Officials conduct 'Road Show' for acquisition transformation

The Installation Acquisition Transformation initiative, a comprehensive restructuring of continental U.S. installation acquisition practices, is moving forward as Air Force contracting officials continue traveling to affected bases to explain the changes ahead. Under the transformation, Air Force

Military aircraft provide surge capability for wildfire response

A continuing heat wave and an ongoing need for aircraft to support ground firefighters will likely keep Department of Defense aircraft very busy for the foreseeable future in support of the national wildland firefighting effort, the Army colonel in charge of coordinating that support said July 9.

Iraqi air force acquires new aircraft from U.S. forces

U.S. forces transferred ownership of 11 aircraft to the Iraqi air force July 9 during a ceremony at New Al Muthana Air Base. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command Iraq, signed over eight Cessna 172s and three Cessna Caravan 208s worth more than $9

System helps determine 'health' of Air Force aircraft

Military aircraft must be safe, reliable, and ready at a moment's notice to complete their mission. Unexpected maintenance, and even scheduled maintenance checks, can keep an aircraft out of service when needed most. That's where Integrated Systems Health Management, or ISHM, comes in. ISHM is a

Satellite's instrumentation providing scintillation forecast data

Whether it's static interrupting a radio station, or crackling noises interfering with a theater commander's attempt to contact a deployed unit, scintillation can cause communication chaos. Scintillation occasionally occurs when radio waves transiting an unstable ionosphere, located 50 to 360 miles

AFOTEC officials hold first space summit

Maj. Gen. Stephen T. Sargeant, commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center here, hosted the organization's first space summit July 1 and 2. Senior leaders from AFOTEC, the Under Secretary of the Air Force Directorate of Space Acquisition, the National Geospatial and

AF introduces civilian acculturation, leadership program

Applications are now being accepted from Air Force civilian interns and Student Career Employment Program graduates for the Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training program. This opportunity is a chief of staff initiative designed as an intensive leadership development program for civilians

Spinning electrons research could enhance AF computers

Scientists funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research have used a single photon technique to observe the evolution of individual electron spins in semiconductor nanostructures. Their work has already contributed to the new field of semiconductor spintronics - an emerging technology which

Pentagon officials reopen bidding on tanker contract

Defense Department officials have reopened the bidding process for a multibillion-dollar midair refueling tanker contract, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said today. The announcement comes after Government Accountability Office officials last month found improper practices related to the $35

Afghan print plant supports mission, training

Mentoring the Afghan National Army staff at the Kabul print plant is a great mission, said Maj. Paul Kaster, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan ANA communications mentor. But, he says he may have worked himself out of a job. Major Kaster, deployed from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.,

Iraqi air force soars through U.S.-guided exercise

Members of the Coalition Air Force Training Team assigned to the 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here have been training and mentoring Iraqi air force members in their functional areas for years. Recently, the 370th AEAS staff partnered with members of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group at

Air Force, Army leaders discuss new concept of operations

Air Force and Army leaders met June 30 to discuss developing a new joint unmanned aerial system concept of operations and maximize the contributions these systems provide to joint forces in the field. Gen. John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander, met with Army Gen. William S. Wallace, Army

Cyberspace career fields, training paths, badge proposed

Air Force officials recently proposed a plan to develop its enlisted and officer corps into Airmen who specialize in establishing, controlling and fighting in the cyberspace domain. That's according to Maj. Gen. William T. Lord, the Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) commander who referenced

Program offers enlisted members chance to LEAD

Enlisted Airmen with eyes on U.S. Air Force Academy appointments may have their chance to become an officer through the Leaders Encouraging Airman Development program. The program, initiated in 1995 by Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, the former Air Force chief of staff, delegates authority to unit and wing

Air Boss Conference brings leaders together

Leaders from around the world came together here June 26 to 27 to discuss deterrence and evaluate the war plan used to ensure peace and stability in South Korea. The 7th Air Force, Pacific Air Forces and Osan Air Base Commander Lt. Gen. Stephen G. Wood hosts the Air Boss Conference annually. The

