Manas medical group provides hope to local hospitals

Members of the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group recently saw their efforts come to fruition during a hand-over ceremony of humanitarian medical equipment from the United States to three hospitals in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as part of Operation Provide Hope.The largest single U.S.-assistance project

SOUTHCOM deploys damage assessment team to Belize

Approximately 25 Airmen and Soldiers, two CH-47 Chinook helicopters and a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from U.S. Southern Command's Joint Task Force-Bravo here deployed to Belize today to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Dean. The assessment team will bring various people to evaluate the amount

Servicemembers treat 1,300 patients in Peru

Members of Joint Task Force-Bravo's medical disaster relief task force continue to supply medical assistance to the citizens of Pisco, Peru, following an 8.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the region Aug. 15. Medical team members deployed from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, have treated more than

Artist captures Eielson mission change on canvas

An artist recently captured the mission evolution at Eielson in an oil painting. Capt. Warren Neary, an Air Force reservist assigned to the Air Force Space Command history office, completed an oil painting that depicts the change in mission at Eielson and the 354th Fighter Wing. The painting is

Army Air Corps veteran talks about war experience

The 81-year-old World War II veteran was a liar. Robert McNally shared his story at the Pease Air National Guard Base's air show Aug. 19, one of the main attractions of Air Force Week New England. Mr. McNally's military journey preceded the Air Force and started in the era of the Army Air Corps.

Course focuses on trauma training for nurses, medics

To accommodate a large number of Airmen departing Wilford Hall Medical Center for Air Expeditionary Force 9/10, 59th Medical Wing leaders implemented a trauma pre-deployment course Aug. 16 for nurses and medical technicians. The course is a condensed version of the Department of Defense's Emergency

Air Force fitness test now pass, fail

Air Force officials here recently announced a change to physical fitness test standards for all Airmen. The "marginal" category has been eliminated, and the test will now be either pass or fail. Previously, Airmen who scored below 70 on the fitness test failed, and those who scored between 70 and

Air Force discontinues use of base decals

Air Force officials are working with other services to allow its people to enter installations without requiring them to display a base decal on their vehicles. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley recently ended use of the sticker, officially called a DD Form 2220, on Air Force

Texas National Guard ready for Hurricane Dean strike

About 4,700 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, most of them from Texas, are making final preparations Aug. 20 for a rapid response should Hurricane Dean strike the Texas coast the end of August. Another 5,000 Texas Soldiers and Airmen are poised for activation should Texas Gov. Rick Perry deem it

Robins officer comes up BIG in life, career

A navigator with the 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron here received the 2007 Blacks in Government Meritorious Service Award Aug. 17 in Nashville, Tenn.Lt. Col. Joseph Richardson accepted given annually to a military member and Department of Defense civilian employee who has distinguished

Afghan conference addresses communications issues

An American Airman spoke to more than 75 senior military communications professionals of the Afghan national army during a conference in July at Kabul.The conference, "Building a Capable C4 Force," was held to discuss strategic communications networks, tactical equipment fielding plans, signal

Weather center receives production system upgrades

The American Forces Network Weather Center here received computer upgrades recently ensuring its world-wide products equal or surpass those of its civilian counterparts. The center received two major forecast production units, known as Weather Services International systems, in early August. The

'Today's Air Force' focuses on recapitalization

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights recapitalization -- replacing the aging F-15 Eagle with the front-line air dominance fighter, the F-22 Raptor. And see more than 22,000 Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen participate in Exercise Valiant Shield. The exercise showcases

Maori welcome Airmen to New Zealand

Pease Airmen provide a day to remember

Airmen hosted an air show here for special-needs children Aug. 17 in advance of the Pease Air National Guard Base's air show Aug. 18 and 19. The event, which included a drill team performance, music and a front-row view of numerous aerial acts, gave children with disabilities or special

Task force treats more than 500 Peruvian patients

Medical personnel from Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras saw more than 500 patients here Aug. 18 and 19 -- including more than 200 in the first three hours of operation -- and expect to see many more in the next week. The medical team deployed from Soto Cano the morning of

Pope aerovac squadron deploys for Hurricane Dean

More than 40 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Airmen deployed at 11:30  a.m. Aug. 19 to Brownsville, Texas, to set up a Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facility at the Brownsville airport in support of Hurricane Dean evacuations.The team left on a C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston AFB, S.C. 

