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  • Osan AB's airfield damage repair team train with South Korean air force

    Airmen of the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron airfield damage repair team here participated in a combined-rapid-runway-repair-training exercise with the South Korean air force's 19th Tactical Fighter Wing and 91st Air Civil Engineer Group Aug.19 at Jungwon Air Base, South Korea. "This is the first time

  • New GI Bill to heighten professional work force

    More college-educated professionals will enter the next generation's professional work force as a result of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said this week at the American Legion's 91st National Convention in Louisville, Ky. Secretary Shinseki lauded the

  • Air evacuation liaison team's battle buddies wear Army green

    Airmen with an Air Mobility Command air evacuation liaison team and Soldiers from Army patient administration staff trained with each other during Joint Readiness Training Center Exercise 09-09 at Folk Polk, La., through Aug. 25. Their goal: prepare for Middle East deployments. "Our main goal is to

  • Dover reservists work to form Canadian sister squadron program

    Reservists here visited members of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 8 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario, Aug. 22 through 24 as part of an effort to initiate a sister squadron program. Airmen with Dover's 512th Airlift Wing hoped to forge a partnership with the Canadian airmen and identify

  • Business board calls for changes to personnel system

    In its final report, a Defense Business Board task group has recommended a "reconstruction" of the National Security Personnel System. Former Deputy Defense Secretary Rudy DeLeon chaired the group. Defense Department officials will use the board's recommendations as they ponder the system's future.

  • Aug. 20 airpower summary: F-16s cover coalition convoys

    Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 20, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.In Afghanistan, Air Force F-16CJ Fighting Falcons and F-15E Strike Eagles provided

  • Iraqi agency ready to take over civil aviation operations

    The Iraqi civil aviation authority staff will independently conduct day-to-day civil aviation operations beginning Aug. 25 after Airmen of the Regional Air Movement Control Center helped direct the organization stationed here. The Regional Air Movement Control Center staff worked for more than half

  • United Arab Emirates air force participates in first Red Flag

    United Arab Emirates air force pilots and maintainers are participating in the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the first time Aug. 22 through Sept. 5. The UAE airmen spent the previous two weeks at the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International

  • NATO AWACS proves interoperability during test

    A NATO E-3 AWACS took part in six-hour combat scenarios that demonstrated interoperability between its prototype interrogator and various joint platforms that interrogate in the same mode in July flying at an observation point 100 miles off the coast of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. During

  • Hanscom Airmen train with Massachusetts state troopers

    Hanscom Air Force Base security forces Airmen received specialized tactical training as part of an ongoing partnership with the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations team in early August. The training, which took place in base dormitories, offered instruction on handling

  • SECAF outlines Year of the Air Force Family

    The secretary of the Air Force emphasized the Air Force's firm commitment to its families during his speech at the 2009 Air Force Sergeant's Association Professional Airmen's Conference here August 19. Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz designated July 2009

  • Leaders issue joint message, define cyber mission

    In a joint Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff focus on the alignment of the service's cyberspace mission."Without question, cyberspace is vital to today's fight and to the future U.S. military advantage over our adversaries," said Air Force Secretary

  • Pacific Airlift Rally 2009 kicks off

    A biennial symposium involving Pacific Rim nations to enhance military airlift interoperability with a focus in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations kicked off here Aug. 17. Pacific Airlift Rally 2009, co-hosted by the American and Royal Malaysian air forces, includes

  • Civilians can now apply for new professional development program

    Air Force civilian employees can now apply for a new professional development opportunity with applications due to Air Force Personnel Center officials by Sept. 4. The Civilian Acculturation Leadership Training program provides a unique in-residence experience at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.,

  • Acquisition work force steps toward reform

    Big changes are ahead in the acquisitions community as Defense Department officials increase and reshape the acquisition work force so it's better postured to support the reforms Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and President Barack Obama are championing. The federal civilian defense acquisition

  • Guard chief encourages 'continual support' of families

    The state's are doing a great job of supporting the National Guard and its families, but it takes continuous support to make sure no one falls through the cracks, the National Guard's top military officer said Aug. 18 here. "If there is an area that we have to concentrate on, to continue to focus

  • Air Force Secretary to speak at C2ISR symposium

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley will be the dinner guest speaker at the C2ISR Symposium and Technology Exposition, joining a number of presenters for the event. The symposium will be held Sept. 28 through 30 at the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Conn. The secretary will speak

