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  • GPS satellite achieves 20 years in orbit

    Space Vehicle Number 23, Global Positioning System constellation, is a testament to how Air Force officials continue to meet and exceed their operational requirements with GPS.GPS Block IIA-10 (SVN-23), built by Boeing (formerly Rockwell Corporation), was launched Nov. 26, 1990, and set healthy to

  • Survey addresses quality-of-life needs

    The 2010 Caring for People Survey gives total force Airmen, civilians, retirees and dependents an opportunity to voice their concerns on how the Air Force can better address their quality-of-life needs. With Airmen deploying in support of global contingency operations for two decades, developing and

  • Mullen: Military workplace needs more flexibility

    Recognizing and finding ways to accommodate the changing needs of servicemembers and their families with regard to the military workplace should be a priority for leaders, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here Nov. 29.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen spoke as part of a panel on work and life

  • 412th TW tests Global Hawk with alternative fuel

    A remotely-piloted aircraft completed a 32-hour flight test using an alternative fuel mixture here Nov. 23.The 412th Test Wing's Global Vigilance Combined Test Force's Block 20 RQ-4 Global Hawk took off Nov. 22 and became the first RPA to fly using the Fischer-Tropsch Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene

  • Schriever Airmen treat gunshot victim

    Two security forces member's knowledge of first aid and a willingness to help others became critical when they encountered a gunshot victim Nov. 15.Airman 1st Class Tyler Chason and Airman Emmanuel Valenzuela, both from the 50th Security Forces Squadron, were dropping a friend off at an apartment

  • Clean, low-energy solutions sought for mammoth program

    Ongoing technical and cost analyses could lead program officials to seek a mixture of alternative energy sources to fuel the next generation of massive ground-based radars that will track space objects and debris.In October, Electronic Systems Center officials here released a Request for Proposal

  • Iraqi air force officials open new facilities at Ali Air Base

    Iraqi air force officials opened new facilities and transferred Squadron 70 to Ali Air Base, Iraq, during a ceremony Nov. 23 here. The opening of these facilities and the Squadron 70 transfer is a milestone for the Iraqi air force on its way to securing the southern provinces, officials said."Today

  • Joint Chiefs chairman sends Thanksgiving message

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sends Thanksgiving Day greetings:"As we reflect on all that we have to be thankful for during this upcoming holiday weekend, I want to express my personal thanks to our armed forces and their families. Their profound commitment - and

  • SECAF, CMSAF visit Airmen in Iraq on Thanksgiving holiday

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy visited here Nov. 25 for a Thanksgiving visitWhile at Balad, they took a turn at serving Thanksgiving dinner to the troops."It is great to be back at Joint Base Balad and the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing," the

  • Mullen cites North Korea's unpredictability

    North Korea's artillery assault on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island Nov. 23 is an issue of concern in a region that wants stability, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said Nov. 24 on ABC's "The View" television show.Admiral Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, appeared on the

  • Remembering Virginia: Captain uses CFC to honor friend

    "I will not let fear rule my life. I will not be consumed with cancer. I will go on and live my life as fully and with as much joy as I possibly can ... I ask that you keep me in your prayers and thoughts. I ask that when you think of me, you picture me healthy, vital, whole, cured. I plan on

  • Exchange programs brings French cadets to Ramstein

    Eight cadets from Salon-de-Provence Air Base, France, visited Ramstein Air Base Nov. 14 to 20 with hopes of learning how the U.S. military operates on a day-to-day basis. The visit marked the first time cadets from the French Air Force Academy participated in an immersion tour of an American

  • Director asks Air Guard leaders to look ahead

    Times are tough for the Air National Guard, but Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt III sees many "great" opportunities for his 106,700-member force to excel in the future."We know there is a mismatch right now of demands on the force and resources," said General Wyatt, the director of the Air Guard. "I think it

  • Tinker Airman is three-time rifle champion

    When Staff Sgt. Michael Henderson shoots, he scores -- literally. Recently, the two-time National Rifle Association National Police Shooting champion entered the contest again, and won. Despite his track record, Sergeant Henderson, a combat arms instructor assigned to the 72nd Security Forces

