack by a large group of insurgents.What if these outnumbered and outgunned Soldiers called back to camp for close-air support but found no answer on the receiving

  • Airman wins for big IDEA

    It wasn't a contest or a lucky roll of the dice that earned Tech. Sgt. Justin Burt $7,633; it was a good idea.The 28th Maintenance Squadron structural maintenance craftsman was rewarded because he thought of a new way to repair the rubber seals on a B-1B Lancer's landing gear doors. He received a

  • Recruiting, retention stay high throughout services

    Recruitment and retention remained high throughout the services for the first two months of the fiscal year, with only the Air National Guard missing its accessions goal, according to numbers released by Pentagon officials Dec. 15.All four active-duty services met or exceeded their numerical

  • Lesser-known UCMJ offenses

    Some Airmen destroy promising careers, and it's not always because they are caught stealing, using drugs or misusing their government computer. Having served as a prosecutor, defense attorney and military judge, I've seen people lose their careers for many reasons: from voyeurism to disloyal

  • Deadline for aerospace awards draws near

    The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2011 Air Force Association aerospace awards to the Air Force Personnel Center is Feb. 1.The aerospace awards recognize individuals for their outstanding contributions to national defense in a variety of fields.These awards include:Theodore Von Karman

  • AMC commander signs order prohibiting use of spice

    Gen. Raymond Johns, Jr., the commander of the Air Mobility Command, signed a general order Nov. 2 prohibiting the use of intoxicating substances, including spice.The order bans AMC members, including those assigned to tenant units, active duty on temporary duty on an AMC base, Air Force Reserve on

  • Most housing rates dip for 2011 as pay, subsistence increase

    Most military housing allowance rates will decrease slightly for 2011, but servicemembers will receive, on average, as much or slightly more money than they did this year, Defense Department officials said Dec. 15.Cheryl Anne Woehr, a housing allowance program analyst, said overall rates are fairly

  • Culture and language center to expand production of field guides

    The Air Force Language, Region and Culture Program Office will increase field guide production to provide Airmen an understanding of the cultural concepts necessary to meet mission requirements in the region to which they are deployed, officials said here Dec. 15. The framework of the field guides

  • New 'bird' finds home with 76th AS

    Members of the 76th Airlift Squadron here receieved a C-37A Dec. 7 to help increase the flying capabilities of the distinguished visitor mission.The new aircraft is the military version of the Gulfstream V ultra-long-range-business aircraft and is the first C-37A to be stationed here. The C-37A