  • AF Research Lab scientist wins award for groundbreaking research

    Dr. Paul Barnes, an Air Force Research Lab scientist, has been selected as the winner of a 2009 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, award. Dr. Barnes has received the John L. McLucas Basic Research STEM Award for of his outstanding scientific achievements in superconducting

  • 17th Air Force officials host military exchange from Africa

    The 17th Air Force officials here took another step forward in building meaningful relationships with African nations when it hosted a visit by a delegation of officers West African nation to an American base in Germany in August. Led by Maj. Souleymane Ouedraogo, the Ouagadougou Airport base

  • Obama pledges support for troops, veterans

    America's men and women in uniform have done their duty and fulfilled every responsibility that's been asked of them, President Barack Obama said Aug. 17. "And now," he said, "a grateful nation must fulfill ours." President Obama offered high praise for the troops, calling them the heart and soul of

  • Enlisted sensor operators take flight in AF's newest career field

    The U.S. Air Force boasts more than 130 enlisted career fields and on Aug. 17 one more was officially welcomed as the first class of 10 enlisted unmanned aircraft system sensor operators began their technical school. Because of their capabilities, unmanned aircraft have become in exceedingly high

  • New recruits enlist at Chicago Air and Water Show

    Following a full-throttle aerial display by Air Combat Command's F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team, 50 young men and women were sworn in to the United States Air Force Aug. 15 during the 51st Annual Chicago Air and Water Show. "Today has been crazy... I'm beyond excited," said Michael Leonard, 20, from

  • Historical exhibit showcases 'Father of the Air Force'

    When faculty and students enter the Academy's Arnold Hall they now get a closer look at the Father of the United States Air Force. An exhibit honoring Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold that has been in the works for three years has come to fruition. According to Paul Martin, a museum specialist who serves as

  • Logistics leaders address Air Force future

    A summer lecture series devoted to logistics brought past and present air logistics center leaders together here recently for a panel discussion and question and answer period. Hosted by the Logistics Officer Association's Crossroads Chapter, the "Logistics over Lunch" attracted approximately 70

  • Airmen help connect Iraqi army, air force

    The Iraqi air force and army, aided by American Airmen, established radio communication here Aug. 11 in an effort to improve collaboration between the two services during operations. Although the weather prevented the two services from conducting their original training mission, the day was a big

  • Air Guard should keep UAS missions

    The Air National Guard should remain in the unmanned aircraft systems business now and in the future, the chairman of the service's UAS weapons system council said Aug. 17. Col. Bob Becklund, who is also the commander of the 119th Wing in Fargo, N.D., said his attendance at the Association for

  • Redesigned NCO retraining program begins with voluntary phase

    The 2010 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program has a new look and focus as Air Force officials here seek to fill approximately 1,124 shortage career field and special duty positions. The entire program has been reduced from nine months to 120 days to better serve both Airmen and the Air Force

  • Military members, families keys to year of success

    After a year in the job, the Air Force chief of staff said he is still impressed with the contributions of Airmen of every specialty, stateside and overseas."It's still stunning to see what our Airmen are doing," Gen. Norton Schwartz said.  "There is work to do. There are challenges to face. But

  • DOD, VA work to create lifetime electronic records

    For servicemembers who still remember hand-carrying their medical records back and forth to appointments, the new virtual lifetime electronic record will help prevent misplaced paperwork and help providers maintain and offer quality health care, the acting director of the program said Aug. 13.

  • Chief says Guard cannot go back to strategic reserve

    The National Guard cannot go back to the days of the strategic reserve, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told conferees in Rochester, Minn., on Aug. 9. "We must maintain the level of efficiency and effectiveness that has been achieved today," said Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National

  • Deliberate path ahead for Airmen

    New co-chairs assumed their leadership positions as the Enlisted Force Development Panel met at the Pentagon Aug. 5. Daniel R. Sitterly, the force development director for the deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy, are now

  • U.S., Vietnam host Asia-Pacific military nursing symposium

    The United States and Vietnam co-hosted more than 200 nurses from 14 countries during the 3rd Annual Asia-Pacific Military Nursing Symposium in Hanoi, Vietnam Aug 3 through 7. The five-day conference, hosted by officials from the U.S. Pacific Command and the Vietnam People's Army, focused on nursing

