Air Force officials mull 9th Air Force, AFCENT separation

As Air Force leaders continue to balance mission requirements and available resources, they are proposing a separation between the stateside numbered air force and its warfighting component to the U.S. Central Command. Currently, a three-star general commands both 9th Air Force at Shaw Air Force

Critical Days of Summer videos aim to save Airmen's lives

The Air Force chief of staff and the Air Force top safety officer appear in videos to launch the service's annual Critical Days of Summer safety campaign, which begins May 22 and ends Sept. 7. Gen. Norton Schwartz appears in a video calling for everyone to be proactive in saving lives during this

Leaders send letter to Airmen on Critical Days of Summer

The Air Force's top two leaders cited the start of the 2009 Critical Days of Summer campaign, and called for everyone to be proactive in saving lives during this high-risk season in a letter to Airmen sent out May 22. In the letter, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff

Air Force Week in Photos

This week's photo highlights cover 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 who fly, fight and win ... in air, space and cyberspace. View Week in Photos slideshow.

Pacific Air Forces Airmen mourn loss of Airman

Airmen are mourning the loss of a Pacific Air Forces lieutenant killed in action May 20 during Operation Enduring Freedom. First Lt. Roslyn L. Schulte, 25, an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations officer assigned to the 613th Air and Space Operations Center, died May 20 near

Team offers Airmen outlet for traumatic stress

With Airmen deploying now more than ever, it only makes sense for Air Force officials to create resources for the Airmen once they get back to their home station. One of these resources is the traumatic stress response team, which was introduced Air Force-wide in 2006. All Air Force bases with a

Department of Defense officials identify Air Force casualty

Department of Defense officials announced May 21 the death of an Airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. 1st Lt. Roslyn L. Schulte, 25, of St. Louis, Mo., died May 20 near Kabul, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered from an improvised explosive device. She was assigned to the Headquarters

Air Force makes Indy 500 debut

Race fans tuning into the Indianapolis 500 May 24 will see Luczo Dragon Racing's No. 2 car making its Indy debut in Air Force colors. Behind the wheel will be rookie driver Rafael Matos who hopes to exploit his success as the 2008 Firestone Indy Lights champion into a win at what is deemed "The

Wounded major fulfills career milestone

An Air Force major recovered from injuries suffered in Afghanistan to complete 20 years of honorable service. "I decided pretty early on what I wanted to do," Maj. Matthew Conlan said. "I was going to get back on the job and continue serving. I wanted to finish what I started." Major Conlan,

After market uniforms may present risk

The Air Force authorized a single all-season version of the Airman's Battle Uniform, or ABU, for wear service-wide, making any other version or claims of a summer weight uniform unauthorized. The one exception is a 100 percent cotton ABU, which is only authorized for wear in the firefighter and

AFSO 21 initiative at Dover will save $1.8 million

A new process here will save the Air Force $1.8 million in man hours in the course of a year and most Airmen will not notice the change. Inprocessing at Dover took an average of 20 days, but through an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, that time has been cut to two days. "A

Air Force solar-powered hydrogen plant completed

A $1.1 million solar array project to power the base hydrogen production and fueling station was completed here May 8, marking a "first" for both the Air Force and the state of Hawaii. After about six weeks of installation, 810 solar modules can now produce 146 kilowatts of energy per hour,

Keesler officials open gates to military bloggers

Airmen in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron here hosted the Air Force's first ever orientation flight for military bloggers May 19. The flight, which took place aboard one of the Reserve unit's WC-130J Hercules, was designed to give the bloggers a taste of what it's like to fly on a military

Airmen compete in Boston Marathon Iraqi style

People at Contingency Operating Base Adder were buzzing with excitement at 5 a.m. April 18, as runners anxiously awaited the start of the annual Boston Marathon-Iraq held for the fifth time here. More than 300 servicemembers and civilians from throughout the area of responsibility ran the perimeter

