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U.S. Air Force News

  • Luke shows off energy conservation program

    The Luke community showcased its energy conservation programs to the Air Force assistant secretary for installations, environment and logistics Oct. 26. William C. Anderson visited here as part of October's Energy Awareness Month. He got a first-hand look at the base's energy and conservation

  • Hydrogen fueling station now operating at Hickam

    State and U.S. Air Force officials gathered here Nov. 2 to unveil Hawaii's and the service's first hydrogen generation and dispensing station. The event marked the completion of a major achievement in a multi-phased alternative fuel vehicle development program that was launched five years ago."From

  • Hickam testing new deployable hydrogen refueling station

    As the Air Force continues to look for ways to reduce energy consumption in its facilities, vehicles and aircraft operations the 15th Airlift Wing will be doing its part by serving as a test bed for a new modular deployable hydrogen refueling station. Awarded the contract two years ago, HydraFLX

  • Ellsworth to accept membership into EPA Track Performance Program

    During a ceremony Oct. 31, Ellsworth Air Force Base will become the first Air Force installation to accept membership into the Environmental Protection Agency's Performance Track Program. Performance Track is a voluntary partnership program that recognizes and rewards facilities that consistently

  • DoD selects Air Force civilian for disabled employee award

    The beginning of the award reads, "outstanding DoD employee," defining a career marked by a strong work ethic and many achievements before mentioning the life-threatening injury that changed his world 11 years ago. Paul Gabriel, an electronics engineer at Aeronautical Systems Center's Engineering

  • It's the Ehn show on Ice

    Eric Ehn had six points and Andrew Ramsey scored the game-winner with 1:27 remaining as Air Force beat Alabama-Huntsville, 7-5, in the first game of the Lightning College Hockey Classic here at St. Pete Times Forum. The Falcons will face the winner of the Notre Dame-Army game on Saturday, Oct. 28,

  • Air Force leader visits to observe base's energy conservation methods

    The Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics visited Edwards Oct. 25 as part of a multi-base visit to the service's top energy saving bases. William C. Anderson made Edwards a stopping point in his trip for what he said were "several reasons." First, he said

  • Sergeant takes Anti-drug battle personally

    Armed with his weapon, Staff Sgt. Terry Grace faces down the menace that destroyed his cousin's life. Sergeant Grace is the bass player for Reserve Generation, the Air Force Reserve Command Band from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., which entertained more than 500 local elementary school students at the

  • Rocket scientists gather at space propulsion program review

    The Air Force Office of Scientific Research here recently completed a program review on space propulsion and power in Annapolis, Md. About 150 rocket scientists from leading universities and small businesses throughout the nation gathered to share recent results from their AFOSR-funded research and

  • Ellsworth energy team saves money, earns award

    A five-person Ellsworth AFB team saved the base $470,000 in total energy costs for fiscal 2005 and received a 2006 Federal Energy and Water Management Award Oct. 5 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. This U.S. Department of Energy award recognizes the annual achievements in the category

  • Energy, water efficiency earn Air Force bases awards

    Saving energy and money, while helping the environment, earned the Air Force several Federal Energy and Water Management Awards for 2006. The awards, sponsored by the Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program, are given annually to recognize outstanding contributions toward increased

  • Patriot battalion arrives at Kadena

    The arrival of Soldiers, equipment and vehicles here over the last two weeks pave the way for the first deployment of a Patriot Advanced Capability 3, or PAC-3, battalion to the island. The 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, commanded by Army Lt. Col. Matthew Michaelson, moved here from Fort

  • Airmen compete in national firefighter competition

    The competition is a few minutes of physical torture and even the most conditioned warrior is brought to his knees when it ends. Staff Sergeants Cory McGee and Emanuel Villegas, from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., are among the 500 competitors at the 2006 U.S. National Firefighter Combat Challenge

  • Memorial dedication to launch AF's 60th Anniversary observance

    The nation's youngest military service kicks off its 60th anniversary observance this weekend with the official dedication of the Air Force Memorial at Arlington, Va. The memorial, composed of three bold and graceful spires soaring skyward to a height of 270 feet, will be dedicated and given to the

  • Air Force members earn Department of Energy awards

    Saving energy and money while helping the environment earned the Air Force several Federal Energy and Water Management Awards.The awards, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program, are given annually to recognize outstanding contributions toward increased energy

  • First laser test conducted using recycled fuel

    The world's first firing of a laser using recycled fuel was conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate recently by an Air Force and Boeing Company team. During the test, conducted at the directorate's Davis Advanced Laser Facility, a chemical laser was supplied with

