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  • Air Force trains to fill Army deployments

    Located about an hour north of Biloxi, Camp Shelby has a reputation for weather that could make the devil sweat. The harsh weather ratchets up the realism of the training that some Air Force people receive before deploying to locations like Iraq and Afghanistan. The camp is one of the

  • Letter to Airmen urges energy conservation

    In the latest Letter to Airmen, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne recognizes the Air Force commitment to energy conservation. "As the largest user of energy in the DOD, the Air Force has developed a two-pronged energy strategy to attack this problem. This strategy of assured domestic

  • Combined forces at leadership school benefit students

    Japanese and U.S. military forces have many training opportunities to interact and learn from each other, and that bilateral relationship is carrying over to the military education classroom. Walk into an Airman Leadership School class here and it resembles a coalition headquarters environment, with

  • Air University offers online language training

    Air University officials here are offering an opportunity to active-duty company grade officers to study a foreign language online at no cost. In an effort to fulfill the Air Force chief of staff's guidance to develop culturally and linguistically competent Airmen, Air University will present the

  • Rising fuel costs tighten Air Force belt

    The growing cost of crude oil combined with increasing fuel demands of the war on terrorism are forcing Air Combat Command officials to brace for a budget crisis while looking for future fuel alternatives. The Air Force paid approximately $4.2 billion for petroleum in fiscal 2005 -- almost $1.4

  • First wave of Airmen deploy from Ellsworth

    The first wave of about 550 Ellsworth Airmen deployed to various locations throughout Southwest Asia to support ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.The majority of the Airmen, from operational and maintenance units, left earlier this week to join the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and serve

  • Propulsion shops work together, eliminate waste

    In the name of increased combat capability, the 388th and 419th Fighter Wing propulsion shops are working side by side to take advantage of expertise from active-duty and Reserve technicians, while eliminating redundancy."The move enables us to work leaner, meaner and more concise, as well as

  • Lackland medics keep steady deployment pace

    More than 100 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing departed Wilford Hall Medical Center here earlier this week for various locations throughout Southwest Asia, including the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.Others will follow throughout September, with a final count of more than

  • Academy lays MIA grad to rest after 39 years

    A 1961 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and missing in action Airman returns home after 39 years in Southeast Asia. A funeral service for Maj. Burke Morgan, a Manitou Springs, Colo., native, will be held Sept. 7 at the Air Force Academy Chapel and Cemetery. Major Morgan, a navigator on a Douglas

  • AFMx21 defining, creating future of Air Force maintenance

    Maintenance leaders from the Air Staff and major commands met in Dayton, Ohio, to discuss the current state of Air Force maintenance, trends, fiscal realities and vision through the year 2016.Known as "Air Force Maintenance for the 21st Century," or AFMx21, the program is championed by Brig. Gen.

  • Yokota Airmen deploy throughout Southwest Asia

    Approximately 70 Airmen from the 374th Airlift Wing here set out on a 120-day deployment this week in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.Airmen assembled at the Deployment Processing Center here on the Labor Day holiday, spending time with family and friends before departing.

  • SBP offers option for retirement financial planning

    The Survivor Benefit Plan has a lot to offer retiring Airmen as part of a solid financial plan, and the open enrollment period runs through Sept. 30.Along with savings, investments and insurance, the SBP affords the opportunity to provide financially to an Airman's spouse for life. One benefit

  • First Spangdahlem jets return home from desert duty

    Six F-16 Fighting Falcons returned home to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, on Labor Day after a two-and a half month deployment to Southwest Asia. The fighter jets, of the 23rd Fighter Squadron, spent their deployment providing close-air support to coalition forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, 52nd

  • Airmen sailing to Wake Island for damage check

    Airmen and Sailors from Andersen will sail 1,500 miles to Wake Island to see how well the U.S. territory survived Super Typhoon Ioke. The Air Force evacuated all 188 island residents on two C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Aug. 28 before the typhoon arrived Aug. 31 with 155 mph winds and gusts to 190