Senior enlisted leaders strengthen international bonds

Senior enlisted leaders from nine countries met in the San Antonio area for a closer look at Air Education and Training Command programs and processes during a visit May 12-15. As part of the 2009 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit, international enlisted leaders from Australia, Bulgaria, Japan,

Airmen airlift aid to Pakistan's war-torn Swat Valley

In response to specific requests for support from the government of Pakistan, the Department of Defense has arranged for the delivery of humanitarian assistance to aid the estimated 1.7 million Pakistanis displaced by current military operations against extremists in the country's northwestern

Airman's Roll Call: Summer Safety

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the 101 critical days of summer, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Summer safety is important to the Air Force and its members. From 1997 to 2008, an average of 24 Airmen were lost each summer. Last year, 17 Airmen were fatally injured. Air

Air Force chief of staff visits Osan

The common themes of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz's remarks to more than 400 Airmen gathered here May 11 were teamwork and excellence, key elements in mission accomplishment as well as in Airmen's personal lives. The general also reminded the crowd that all Airmen are a part of the

Huge crowd turns out for Night at the Air Force Museum

More than 10,000 visitors came face-to-face with aviation history May 15 during a Night at the Air Force Museum at the National Museum of the United States Air Force here. The sizeable crowd had the opportunity to look into the cockpits of aircraft such as the B-24D Liberator and SR-71A Blackbird

Flight crews fight weather to continue medical mission in Nicaragua

Day two for the Soldiers and Airmen of Joint Task Force-Bravo working their first medical readiness mission to Nicaragua dawned bright and clear in Managua May 15. But 80 miles to the north, the skies told a much different story. For the aviators of the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, the

Airmen support Soldiers by putting bombs on targets

On a battlefield they plan, request and direct air strikes against enemy targets in close proximity to friendly forces, namely the army units on the frontlines who may need close-air support in the blink of an eye. "I get a lot of satisfaction knowing I am supporting my Army counterparts," said

AFSO 21 improves war-ready engines

The 20th Component Maintenance Squadron is currently taking steps to improve the process of producing war-ready engines by applying Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. From March 23 to March 25, Airmen from the 20th Maintenance Group gathered to participate in the TF34 Rapid Improvement

Combat controller receives two Bronze Stars with valor

A combat controller, who is now charged with helping fill the special tactics ranks, was presented with two Bronze Stars with valor during a ceremony held recently at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Master Sgt. Ken Huhman, a special tactics recruiter in San Antonio, received the medals for his

AF men take gold, women silver in b-ball championship

The 22nd annual Armed Forces Basketball Championship wrapped up competition May 17 with the Air Force men taking gold medals and the Air Force women taking silver in their divisions.  The Air Force men swept the competition with a record of 6-0, clinching their fourth consecutive title, while the

New online application added to voluntary assignments

Air Force officials recently introduced a new Web-based application that allows Airmen to withdraw or cancel a voluntary assignment from their desks at their convenience. Voluntary assignments are assignments that are self-initiated and that Airmen can apply for on their own. They differ from normal

Local high school students get inside look at Southwest Asian air base

Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted 75 high school students from the local America-Mideast Educational and Training Services language training center during their visit to the base May 16. Members of the 386th AEW along with Soldiers, Navy Seabees and Australian personnel from the

Blood center is lifeline for servicemembers

Every year, thousands of units of blood and plasma are donated and sent into the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to save the lives of servicemembers and civilians who sustain life threatening injuries. Thanks to the hard work of the four members of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group

Panjshir PRT medics improve medical sanitation

As soon as the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team arrived in the Panjshir Valley in November 2008, they noticed a need for a more sanitary way of disposing of contaminated needles. "We saw that they were using cardboard boxes and buckets for [sharps] disposal. We also observed needles laying

Freedom Conference Center NCOs boost morale

Air Force supervisors make it their mission to provide leadership to their subordinate Airmen as well as boost unit morale whenever possible. One pair of NCOs here takes boosting morale one step further serving as the focal point for the entire base. 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, Tech.