  • Air Force leaders to discuss new 'Cyber Command'

    Air Force leaders are gathering in early November to discuss plans for creation of a new command, one chartered with flying and fighting in cyber space. Cyberspace became an official Air Force domain, like air and space, on Dec. 7, 2005, when Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Chief of

  • DOD Eagle Vision experiment wraps up at Lajes

    A Department of Defense experiment testing the versatility of one of the Air Force's ground communications station systems wrapped up here Sept. 29. Eagle Vision-1, based at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, is designed to receive a variety of information from civilian remote-sensing satellites. "This

  • Energy conservation a priority, group effort at McChord

    Over the past 20 years, the Air Force has reduced facility energy usage by 30 percent by incorporating energy conservation into operations -- without impacting the mission -- and the Air Force is pushing to cut usage another 20 percent by 2015. For the last two years, McChord AFB officials have

  • Air Force making progress on alternative fuels

    The Air Force is embracing an energy strategy that uses alternative sources of power and conservation, Undersecretary of the Air Force Dr. Ron Sega told a group of civilian energy engineers during a World Energy Engineers Congress luncheon Sept. 15. "I think we're making progress, but we certainly

  • Mirror-coating chamber in place at Starfire Optical Range

    The Defense Department's largest mirror-coating chamber has been installed and tested at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Starfire Optical Range. "This will give the laboratory a safer alternative to transporting the 3.5-meter (11.5 feet) mirror all the way to Kitt Peak Observatory in Tucson,"

  • AFIT's center creating distance learning products

    The Center for Directed Energy at the Air Force Institute of Technology is developing a suite of distance learning products focused at the pre-service and in-service directed energy professional. The first of these products that will be available is a distance learning format of the 32-hour laser

  • AFIT Class of September 2006 graduates

    More than 40 scientists, engineers and management specialists are the latest recipients of graduate and doctoral degrees from the Air Force Institute of Technology.AFIT's Graduate School of Engineering and Management held its September 2006 graduation ceremony Sept. 14 in the Institute's Kenney

  • Bio-based products enhance national security

    The use of biological-based products is important to the nation's economy and to national security, because these products help reduce America's dependence on foreign energy resources, the deputy secretary of defense said Sept. 12. The Defense Department is the largest purchaser of products in the

  • Air Force prepares to test synthetic fuel on B-52

    A B-52 Stratofortress powered by a mix of synthetic and JP-8 fuel is slated to take its first flight Sept. 19 from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., bringing the Air Force one step closer to reducing its dependence on foreign fuel. "This is an extremely important moment for the Department of Defense,"

  • World-class runners to compete in Air Force Marathon

    Two running legends will return for the 10th annual U.S. Air Force Marathon. Marathon champions Bill Rodgers and Alberto Salazar will once again have a full itinerary as they arrive the day before the big event. Rodgers will sign autographs and greet marathon participants from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • 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

  • 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

  • Researchers aim to enhance air vehicle systems

    Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials here recently awarded the University of Washington and three partner universities a grant worth approximately $6 million over five years to study the design of air vehicles capable of collecting and storing solar and heat energies. The

  • Air Force Research Lab names 2006 fellows

    Air Force Research Laboratory officials are honoring seven scientists and engineers as new fellows during an annual awards banquet Sept. 19 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Designed to recognize and reward AFRL's most outstanding in-house scientists and engineers, the fellows

  • Teams seek fresh, creative ideas to resolve problems

    With violence at deployed military checkpoints a reality, U.S. and coalition forces often have to make tough decisions when drivers ignore warnings to stop. Insurgents often attack these guarded locations, sometimes with car bombs.Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, the Air Force Research Laboratory commander,

  • 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

  • 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

  • Academy engineering among nation's top programs

    Several U.S. Air Force Academy undergraduate engineering programs rank among the top in the nation, according to the U.S. News & World Report's America's best colleges 2007 rankings. The U.S. News & World Report rankings were released Aug. 18. The rankings are separated by which universities offer

  • Mirror system successfully demonstrated

    A dual-mirror system, designed to extend the range of high-energy lasers by receiving and redirecting laser energy, is being tested here. The system, a prototype called the Aerospace Relay Mirror System, or ARMS, is being developed at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate.