CENTAF commander visits 379th Air Expeditionary Wing

Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, U.S. Central Command Air Forces and 9th Air Force commander, visited the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Aug. 15, kicking off a tour that will take him to expeditionary bases throughout the area of responsibility.General North discussed issues surrounding the Air Force's

Soto Cano task force arrives in Peru

A team of Airmen and Soldiers from Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, arrived here Aug. 17 to provide medical care to those suffering in the aftermath of an 8.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated the region Aug. 15. The task force is the first American force to touch down in

Boston proclamation party gets Air Force Week rolling

More than 300 people crowded outside of historic Faneuil Hall here Aug. 17 to celebrate the start of Air Force Week New England. The crowd was entertained by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill team, Air National Guard's Band of the Northeast and a flyover. Guest speakers included Massachusetts Lt.

Hurricane Hunters track Dean in Caribbean

Air Force Reserve Command's Hurricane Hunters are in St. Croix, the U.S. Virgin Islands, flying state-of-the-art WC-130J aircraft into Hurricane Dean in support of the National Hurricane Center. Hurricane Dean blasted St. Lucia, uprooting trees, downing power lines and damaging homes and other

Soto Cano team responds to Peru earthquake

Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen departed here Aug. 17 in support of relief efforts following the Aug. 15 earthquake near Lima, Peru. The task force, composed of a mobile surgery team, communications specialists and a small security detail, departed the base aboard a C-130J assigned to the

Programs help Airmen, families prepare for deployment

As part of ongoing efforts to inform Airmen about ways to manage stress, Air Force officials here introduced a monthly campaign to highlight initiatives to help Airmen and their families cope with life's difficulties, and the initiative for August is deployment readiness.Air Force officials employ

Holloman Airmen hand stealth knowledge to F-22 community

The stealth community wrapped up a high-powered information exchange Aug. 13 to 17 at Langley Air Force Base, Va. More than 70 49th Fighter Wing operators and maintainers gathered at the 1st Fighter Wing to hand off 25 years of stealth knowledge, as well as stealth integration tactics. "Holloman's

Bolling dedicates theater to legendary actor, Airman

Officials of the 11th Wing at Bolling Air Force Base officially changed the name of Building 52 to the Brig. Gen. Jimmy Stewart Theater Aug. 13 as the old building had finally come full circle, historically speaking. Among the some 200 people in attendance were Carson Greene, president of the Jimmy

Manas medics perform expeditionary appendectomy

A Manas Air Base Airman got a dose of expeditionary medicine recently when he reported to the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group.Tech. Sgt. Charles Bean of the 376th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuels Management wasn't a victim of the gastrointestinal ailment that sometimes plagues

Air Force doctrine gets new home at Air University

The Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center here stood up in August with the leaders of Air University, the 42nd Air Base Wing and local business and government agencies in attendance. The new center is the result of a merger between the Air Force Doctrine Center, which was stood up 10

Malmstrom Airmen rescue injured hiker on mountain peak

A UH-1N "Huey" helicopter crew assigned to the 40th Helicopter Squadron here, rescued an injured hiker Aug. 10 near Cook City, Mont., just north of the Montana-Wyoming border. The rescue, executed at approximately 9,000 feet, raises the unit's total number of "saves" to 369 and marks its fourth

CSAF's Scope highlights force structure changes

The CSAF's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen. Among Gen. T. Michael Moseley's top issues this month is the Air Force's force structure changes and "The High Ground." To facilitate effectively success of the future force