  • C2 Constellation still integrating, piece by piece

    A program initiated in 2000 as an attempt to integrate all command and control systems continues to contribute to that goal today, albeit in a different way.While the C2 Constellation began as an effort to build an overarching architecture for all C2 systems, work now focuses on specific enterprise

  • Air control wings partner under active association construct

    The chief of staff of the Air Force recently designated the 116th Air Control Wing here as an active association wing.The newly designated active association also establishes the 461st ACW as the regular Air Force associate wing. The 116th ACW will become the Air National Guard host wing. Together,

  • Incirlik medical group earns AF best practice

    Air Force officials recently named a financial tracking tool created by a member here as an Air Force best practice. Serdal Gurses, a budget analyst for the 39th Medical Support Squadron, created the Financial Contracts Management Tracking Tool, which was approved by the Air Force Best Practices

  • Task force prepares for Horn of Africa mission

    Leaders preparing to deploy to Djibouti in January as the next headquarters staff at Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa just wrapped up the first phase of a new, four-part training program designed to prepare them as well as the follow-on task force for the unique, strategically important

  • Mullen speaks to World Congress on Disabilities

    The nation's wounded warriors and veterans face extraordinary challenges in the years ahead, the military's top officer told members of the World Congress on Disabilities gathered at the Dallas Convention Center here Nov. 19.With 40,000 servicemembers and veterans having suffered physical wounds

  • Air Force Selection Board Secretariat moving

    The Air Force Selection Board Secretariat and its staff will be moving to a new building here between November and January 2011. The move will affect all officers and senior NCOs visiting to review their selection records, as well as future promotion board members. "We want to make sure our

  • Major AWACS upgrade begins

    The next step in the largest block upgrade in the history of the E-3 Sentry, or Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft occurred Nov. 18 at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., when the first aircraft receiving the block 40/45 modification was inducted by the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center.New

  • Kadena Airmen wrap up largest avionics training relocation

    Twelve F-15 Eagles and about 180 from here are wrapping up two weeks of bilateral training with Japan Air Self Defense Force members at Chitose Air Base in northern Japan. The aviation training relocation program is designed to increase operational readiness and interoperability between U.S. and

  • Academy officials educate future leaders on alternative energy

    Leaders at the Air Force Academy broke ground Nov. 1 for a 6-megawatt solar photovoltaic array, one of the largest solar PV projects in Colorado. The array is part of an energy transformation at the Academy, both physically and culturally, as officials seek to make the Academy a "Net Zero"

  • Academy professor wins national award

    A professor in the U.S. Air Force Academy's Department of Political Science was named one of the U.S. Professors of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Nov. 18. Dr. Frances Pilch was recognized in Washington, D.C. as the 2010 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of

  • Education, commitment will get Guard through changing times

    Career progression, development and motivation start at the top, and National Guard senior leaders consider those principles to be a priority to keep the Guard moving through an uncertain future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said here Nov. 18."We are a vibrant, resilient, capable national

  • Network Integration Center team shapes future of AF cyberspace operations

    The Air Force Network Integration Center may be an organization that many Airmen aren't familiar with, but it has a very significant charter that ultimately affects every Airman, every day.The center, located here at Scott Air Force Base, is a direct reporting unit of Air Force Space Command at

  • DOD center tracks health, illness in U.S. forces

    A new Defense Department agency employs combined medical expertise to track health, illness and injury across the military services, the center director said.Army Col. (Dr.) Robert F. DeFraites heads the Maryland-based American Forces Health Surveillance Center, which serves servicemembers, family

  • Airmen travel to Rwanda, teach maintenance management

    Members of the Rwanda air force paid a visit to the leaders in C-130 maintenance training at the 373rd Training Squadron Det. 4 at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., which is part of the 982nd Training Group here, which turned into a follow up visit for two Det. 4 members to help build up the