  • Airmen take Red Flag plunge

    Parachutists from around the Air Force took a plunge Sept. 1 into local Lake Mead drop zone in support of Red Flag 06-2. U.S. Air Force C-130 and Singapore Air Force Ch-47 Chinook crews provided Red Flag airlift operations in support of the jumps. Nellis Airmen also supported the mission by

  • CENTCOM air commander: supporting ground troops top priority

    When describing the vast scope of the air mission in support of ground troops waging the war on terror, the commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces paints some graphic images. In addition to its daily average of 74 close-air support missions in support of combat missions in the region, Air

  • 433rd Airlift Wing Airmen learn from Katrina

    When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast one year ago, members of the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, quickly joined others from across the country to help in the relief efforts.For some members, it was what they had trained for and they moved with a choreographed precision to

  • Airmen come to aid of Air Force widow

    Airmen here are pitching in to help a 72-year-old Air Force widow rebuild her house following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The effort is part of a base humanitarian relief operation partnered with local charitable organizations on 700 cases across the Gulf Coast since the hurricane in

  • Air Force, Navy weather forecasters form one front

    Air Force weather forecasters from the 21st Operational Weather Squadron welcomed Navy weather forecasters into their unit here Aug. 31. With a Navy drawdown and reach-back initiatives, the number of maritime weather forecasters in Europe was reduced by more than half. "Based on the cuts in theater,

  • Lawmakers, DOD take aim at payday loan sharks

    Interest is building on Capitol Hill in putting a nationwide cap on the interest rates lenders can charge servicemembers for loans, a measure the Defense Department is pushing to protect its force. A General Accountability Office study released last month offers insight into how payday-lending

  • AFSO 21 team learns 'Lean' lessons from Dover Airmen

    An Air Force Smart Operations 21 team from the office of the secretary of the Air Force gained valuable insight into how to "Lean" a work process during a visit to Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 21 to 25. The AFSO 21 team from the Pentagon is comprised of 72 master process officers going through a

  • U.S. forces support Japanese earthquake drill

    U.S. military forces based in Japan cooperated with Japanese officials in a major earthquake disaster response exercise here Sept. 1. The annual drill was based on a large-scale earthquake in the Tokyo area and helped Japanese government officials examine national, regional and local levels of

  • Military members transition into life after deployment

    Fourteen military couples from across the U.S. left their homes Aug. 24 for a different kind of mission at Lantana Lodge, a lakeside resort at Jordan State Park in northern Denton County, Texas. The couples, who had been separated for months due to deployments in combat areas around the

  • Wilford Hall holds dedication ceremony for C-9 Nightingale

    Active duty and retired military medical personnel gathered here Aug. 31 to dedicate the C-9 Nightingale static display. Nicknamed the "Cadillac of Medevac" and the "Workhorse" for aeromedical evacuation, it provided service not only to the military, but also to the Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Electronic travel system streamlines business process

    The Air Force has completed deployment of a new computerized travel system at all its major installations. The Defense Travel System was installed Aug. 10 at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., marking the end of a nearly three-year deployment of the system to bases in both the United States and

  • CAP proves worth during Katrina relief

    When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast a year ago, the nation went into immediate humanitarian mission mode. Along with the efforts of countless organizations came help from a 57,000-strong force often overlooked. While the debris settled and devastation became evident under clear skies, the

  • Whiteman Airmen return from Guam

    More than 170 Airmen are home after a four-month deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. A contracted DC-10 aircraft carrying the returning Airmen touched down here Aug. 29 around 6:40 p.m. to an awaiting crowd of more than 250 family members, friends and co-workers. Senior Airman Thomas

  • Fairchild combines wing functions to streamline operations

    Members of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing opened the doors Aug. 29 to a facility responsible for three key functions for Fairchild Air Force Base's expeditionary success.The Expeditionary Airmen's Center of Excellence will synergize the 92nd ARW's Air Expeditionary Force, Air Force Smart Operations for