New system for tracking personnel gets workout soon

As the Air Force gears up for its second test of the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System, Air Force Materiel Command leaders are reminding people to participate during the May 19-21 exercise. The new system is designed to improve the way the Air Force keeps track of its people.

'Today's Air Force' features the new CMSAF

This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the next chief master sergeant of the Air Force, unmanned aircraft systems operated from Creech Air Force Base, Nev., the dangers of supplements and an F-16 Fighting Falcon that passed 7,000 hours of flight time. The 16th chief master sergeant of the

Defenders honored during National Police Week

The 386th and 387th Expeditionary Security Forces squadrons here commemorated National Police Week with a variety of events at an air base in Southwest Asia beginning May 10. The week began with a march to the various memorials of fallen security forces Airmen located around base followed by a

Air Force leaders testify on infrastructure budget

The four pillars of the Air Force budget strategy--people, readiness, infrastructure, and modernization were the main topics May 12 when the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Installations testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Ms. Kathleen Ferguson, flanked by Brig.

President issues Armed Forces Day proclamation

President Barack Obama signed and issued a proclamation May 14 designating May 16 as Armed Forces Day. Here is the presidential proclamation: On Armed Forces Day, 1961, President Kennedy connected civic engagement and our nation's security. He stated, "The strength of our armed forces rests not

New club members get 3 month free membership

 All eligible personnel who join any Air Force club between June 15 and Aug. 15 will automatically receive three months of free dues as part of the Air Force's 2009 club membership campaign. New members also will receive the benefits of a free cash-back rewards program and a six-month, zero-percent

CSAF reflects on importance of PACAF

The chief of staff of the Air Force wrapped up a week-long, four-base tour of Pacific Air Forces here May 13 on his first visit to the region since becoming the nation's top-ranking uniformed Airman last August. Gen. Norton Schwartz said the United States has a vested interest in the Asia-Pacific

Air Force officials standardize informal uniform

As a result of the 96th Air Force Uniform Board, a standardized informal uniform is now authorized for wear. The informal uniform will be mandatory for wear by all applicable Air Force personnel starting Jan. 1, 2011. The Air Force Chief of Staff directed review of the informal uniform to help

CSAF speaks candidly at Yokota Airmen

"In the end what it's all about is performance," said the senior Air Force officer responsible for organizing, training and equipping nearly 700,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces. "If the United States Air Force performs, we don't need to advertise ourselves and proclaim how good

Air Force Week in Photos

This week's photo highlights cover 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 who fly, fight and win ... in air, space and cyberspace. View Week in Photos slideshow.

Ramstein Airmen support NASA shuttle launch

Ramstein Air Base Airmen teamed up with New York Air National Guard members to support NASA's launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis in May here. Members of the 37th Airlift Squadron, 1st Combat Communications Squadron and the Guard's 101st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron loaded rescue cargo into two C-130

Airman spots aircraft fuel leak at 35,000 feet

Most of us hear stories of Airmen saving lives in combat, but an Airman who saves the lives of more than 300 passengers is definitely a story worth hearing. A fuel leak on a civilian aircraft caught the attention of Staff Sgt. Bartek Bachleda, 909th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, during a

Airmen take heed for those in need

Ten Airmen from Manas Air Base visited the Umut-Nadjeshda Children's Rehabilitation Center in Bishkek May 9 to help fix the center for more than 60 local children. The off-duty Airmen painted playground equipment, installed a new stove and to make other improvements to the center for the youths aged

Air Force officials release master sergeant selection stats

Air Force officials here May 14 selected 5,604 of 22,748 eligible technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant for a selection rate of 24.64 percent. The average score for those selected was 340.41, with an average time in grade and time in service of 4.45 and 16.40 years respectively. The