  • Lajes Airmen refuel U.S. Army tugboat

    Airmen from the 65th Air Base Wing at Lajes Field, Azores, provided support for the U.S. Army tugboat Major General Winfield Scott here today before it left for Fort Eustis, Va. The tugboat received more than 28,000 gallons of diesel fuel and other supplies. "The support we've received has been

  • EPA recognizes Air Force for its 'green power' achievements

    The U.S. Air Force is the nation's top purchaser of green power, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Top 25 list of green power purchasers in the partnership. The Air Force is also in the No. 1 slot on the nation's Top 10 Federal Government Green Power Partners. The Air Force is

  • Assistant secretary to join bike ride across Iowa

    An Air Force official charged with finding alternative fuel sources for the Air Force will demonstrate his commitment to the cause by riding in the Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, or RAGBRAI. The cyclist is William "Bill" Anderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force

  • Air Force big hit at big show

    Capt. Brett Clutter was not exactly sure what to expect as he traveled here in his B-52 Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., to participate in the Royal International Air Tattoo. But as the big event got under way, it seemed like it was for him that the thousands of spectators were

  • District dedicates hydropower plant, government center

    Governor Haji Bahlol and provincial leaders dedicated a new micro-hydropower station and governance facility at ceremonies in the Shutol District here June 28.The two projects, which have an important link, are provincial reconstruction team initiatives undertaken at the request of the governor. The

  • Summer 2006 quarterly issue of Airman available

    Read about how airpower is helping fight the war on terrorism, see how a team of Airmen mentors is making a difference in Afghanistan, follow the daily routine of an Air Force recruiter in the Big Apple, and tag along as Airmen prepare for detainee operations in the area of responsibility. These

  • Counselor cites 3 Cs of career success for spouses

    With frequent moves preventing them from moving up the career ladder in a single workplace, military spouses face unique career challenges, a military spouse career counselor told more than 150 spouses attending a recent Military Spouse Career Expo at Fort Belvoir, Va. Laureen DuPree, an Army

  • AFOSR helping to solve 30-year-old dilemma

    A team of researchers supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research has made a breakthrough in electric oxygen iodine laser, or EOIL, research. The results were presented at the AFOSR Molecular Dynamics Program Review here in June. "We have been looking at a problem that has been bugging

  • Hometown crowd roots for U.S.A.

    More than 3,000 soccer fans of all ages rooted for U.S.A. by bringing hometown America to Pulaski Park, just a short drive from the stadium where their team tied Italy, 1-1, in a 2006 FIFA World Cup match June 17.They did it with an 11-hour World Cup Fest at the park on Pulaski Barracks.

  • Scientific researchers review molecular dynamics

    The Air Force Office of Scientific Research here completed a periodic review of its molecular dynamics research program during an annual conference last week.More than 90 researchers and scientists attended the 2006 Contractors Meeting in Molecular Dynamics. Organizations represented included the

  • Minuteman III launch successful

    An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Launch Facility-04 on North Vandenberg at 1:22 a.m. today. The primary purpose of the launch was to assess and demonstrate the operational effectiveness of the Minuteman III weapon system. The missile’s three unarmed

  • AFSO 21 initiative leads to safer flying at Lakenheath

    As Air Force Smart Operations 21 went Air Force-wide this year, the 48th Fighter Wing here jump-started its program with weekly AFSO 21 initiatives briefed at wing stand-up. “I want every Airman, civilian and (Ministry of Defense) employee on this base to understand, first of all, what AFSO 21 is,

  • 2007 budget completes dorm recapitalization funding

    The Air Force's fiscal 2007 budget request will complete the funding needed to replace inadequate dormitories for Airmen. During recent testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on military construction and veterans affairs, William C. "Bill" Anderson, assistant secretary

  • Air Force receives EPA Climate Protection Award

    The Air Force Facility Energy Program won more national recognition when it received the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2006 Climate Protection Award May 17.The award is given to organizations that significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gasses. Last year, the Air Force became one

  • Signing event signifies environmental milestone

    Air Mobility Command, state and federal officials signed a record of decision May 12 for the last two of the base's contaminant release sites, reaching a major milestone in the environmental program here. The base's 59 contaminant sites put Dover on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund

  • Whatever you do this summer, stay safe

    Each year, the Air Force stresses the importance of zero mishaps during the 101 Critical Days of Summer through PowerPoint slides, commander’s calls and safety briefings. For the most part, Airmen do their part to put safety at the forefront. But what about those safety issues that tend to fall

  • Alternate fuel-powered B-52 to fly in September

    This year, the Air Force will test fly a B-52 Stratofortress that is powered in part by fuel derived from natural gas. The Air Force Research Laboratory's propulsion directorate, a part of Air Force Materiel Command, is providing technical assistance to the test flight scheduled for September