  • General Ham testifies at AFRICOM confirmation hearing

    President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next commander of U.S. Africa Command outlined his objectives Nov. 18 during a confirmation hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee.Africa is important to U.S. national security interests, Army Gen. Carter F. Ham told committee members."These

  • New commander takes reins of AETC

    Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr. took command of Air Education and Training Command from Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz during a ceremony here today.AETC, headquartered in San Antonio, is the Air Force major command responsible for recruiting, training and educating America's Airmen through innovation."The set of

  • Cyber attacks present 'huge' threat, Gates says

    Leaders are taking steps to bring defense industrial and domestic partners under an umbrella of protection from cyber attacks, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Nov. 16."There is a huge future threat and there is a considerable current threat (from cyber attacks)," Gates said during a

  • Secretary Donley lauds Air Guard's capability, reach

    The secretary of the Air Force spoke to approximately 2,000 attendees at the Air National Guard's 2010 Senior Leadership Conference here Nov. 16.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said the Air National Guard leads the way in providing "maximum combat power when and where the nation needs it,

  • Partnership makes for expanded air refueling capabilities

    A 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker crew participated in air refueling training here with a C-17 Globemaster III crew from the Heavy Airlift Wing at Papa Air Base, Hungary, Nov. 12.Although no fuel was exchanged during the mission, both units received training they don't get the

  • Children of deployed more likely to seek mental health care

    Young children from military families are more likely to seek mental and behavioral health care when a parent is deployed than when a parent is at home, a military study has concluded.Findings also show that children of married couples -- with the father as the servicemember -- are more likely to

  • AETC commander to retire after 37 years of service

    The commander of Air Education and Training Command, Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, will retire in the grade of general effective Jan. 1, 2011, Air Force officials have announced, culminating more than 37 years of commissioned service. His retirement ceremony is Nov. 17.Among his many accomplishments as

  • Customer satisfaction on menu

    In October, Air Force officials began food transformation at six installations, and so far Airmen and officials are pleased with the results.The Air Force Food Transformation Initiative is a pilot program launched Oct. 1 with a goal to better serve the dining needs of today's Airmen. The pilot

  • Airmen share ideas, best practices in multi-national exercise

    More than 145 Colorado Air National Guard Airmen are taking part in the fifth annual Brazilian-led exercise CRUZEX, in Natal, Brazil, Nov. 8 through Nov. 18. CRUZEX V, or Cruzeiro Do Sul (Southern Cross), is a multinational, combined exercise involving the air forces of Argentina, Brazil, Chile,

  • Exercise introduces Navy expertise to air-centric operation

    Participants from several federal, state and local agencies from across the United States and Canada participated in Vigilant Shield '11, an exercise geared at training and evaluating tactics, techniques and procedures to ensure interoperability of Department of Defense assets in support of the

  • All Americans owe thanks to veterans, Biden says

    Vice President Joe Biden honored servicemembers and veterans at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Nov. 11, saying 100 percent of Americans owe their gratitude to the 1 percent who serve in the all-volunteer force."Collectively, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who served and

  • Officials use report's findings to prevent violence

    The Air Force follow-on review, Protecting the Force: Lessons from Fort Hood, released Nov. 9, concluded that Airmen at all levels are key to preventing future tragedies like the one at Fort Hood, Texas. The tragic shooting of servicemembers at Fort Hood in November 2009 underscored the need for the

  • Reserve units stand up force support squadrons

    In the coming months, reservists serving in mission support and services career fields will realign under force support squadrons in the Air Force Reserve Command.A mix of mission support and services units received authorization Oct. 15 to inactivate or change their unit designation. The result is

  • Jordan, US conduct exercise in Southwest Asia

    Falcon Air Meet 2010, held at Azraq Royal Jordanian Air Base, Jordan, brought men and women from various countries together to share their different cultures, reinforce standards, and build relationships, trust and respect. A friendly competition was a highlight that provided a training experience