Officers may apply for Test Pilot School

The next annual Air Force Test Pilot School Selection Board will convene Oct. 27 through 30 at the Air Force Personnel Center here, and officers interested in applying should submit their applications to AFPC by Sept. 15. The school trains pilots, navigators and engineers to develop, test and

Air Force officials announce OTS selection board results

A total of 178 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced June 26. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 722 applications as part of Officer Training School

South Korean army UAVs enhance training at Kunsan

Airmen from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron here and South Korean army soldiers teamed up for combined nuclear, biological and chemical training June 23 and 24 at Kunsan Air Base. The two-day training course presented the two forces with scenarios requiring them to protect and sustain mission

Airmen build a brighter future for Peruvians

Thule members support local medical evacuation

Thule Air Base members recently provided critical medical care to a local Inuit woman after a stabbing in a nearby village. A medical evacuation was requested by the physician in Qaanaaq, a village of about 600 people located approximately 65 miles north of the base, to pick up a woman who had been

Iraqi airmen reach maintenance goals, keep fleet soaring

While Iraqi air force pilots continue flying sorties to aid stability in their nation, Iraqi maintainers on the ground here have recently achieved important benchmarks to keep their fleet in the air. Airmen with the Iraqi air forces' 3rd Squadron took over a wide variety of maintenance duties on the

Mullen urges Joint Staff to speed up warfighter support

The nation's top military officer called on the Joint Staff today to speed up efforts to get new capabilities to warfighters and to focus on building capabilities needed to win not just the current war, but future wars as well. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told

Cadets experience real-world deployment

Nineteen cadets from the senior class of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., are visiting the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here during the month of June to experience an active-duty deployment as part of the academy's Operation Air Force program, which allows students to visit bases

Global Engagement readies Academy cadets for future

Thirty subject matter experts from all over the United States are leading approximately 1,200 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets through intensive training with the Global Engagement course this summer here.The advantage to future Academy graduates in completing the course is that it gives cadets a

'Today's Air Force' features deployments

This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" focuses on Air Force deployments and ways to better prepare for them. The previous system was based on four-month deployments with some Airmen deploying earlier and longer than expected. The new Air and Space Expeditionary Force system splits the force into

Global Mobility Wargame explores future of air mobility

Wartime planners from across the Air Force, Army and coalition nations investigated future concepts in air mobility through Global Mobility Wargame 2008 from June 16 to 20 at the Air Force Expeditionary Center here. First held in 2002, Global Mobility Wargame, or GLOMO, is an annual event bringing

New leaders take helm as Air University reorganizes

Air University officials welcomed their new commander as well as one of the organization's newly minted centers of excellence also installed its new leader in a dual change-of-command ceremony June 23 at Maxwell Air Force Base's Air Park. The ceremony, which involved three successively-higher

Donley in as acting Air Force secretary

Michael B. Donley is the new acting secretary of the Air Force, succeeding Michael Wynne, who held the position since November 2005. Mr. Donley was previously the administration and management director for the Secretary of Defense, a position sometimes referred to as "mayor" of the Pentagon. The

UPDATED - SECAF salutes Airmen during ceremony

Beneath the spires of the Air Force Memorial erected under his watch, the secretary of the Air Force bid farewell to Airmen June 20, his last day as their senior civilian official. Secretary Michael W. Wynne addressed the crowd of Airmen, civilians and media in a ceremony at the memorial, speaking

Korea, U.S. join forces for Exercise Max Thunder

Airmen and aircraft from units across the Pacific Air Forces descended June 16 to participate in Exercise Max Thunder here. Hosted by Kunsan Air Base officials, Max Thunder is a bi-lateral training exercise intended to increase interoperability between Korean and U.S. forces. The exercise will