  • Enlisted assignment preference added to virtual MPF

    Enlisted Airmen will soon be able to change their assignment preferences online through the virtual Military Personnel Flight, as the Air Force continues Personnel Services Delivery Transformation. Beginning Sept. 5, enlisted Airmen will become responsible for updating their own assignment

  • Aircraft evacuated from Charleston AFB

    Airmen here are in the process of evacuating all operational C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on station due to impending severe weather. Aircraft will be flown to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, Aug. 30. The aircraft are being evacuated to ensure the airlift mission

  • Air Force lieutenant breaks Army push-up record

    The installation record for the most push-ups in the gas chamber without wearing a mask was 162. And thus a challenge was made to the Airmen attending combat skills training here. Without a second thought, 1st Lt. Stephen Maddox picked up the gauntlet. He had certainly done more than 162 push-ups

  • Airmen experience tip of expeditionary spear

    Most Airmen have experienced the expeditionary air and space force, but for about 170 Airmen serving in the military personnel exchange program, the term "expeditionary" takes on a whole new meaning. Officers and senior NCOs serving in the MPEP are assigned to nearly three dozen foreign air forces

  • Airmen encouraged to exercise voting rights

    Officials from the Air Force Personnel Center here encourage Airmen to register to vote during the Armed Forces Voter's Week Sept. 3 to 9 so they can be a part of the election process.Airmen serving away from their voting residence can submit a Federal Post Card Application SF-76 for registration or

  • Keesler hospital takes big step forward

    Officials here celebrated a milestone Aug. 29 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the base's medical center, marking the transformation of the facility from an outpatient clinic to a fully functional hospital. Hurricane Katrina struck only two months after Brig. Gen. (Dr.) James J. Dougherty took the

  • Vice president thanks servicemembers for vigilance

    Vice President Dick Cheney delivered a message of thanks and support to the 7,000 Airmen, Sailor, Marines and Soldiers here during a visit Aug. 29. "I'm here today because the president and I want you to know how much we appreciate everything you do on behalf of the United States," the vice

  • Memorial dedication honors American, Russian aviators

    American, Russian, French and Canadian dignitaries, to include Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, gathered here Aug. 27 to honor Russian and American aviators and troops responsible for ferrying more than 8,000 American-built warplanes from the Midwest through Canada to Fairbanks during World War

  • Airmen return to big family welcome

    Family, friends and squadron members welcomed home 13 Airmen with fresh grilled food, cold drinks and cheerful faces Aug. 29. After their nine-month deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving side-by-side with Army Soldiers to jointly handle security at Camp Bucca, the Airmen were met by

  • Wake evacuated -- Airmen airlift 188 from Pacific Island

    Airmen from the 15th Airlift Wing and Hawaii Air National Guard evacuated 188 people from Wake Island Aug. 28 on two C-17 Globemaster IIIs, before Super Typhoon Ioke reached the tiny U.S. Territory. The evacuees -- active-duty Airmen, Department of Defense and Thai national contractors -- filed onto

  • Chief McKinley addresses senior rater, stratification policy

    In his first "Enlisted Perspective," Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley discusses the new senior rater policy and use of stratification statements for enlisted performance reports. Stratification statements take into consideration the number or percentage of enlisted members in a

  • Katrina shapes rescue mission

    On Aug. 29, 2005, the third-strongest hurricane ever to hit U.S soil made landfall on the Louisiana and Mississippi border. Soon after, rescue crews from here were called on to perform search and rescue on a scale previously unseen. "The Katrina relief effort was a benchmark for Air Force rescue,"

  • Keesler Medical Center rebounds from Katrina

    Keesler Medical Center, the second largest Air Force medical center, has made great strides in rebounding from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina one year ago. The facility is rapidly returning to its pre-Katrina status, both from the standpoint of the physical plant and services. Full

  • Airmen assist with volcano disaster relief

    An eight-person Air Force medical readiness team is providing assistance to Ecuadorians affected by the Tungurahua volcano eruption here Aug. 16. Airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; Travis AFB, Calif., Minot AFB, N.D., and Goodfellow and Lackland AFB, Texas, specialize in dermatology;