'Perspective' focuses on feedback, evaluation

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

No mountain too high, no bridge too far for Afghan PRT

Whether crawling over dirt mounds to inspect a school, hiking mountains 9,000 feet above sea level or handing out stuffed animals, members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team are pushing progress in Afghanistan. "It's a very unique job," said Lt. Col. Christopher Luedtke, PRT commander

Homestead Airmen return from Iraq

More than 260 Airmen from Homestead Air Reserve Base were welcomed home Aug. 13 as they returned from supporting the war on terrorism at Balad Air Base, Iraq. The Airmen were bused from the flightline to the reception area where hundreds of family members, friends, elected officials and local media

Exercise Valiant Shield wraps up

Exercise Valiant Shield 2007, the largest exercise of its kind in the Pacific, wrapped up eight days of flying operations Aug.13. During the field training exercise, more than 2,900 sorties were flown, with KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-10 Extenders offloading 2.29 million pounds of fuel to airborne

Training builds foundation for deploying medics

The acrid, hazy smoke hangs over a scene that is straight out of a nightmare. A red substance that looks like blood is smeared all over the two vehicles, and one of the vehicles is tipped over on its side. Fake body parts and debris are scattered everywhere like a petulant child's unappreciated

Hickam Airmen conduct 4-ship airdrop training

Four C-17 Globemaster III aircrews from the 535th Airlift squadron conducted multi-element airdrop training over the Kahuku training range Aug. 13 here allowing aircrew members to maintain currency while increasing proficiency and capability. Strategic airlift for the eight C-17s at Hickam AFB is in

Airman's Roll Call highlights streamlined services

This week's Airman's Roll Call highlights the merging of services and mission support squadrons at six Air Force test bases to streamline processes, increase efficiencies, maximize customer service and cut costs associated with maintaining two separate organizations. The new combined organizations

Virtualized servers saving time, money and power

'The server is down' are four words you never want to hear at work, especially in Iraq. Global Cyberspace Integration Center Airmen have teamed with Multi-National Corps-Iraq communications people to evaluate server usage and provide methods of improvement to eliminate this problem, specifically

Icelandic defense exercise kicks off

Leaders from the United States and Iceland joined NATO partners Aug. 13 to kick off an exercise to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the 1951 bilateral U.S.-Iceland defense agreement and reinvigorate air defense command and control capabilities of joint and coalition forces in Iceland. Exercise

Hurricane Hunters fly into Flossie

As Hurricane Flossie made its way across the Pacific, a few Airmen were doing the unthinkable -- making trips directly into the eye of the Category 4 storm. Airmen of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron's Hurricane Hunters out of Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., flew missions into the storm from

Afghan police seize weapons cache with Airmen support

Members of the Afghan National Police recently took control of a weapons cache discovered by the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team during a construction site inspection here recently. It's a perfect example of the teamwork occurring between the Afghans and the Americans working in this region

Cargo flight keeps warfighters moving

The Airmen with the 379th Logistics Readiness Squadron Cargo Movement Flight here serve as force multipliers by ensuring anything warfighters need gets to the proper place at the proper time. Members of the flight receive and ship supplies in and out of the base to and from anywhere in the world,

Airmen trek over mountains to deliver aid in Afghanistan

Trekking more than four hours over mountain ridges and valleys, 19 members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team delivered medical and humanitarian aid Aug. 7 to people living in Roydara, a village set deep in a valley in Afghanistan. The group, made mostly of Airmen, as well as Soldiers,

Airmen, Soldiers compete during boxing tourney

Fighters from the U.S. Army and Air Force settled their interservice "differences" in the ring during the 2007 summer Smoker Boxing Tournament Aug. 11 here. The competition, sponsored by Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation, pitted 36 Airmen from Osan, Kunsan and Suwon air bases against Soldiers from