ACC commander speaks at Joint Warfighting Conference

Gen. John Corley, Air Combat Command commander, gave the plenary address here June 20. General Corley addressed dominance, relevance and readiness during the third and final day of the Joint Warfighting Conference 2008. On this date in 1944 the battle of the Philippines Sea, a major battle during

SECAF bids farewell to Airmen

In his final Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force salutes all Airmen for their dedication, motivation and commitment to the nation. "You are America's sword and shield, defending the United States and its global interests by delivering sovereign options in air, space, and

AF nominates 114 officers for astronaut training

The Air Force Astronaut Nomination Board has forwarded 114 nominations to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for consideration in the pilot and mission specialist categories. The board was held May 13 to 15 and the medical screening panel was held May 20 to 22. More than 200 noninees

Cadets learn mission through Operation Air Force

Eighteen U.S. Air Force Academy cadets visited McChord Air Force Base June 13 to experience operations and day-to-day experiences in the Air Force.The cadets visited McChord AFB during the first phase of Operation Air Force, a career-broadening program, and then flew on board a C-17 Globemaster III

Air War College to launch revised distance learning program

The Air War College will make significant changes to its distance learning program this summer and discontinue the previous 16th edition. The revised distance learning program that closely parallels the resident course will soon be available to senior military officers and equivalent civilian

Air Force scientists develop transparent transistors

Air Force Research Laboratory scientists have demonstrated world-record performance of transparent transistors created from thin-film nanocrystalline zinc oxide which can function, undetected, on clear surfaces such as glass or plastic. Lead investigator Dr. Burhan Bayraktaroglu of AFRL's Sensors

National Guardsmen in two states prepare for flooding

More than 600 National Guardsmen in Illinois and Missouri will continue sandbagging operations along the Mississippi River June 16 in an effort to thwart the floodwaters that are subsiding in Iowa. The Illinois and Missouri rivers flow into the Mississippi north of St. Louis. Unlike 1993, flooding

12 Airmen live among thousands of Iraqi Soldiers

Twelve Airmen working together for the past nine months at the remote Iraqi Military Training Base of Kirkush, located in the Diyala Province just over 10 miles from the Iranian border, are hoping to work themselves out of a job.As the only Americans living among thousands of Iraqi Soldiers and

Air Force launches NASA gamma ray study

The Air Force successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta II booster carrying NASA's Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, satellite into space at 12:05 p.m. June 11 from the Space Launch Complex here. The launch will deliver the GLAST observatory into a circular orbit around the

Trip was gesture of respect to Airmen, Gates says

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates' trip to Langley Air Force Base, Va., Peterson AFB, Colo., and Scott AFB, Ill., was a gesture of respect and confidence in Airmen following a rough week for the Air Force. On June 5, Secretary Gates asked for and received the resignations of Air Force Secretary

CSAF sends letter to all Airmen

Gen. T. Michael Moseley, the Air Force's 18th chief of staff, addresses members of the "strongest and finest Air Force the world has ever known," in his Letter to All Airmen.  LETTER TO ALL AIRMEN It has been my highest honor to serve our great country as an Airman for almost 37 years. In peace and

Final record scan moves AFPC closer to total virtual service

Blanca Rubio, a contract scanning team leader at the Air Force Personnel Center here, performed an electronic scan of the Air Force's last paper unit personnel record June 3.  This was an important digital milestone because it completed the paper conversion to a Web-based, around-the-clock "virtual

Forum draws senior Air Force leaders

Air Force senior leaders came together here for a quarterly Process Council meeting to discuss issues facing the service today and in the future. A highlight of the June 2-3 forum was the review of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiatives designed to help provide substantive

Afghan soldiers master driving Humvees

Humvees will soon become the Afghan National Army's vehicle of choice on the battlefield, but not until every soldier is qualified to safely operate them. For this reason, Air Force Capt. Todd Klusek and Army Capt. William Snyder, combat service support senior mentors assigned to the Combined