  • Chief McKinley says force shaping will build stronger force

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley acknowledges that today's force shaping initiatives will impact many Airmen, but the benefits will help build a stronger Air Force of tomorrow. Force shaping addresses both the size and shape of the force, and Air Force officials prioritize shaping

  • President Bush visits Keesler

    Airmen at Keesler Air Force Base got a surprise Aug. 28 when President George W. Bush passed through on his way to visit the Gulf Coast region. Base officials first learned about the visit Aug. 25 and rushed to make preparations for him to land in the area. "This isn't the first time the president

  • AFSO 21 a success at McChord

    The banner hanging above the shop floor of the 62nd Maintenance Squadron wheel and tire shop is a sign of the success here for Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century. The 2005 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award banner recognizes outstanding team performance and promotion of systematic

  • C-17 crew delivers vital supplies to Soldiers

    A C-17 Globemaster III crew from Manas completed the base's first combat airdrop mission when they dropped vital supplies to Army units engaged in combat in eastern Afghanistan Aug. 23. Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron delivered 28 containers of ammunition weighing

  • Whiteman B-2s complete successful Andersen deployment

    After more than 140 sorties and 330 released weapons, B-2 Spirit aircraft, pilots, maintainers and support staff from the 509th Bomb Wing are returning home having completed another successful deployment here.Aircraft and Airmen from the 393rd and 13th Bomb Squadrons and 509th Maintenance Group at

  • JTF Lebanon establishes air-land and sea task forces

    The commander of Joint Task Force Lebanon has assigned two task force commanders to lead critical elements of the newly formed organization as part of assuming authority for U.S. military operations here Aug. 23, officials announced.Air Force Col. Brad Webb will command Task Force "Alpha,"

  • Keesler keeps an eye on Ernesto

    As Tropical Storm Ernesto gets stronger and churns toward the Gulf of Mexico, Airmen at one Gulf Coast base are beginning to take notice. In a forecast report released today by the National Hurricane Center, weather forecasters expect Ernesto to become a powerful hurricane -- the first of the season

  • Life after Katrina, Airmen ready to help again

    The fifth tropical depression of the year is gathering force in the Caribbean Sea and making a beeline for the Gulf of Mexico. It might, or might not, turn into a hurricane. Either way, there is no doubt Airmen at bases along the Gulf Coast are wondering if they will soon have to hunker down and

  • Unique mission: Guarding a space wing missile complex

    The rolling prairie hills here are blanketed with wind-driven swaying fields of golden grain. With an average of nine people per square mile in this state, the farm lands here seem to be a postcard setting for tranquil, peaceful living. Appearances can be deceiving. One hundred and fifty Minuteman

  • Airmen, Soldiers say farewell to comrade in Iraq

    Honored as a hero, leader and friend, a member from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, was remembered here by Airmen of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and Soldiers of Logistics Support Area Anaconda Aug. 24. During the memorial service, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Stan Giles, the 732nd Expeditionary Mission

  • Flight arms the fight

    Airmen here maintain the F-16 Fighting Falcon's armament system, a complex matrix of pylons, launchers, adapters and other equipment used to hold bombs and missiles in place until they are released and fired.The Airmen are assigned to the 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Armament Flight. The

  • Keesler Air Force Base: One year after Katrina

    Bent but not broken by the worst natural disaster in the nation's history, Keesler's recovery continues to exceed expectations. "The damage to the base by Hurricane Katrina was a staggering $950 million. With that in mind, no one imagined in the days immediately after Aug. 29, 2005, we'd be where we

  • Air Force leaders attend Blue Summit

    More than 600 senior Air Force leaders gathered here Aug. 24 at the invitation of their top uniformed leader to discuss issues of importance to that service. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley invited all general officers from the ranks of active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force

  • Enthusiasm, dedication fuel Tops in Blue team

    The 2006 edition of Tops in Blue, "What's Love," has completed one of two tours of the Southwest Asia area of responsibility. The team performed 11 shows over 19 days for approximately 7,500 deployed servicemembers."It's a grueling schedule," said Tom Edwards, chief of Air Force Entertainment and