  • Osan cross servicing program fosters good relations

    The first combat cross servicing program evaluation of the year for Osan Air Base Airmen took place Aug. 10 when two South Korean F-5's landed on the flightline here. The Osan AB combat cross servicing program is a mutual agreement between the U.S. and South Korean air force that allows maintainers

  • Air Force Office of Scientific Research launches social media outreach

    The Air Force Office of Scientific Research announced Aug. 11 the launch of two new pages on Facebook and Twitter. To follow AFOSR on each site, type "AFOSR" in the search box on each page. The new AFOSR Facebook and Twitter pages will provide real-time information on AFOSR stories, accomplishments,

  • First aircraft to undergo high velocity maintenance at Robins

    The first Air Force aircraft to undergo the new high velocity maintenance program arrived July 31 at Robins Air Force base. High velocity maintenance is designed to shorten the time the aircraft is down for maintenance and inspections. The C-130 Hercules will be used to validate this new maintenance

  • Convention showcases unmanned capabilities

    Senior defense officials are getting a glimpse of the latest in unmanned systems technologies, which many concede is the way of the future for the U.S. military, in August here.More than 5,000 people from 30 countries took part in the exhibition of robots and unmanned systems capabilities at the

  • Airmen hand over visitation operations at Camp Bucca

    A ceremony was held to mark the end of Air Force participation in visitation operations at Camp Bucca's theater internment facility as the Army assumed responsibility of the mission Aug. 10 here.More than 120 Airmen from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron were recognized for bringing

  • Inaugural Academy UAS class pins on wings

    Members of the first class of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Unmanned Aircraft System and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Education Program received their UAS wings Aug. 11 during a ceremony here.The class included four hand-picked cadre, all second degrees, with the remainder third

  • AFSO 21 senior leader course aims to improve future processes

    An Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century senior leader course took place here Aug. 3 and 4 to help leaders from across Wright-Patterson Air Force Base continue improving processes in the future. The two-day course aimed at colonels, GS-15s and chief master sergeants was kicked off by Maj.

  • Technology convergence could prevent war, futurist says

    The convergence of "exponentially advancing technologies" will form a "super-intelligence" so formidable that it could avert war, according to one of the world's leading futurists. Dr. James Canton, CEO and chairman of the Institute for Global Futures, a San Francisco-based think tank, is author of

  • Air Force Global Strike Command will stress nuclear mission

    A key step in reinvigorating the Air Force's nuclear deterrence mission will be made Aug. 7 with the activation of the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will bring together the Air Force bomber force and

  • Weather fails to dampen Air Force-NASCAR relationship at Pocono

    The Air Force and NASCAR have long enjoyed a proud relationship that continues to grow with each race. That relationship was very much in evidence at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. Thousands of race fans flooded the track grounds Aug. 1 to watch their favorite drivers complete practice runs

  • Last Voice Network Systems course graduates at Sheppard

    The Air Force's last class for the Voice Network Systems course graduated July 30 at Sheppard Air Force Base. The Voice Network Systems course trained Airmen to be future apprentices in one of 16 Air Force specialty codes that will be merging into a new career field known as the cyber AFSCs. The

  • U.S., Japanese F-15 pilots train for Red Flag-Alaska

    U.S. and Japanese F-15 pilots began day and night air-refueling training July 27 and will continue through Aug. 7 in preparation for the Red Flag-Alaska exercise in October.Instructor pilots from Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and Yokota Air Base, Japan, joined KC-135 Stratotanker teams from the

  • DOD personal property program actively seeks servicemembers' input

    Have you ever had your household goods moved and at the end of the process, thought, "That was the best move I've had. I hope my next move is that good." Or conversely, "That move was horrible. I hope no one else has to use movers like these."Well, you now have a say in which moving companies the

  • Investing in energy conservation expected to save millions

    More than a dozen Energy Conservation Investment Program projects will soon break ground Air Force-wide and are expected to save the Air Force more than $4 million a year. The Fiscal 2009 Military Construction appropriation to the Office of the Secretary of Defense provided $22.6 million for ECIP

  • Sheppard, AF officials retire workhorse of pilot training

    More than 50 years of dependable service is a lot to ask, especially from a tool used to train thousands of people in a critical and sometimes dangerous business. But as men and women in the U.S. Air Force said farewell to the T-37 Tweet July 31, they did so knowing they got all they asked for and