  • Five selected to comm hall of fame

    Five Air Force communications pioneers are the newest members of the Communications and Information Hall of Fame located in the Air Force Communications Agency’s Ludwig Heritage Hall here. Lt. Gen. Michael Peterson, the Air Force chief of warfighting integration and chief information officer,

  • Air Force plans for cleaner, greener future

    In the 1980s, firefighter training was straightforward: light a fire and see how quickly and safely it can be extinguished. So in fire-training pits at Air Force bases around the world, jet fuel was regularly sprayed onto old aircraft carcasses and the surrounding ground. The fuel was ignited and

  • A world away, Airmen enjoy hometown tradition

    About 50 Airmen deployed here participated in Bloomsday Away on May 7, bringing an annual tradition from Spokane, Wash., to military members half a world away. The city’s annual Bloomsday 12K is a popular race with more than 50,000 participants annually. Airmen deployed here from Fairchild Air Force

  • Air Force earns three DOD environmental awards

    Three Air Force installations received awards for their environmental stewardship at a Pentagon ceremony May 3. Dyess Air Force Base, Texas; Tinker AFB, Okla.; and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, earned 2005 Secretary of Defense Environmental awards. Representatives from each base were at the ceremony

  • Long hours the norm for deployed Globemaster crews

    It is contrary to what common sense dictates. A series of short C-17 Globemaster III flights demand intense aircrew energy and stamina. But longer sorties remain more physically manageable. “Either way you look at it, our C-17 crews put in long hours that place physical and mental demands on the

  • Researchers focused on satellite energy storage

    An eight-person team at the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate here believes their experiment will demonstrate the innovative technology of combined attitude control and energy storage on a satellite by the summer of 2007.The experiment consists of  three flywheels spinning

  • Air refueling squadron takes flight to fuel the fight

    Fighters are in the air 24 hours a day, providing constant support to ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Without midair refueling, that coverage would be lost. The 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron provides fuel to those thirsty fighters as they keep troops on the ground safe, said Lt.

  • Warfare flight works behind the scenes

    The hum of computer fans, the tapping of fingers on keyboards and the occasional ring of a telephone are all that are normally heard in this office. But don't let the quiet fool you -- the office staff is working to ensure that technological advances aren’t being used against the Air Force. The 8th

  • NCO mentors through martial arts

    Once a gang member himself, an information manager with Detachment 2 of the 17th Test Squadron now uses kicks and punches to keep teenagers out of trouble. To his co-workers at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo., he is Staff Sgt. Dave Armstrong. To his students at the Hillside Community

  • Marathon runners conquer Boston, Heartbreak Hill

    Runners from around the world hit the streets of Boston and its suburbs April 17 on a winding, 26.2-mile course that is the Boston Marathon -- a Patriot's Day tradition here in "The Hub." Mixed in with the world's elite sneakers pounding the pavement, were runners from the Air Force and the military

  • Services functions realign with manpower and personnel

    Two Air Force functions are coming back together, an Air Force official here said recently, but initially the effects won’t be felt outside the Pentagon. When the services and manpower and personnel functional organizations combine, the change will be invisible to those in the field at base-level,

  • How harmful is binge drinking?

    If two friends drink six beers every night for six months, do both have the same risk of becoming alcoholics or substance abusers? “Anyone is at risk for alcoholism, but studies have shown that individuals who have a family history of alcoholism are more prone to it,” said Tech. Sgt. Michelle Wilson

  • Vandenberg launches Minuteman III

    An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was launched from Vandenberg today at 6 a.m. The launch was part of a developmental test to demonstrate the weapon system’s effectiveness in a stressed environment on extended range. The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled

  • Academy cadets help Spangdahlem drill team hone sabers

    Eleven U.S. Air Force Academy Saber Drill Team cadets were here this week to work with the 52nd Fighter Wing Honor Guard's Eifel Sabres drill team they helped train last year. The team is the only one in U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Since the team’s inception last April, they have performed for the

  • Air Force releases 2006 posture statement

    The Air Force released its “posture statement” detailing the service’s missions and priorities over the next year. The 52-page document’s introduction asks Airmen to look from their heritage to the horizon, taking lessons from the past and adapting them for the future. It also opens with a letter

  • AF seeks balance in historical preservation with practicality

    The Air Force has more than 4,500 historic properties that are listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. How the service inventories and sustains funds, and repairs and modernizes historic properties was the subject at testimony recently before the House Armed