  • Ukraine officers visit RAF Lakenheath

    A group of Ukrainian military officers completed a five-day visit Aug. 18 to the 48th Fighter Wing here where they learned about U.S. Air Force training and operational processes. Part of a U.S. European Command-sponsored Joint Contact Training Program, the visit fosters bilateral cooperation

  • Letter to Airmen recognizes Air Force transformation

    In his latest "Letter to Airmen," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley discusses measures that will shape and transform the Air Force.  General Moseley said Airmen today are engaged in a vast array of missions from operating satellites in deep space to applying air power to the surface

  • Salvaged flight deck from C-5 mishap becomes tool

    The crew compartment belonging to the C-5 Galaxy aircraft that fell less than a mile short of Dover Air Force Base's runway April 3 has been salvaged for use in C-5 aircraft crew training. The compartment, commonly referred to as the aircraft's flight deck, was loaded onto a C-5 and airlifted to its

  • Holloman's BEAR ready to deploy

    As the first anniversary of one of the worst natural disasters in American history approaches, Holloman Airmen are prepared for anything. The 49th Material Maintenance Group maintains a constant state of readiness for equipment that might be tasked to support any Department of Defense or Federal

  • AMC commander praises airlift effort

    The general in charge of providing the Air Force airlift for the war on terrorism thanked Airmen here for being ready to do their part. Gen. Duncan McNabb, the AMC commander, called Little Rock Airmen his "band of brothers" and thanked them and their families for "standing tall and defending the

  • Airman dies during convoy operation in Iraq

    An Air Force explosive ordnance disposal craftsman from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, died Aug. 21 when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. The vehicle was part of a transportation convoy en route to Taji, Iraq. Master Sgt. Brad A. Clemmons, 37, of Chillicothe, Ohio, was assigned to

  • Little Rock Airmen train Romanian maintainers

    Members of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 4, are providing first-of-its-kind training for Romanian air force maintainers with a custom-made program at the C-130 Center of Excellence here.Det. 4 members built training classes specifically for the Romanians, and then four separate classes of

  • B-52 Stratofortress ages like wine

    First deployed in 1955, the B-52 Stratofortress is already twice the age of many Airmen who maintain it. Despite its age, Airmen assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing here have an affinity for flying and maintaining this Air Force legacy aircraft and recognize its relevance today. "She gets finer with age

  • Ceremony honors combat controller killed in Afghanistan

    A memorial service here Aug. 25 will honor a 23rd Special Tactics Squadron combat controller who was killed in action in Afghanistan Aug. 19.Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, who was working side-by-side with the Afghan National Army as part of a special operations forces team, died when his convoy was

  • Air Force, Japan train to fight fires together

    Airmen from Misawa Air Base, Japan, are training to put out fires on base today with Japanese firemen from four local fire departments. These fires were part of a joint firefighter training exercise. "The most important reason is that we have a mutual-aid agreements with all of these departments,"

  • Promotion testing windows expand for E-5 through E-7

    Air Force officials are expanding the testing windows for Airmen beginning with the 07E6 and 07E7 cycles. The changes are part of an ongoing process to improve the enlisted promotion testing system, according to officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here. "Some factors that drove this change

  • AF automates Korean medal process

    Officials from the Air Force Personnel Center have recently added the Korean Defense Service Medal to its list of personnel processes automatically updated in the Military Personnel Data System. The new process automatically updates an Airman's record in the data system for those who served in Korea

  • Airman dies supporting Operation Enduring Freedom

    An Air Force combat controller from Hurlburt Field Fla., died Aug. 19 when his vehicle came under hostile fire in Afghanistan's Uruzgan Province.Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, 23, of Onalaska, Wis., was assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field. He deployed to Afghanistan in

  • Americans, Hondurans team to fix broken bones

    A medical team of eight people from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, treated more than 200 Hondurans during a two-week training exercise Aug. 5 to 19.The team of eight medical professionals, led by Lt. Col.