  • Flight test shows small antenna can do big things

    Electronic Systems Center and Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory personnel demonstrated the powerful capabilities of a small antenna during a flight test conducted earlier this summer here. The 7-inch-high-by-14-inch-wide antenna performed so well that only one flight test was

  • Special Ops Command opens new headquarters

    Special Operations Command Central officials opened a new home with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for their new building July 29 here. The headquarters will allow SOCCENT members to better accomplish its mission of exercising operational control of more than 7,000 special operations servicemembers in

  • Commander discusses multinational airlift operations from Hungary

    For the first time, 12 nations have come together, independent of NATO, to fly in support of their national requirements under the provisions of the Strategic Airlift Capability program, a U.S. military officer in Papa, Hungary, said July 29. "While we don't take operational directions from (NATO),

  • General says Air Guard facing recapitalization issues

    One of the biggest challenges facing the Air National Guard today is replacing its fleet of aircraft that are approaching the end of their service lives, a senior Air National Guard official said July 29. "A big problem we have in the Air National Guard is figuring out how to recapitalize our aging

  • Post-9/11 GI Bill guidance sent to Airmen

    Air Force Personnel Center officials here provided updates to the field recently on the Air Force implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The updates, effective Aug. 1, include guidance on how eligible Airmen can choose to transfer part or all of their educational benefits to family members

  • Academy ranked among nation's best colleges

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's professors are among the most accessible in the nation, according to The Best 371 Colleges guide released by Princeton Review July 28. Faculty availability is an expectation at a military service academy, and the Academy ranks fourth in the nation in professor

  • 'One of a kind' war records staging facility gets Air Force, national review

    Air Force and the National Archive and Records Administration officials visited the only Air Force war records staging facility in existence for the first time during a trip here June 30 to July 2. The Air Force records officer and NARA representatives toured the Air Forces Central Staging Facility

  • 12 nations activate groundbreaking Heavy Airlift Wing

    Senior diplomatic and defense officials representing 12 nations as well as NATO witnessed July 27 the official activation of a first-of-its-kind multinational strategic airlift unit at Pápa Air Base, Hungary. "I want to extend my thanks to all of the nations that chose to participate in SAC," said

  • Academy officials add unmanned aircraft system into curriculum

    U.S. Air Force Academy officials here integrated unmanned aircraft systems into the school's curriculum. "The Air Force has made unmanned aircraft systems a priority for our service, and the value of these capabilities is evidenced on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Lt. Gen. Michael C.

  • Combat weather Airmen test out new initiative

    Combat weather Airmen from the 93rd Air Ground and Operations Wing, as well as units from all over the world are currently participating in a training exercise here to test a new total-force initiative. The total-force initiative proposes the need to consolidate training locations and resources for

  • Solar wall saves Air Force money

    Air Force officials installed their first solar wall here in November 2008, and have saved the base $15,000 in energy bills so far. Francis Sheridan, the Elmendorf Air Force Base resource efficiency manager, was responsible for brainstorming the idea to install solar walls on the west and east sides

  • Unmanned aircraft take on increased importance

    The U.S. military's expanded overseas use of unmanned aircraft highlights the increased importance of such aerial platforms to current and future military operations, senior Air Force officers said here July 23. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan announced July 23 will serve as a template for

  • Air Force's newest mobile air shelter part of Rodeo

    Contingency response Airmen competed using the Air Force's newest mobile air shelter during the Air Mobility Rodeo July 20 here.The hardside expandable light air mobile shelter is a command and control mobile air shelter designed to be set up on a new airfield within 48 hours and is teh first year

  • Cadets learn by doing during summer program at AFOTEC

    Learning by doing is exactly what 13 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets did when they traveled to six Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center locations to work as full-fledged members of operational test and evaluation teams and gain hands-on exposure to operational testing processes, products

  • Afghan national army air corps commander travels to AETC

    The commander of the Afghan national army air corps visited Air Education and Training Command here in July to strengthen the training partnerships between the two air forces. "The primary reason for coming here is trying to learn from the experience of AETC in the areas of recruiting pilots and

  • Obama praises Senate vote on F-22 funding

    President Barack Obama praised a Senate vote that struck down $1.75 billion in additional funding in the fiscal 2010 defense budget for more F-22 Raptor fighter jets July 21 here. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates recommended to the president earlier this year to end production of the F-22 at the