Airmen help graduate Afghan's newest firefighters

Eleven members of the Afghan National Army Air Corps recently became the first graduates of the Air Corps Firefighting School May 29 at Kabul. The graduates completed four months of class work, countless hands-on exercises extinguishing various types of fires and practicing lifesaving techniques

Wing medics train with Thai counterparts

Medics assigned to the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron returned here May 31 after participating in an aeromedical evacuation exercise in Bangkok, Thailand with the Royal Thai Air Force as part of a humanitarian-assistance mission. The 18th AES trained with the RTAF during the 13th Air

Incirlik first in USAFE to stand up force support squadron

Incirlik Air Base officials will continue the Air Force-wide merger of services and mission support squadrons when its 39th Services Squadron and 39th Mission Support Squadron officially combine to become the 39th Force Support Squadron. The wing is the first U.S. Air Forces in Europe unit of any

Servicemembers take humanitarian mission to Peru

Air Force, Army, Marine and Navy servicemembers arrived here June 1 to kick off New Horizons Peru 2008, a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored humanitarian event that will benefit thousands of Peruvians in the Ayacucho area. One hundred and thirty-nine members traveled to Ayacucho, an Andean region

Maintainers go 'green' with electric vehicles

The 23rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron here recently began testing electric vehicles in an effort to help the Air Force go "green." Moody Air Force Base became a test-site for the program after a request was made by Air Force Materiel Command officials for the base to evaluate the positive and

USAFE Airmen beat the heat, manage airshow crowd

U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen are all smiles despite the heat and crowds of people wanting to tour of their aircraft at the 2008 Berlin Airshow here. USAFE has about 20 Airmen here, showcasing two F-16 Fighting Falcons, two F-15 Strike Eagles (models C and E) and one KC-135R Stratotanker here at

Ghost-imaging could have satellite application

Investigators funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research are conducting research under the name of "ghost-imaging," where a visual image of an object is created by means of light that has never interacted with the object. The new technology may result in a more versatile use of field

2-time Oscar winner presents film at Air Force Week

Military medicine and wounded warriors took center stage in the "Fighting for Life" documentary produced by Terry Sanders shown during Air Force Week in Philadelphia May 28 at the Levitt Auditorium of the University of the Arts here. Directed by two-time Academy Award winner Terry Sanders and

RAF officers spin-up on 820th SFG roles, mission, training

Two members from the Royal Air Force, Force Protection Centre at RAF Honington, United Kingdom, recently visited the 820th Security Forces Group at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., as part of an exchange program between the units. Flight Lt. Dave Martin and Wing Cmdr. Tom Sawyer, Force Protection Centre

Vice chief, legendary pilot commemorate 60th anniversary of Berlin Airlift

Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Duncan J. McNabb and legendary airlift pilot retired Col. Gail Halvorsen participated in a commemorative panel discussion of the Berlin Airlift May 27 in Berlin. The Air Force Association sponsored the panel to highlight the historic importance of the mission and

General addresses transportation needs during Air Force Week-Philadelphia

The leader of U.S. Transportation Command addressed community leaders and hundreds of Airmen about the outlook of American military transportation May 27 at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg Center here. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, USTRANSCOM commander at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., spoke at

Academy Class of 2008 achieves long-awaited goal

Cool temperatures with an overcast sky and a threat of rain made it no less bright for the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2008 when 1,012 graduates tossed their hats following a speech delivered by their commander-in-chief at the Academy May 28. "I am so pleased to stand before the future leaders

Berlin Airshow kicks-off on a 'high note'

Aircraft soaring high over the crowd, music blaring at high levels and numerous high-profile guests dropping in for a visit helped kick the 2008 Berlin Airshow off on a high note here May 27. More than 15 flight demonstrations wowed the crowd during the first day in Berlin. These