  • Air Force Reserve goes Hollywood

    Hundreds of cast, crew and extras from a proposed WB Network series converged here for a marathon day of filming March 27. They came here to work on the pilot episode of “Mercy Reef,” a science-fiction themed program that could appear on the network as early as this fall, according to Lisa Lewis,

  • California base wins water recycling award

    Ever think the sign of the times would state, “To conserve water, this building uses reclaimed water to flush toilets and urinals?"The significance of the reclaimed water signs posted in restrooms in new base facilities was apparent March 12, at the WateReuse Association’s awards luncheon in San

  • Statistics show command's fitness program needs to improve

    Since the new fitness program began in 2004, Air Force Reserve Command’s performance has stumbled. In 2003, 76 percent of unit reservists took the fitness test. Most of them -- 98.9 percent -- passed their assessments. Now, two years later, 68 percent of the reservists tested. But, this time 7

  • EPA says AF top green power purchaser in America

    The Environmental Protection Agency lists the Air Force No. 1 as the largest purchaser of renewable energy in the United States and the third largest green power purchaser in the world. Last year, the Air Force purchased 1,066,397 megawatt hours of renewable energy. That’s enough energy to power

  • Nuclear Weapons Center set to open at Kirtland

    Kirtland will become the home of Air Force Materiel Command's newest organization, the Nuclear Weapons Center, on March 31. "The base has been at the heart of nuclear activities for over 60 years, so it is no surprise that the NWC would find a home here," said Col. Greg Foraker, director of the

  • Officials announce Air Force safety awards

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

  • Air Force committed to energy-efficient strategies

    The Air Force continues its pledge to be a leader in energy stewardship. For the last six months, the Air Force has been working on a strategy to have energy as a consideration in nearly all of its activities, from operations to acquisition. The Air Force is increasing efforts to reduce the demand

  • Airmen learn desert survival from SERE

     What would you do if you got stuck in the desert? Twenty Airmen with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing found out when the Kuwait Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape team -- better known as SERE -- taught a one-day desert survival class in February. Tech. Sgt. Joshua Anderson and Senior Airman

  • U.S. military brings cheer to children’s home

    Christmas came in February for the Children’s Home of the Immaculate Heart of Mary as about 20 members of the U.S. and Philippine military brought smiles and gifts with them Feb. 26. Located outside Clark Air Base, the home is for abandoned girls 6 to 16. The servicemembers, participating in

  • Medical group keeps warfighters in fight

    The 379th Expeditionary Medical Group Hospital provides medical care impacting missions well beyond its boundaries, helping warfighters stay in the fight in-theater. Minor shrapnel and gunshot wounds often prevent a soldier from staying in theater while they recover, so they come this hospital to

  • Minuteman III launches from Vandenberg

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

  • Air Force conducts dietary supplement survey Feb. 13 to 27

    Twenty-six Air Force installations will participate in a survey Feb. 13 to 27 regarding dietary supplement usage in the Air Force. “The survey will help the Air Force keep track of what supplements people are taking, so the Air Force can educate Airmen on any dangers that may go along with taking

  • New facility set to be environmentally friendly

    A new aircraft corrosion control paint and depaint facility under construction here is designed to be environmentally friendly and cost-efficient. The goal in building the new facility was to make environmental improvements over old processes, said Richard Slife of the 402nd Maintenance Wing quality

  • Andersen kids lead FitFactor in participation points

    A brother and sister team from Andersen hold the most participation points in FitFactor, the Air Force-wide youth fitness program. Fenton and Cierra Fitzgerald, the son and daughter of Master Sgts. Fenton and Kimberly Fitzgerald, accomplished the feat by working their way through three of the five

  • Air Force ranks No. 1 for renewable energy use

    The Air Force purchased more renewable energy than any other member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s green power partnership last year, according to a report released Jan. 24 by the EPA. The partnership, which is sponsored by the EPA, consists of U.S. companies and organizations that

  • Leasing option increases Air Force land value

    Underutilized Air Force land does not need to sit idle any longer. The Air Force Real Property Agency converts underutilized land and infrastructure into real value for the Air Force, installations and communities through the enhanced use leasing option, officials said. "Enhanced use leasing is a

  • Airman 'slugs' his way through D.C. assignment

    Rush-hour traffic in the national capital region can be frustrating. To fend off the bumper-to-bumper blues, several servicemembers and civilians have taken to "slugging" -- the nickname given to instant carpooling here. To use the high occupancy vehicle lanes on many of the highways here, drivers