  • 21st Operational Weather Squadron equipment 'forecast' saved millions

    As the Sembach Annex realignment plan pushes forward to transfer control to the Army of the former Air Force base, members of the 21st Operational Weather Squadron are making smart resource choices to save taxpayer dollars in unnecessary equipment moves. As one of the last Air Force assets left on

  • 'Mission One' at NORTHCOM: Defending the homeland

    Developing regional response capabilities, stepping up preparations for a no-notice catastrophe and maturing partnerships are among priorities at U.S. Northern Command, the new deputy commander said here Nov. 2."We're working very closely with the National Guard and (the Office of the Secretary of

  • First production C-5M arrives at Dover

    The first production C-5M Super Galaxy arrived for duty at Dover Air Force Base Nov. 5.  Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., commander of Air Mobility Command, flew the Super Galaxy from Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y., to its operational home at Dover AFB."The creativity and hard work demonstrated

  • Air Force officials name deputy assistant secretary for energy

    Air Force officials named Dr. Kevin T. Geiss the new deputy assistant secretary of energy for the Air Force Nov. 4.Dr. Geiss will lead the Air Force's Energy Office, comprising a staff of 11 people dedicated to energy policy development and support of energy-focused programs."Energy is an enabler

  • Nominations open for public administration award

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 7th annual Department of Defense David O. Cooke Excellence in Public Administration Award. This award recognizes non-managerial career civilian employees who demonstrate great leadership potential as future federal executives. To be eligible,

  • USAJOBS to be single source for Air Force job seekers

    Current civilian employees will have a single source to apply for vacant Air Force positions beginning Nov. 15 when they join other job seekers already using USAJOBS.Air Force civilian personnel officials announced the decision in October that almost all hiring will be accomplished through USAJOBS

  • Engineers testing eight-blade prop for C-130

    Engineers with the 418th Flight Test Squadron are currently testing a C-130H3 cargo plane equipped with Hamilton Sundstrand NP 2000 propellers.The new eight-bladed composite propellers are shaped to provide additional thrust in the takeoff and low airspeed range while using the current C-130

  • Airman receives hometown promotion

    An NCO born in El Salvador was promoted to master sergeant before family and military representatives from the U.S. and El Salvador in his hometown during a promotion ceremony Oct. 29 here.Master Sgt. Fred Campos, a logistics planner for Special Operations Command South, moved to the U.S. when he

  • Airmen help Soldiers meet airborne school requirements

    Paratroopers sat side-by-side both crushed and cozy from the weight of the massive parachute packs on their laps. Each jumper's eyes squinted from a combination of fatigue and flying dust kicked up by the ferocious winds whirling in from the C-17 Globemaster III's side doors. Loadmasters and

  • Wounded Soldier saved through use of heart, lung machine

    A wounded Soldier incurred an injury that affected his lungs, and was transported on an aeromedical evacuation mission Oct. 21, from Afghanistan to Germany. The mission was carried out aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, with the use of an extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation machine. "This is the first

  • Occupational analysts influence Air Force decision makers

    The Air Force's flying community logs thousands upon thousands of miles-per year fulfilling their mission, but 37 civilians based at Randolph AFB also are racking up the miles in their quest to assist the service's brain trust.Members of the Air Force Occupational Analysis office, assigned to Air

  • Holloman centrifuge takes last spin

    Members of the Physiological Training Center concluded 22 years of centrifuge training here with its final spin Oct. 27.The culmination of the centrifuge training mission at Holloman AFB was directed by the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure of 2005, which announced the consolidation

  • Partnering for improved medical care

    The patient for the day came through the door in a large black bag, and medics quickly dragged him onto the table. Then the patient's head popped off and a foot fell to the floor, but that was OK for the medics -- it was just a medical manikin.But when all the parts were in line and the day's

  • Training center launches Afghan pilots

    The commander of the Afghan air force air school and the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron is charged with training Afghan soldiers to operate in their air force. Air Force Lt. Col. Ryan Nichols discussed his specialized training facility in an Oct. 28 "DODLive" bloggers roundtable."(This