Air Force, Army improve joint training

Officials at the Army's National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif., and the Air Force's Green Flag West at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., have been working hard to integrate service-level exercises to help improve joint training for units preparing to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan. "We are the

Air Force Week in Philadelphia kicks off with parade

Airmen paraded down the streets of Bridesburg adorned with red, white and blue flags and banners May 26 to kick off not only Air Force Week in Philadelphia but also the city's annual Memorial Day parade Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command, led a contingent of Airmen and

Seven countries hone fighter pilot skills during Maple Flag

Fighter pilots from seven different countries, including the United States, participate in Maple Flag 41May 5-16 and May 19-30 at Cold Lake in Alberta, Canada. "Ask any U.S. fighter pilot and he'll tell you the best part about flying here is the unrestricted air space," said Maj. Derrick Johnson,

CSAF addresses Air Force top enlisted leaders

"We have to adapt to today's fight, but prepare for the fight of tomorrow," the Air Force chief of staff told more than 300 of the Air Force's top enlisted Airmen during the 2008 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit at Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex May 21. Gen. T. Michael Moseley spoke with chief

USAFE program builds working relationships

U.S. Air Forces in Europe patches can be seen around the world because of the command's robust military-to-military program, which is one of several theater security cooperation components. USAFE works with more than 60 countries on three continents annually to share information and enhance

Cadet cyberwarriors head to AFIT

Two Air Force Academy first-class cadets will soon be the first graduates to go directly from the Academy to the Air Force Institute of Technology's cyber warfare track. Cadets 1st Class Aaron Gross and Nicholas Fritts have followed the Academy's undergraduate cyber warfare degree track as computer

Gaming, simulation training in near future for military

Defense Department officials are looking for ways to integrate a structured learning environment and gaming to train military members, a senior official said. "Structured learning environments are doing very well, but games offer such a tremendous motivational component to users," said Robert A.

Chairman of Joint Chiefs sends Memorial Day message

"Let no ravages of time testify to the present or the coming generations that we, as a people, have forgotten the cost of a free and undivided republic." With that solemn promise, Army General John Logan signed the order in 1868 that established Memorial Day. We have honored his promise faithfully

Secretary encourages Airmen to be 'agents of change'

Airmen must be capable of explaining what the total Air Force is doing and where it is going, said Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne during an Air Staff Call May 22 at the Pentagon. The Air Staff Call targeted action officer, senior noncommissioned officer and mid-grade civilian levels of

Chief authorizations through 2011 to be downgraded

A board recently completed a chief master sergeant grade review that will downgrade the number of authorizations in which the top one percent of the enlisted force will serve. Based on budgetary restraints over the next three years, chief master sergeant manning authorizations at most major commands

VA secretary focuses on continuum of care

Five months after taking the helm of the nation's second-largest cabinet department, the secretary of veterans affairs laid out his priorities and talked of transitioning the organization to meet the needs of veterans today as well as those of the next generation. Veterans Affairs Secretary Dr.

Wing maintenance, logistics to merge with operations

On May 12, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley signed the Global Wing Structure Program Action Directive 08-01. PAD 08-01 directs the realignment of fighter, rescue and bomber aircraft maintenance units under flying squadrons. The Air Force will implement these changes between July 1

Airman's Roll Call: Thrift Savings Plan

This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the long-term retirement savings plan Airmen and civilians can use to supplement their retirement plans. The savings plan gives investors the opportunity to lower their taxes each year they contribute. The taxes are deferred until the employee withdraws from

Top leaders unite for senior enlisted summit

More than 350 of the Air Force's top enlisted leaders converged on Maxwell Air Force Base's Gunter Annex to participate in the 2008 Senior Enlisted Leader Summit May 18 to 23. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, along with hundreds of Air Force command chief master sergeants,

Drill team provides northern exposure for Air Force

The Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team recently returned from a two-week tour across three major installations in North and South Dakota representing all Airmen and showcasing Air Force precision to recruit, retain and inspire for the Air Force mission. The team spent time touring through the bases