Misawa mayor tours base first time in 67 years

After 67 years of living next door, the newest mayor of Misawa set foot on the base for the first time July 26. Kazumasa Taneichi, the new Misawa City mayor, received a tour of the flightline, fire station, new dorms and dining facility. He was even treated to a seat in the cockpit of the 35th

'Today's Air Force' highlights mission in Ecuador

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the Manta Air Base mission in Ecuador -- the fight against drug trafficking. It also features the Air Mobility Command Rodeo. See how more than 40 teams and 2,500 people from the Air Force, Air Force Reserve and allied nations took part in the

Crew chief awarded Purple Heart after 39-year wait

Wayne Sufficool vividly remembers what happened to him Feb. 19, 1968, when he was a crew chief on the RF-4C aircraft at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. It was the day the flightline area he was working on was hit with more than 40 rounds of 122 mm mortar rounds. Now Mr. Sufficool has another

Airmen go hand-to-hand with Afghan National Police

Airmen from the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team and Afghan National Police recently roughed each other up here with a little hand-to-hand combat, but all for the sake of training. Teaching pressure point control tactics to the Afghan police in the Anaba district helps increase the local

Upgraded armored vehicles aid Moody's war training

Warfighters preparing for combat deployments are now using the same highly armored combat vehicles during stateside training missions as they will use in theater. The 820th Security Forces Group recently received 18 Humvees outfitted with the safest and thickest armor modifications, known as Frag 5,

Command celebrates Air Force's 60th Anniversary

Airmen, family and friends from throughout the Kaiserslautern Military Community celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the United States Air Force here Aug. 11 with band performances, demonstrations and special guest speakers. "In addition to celebrating our historical anniversary, this year marks the

Recent ops eval challenges Lakenheath Airmen

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

Afghan cadet selected for Air Force pilot training

An Afghan translator soon will attend Air Force pilot training in the United States as part of the service's Aviation Leadership Program, becoming the first such trained pilot in the Afghan National Army Air Corps. Cadet Faiz Mohd Ramaki said he is the luckiest person in Afghanistan because of the

Air National Guard recognizes top Airmen

The Air National Guard's top six enlisted Airmen of the year were recognized for their achievements when the Air Guard's command chief master sergeant hosted Airmen of the Year Week here Aug. 4 to 11. The Airmen are: -- Airman of the Year: Staff Sgt. Jesse Permenter, 116th Air Support Operations

Retired Airmen don uniforms once again to teach JROTC cadets

More than 1,900 Junior ROTC instructors, who teach at 869 school units throughout the world, finished their initial instructor training here last week. Jo Alice Talley, chief of JROTC instructor management at Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools, said the newly hired instructors were

Recovery agency teams complete 100th Laos mission

Four recovery teams from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command recently completed JPAC's 100th recovery mission in Laos."The JPAC mission is as important in our effort to account for each missing American here as it is in Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Korea and everywhere else where we have unresolved

SERE training to be required for all Airmen

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley met Aug. 10 at the Pentagon with several Air Force leaders to discuss the road ahead for survival, evasion, resistance and escape training. Air Force leaders plan to broaden the focus of SERE training for all Airmen due to the threat of isolation and

Balad's medics move into new facility

Approximately 150 base volunteers and 380 Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group moved patients and equipment as they closed the doors on the old Air Force Theater Hospital and opened the doors to their pre-engineered facility here Aug. 3. Starting at 4 a.m., Airmen in each tent tunnel

Staff sergeant promotion rates announced

Air Force officials selected 15,130 of 36,608 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant for a selection rate of 41.33 percent, up 5.46 percent from last year. The staff sergeant promotion list will be released at 9 a.m. Central Daylight Time Aug. 15, and score notices will be posted on

Leaders consider returning maintainers to flying squadrons

Air Force leaders are considering realigning aircraft maintenance units directly into flying squadrons. "It's important for Air Force units to be structured by mission and not by function," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "Aircraft maintenance is an important element of a