U.S. pilots train Finns in aerial refueling operations

A group of Airmen with the 100th Air Refueling Wing traveled to Tampere, Finland, May 2 to participate in a week-long exercise with Navy  and Finnish Air Force F-18 Hornet pilots.The Airmen helped teach the Finnish pilots how to refuel in-air from a KC-135 Stratotanker.The exercise marks the first

New uniforms: Comfortable, functional are goals

Officials from the Uniform Program Office here continue to work for Airmen, researching and purchasing uniforms that provide more function, protection and comfort. The Air Force chief of staff met with office personnel April 21 for an update on clothing issues Airmen face as they support global

Test center officials link mobility to 'boots on the ground'

In the Southern Arizona desert, three C-130 Hercules aircraft recently rumbled over the saguaros and airdropped training bundles to a waiting combat controller. The historic drop was conducted digitally with a tactical data link known as the Situational Awareness Data Link, or SADL. It was the first

U.S., Australia, India train to improve medical care in Pacific

Thirty-two critical care specialists from the United States, Australia and India are scheduled to train on the movement of severely-ill patients in the Pacific theater during a course here May 11-15. Thirteenth Air Force's Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center-Pacific, the aeromedical

Airmen build on partnership in Rwanda

U.S. Air Forces Africa conducted a military-to-military engagement with Rwandan Air Force air traffic controllers April 20-24 to expand on the two nations' existing partnership here. Seventeenth Air Force planners (AFAFRICA) from the plans and programs directorate organized the theater security

Airmen deliver 30,000 H1N1 prevention kits to Haiti and Central America

An Air Mobility Command C-17 Globemaster III and its crew, operating in conjunction with U.S. Southern Command efforts, delivered 30,000 H1N1 influenza prevention kits to Haiti and five Central American countries May 8 to 10, according to AMC officials. The H1N1 flu virus, first detected in April,

Enlisted Heritage Hall receives Airey's CMSAF ring

Paul Wesley Airey, the first chief master sgt. of the Air Force, had a close and very special association with Gunter, which he proved by leaving his CMSAF ring to the Enlisted Heritage Hall museum, his son said. "Dad always wanted his ring to come to Gunter because of his association with the

New York Air Guard supports shuttle for 100th time

Eight pararescuemen aboard an HC-130 Hercules from the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing were on hand to support NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis as it launched May 11 from Kennedy Space Center, Fla.It was the 100th time Airmen from the Long Island-based rescue wing have watched a space

2009 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit held at Gunter

The Air Force vice chief of staff of the Air Force addressed the third annual Senior Enlisted Leader Summit May 6 at Gunter's Senior NCO Academy. Gen. William M. Fraser III said all Airmen should know and support the Air Force priorities and live by the Air Force core values of integrity first,

B-1B makes impact throughout Southwest Asia

Before late 2008, the B-1B Lancer was known primarily as a bomber, but since then the aircraft was modified to include the Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod now provides nontraditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to ground forces. "Before the B-1B was equipped with the sniper pod, we

Working dog, EOD team partner to secure Alaska's interior

The Department of Homeland Security teamed up with Eielson AFB Airmen here in an effort to keep the Fairbanks North Star Borough safer May 5. A military working dog team assigned to the 354th Security Forces Squadron, and an explosive ordnance disposal team from 354th Civil Engineer Squadron swept

Air Force leaders send budget message

The top two Air Force leaders released a joint message May 8 regarding the fiscal 2010 defense budget and shifting Air Force priorities. Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said that the defense budget focuses on three themes:

Aircrews, maintainers gear up for wildfire season

Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen earned their certifications on the Military Airborne Firefighting System during training May 3 through 9 here. C-130 Hercules aircrews flew MAFFS training missions from the Tucson International Airport from sun up to sundown to finalize their annual