USAFE officials continue to build partnerships

U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials joined representatives from seven countries in Bucharest, Romania, May 5 to 9 to participate in a Building Partnership Seminar.  The seminar was part of the Unified Engagement series, a transformation wargame designed to explore future joint warfighting concepts

Pulsed detonation engine flies into history

The engine that naysayers thought could never propel an aircraft across the sky is now at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, where it will be displayed this summer and remembered for its 2008 history-making flight. The pulsed detonation engine, developed by a team from the Air Force Research

Multinational exercise in Croatia wraps up

Croatia hosted the closing ceremony for the 2008 Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe, or MEDCEUR, here May 14. MEDCEUR is a Joint Chiefs of Staff regional, multilateral exercise sponsored by U.S. European Command. The exercise provides an opportunity for medical people to share

General discusses Burma relief posture, mobility issues

"Every time a C-17 (Globemaster III) from McChord, or any of our other bases, lands anywhere around the world, it's a symbol of hope," said Gen. Arthur Lichte, commander of Air Mobility Command, during his visit here. "It may be in the middle of an earthquake, it may be in the middle of a tsunami,

Airmen, Soldiers improve Afghan lives

Airmen from around the world and Soldiers from Pennsylvania, Texas, North Carolina and Virginia arrived in Afghanistan in early March to improve the lives of the people of Nangarhar Province. After two months on the ground, the team has gotten its bearings and is working to build strong

New experimental equipment enhances Airmen capabilities

It's not uncommon for tactical air control party Airmen, navigating through miles of rugged terrain, to carry nearly a hundred pounds of equipment in order to call in an air strike. In fact, it is their mission to advise Army commanders about that capability and use of airpower to enhance combat

Iraqi air force performs medical evacuation

May 14 marked another significant event when members of the Iraqi air force flew its first medical evacuation mission since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The crew consisted of an Iraqi pilot, flight medic and aerial gunner -- each with a U.S. military counterpart -- as they transported

Officials to explore cyberspace mission at symposium

Air Force officials invite military and civilian defense personnel, industry and business leaders, academics and others interested in the Air Force's cyberspace mission to attend its upcoming symposium to analyze and discuss the service's role in cyberspace. Aimed at engaging military, industry and

SECAF discusses 'culture shift' toward continuous process improvement

Speaking to more than 500 military members and civilians representing all services, as well as interagency and international partners, during the Department of Defense Continuous Process Improvement Symposium May 13, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne emphasized Department of Defense officials

Name the Tanker: Leaders seek inputs from Airmen

Air Force senior leaders are asking all Airmen for suggestions on a name for the service's newest tanker aircraft, the KC-45A. "I've asked that we seek our Airmen's help to find a name for the KC-45," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Wynne. "I prefer the name emphasize our heritage or our

Area Processing Center consolidates mail, file sharing

A new Area Processing Center that enables the Air Force to consolidate e-mail, Web, file-sharing and other information services for more than 160,000 active-duty Air Force, contractors, civilians and Air National Guardsmen into one location opened May 1 at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. This is a

NORAD, USNORTHCOM open integrated command center

North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command unveiled their new integrated command center in a ceremony May 13 attended by dignitaries from both Canada and the U.S. The command center opening coincided with NORAD's 50-year anniversary of the partnership between Canada and the

New technology proves to be dynamite during JEFX 08

F-22 Raptor pilots using an experimental version of a Tactical Targeting Network Technology, or TTNT,  were able to send and receive information such as command and control messaging, imagery, airspace updates and even free text messages using a cockpit touch-screen color display during the Air

Prepositioning weapons at Balad to save $1.3 million

Balad Air Base has been chosen by Air Force leaders to be the test base for a weapons prepositioning initiative expected to save the Air Force approximately $1.3 million per year in transportation costs. This initiative involves the prepositioning of M-9s and M-16s that will allow certain Airmen to