  • Community leaders share information, ideas with AFMC commander

    Eighteen civic leaders from across Air Force Materiel Command met with the commander Oct. 28, for a discussion of challenges that lie ahead in five significant categories tied to the AFMC mission.The civic leaders are members of the command's Community Liaison Program, a group of 40 people

  • Online tool tracks Airman deployment readiness

    An online tool available to Airmen aims to reduce the workload of tracking appointments and training in preparation for a deployment.The Personal Deployment Processing Tool, found on the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Online website, allows Airmen to review and track their readiness status for

  • Chief Roy meets with top Afghan enlisted leader

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force met with the top enlisted leader of the Afghan air force here Oct. 27.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy and Eid Mohammad, the command sergeant major of the air force in Afghanistan, discussed education, training and other issues relating to

  • AFIT graduates first class of cyberspace warriors

    Officials with the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Air Force Cyberspace Technical Center of Excellence conducted the first Cyber 200 and 300 course graduation here Oct. 28. Gen. C. Robert Kehler, commander of Air Force Space Command, served as keynote speaker for this first class of

  • 460th Space Wing wraps up first Cyber Lightning exercise

    Working under a carefully planned and escalating contested cyber environment on Oct. 15, members of the 460th Space Wing here successfully completed their first exclusively cyber-focused exercise."Exercise Cyber Lightning" was designed to test the wing' s capability to operate in a contested cyber

  • Wanted: Energy vampire slayers

    An "energy vampire," or phantom load, is energy that continues to be drawn by appliances or accessories when they are turned off or disconnected. The following is a list of easy steps anyone can take at work and home to kill energy vampires once and for all:-- Use daylight instead of electric light

  • Air Force school focuses on cybersecurity

    "The wars of the future will be fought in the cyber domain" sounds like a bad movie tagline from 20 years ago, but it's becoming truer by the day, and the Air Force is readying troops for that battle.Brig. Gen. Walter D. Givhan, the commandant of the Air Force Institute of Technology at

  • Air Force Falcon visits Florida school children

    Approximately 300 middle school students saw a live American kestrel falcon during a presentation from the U.S. Air Force Academy falconry program Oct. 28 here.Cadet 3rd Class Danielle Cortez and her falcon Buzz Lightyear visited students at L.B. Johnson Middle School here as part of Air Force Week

  • Civil engineer reflects on energy awareness achievements

    October's energy awareness theme, "Think Green, Build Green, Fly Blue," reminds Airmen to seek ways to conserve energy, increase efficiency, and incorporate sustainable practices into their lives. Responsible for installation support functions at 166 bases worldwide, Civil Engineer Maj. Gen. Timothy

  • 'Mission One' at NORTHCOM: Defending the homeland

    Developing regional response capabilities, stepping up preparations for a no-notice catastrophe and maturing partnerships are among priorities at U.S. Northern Command, the new deputy commander said here Oct. 26."We're working very closely with the National Guard and (the Office of the Secretary of

  • Space leaders discuss operating in resource-constrained environments

    Air Force Space Command leaders along with civilian officials who have made a significant contribution to America's military space program came together here Oct. 21 to discuss the future and the lessons learned of operating in a resource constrained environment. The members shared first-hand

  • Communications and Information Hall of Fame to stay at Scott AFB

    Air Force Space Command officials announced this week that the Communications and Information Hall of Fame will remain at its current location at the Air Force Network Integration Center on Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Furthermore, the nomination and selection process remains unchanged from last year.

  • American air forces participate in Exercise Cooperacion 1

    The air forces of 12 countries of the Americas participated in an exercise aimed at using multinational air assets from SICOFAA member nations (Sistema de cooperacion de las Fuerzas Aerias de las Americas) in support of humanitarian civic assistance missions, Oct. 4 to 14 in Chile.The Cooperation 1

  • Airmen, Sailors train together for future relief efforts

    Airmen from the 36th Mobility Response Squadron and Sailors from the Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron TWO FIVE partnered during a field training exercise to foster a better working relationship Oct. 13, at Northwest Field, Guam.The joint training consisted of a series of 9-Line medical