Air National Guard assists with Utah mining rescue

Air National Guard members airlifted a critical piece of equipment Aug. 9 in Salt Lake City to assist with rescue operations for six Utah miners, who have been trapped deep inside the earth since the Crandall Canyon Coal Mine collapsed Aug. 6.Within hours of receiving the request for help from Utah

Humble hero visits RAF Lakenheath

"I don't have anything really profound to say," said Col. Leo Thorsness, retired Air Force fighter pilot and Medal of Honor recipient. The colonel, who visited RAF Lakenheath Aug. 7 to speak to Airmen about the importance of teamwork and families as part of a successful military, received the Medal

Ops center commands sky during Exercise Valiant Shield

Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers and Marines are working together in the 613th Air and Space Operations Center here and within the airspace around Guam to enhance joint combat skills and interoperability during Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 held Aug. 6 to 13. The week-long exercise tests the military's

General shares Tuskegee heritage with Balad Airmen

Airmen serving with the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here got a chance to meet with a man who shared some heritage with them July 31. On his sixth visit to Balad Air Base in recent years, Maj. Gen. Darryl A. Scott, the son of a Tuskegee Airman, arrived with a number of purposes. As the commander of

Airman's fight-back bravery earns him Bronze Star

Whenever Senior Airman Phillip King looks at his medal, he is reminded of Aug. 8, 2006. That was the day Airman King, through his brave actions, earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor. Col. Bryan Gallagher, 95th Air Base Wing commander, presented the medal to him during a ceremony here July 30.

Blood center supports U.S., coalition warfighters

Airmen of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group's blood transshipment center here have a tendency to make people's blood run cold -- literally. Blood transshipment center members are responsible for receiving blood from donors stateside, processing it, accounting for it, repacking it and shipping it

NCO's training proves worth for accident victims

An NCO attending a deployment training course at Fort Eustis, Va., became a hero recently when she used her self-aid and buddy care experience to tend to several people injured in an automobile accident. Staff Sgt. Brenda Johnson, the 8th Air Force manpower and personnel readiness NCO in charge

Predator soars to record numbers of sorties

When terrorists tried shooting mortar rounds at Balad Air Base in July, they didn't count on the tireless, unblinking eye of an MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle overhead, transmitting their every move to Airmen on the ground here. Airmen assigned to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance

Elmendorf welcomes F-22 Raptor

It was a historic day for Elmendorf as the base officially welcomed the first of its F-22 Raptor fleet during a ceremony here Aug. 8.Elmendorf became the second operational base and the first Pacific Air Forces installation to receive the Air Force's new superiority fighter. "These incredible

SECAF certifies synthetic fuel blends for B-52H

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne announced the completion of the Air Force's certification of the Fischer-Tropsch fuel blend in the B-52H Stratofortress during a signing ceremony here Aug. 8. The signing ceremony certified that the blended FT and JP-8 fuel is safe for operational use in

Letter to Airmen focuses on stress and prevention

In the latest Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force focuses on how Air Force people can stem the rising number of suicides in the Air Force by taking care of each other. "In stressful times such as these, with so many Airmen deployed and with so many others pushed to the breaking point,

Valiant Shield exercise brings services together

Kadena-based units departed Okinawa Aug. 5 on their way to Guam to join fellow Airmen and sister services in the joint Exercise Valiant Shield which runs through Aug. 14. The 44th Fighter Squadron, with elements of the 67th FS, and the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron and 909th Air Refueling

Enlisted aviator career fields open for retrainees

Opportunities for Airmen to retrain into one of eight career enlisted aviator career fields have just been released by Air Force officials here. The Air Force has openings for first-term Airmen to retrain into the flight engineer, flight attendant, and aerial gunner specialties. In addition, the