  • Wounded Airman, wife use lessons from adversity to help others

    A wounded Airman and his wife plan to use the lessons they've learned about marriage and friendship through military service and adversity to help servicemembers who might be struggling after deployment or injury. Tech. Sgt. Matthew Slaydon was wounded Oct. 24, 2007, while inspecting an improvised

  • Families, children key issue for chief of staff

    Support for families -- especially in the area of child education -- is a pressing issue for the military. That was the message from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and two other service chiefs and other service representatives here in July for a panel discussion focusing on issues

  • Guam Airmen honor fallen aircrew with memorial

    As citizens of Guam made preparations to celebrate the island's 65th anniversary of liberation from foreign occupation, a group of government, civilian and military officials here paused July 20 to remember the six Airmen who died when their B-52 Stratofortress -- call sign RAIDR 21 -- crashed off

  • Tinker refurbishes F-22 air turbines

    As part of a new cooperative agreement, air turbines and more than 30 other components from the F-22 Raptor now undergo maintenance here.In a joint agreement between private manufacturers Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and the Air Force, workers from the 550th Commodities Maintenance Squadron now

  • Girls' school opens in Panjshir

    Local Afghans, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Greg Mortenson, an author, and members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team, attended the grand opening ceremony of the province's newest girls' school, July 15. Mr. Mortenson, who wrote the book "Three Cups

  • Disassembly project to provide data to F-15 maintainers

    In a small building in the nearby town of Byron, Ga., five people are working on a painstaking project that could significantly impact the future of the F-15 Eagle. The crew from S&K Technologies is completely disassembling an F-15D fighter jet. The purpose of the project is to give Air Force

  • Total force impact evident at Rodeo

    The Air Force's total force concept is clearly on display at Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 here. Not only are lessons learned from interaction with Marine Corps members and international counterparts participating in the competition, but also from the coordinating components within the Air Force -- the

  • LULAC, DOD honor citizen warriors at awards breakfast

    The League of United Latin American Citizens conference and exposition focused on diversity, outreach and military partnership with a co-sponsored Department of Defense Armed Forces Award Breakfast at the Puerto Rican Convention Center here July 16. LULAC National President Rosa Rosales; Brig. Gen.

  • ACC commander visits Airmen at Joint Base Balad

     The commander of both Air Combat Command and the Air Component of Joint Forces Command visited the base July 17 to thank Joint Base Balad personnel for their service and survey various missions here. Gen. John D.W. Corley shared his perspectives on emerging missions, joint integration and the role

  • Iraqi children get a kick out of donations

    Airmen and Soldiers here prepared and delivered donations from a stateside fraternity to Iraqi children who live near Joint Base Balad July 14 and 15. The Pennsylvania State University chapter of the social fraternity Phi Kappa Tau supports programs that increase the quality of life for terminally

  • UAS sensor operator training to begin at Randolph

    Air Force officials recently gave Randolph Air Force Base instructors the green light to begin training the next generation of enlisted sensor operators to support unmanned aircraft systems. Stemming from the high demand for unmanned aircraft and operators, the 1UOX1 Air Force Specialty Code career

  • Defense Department must end business as usual, Gates says

    Defense spending and program priorities cannot be divorced from the very real threats of today and the growing ones of tomorrow, the defense secretary told hundreds of members of the Economics Club of Chicago here July 16. "We stand at a crossroads," Robert M. Gates said. "It is time to draw the

  • 'Conductive ink' solar panels capture sun power for servicemembers

    Air Force and civilian scientists have developed a ready-to-use, cost-reducing technology that captures and stores solar energy to power global positioning system components, portable communications and other devices used by U.S. servicemembers. Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and

  • RAF communications leader visits Global Cyberspace Integration Center

    The Royal Air Force assistant chief of staff for communications met with the Global Cyberspace Integration Center director to gain a better understanding of missions and issues faced by military forces from the U.S. and England July 14 here. RAF Air Commodore Mark Neal talked with Stan Newberry as

  • 1st Combat Comm Airmen support presidential visit to Ghana

    More than 150 Airmen of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron set up forward communications for the President Barack Obama's visit to Ghana in July. The Airmen joined Marines in Accra and more than 1,000 Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima to form a task force to support the president's