  • Bagram A-10s surge for summer offensives

    Six U.S. and coalition troops peer out from a remote position on a ridge top in Afghanistan. At sunset on the third day of their vigil, a large force of Taliban extremists carrying heavy machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades surround and pin down the team.By design, an Air Force joint tactical

  • 340th maintainers keep pace with optempo

    At one of the busiest refueling hubs in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Airmen from the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are in constant motion. They support fighters, bombers, cargo and attack aircraft fighting in the war on terrorism. The fact the unit is blended from five bases --

  • Phoenix Warrior prepares security forces

    More than 100 security forces Airmen participated in Phoenix Warrior 06-1, a program run by the Air Mobility Warfare Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, Aug. 5 to 17. The 13-day predeployment course prepares security forces in areas such as weapons and live fire training, convoy operations,

  • B-1 Lancers join 379th fleet

    The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing welcomed its newest airframe to the fleet here Aug. 16. For weeks the wing has played host to several B-1 Lancers, providing support to the aircraft and the people associated with it, but now the bomber is officially assigned here. "Moving the aircraft here can help

  • AEF Center reassigned to Air Force Personnel Center

    The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center will be assigned under the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley announced today. The reassignment, which becomes effective Aug. 29, will synergize operations between the two centers

  • Airman pleads guilty in deployed base's first court-martial

    An Airman here pled guilty to larceny and was convicted in a court-martial Aug. 12 to 13. Airman 1st Class Joshua Borth, 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, admitted he stole a fellow Airman's laptop and backpack and some government electronic equipment. This court-martial is the first

  • Malmstrom, Patrick, Peterson tops at Guardian Challenge

    Inside Hangar 140 here, the air was thick with anticipation as teams from across Air Force Space Command maintained nervous conversation over dinner Aug. 17, awaiting the announcement of the Guardian Challenge 2006 winners. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, reminded a highly motivated crowd

  • Munitions Airmen make bombs built to order

    Hitting a two-meter target with 2,000 pounds of high explosives while traveling hundreds of miles an hour takes sophisticated weapons aboard aircraft flown by talented pilots. But, before these munitions can be used they must be inspected, tested, built, loaded and delivered to the aircraft. That is

  • Balad Airman receives American Legion award

    An award ceremony today in Salt Lake City will recognize an Airman for his dedication to improve his community. That Airman will spend his day 7,000 miles away performing force protection duties. Senior Airman Edward Slavik of the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron is the Air Force

  • Maintainers keep jets healthy, safe during Viper Lance

    While most participants involved in Exercise Viper Lance 2006 here call it a day at sunset, the workday is just beginning for maintainers on the night shift.Of the more than 250 Airmen here for the air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercise, roughly 170 support the maintenance mission. Viper

  • Guardian Challenge teams reach finish line

    Climbing, jumping, swinging from ropes and running in the summer heat, the Guardian Challenge 2006 security forces teams competed in the obstacle course portion of the competition at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., on Aug. 16. Teams prepared for the past several months to be physically fit enough

  • Medical records nearer to going electronic

    Medical troops throughout the Air Force soon will be using the Department of Defense's global electronic health record system to keep track of patient records. The Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, known as AHLTA, is the largest system of its kind, defense officials said. The

  • Convoy Airmen face challenging duties

    For more than two years Airmen have been driving convoys for the Army on some of the most dangerous roads in the world. From their Army camp to the border of southern Iraq and to the most northern reaches of a country roughly the size of California, members of the 586th Expeditionary Logistics

  • Viper Lance pilots trade rides

    Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here

  • Air Force recruiting meeting its goal for 7th year

    The Air Force is on track to make its recruiting goal this year, marking the seventh consecutive year the service has brought in the right number and mix of new Airmen. To date, 25,645 people have enlisted in the Air Force and entered active duty in fiscal 2006. That puts the Air Force on pace to

  • California Air National Guard embraces new mission

    The sun heats a Nevada desert landscape as a small group of warriors focus on computer terminals. These men and women know their actions directly support others facing the heat of another desert half a world away. Members of the California Air National Guard's 163rd Air Refueling Wing have spent the