  • Air Force chief of staff honors retirees, praises Airmen

    The Air Force's top uniformed officer honored retirees and praised today's Airmen during a dinner here Oct. 22.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz was the guest speaker at the annual chairman's dinner at Air Force Village, an officers' retirement community here, in celebration of its 40th

  • Program Fills Gap for Returning Guard, Reserve

    Though the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program has eased the post-deployment process for thousands of Guard and Reserve members and their families over the past two years, officials are hoping thousands more take advantage of the Defense Department program in the coming months, the program's

  • US, Bulgarian medics forge successful partnerships

    Airmen from the 86th Airlift Wing and 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as well as other U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen, participated in Exercise Thracian Fall 2010 Oct. 18 in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The three-week, combined exercise was designed to provide both U.S. and

  • Geothermal plant to save Aviano $35,000 per year

    Airmen here anticipate saving about $35,000 per year with the completion of an energy saving project at the base fitness center. Now fully operational and the first of its kind in the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the $470,000 geothermal project was part of a commitment by base officials to reduce

  • Warfighters plan for 'future fight' at weapons, tactics conference

    Airmen in the ranks of sergeant through lieutenant colonel, warfighters serving abroad and defending the homeland, gathered here Oct. 18 through Oct. 22 to tell Guard and Reserve senior leaders what they need to improve capability in the air reserve component, or ARC.Their focus was on "Legacy

  • Air Force Village rededicated during special ceremony

    The wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz helped honor Air Force Village founders and administrators during a rededication ceremony here Oct. 22.Suzie Schwartz was the featured speaker at the ceremony, which marked 40 years of operation for this Air Force retirement home. It also

  • Gen. McKinley: Collaboration saved Minnesota fighter wing

    Collaboration between Duluth, Minn., and the Minnesota Air National Guard officials saved the 148th Fighter Wing from closure and will help it grow in the future, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said Oct. 22."You don't see many chambers who recognize their local military," Gen. Craig R.

  • Transition calls for employees to 'brush up' resumes

    Following the success of a seven-month pilot program using a resume-based system to fill vacant positions at 16 locations across the service, current Air Force civilian employees will now apply for vacant position using USAJOBS beginning Nov. 15.To search for Air Force vacancies, employees can visit

  • Cyberspace is the new domain of warfare

    With the creation of the U.S. Cyber Command in May and last week's cybersecurity agreement between the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, DOD officials are ready to add cyberspace to sea, land, air and space as the latest domain of warfare, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III

  • US, Afghan bands speak universal language

    The Air Force Central Command and Afghan National Army bands played to a packed house of more than 400 Afghan and NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan members at the Afghan air force base Oct. 16 here. NATC-A advisers, who are helping build the Afghan air force by training pilots, maintainers and

  • Senior Pentagon official: Military must reduce use of fossil fuels

    The Defense Department's current reliance on expensive, difficult-to-transport and finite fossil fuels affects cost-reduction efforts as well as war-fighting operations, a senior Pentagon official said."Certainly, for current operations and for the future, one of the things we're really focused on

  • Secretary Donley addresses challenges ahead during Kirtland visit

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited Kirtland Air Force Base Oct. 13 and 14 to meet with base leaders, speak with Airmen serving here and address members of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.During his visit, Secretary Donley visited numerous base organizations, including the

  • Defense Cyber Crime Center officials host challenge

    Airmen and civilians are now able to submit solutions for the 2010 Defense Cyber Crime Center Digital Forensics Challenge to compete against more than 975 teams for a chance to win 11 different prizes.The DC3 Digital Forensics Challenge is a public, online, and international Challenge held annually

  • Immersive training builds small-unit decision-making skills

    Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif., got a glimpse recently into what's likely to be the training environment of the future: one that injects live actors, animatronics, projected avatars and other sensory enhancements to replicate the sights, sounds, smells and stresses of combat, and demands the same

  • State-of-the-art cardiovascular services available at Travis AFB

    With equipment that can only be found in four other hospitals in the nation, surgeons here recently performed the first operations while using a new state-of-the-art, hybrid cardiovascular operating room. It took a team of medical professionals here three years to bring the cardiovascular services