  • July 11 airpower summary

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations July 11, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. Near Tarin Kowt, an Air Force B-1B Lancer conducted strikes and destroyed

  • Total force cross-cultural competence examined at DEOMI symposium

    About 100 Defense Department and government leaders, practitioners, operators, and researchers joined together at the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute here to discuss the importance of cross-cultural competence relating to the effectiveness of the total force June 30 and July

  • Airmen improve base in Iraq

    Airmen of the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron are changing the landscape of Contingency Operating Base Basra rapidly. Some buildings already have been built by engineering specialists from 76 bases throughout the United States have improved the operational capability of Multinational Division

  • Officials announce Predator, Reaper additional formal training location

    Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico will be the new location for an additional MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper formal training unit, announced the commander of Air Combat Command here July 13. Gen. John D.W. Corley, with concurrence from the chief of staff of the Air Force, announced the additional

  • Military leaders embrace social media

    The very day he assumed his post as NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe last week, Navy Adm. James Stavridis reached out in a way none of the previous 15 NATO commanders since Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower had: he posted a blog. Admiral Stavridis has had a lot of firsts in his military

  • Scholarship program rewards more than 600 military children

    The 2009 Scholarships for Military Children Program has awarded 625 scholarships worth $1,500 each to children across the United States and overseas. "We know education is the key to a better future," said Defense Commissary Agency Director and CEO Philip E. Sakowitz Jr. "And, over the past nine

  • Remains of 7 troops killed in Afghanistan return home

    The remains of seven American troops killed July 6 during combat operations in Afghanistan returned to their nation during a dignified transfer July 8 here. Twenty-six family members from every region of the country stood on the tarmac witnessing their loved one's return. Subdued voices of the carry

  • 2 Airmen chosen as astronaut candidates

    Two Air Force officers have been chosen by NASA officials for the 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class July 9.Lt. Col. Mike Hopkins and Maj. Jack Fischer will attend the first iteration of a program designed to ready astronaut candidates for new missions and settings.With NASA's space shuttle program

  • Logistics support officials take the lead in transforming supply

    For more than a decade, Air Force supply chain leaders and their commercial industry peers have met with nearly identical objectives: finding ways to enhance the Air Force supply chain to improve support to the warfighter. Recently, Air Force Global Logistics Support Center officials along

  • Officials mandate base housing for military families at Okinawa

    U.S. military leaders on Okinawa approved a policy to require all incoming military families to reside on base beginning Aug. 1. The change comes as an effort to save money as military family housing on Okinawa sits at just more than 50 percent capacity while families living off base are given an

  • 927th leans forward with AFSO 21 Level II certification

    Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, is an improvement model customized to the unique environment of the United States Air Force which leverages improvement methods from various sources such as Lean, Six Sigma, Theory of Constraints and Business Process Reengineering. AFSO 21

  • Defense Education Forum panelists discuss modernization, emerging missions

    Defense Education Forum panelists recently gathered at the Reserve Officers Association headquarters here to discuss the Air Force Reserve's role in modernization and emerging missions. Maj. Gen. Howard N. Thompson, the Air Force Reserve deputy, cited the importance of volunteerism as Reserve Airmen

  • AFPC officials accepting applications for Test Pilot School

    Officers interested in applying for the next annual Air Force Test Pilot School Selection Board should submit their applications to the Air Force Personnel Center here by Aug. 14.The selection board will convene Sept. 28 through Oct. 2 at AFPC for classes beginning in July 2010 and July 2011. "The

  • NASA research to help aircraft avoid ocean storms, turbulence

    NASA officials here are funding the development of a prototype system to provide aircraft with updates about severe storms and turbulence as they fly across remote ocean regions. Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., in partnership with colleagues at the

  • Russia allows transit for Afghanistan-bound U.S. troops

    An agreement signed in Moscow July 6 permits the United States to transit troops and weapons across Russian territory en route to Afghanistan. The pact, signed during President Barack Obama's visit to the Kremlin, permits 4,500 flights per year through Russian airspace, and saves the U.S. government

  • Airmen help shape future of 52nd Fighter Wing

    Wing leaders here are striving to continuously improve the way the mission is accomplished, and they want every member of the team, from the newest slick-sleeves and butter bars to retired chief master sergeants now in the civilian work force, to participate in the process. There are a number of