  • Raptor meets new challenges, expands capabilities

    For the men and women taking care of the Air Force's newest and most lethal fighter aircraft, the F-22A Raptor, firsts seem to be a common occurrence. Along with milestones by the 27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons have come new challenges in places such as Alaska, Utah and Florida that have left

  • Deployed Airmen register for marrow program

    The faces on posters that call attention to a number of worthwhile volunteer causes are often lost in the hustle of accomplishing the daily mission. However, the association of one poster to a deployed Airman at a recent drive in Southwest Asia put a face on the critical need for all to register as

  • B-2 Spirit exceeds mission standard

    The B-2 Spirit exceeded Air Combat Command's fully mission capable rate standard of 51 percent in June, a feat not achieved since September 2004. Keeping the B-2 ready for war is an effort that requires the hard work and support of everyone who works on base, said Col. Bob Dulong, 509th Maintenance

  • Challenge continues for security forces

    Guardian Challenge security forces showed off their tactics and marksmanship skills at Jacks Valley here Aug. 14 and 15. The tactics portion was planned out by a team of 19 Airmen and headed by Capt. Kathy Jordan, Air Force Space Command. She said the team started planning the scenario in May.

  • AFSO21 Leans out uniform development

    In January, a limited number of the new Air Force utility uniforms will roll off production lines. Their arrival will mark the end of a nearly five-year development cycle. Lessons learned from development of the Airman Battle Uniform will be applied to the Air Force's next uniform project, the

  • Global missions all in a day's work

    Many people say they joined the Air Force to have exciting adventures and see the world. For a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, those perks are part of their average day. "An average mission can range anywhere from a 12-hour day to a 72-hour

  • C-5 Galaxy undergoes dynamic runway testing

    As part of the C-5 Galaxy's Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, the aircraft is undergoing dynamic taxi testing to check the structural strength and flexibility of the four-engine modification. The main focus of the RERP testing was the C-5 structure's movement when traveling over

  • Web site honors Air Force heroes

    A nonprofit organization's Web site is letting people pay tribute to Air Force heroes. A section in the Air Force Memorial Foundation's Web site, titled Air Force Heroes, allows people to honor an Airman with a paragraph about what makes them extraordinary. With the Air Force memorial scheduled to

  • 'Bats' shield Airmen from harm

    Their mission is simple: save the lives of troops on the ground in Iraq by providing an electronic shield around them. That is the job of the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron. Known as the Bats, they take to the air every day of the week to actively support coalition warfighters in

  • Inventory boost cuts down repair turnaround times

    A $10 million addition to the 379th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron parts inventory is allowing quicker turnaround on repairs to aircraft, vehicles and aerospace ground equipment. "The additional inventory will increase the timeliness of repairs and reduce the number of multimillion

  • Two Alamo City Airmen vie for 'American Idol' spot

    A former "Tops in Blue" performer and an Air Force chaplain's assistant turned Batman are a step closer to stardom. Staff Sgts. Keith Loudermill and James Warren, both from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, each earned a "golden ticket" Aug. 11 at the Alamodome here for a shot at becoming the next

  • Air Force sweeps armed forces golf tournament

    The Air Force capitalized on its home-course advantage to capture the 2006 Armed Forces Golf Championship on Aug. 11 at the Marshallia Ranch Golf Course here. Air Force golfers took top honors at the conclusion of the four-round tournament, winning the men's and women's team competitions, as well as

  • Air Force Week concludes in St. Louis

    In a testament to the U.S. Air Force vision of "Lasting Heritage ... Limitless Horizons," the inaugural Air Force Week brought together Airmen of the past, present and future to celebrate the service's history and future.With the St. Louis Gateway Arch as a backdrop, Air Force Week 2006 events

  • Physiological training crucial for aircrews

    Approximately 35,000 students take physiological training each year to gain a better understanding of survival in the flight environment. It covers problems in both high and low altitudes and recommends procedures to prevent or minimize human factor errors that occur in flight.Airmen at the 21st