Airmen help Florida youth see inner potential

For 10 troubled young men from the Liberty Juvenile Unit for Special Treatment in Bristol, Fla., May 5 was a chance to receive some respite from the confines of juvenile delinquency. Members of the 325th Security Forces Squadron here hosted the teenagers, who ranged from ages 15 to 18, on a tour of

Airmen, veterans can now apply for new GI Bill

The Department of Veterans Affairs opened its doors for accepting Post-9/11 GI Bill applications May 1. All Airmen and former Airmen with at least 90 days of active duty service since Sept. 11, 2001, can choose to apply for education benefits, which begin Aug. 1 under the new GI Bill law. To apply

Air Force leaders name next top enlisted leader

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley have announced the Airman selected to be the service's next enlisted leader. Chief Master Sgt. James A. Roy will become the 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force during an appointment

Klotz confirmed to lead Air Force Global Strike Command

Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz received Senate confirmation to become commander of the Air Force's newest major command, Air Force Global Strike Command. "I am honored to have been nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate to lead our Air Force global strike forces," General Klotz said. "I

Airmen, Soldiers make first jump from Ramstein C-130J

As the ramp let down at 3,000 feet and the sunlight slipped into the cargo bay of a new C-130J Super Hercules, Air Force and Army paratroopers stood ready to execute the first jump from Ramstein Air Base's newest aircraft. As Ramstein transitions from the older C-130E Hercules, some 35 Airmen and

Coaches Tour 2009 takes shape at McConnell

The game plan to bring some of the biggest names in college sports to troops overseas is in full motion at McConnell Air Force Base. Active and Reserve Airmen here are preparing for the upcoming Coaches Tour 2009, a second annual morale-boosting mission featuring head coaching icons of NCAA

Wounded warrior receives surprise promotion

Staff Sgt. Daniel Acosta woke May 7 thinking he was a senior airman. He was surprised to discover that he was promoted to staff sergeant without his knowledge. Lt. Col. Michael Glass, 59th Medical Support Squadron commander, advised Sergeant Acosta that Lt. Gen. Richard Newton, deputy chief of staff

Airmen go 'Beyond the Horizon' to help Jamaicans

More than 3,700 Jamaicans were given free medical, eye and dental care April 11 through 26 when 35 Airmen participated in a U.S. Southern Command humanitarian assistance exercise called Beyond the Horizon. The Air National Guard Airmen from Arizona's 162nd Fighter Wing treated Jamaicans as they

Bagram officials stand up 4 new squadrons

Bagram Airfield officials have added four new squadrons to their growing list of units during an assumption of command ceremony here May 5. More than 1,200 joint expeditionary tasking and provincial reconstruction team Airmen deployed to more than 40 forward operating bases and camps throughout

Air Force fiscal 2010 budget reflects rebalanced priorities

Air Force officials here May 7 announced that its portion of the president's fiscal 2010 budget reflects a balanced strategy to prevail in today's joint fight and sustain air, space and cyberspace dominance. The two overarching principles guiding next year's budget are rebalancing the Air Force's

Levitow's pilot lands at Peterson for leadership visit

"I don't need to tell you about character, if you didn't have it, you wouldn't be here," retired Maj. Kenneth Carpenter said to approximately 200 Airmen who gathered in the base auditorium April 28 to support his Year of Leadership program visit here. During his hour-long chat with the audience,

Major motorcycle safety event held at Pentagon

Senior leaders from the military services gathered together in the Pentagon parking lot May 1 to take part in a National Capital Region Joint Service Motorcycle Safety Event, designed to promote rider safety programs throughout the military. The two-day event included motorcycle skills

Nellis Airmen locate missing aircraft

An HH-60G Pave Hawk rescue crew from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., found the wreckage an overdue aircraft in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range May 1.The missing aircraft was the subject of the large-scale search by state officials and Civil Air Patrol members, but there were no survivors from the

'Continuum of Service' video promotes total force options

In an effort to retain highly skilled Airmen for a lifetime of service, Air Force leaders recently unveiled a Continuum of Service video that helps to promote seamless changes in duty status in the total force structure. The video, produced by a team from the Secretary of the Air Force Office of