Airman's Roll Call highlights Airmen's education benefits

This week's Airman's Roll Call highlights the importance of education for the professional and personal development of all Airmen. Through base education centers and the Air Force Virtual Education Center, Airmen have countless educational benefits right at their fingertips. The Air Force Tuition

Ramstein Airmen support joint airdrop exercise

Airmen flying a C-130 Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron here supported high altitude-low opening airdrop training exercise Aug. 2 near Banja Luka, Bosnia.  Using the HALO technique, a jumper leaves an aircraft at a high altitude and free-falls to a much lower altitude before opening his or her

Deployed Airmen dish up a helping of gratitude

To show their appreciation for other's efforts and hard work, Airmen from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing have been volunteering to serve food to the operations personnel at the base's containerized deployable kitchen. Chaplain (Capt.) Kevin Humphrey, 380th AEW chaplain has volunteered to serve

To Stem the Tide - A Korean War Perspective

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

NCO retraining program seeks to fill some 900 positions

The 2008 NCO Retraining Program began Aug. 7 as the Air Force seeks to fill approximately 900 shortage career field and special duty positions. NCOs notified of their vulnerability to retrain must submit the shortage career field choices they would most like to retrain into or apply for a special

Services, mission support merger complete at test bases

The merger of services and mission support squadrons at six Air Force bases is now complete. The new combined organizations, called "force support squadrons," are paying huge dividends through improved service to customers, better synergy between organizations and increased efficiency in processes

Security forces Airmen step outside the wire

Security forces Airmen here work outside the wire almost daily in an effort to help Iraqis establish a functioning, independent police force. Assigned to the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Det. 6, these Airmen perform missions traditionally reserved for the Army, including convoying

Airpower key to Exercise Valiant Shield

Members of the 613th Air and Space Operations Center at Hickam Air Force Base will provide command and control of flying operations above and around Guam during Exercise Valiant Shield Aug. 6 to 13.The 13th Air Force's 613th AOC staff delivers full spectrum capability for planning, directing and

'Today's Air Force' highlights Afghan operations

The first segment of this week's edition of "Today's Air Force" features the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, that provides top-notch healthcare for deployed Airmen.This new facility was constructed by a provincial reconstruction team, or

Air Force casualty identified

Department of Defense officials Aug. 5 announced the death of an Airman supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing in Southwest Asia. Tech. Sgt. Joey D. Link, 29, of Portland, Tenn., died Aug. 5 of natural causes at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He was

General testifies on Air Force in-lieu-of strategies

An Air Force General spoke before the House Armed Service Committee Subcommittee on Readiness July 31 about the state of in-lieu-of taskings Airmen fill for the Army.  Brig. Gen. Marke Gibson, the Air Force director of operations, answered questions for the subcommittee, reaffirming the service's

Cadets get firsthand knowledge of deployments

Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here hosted a rotation of U.S. Air Force Academy cadets who visited Southwest Asia to experience a deployment firsthand. The cadets toured the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, security forces and the fire department to give them a better working

Chief of staff approves latest command, control doctrine

The Air Force chief of staff has approved the latest revision to Air Force Doctrine Document 2-8, Command and Control. Gen. T. Michael Moseley endorsed AFDD 2-8 as one of 10 Air Force keystone documents. AFDD 2-8 provides guidance on command and control, or C2, operations to support national

Airmen, Sailors join up in convoy relay

Sailors of Task Force 124 here fly and operate the E-6B Mercury in support of Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen on the ground in and around Baghdad, mainly relaying communications for convoy operations. Navy officials realized with the installation of a few extra radios and the removal of some

Airmen, drug runners play game of cat and mouse

Airmen play a constant game of cat and mouse with the drug runners they search for who try sneaking their cargo into the United States. Sometimes the Airmen win and sometimes they lose. But they always try to find ways to beat the odds using a combination of sophisticated E-3 Sentry and other

379th Air Expeditionary Wing Airman dies

An Airman assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing died Aug. 5. The cause of the death is being investigated.More details will be released as they become available. The 379th AEW supports more than 8,000 Airmen from active duty, National Guard, Reserves and coalition forces and is responsible