FOL Manta helps give away 6,500 backpacks

Members of Forward Operating Location Manta helped give away 6,500 backpacks that were purchased recently by U.S. Embassy officials in Quito, Ecuador, for underprivileged children. Embassy officials selected 23 schools with underprivileged children in Manabí province in areas affected by flooding:

Portable electronic power initiative energizes possibilities

An Air Mobility Battlelab initiative could "energize" new possibilities for aeromedical evacuations in the future. Termed the Portable Electronic Power Supply for Aeromedical Evacuations, or PEPSAE, initiative, it addresses a problem of heavy and cumbersome avionic frequency converters used to power

Air Force, military photographers recognized with special exhibit

Several Air Force photographers recently found themselves in an unfamiliar position: In front of the cameras. The photographers, whose work is featured in a new exhibit,  "On the Other Side of the Lens ... Military Photographers in Action," were special guests at the opening May 1 at the National

Air Force's only UAV wing marks one year in the fight

Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, congratulated Airmen at Creech Air Force Base May 6 as the 432nd Wing marked its first year as the Air Force's only MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle wing. "The 432nd Wing has grown exponentially over the

Study of Iraqi birds to help reduce aircraft mishaps

One of the Air Force's greatest airpower adversaries doesn't wear the uniform of another country; it wears feathers. Both deadly and expensive, aircraft accidents and mishaps caused by collisions with birds have cost the service approximately $35 million each year since 1985, according to Air Force

First Virtual Uniform Board attracts Airmen response

The first Air Force Virtual Uniform Board received about 800 uniform change requests via the IDEA Program Database System since its release in March. Airmen were able to submit uniform change requests via the IPDS between March 5 and April 14. The Uniform Enterprise Working Group -- acting as

Russian delegation visits USAFE bases

A Russian delegation visited two U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases April 27 through May 1 to discuss theater security cooperation between the U.S. and Russian air forces. The meeting was approved during last year's U.S.-Russia Work Plan process after more than a year in planning, said Maj. Scott

Air Force pilot breaks own world aviation record

An Air Force Reserve pilot deployed here broke his own world record for hours spent flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon when he surpassed the 6,000-hour milestone May 2. Lt. Col. Michael Brill, a pilot assigned to the 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, has been breaking world aviation records since

Holloman prepares for Raptor

After retiring the F-117A Nighthawk, officials here are now preparing for the arrival of the F-22A Raptor. With the new aircraft come many transition projects."One of the projects we have going on is phasing out tools used exclusively for the F-117," said Chief Master Sgt. James Harris, chief of the

Financial management, services to Airmen evolving

The assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management and comptroller described a bright future for financial services during a visit with Air Mobility Command  financial management officials here April 28. John H. Gibson II said current and pending enhancements allow Airmen to work

Air Force officials suspend training flights of T-38C aircraft

Air Education and Training Command officials suspended flights of T-38C Talon aircraft May 1 following a fatal crash at Sheppard AFB, Texas. The crash was the second in two weeks involving a T-38, following an April 23 accident in which two pilots were killed when their T-38 crashed at Columbus AFB,

Send your name to the moon

NASA invites people of all ages to join the lunar exploration journey with an opportunity to send their names to the moon aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, spacecraft.   The LRO is scheduled for launch in late 2008.The Send Your Name to the Moon Web site enables everyone to

Precision landing system ready for take off

After many years of technology refinement, the Electronic Systems Center-led land-based increment of the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System is poised to progress to the system development and demonstration phase. Known as JPALS, the system uses the Global Positioning System, or GPS, to

Revamped Airman online now available

Airman online has a new look -- and will feature Airmen at war. The magazine's new Web page went online May 1, along with the special May-June issue of the magazine dedicated to profiling some of America's Airmen at war. The Web page change brings the magazine in line with the rest of the Air