  • One step at a time: Airman recovering after crash

    Staff Sgt. Chris Curtis wanted nothing more than to walk through the doors to the 8th Special Operations Squadron building.His friends and colleagues cheered him on as he accomplished that goal Oct. 8; a feat that just a few months ago seemed nearly impossible.Sergeant Curtis was a flight engineer

  • DOD, VA healthcare officials combine specialties to provide 'one-stop shop'

    Through a joint venture between Defense Department and Veterans Affairs officials, medical professionals here are offering DOD and VA patients a combined clinic for heart, lung and vascular care.The Heart, Lung and Vascular Center at David Grant USAF Medical Center, which opened Oct. 13, is the

  • Test center fuses old, new technology for light attack

    Test pilots and engineers here are learning what happens when high-tech systems are combined with low-tech airframes for a new, cost effective, light-attack aircraft.Light attack, a revitalized concept in the Air Force, addresses the need for an airplane that offers surveillance as well as strike

  • C2 conference addresses future structure, training

    The 505th Command and Control Wing hosted its semi-annual Commander's Conference here Oct. 12 through 14.Thirty-one commanders, deputy commanders and superintendents from seven locations across the U.S. converged on Hulburt to discuss command and control, or C2, issues affecting operational-level

  • CJCS: Air Force has 'led the way' in energy security

    The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff lauded the Air Force for its commitment to energy security during the Pentagon Energy Security Event here Oct. 13."The Air Force is pushing forward, focusing on three goals of reducing demand, increasing supply through renewable and alternative sources, and

  • Center helps DOD build international bonds

    A graduation ceremony at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center here is not what one would consider typical. As the students' names are read, they approach the stage wearing the uniforms of their respective countries. From privates through generals, across all the services, these men

  • Navy celebrates 235th birthday

    As the U.S. Navy celebrates its 235th birthday, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz have sent birthday greetings and congratulated the men and women of the Navy on behalf of America's Airmen."For over two centuries, our nation has been richly

  • New Afghan female air force lieutenants arrive at the Thunder Lab

    Five newly commissioned Afghan female air force lieutenants reported to the Thunder Lab here Oct. 12 for training.The Thunder Lab is an English language immersion program run by NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan officials to prepare future Afghan air force pilots while they await pilot training.

  • General Schwartz discusses change in the U.S. Air Force

    The world has changed and the United States Air Force must change too, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said Oct. 12 at the National Press Club here.General Schwartz made the point that political leaders have been dealing with the effects of globalization since the 1970s, but that the

  • Secretary Gates seeks expansion of U.S.-Vietnamese cooperation

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates noted the level of cooperation in the military relationship between the U.S. and Vietnam and said he sees potential for that relationship to expand even further Oct. 11 during a speech at Vietnam National University. Secretary Gates said collaborative efforts

  • Supply Airmen slim down the bits and bolts for New Dawn

    As the responsible drawdown of forces in Iraq continues, the Airmen of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Material Management Flight here have gone back to basics and cut down excess assets at the base.The 35 people in supply now keep track of some 7,000 required line items, valued

  • Airmen, Portuguese officials hone fuel spill response skills

    At the aftermath of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Airmen geared up and prepared for future challenges that could occur at the coastal and ship docking area here during a week-long joint fuel spill response training exercise from Sept. 27 to Oct. 1 here. Due to the potential of oil slicks to

  • ISR leader passes torch to new generation

    The morning of Sept. 30 saw 20 officers receive intelligence specialty badges upon graduating from the Air Force intelligence officer course here. There are multiple classes held each year, but the Sept. 30 graduation had a special twist: it was the first time the Air Force deputy chief of staff for

  • Expeditionary center takes UDM training on the road

    Officials are expanding the capability of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center here for training unit deployment managers by deploying mobile training teams across the Air Force.These mobile training teams will consist of pairs of UDM instructors who will travel to major Air Force installations