B-1 crews excel at shows of presence

Airmen and B-1B Lancers from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, have taken the reins from the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron here. Since arriving in July, the 9th EBS has logged about 25 missions, dropping bombs on enemies throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.To help ease the transition, the 9th EBS deployed

Manta Airmen continue their counterdrug war

American forces flying from here to hunt down drug runners could soon have to pack up their whole operation and move elsewhere. That is because Ecuadorian President Raphael Correa wants American forces out of the Andean country. He vows not to renew a 1999 agreement with the United States that

Airmen missing in action from Vietnam War identified

Officials from the Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office here Aug. 3 announced the remains of two U.S. servicemen, missing in action from the Vietnam War, have been identified and will be returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Lt. Col. James H. Ayres,

Air Force integrates space operations into A-staff

Air Force officials here completed the final phase in integrating space functions into key Air Staff processes for operations, plans and requirements, or A3/5. As of Aug. 1, space functions previously found within the Directorate of Strategic Security, or A3S, have been reorganized to better

Airmen play key role in developing Iraqi police

Airmen roll out of the gates from here in armored Humvees and drive dangerous roads into Tikrit and the surrounding areas five days a week to do their part in helping Iraq transition to a peaceful democracy. For the Airmen assigned to the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Det. 6, arming

CENTAF Band performs for Kandahar servicemembers

The U.S. Central Command Air Forces Band performed two concerts for deployed servicemembers at the Kandahar Airfield "Boardwalk" July 29 and 30. Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen were entertained by a variety of music including Latin, rhythm and blues, rock, jazz, disco and country. Audiences

U.S., South Korean Airmen train on base defense plan

Airmen from the Republic of Korea's 38th Fighter Group and the U.S. Air Force's 8th Fighter Wing here joined forces with a common goal of training July 25."Since the 38th FG and 8th FW have their own ways of training members and defending Kunsan Air Base, it's very important for both sides to

Air Force takes Gold, Silver at 2007 Armed Forces Triathlon Championship

The Air Force women's triathlon team took first and the men's team second at the 2007 Armed Forces Triathlon Championship held July 25 to 29 at Point Mugu, Calif.  The results are based on the raw scoring times of the men's top eight and women's top four competitors. The Armed Forces Championship is

Raptor maintenance training 'ramps' up at Sheppard

The world of F-22 Raptor maintenance is becoming as high-tech as the sophisticated fighter itself. Because of new equipment called Portable Maintenance Aids,  or PMAs, maintainers here have vastly improved capabilities over past procedures and the initial skills training will reflect this advanced

Life support, survival equipment career fields merging

Aircrew life support and survival equipment Airmen always have had jobs that mirrored each other somewhat. Under a new directive, the two Air Force specialty codes are merging, and Airmen here are far into the merger process. More than 60 Kadena Airmen are undergoing cross-utilization training to

Airmen, Soldiers form relationships with Iraqi children

With little care for surrounding hostilities, a small Iraqi boy stomped his sandaled foot on Baghdad's dusty ground, and chanted an Arabic nursery rhyme. He clapped his hands to the beat and sung with several other children. All were gathered to watch a tall, muscled Airman dance to their song.

Airmen cross cultures, generations with babushka visit

They are from different continents and generations but, if only for a few hours, Manas Airmen brought joy and smiles to six babushkas during lunch July 27 at a restaurant in nearby Bishkek, Kyrgystan.These six "grandmothers" are part of the Babushka Adoption Foundation in Bishkek, one of the groups

A-10 pilot awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilot has received the Distinguished Flying Cross in a ceremony here July 27 for a nighttime rescue mission in Afghanistan in 2005.Maj. Keith Wolak, with the 74th Fighter Squadron here, received the honor for a combat search and rescue mission he coordinated July 2,