  • Post-Katrina relief operations bolster community recovery

    Keesler is at the forefront of the battle to restore the Mississippi Gulf Coast of Hurricane Katrina’s wake. After the storm devastated the base and surrounding communities Aug. 29, Keesler’s training mission temporarily stopped as it recovered and began humanitarian relief operations, or HUMRO. The

  • New Mexico Tech to build on Kirtland

    The Air Force conveyed more than eight acres of base land to the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology during a ceremony here Jan. 6. The agreement is designed to stimulate business efficiencies and technological advancement through the construction of new facilities. The land conveyance, a

  • Long convoy duty is no easy task

    By dawn, Airmen of the 424th Medium Truck Detachment had finished preparing for their mission -- move Army 4th Infantry Division supplies and material from Kuwait into Iraq. These Airmen do not fly their cargo, and it’s quite possible they may go their entire deployment without even seeing a

  • General brought a band (but could have flown solo)

    Maybe it was Uncle Joe or Aunt Grace. Maybe it was just dad’s old Air Force buddy or mom’s best girlfriend. Everybody seems to have somebody who whizzes into their lives much too infrequently, makes them laugh, has them talking about anything in a matter of seconds, leaves too soon and always leaves

  • Lab worker earns 4th degree black belt

    To get her 4th degree black belt rank, Jolee AlVillar had to travel to South Korea and pass a test by a grandmaster in the Korean martial art of Taekwondo. During the Air Force Research Laboratory employee’s 10-day visit, she earned Sa Dan certification and registrated at the Kukiwon World Taekwondo

  • New medical staging facility opened

    The new 332nd Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility opened Dec. 19 and will serve as a transition point for medical evacuations from Iraq. Construction on the $850,000 building began in September. "With the move into this new semi-hardened facility, we are continuing to improve the care we

  • Post-Katrina relief operations bolster community recovery

    Keesler is at the tip of the sword in the battle to restore the Mississippi Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. After the storm devastated the base and surrounding communities, Keesler's training mission was broadened to include humanitarian relief operations under the direction of the

  • PACAF continues to conserve energy

    It’s hard to pick up a national publication of any sort this winter and not see headlines screaming of impending financial peril because of sky-rocketing fuel prices. But, Pacific Air Forces has been combating energy resource concerns even before President Bush’s 2005 Energy and Fuel Conservation

  • Fuel cells could save Air Force thousands

    Ten new five-kilowatt fuel cells in operation here could save the Air Force thousands of dollars in energy costs. The fuel cells, located at the base ground water treatment plant, have been operating since early October. Base officials unveiled the new alternative fuel source Dec 1. The cells, which

  • Maintainers keep Minuteman IIIs ready

    Nearly five decades after the Minuteman entered the United States' nuclear arsenal as President John F. Kennedy’s “Ace in the Hole,” technicians here are working to ensure it continues on active duty for the foreseeable future. The missile system watched over the nation as the Cold War ended, ground

  • Second chance: Active-duty father donates kidney

    It’s evening, and the Pitman family is playing Candyland in their living room. Devin, 5, bounces from the sofa to the gameboard and pulls a card. “Ice cream!” the blue-eyed boy shouts, and moves his yellow pawn toward the end of the trail. “My turn,” his father says, leaning over the board to pull a

  • Deployed? Find something to sweat about

    Categorizing events on the weekly base activities calendar reveals a simple truth about the Airmen deployed here: They love to stay active, even after a 12-hour shift. “It’s the whole ‘Fit to Fight’ mindset along with the chance for people to enjoy themselves,” said Tech. Sgt. L.J. Kincade, the

  • Soldiers win first Camp Bucca Raft Race

    Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors traded their military vehicles and weapons for homemade boats and paddles to take part in the first-ever Camp Bucca Raft Race. The Air Force-sponsored race, held Nov. 13 on a small pond here, matched the talents and ingenuity of 17 teams vying for the top prize and camp

  • Air Force facing higher energy bill

    Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were summer events, but their impact will probably be felt this winter. And that impact will not just be on the Gulf Coast, but across the nation and on military installations as facility energy prices continue to increase, Air Force officials said. The storms caused

  • New technology 'dazzles' aggressors

    A laser technology weapon will be the first man-portable, non-lethal deterrent weapon intended for protecting troops and controlling hostile crowds. The weapon, developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate, employs a two-wavelength laser system and is a hand-held,