Sheppard officials test synthetic fuels

Air Force Petroleum Agency officials are finalizing preparations for field testing of a 50/50 blend of JP-8 and synthetic jet fuel at the 364th Training Squadron fuels training complex here. Alternative Fuels Certification Office officials at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, said synthetic

Airman's Roll Call: Post-9/11 G.I. Bill rules outlined

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the proposed transferability rules of the new Post-9/11 G.I. Bill. Department of Veterans Affairs representatives are now accepting sign-ups for the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill and Defense Department officials are working to get the word out about the proposed

Delta II launch successful

Teams from the 30th Space Wing and various agencies successfully launched a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex-2 at 1:24 p.m May 5. The rocket carried an experimental satellite for the Missile Defense Agency's Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk

AFSO21 helps improve wing processes

In an effort to help save time and money, 23rd Wing officials stood up an office to provide Airmen with the tools and assistance to carry out Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiatives. AFSO21 is a program to help improve work processes and combat capabilities throughout the Air

Mission complete: Charleston Airmen return home

Transition assistance experts hone job-assistance skills

About 120 transition assistance experts from across the Air Force came to downtown San Antonio April 28 through 30 to learn the latest in career and employment initiatives and how they relate to today's economic environment. The three-day conference kicked off with a one-day, Air Force specific

Chief scientist: Airmen's innovative spirit vital to future

The Air Force's top scientific adviser expressed his appreciation for the innovative spirit among today's Airmen, during a visit with Air Mobility Command here May 1. Air Force Chief Scientist Dr. Werner J.A. Dahm said each Airman plays a vital role in innovation across the Air Force, as

Airmen distribute Humvees to Iraqi forces

Joint expeditionary tasking Airmen and Soldiers here are currently working to arm Iraqi forces with more protective means of transportation. As U.S. forces change over to the M1151 Humvee, they turn in the older M1114 vehicles to the Taji Redistribution Property Assistance Team here as a means of

Challenge pushes Airmen, Soldiers

Operation Uniform Delta highlights heritage

Air Force heritage walked before today's deployed servicemembers when 18 volunteer Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing wore vintage uniforms at showcase events here April 24 and again April 27. Operation Uniform Delta was a sample of a collection started and maintained by Tech. Sgt. Jack

Facts, testimony bust IDEA myths

In less time than it takes to fill out a credit card application, Darlene Daspit-Pohl was on her way to earning $10,000 just for having an idea. Ms. Daspit-Pohl used the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program, or IDEA program, to submit an idea that reduces how much the

Air Force officials to release master sergeant promotion list

The Air Force Personnel Center will post the selection list for master sergeant promotions on the Air Force Portal and AFPC public and military Web sites May 14 at 8 a.m. Central time. This is the first time in 12 years the master sergeant and technical sergeant promotion lists have not been

Airmen, Sailors provide maritime support for Iraqi military

Air Force and Navy servicemembers teamed up in April to support and train the newly formed Iraqi navy with maritime mission along the northern area of the Arabian Gulf where a large percentage of Iraq's oil is exported. The first intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flight took place April

Public health maintains high standards, healthy force

Airmen in the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group constantly monitor the health of all individuals and check to see if illnesses of base personnel are isolated incidents or part of a trend at this air base in Southwest Asia. "Our main role is the prevention and control of communicable diseases," said

'Today's Air Force' features training, Earth Day celebrations

The latest edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights how Airmen at Aviano Air Base in Italy prepare for combat, a new model in the C-130 Hercules fleet, and a celebration of Earth Day. Combined training is a way to get to know allies, how they train and how they'll react in certain situations and

From basic trainee to Airman

Keesler personnel to participate in LIFESAVER 2009

Keesler AFB Airmen join local, state and federal agencies in "LIFESAVER 2009," a major federal coordinating center and national disaster medical system exercise being conducted May 5-7. With an estimated 2,000 participants, this is the largest "LIFESAVER" event since May 2005. "LIFESAVER 2009" will

Reserve Airmen complete deployment to Guam

More than 110 Airmen and four KC-135 Stratotankers from Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind., completed a four-month deployment May 1 to Andersen Air Force Base.The Airmen formed the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron to support Pacific refueling operations. KC-135s have been routinely deployed

Unit marks 50 years of NASA support

Three NASA astronauts visited Patrick Air Force Base members April 24 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of support from the Air Force to the American space program. Current Astronaut Col. Greg Johnson and former astronauts retired Navy Capt. Jon McBride and retired Marine Col. Bob Springer shared

NCO sentenced for larceny, bomb threat

A noncommissioned officer stationed here pleaded guilty to several violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice April 28 and was sentenced the next day to 24 months confinement, a bad conduct discharge and a reduction in rank to airman. Staff Sgt. Arthur Miller, assigned to the 65th Logistics

Museum receives artifact donation from Mexican air force

The Mexican air force foreign liaison officer stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio presented National Museum of the U.S. Air Force officials here with World War II artifacts representing the 201st Mexican Fighter Squadron April 29.Mexican air force Lt. Col. Daniel Mojica presented a

Vehicle maintainers travel rough road

Vehicle maintenance conducted in the most equipped garages can still present its fair share of challenges. For vehicle maintainers assigned to the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team here, garages, a well-stocked supply warehouse and proper tools are a remote luxury not often afforded here.

Airmen mobilize to confront Afghan insurgency

More than a dozen F-15E Strike Eagles, two DC-10s and a C-17 Globemaster III met the rising sun over the Atlantic Ocean en route to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, April 29.Approximately 350 deploying Airmen from the 336th Fighter Squadron and 4th Maintenance Group will spend the next four months

Force Support Squadron takes on Red Flag-Alaska

Approximately 1,400 U.S. and foreign military members are participating in Red Flag-Alaska 09-2. The amplified workforce calls for additional support to provide basic needs, and Airmen in the 354th Force Support Squadron have willingly answered the call. "Red Flag-Alaska brings an increased number

Airmen provide island residents with drinkable water

Six Airmen from Pacific Air Forces units arrived here Feb. 4 to cure the island's contaminated water supply ruined due to unusually high tides and have treated more than 1,840,000 gallons of water for residents here. Unusual weather around the Pacific region caused six irregular high tides to flow

Airmen train next generation

Over the Arizona desert near Tucson, nine student pilots took the "final exam" for a career most people only dream about in April. They are in the final stages of training to become F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots for the Air Force. At the end of 7.5 months of intense F-16 Basic Course Training with the

Air Force, Navy combine for air combat skills training

Pilots from the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing in Madison, honed their air-to-air combat training skills along side their naval counterparts from the Strike Fighter Squadron 2 (VFA-2), Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., during a two-week training mission here. Air Guard pilots

Air Force chief of staff returns to roots

Some thirty-five years ago, 2nd Lt. Norton Schwartz graduated Undergraduate Pilot Training, walking away from here with a set of silver wings and a promising career with unlimited potential. On April 24th, now Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz came full circle, returning to Laughlin as

Airmen keep F-16s airborne during Balikatan 2009

Air Force maintainers are keeping fighter pilots ready to go during Exercise Balikatan 2009 here. Balikatan, which in English means "shoulder to shoulder," is an annual joint bilateral exercise designed to improve U.S. and the Republic of the Philippines combined planning, combat readiness and

Airmen spread goodwill during Balikatan 2009

More than 20 Airmen participating in Exercise Balikatan 2009 visited Filipino children at schools and an orphanage April 24 and 25 here. The Airmen from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., participating in the exercise took time to spread goodwill to nearly 150 children from the Duyan Ni Maria orphanage and