HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Promotion study list now available

    Promotion-eligible enlisted people can now find out which materials to study for the 2004 testing cycles.The most current Weighted Airman Promotion System catalog, which lists the materials used by test writers to develop the 2004 promotion tests, is now available on the Air Force Personnel Center

  • Civilians authorized exercise time

    Air Force appropriated-fund civilian employees are now authorized to take up to three hours off each week to exercise according to a policy change memorandum issued June 23.It is all about encouraging employees to adopt lifestyles that support healthy working environments, said Maj. Gen. John M.

  • 'First shirts' use tough love, care for troops

    It is 2 a.m. and pitch black outside when suddenly the phone rings and the voice on the other end says an airman needs help.The first sergeant gets up and prepares for an early day. This is not new; it is part of the job, and could mean anything from a car accident to domestic violence or other

  • Officer sets sights on silver oak leaves

    His personal data sheet is a blow-by-blow inventory of educational achievements, professional successes and impressive assignments that span a career of more than 16 years.When he went before the lieutenant colonel promotion board in November 2001, his chances for promotion looked promising.However,

  • Officials announce OTS selections

    Air Force officials selected 11 enlisted airmen to trade in their stripes for gold bars after being chosen to attend Officer Training School, officials here announced July 23.Air Force Recruiting Service officials conducted OTS Selection Board 0306, which met here May 13 to 16. The board considered

  • AF announces major selections

    More than 2,200 Air Force officers were selected for major by the 2003A promotion board, officials announced July 22. The board was held at the Air Force Personnel Center here May 5. Board officials considered 3,036 captains for promotion in the line, judge advocate general, chaplain, medical

  • Officials release Reserve, Guard promotions

    Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here announced the fiscal 2004 major and lieutenant colonel promotion selection board results July 1. The results were for Air National Guard line and nonline officers and Air Force Reserve judge advocate general officers and chaplains. The boards selected

  • Upgrade halts service temporarily

    An upgrade to the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System will shut down its services July 18 to 31, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here.The improvement, which affects the servicing of more than 130,000 Air Force civilian employees, will allow all Department of Defense civilians to

  • 900 face involuntary retraining

    More than 900 airmen may be involuntarily moved to shortage career skills starting July 7, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here.Although 450 airmen volunteered to change career fields during the initial phase of this year’s noncommissioned officer retraining program, it was not

  • Tech, master promotion rates down

    Air Force officials have selected 4,832 of 18,903 eligible technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant, a 25.56 percent selection rate, and 7,116 of 32,501 eligible staff sergeants for promotion to technical sergeant, a 21.89 percent selection rate.A higher retention rate -- opening fewer

  • A priceless $10.25

    Much has been said recently about our nation’s military and the operations it is involved in. Some people are supportive, while others are not so supportive, and each has his own way of showing it.Three local girls demonstrated their support by raising money to help the deployed people in

  • Officials set promotion release dates

    The Air Force plans to release its list of new technical and master sergeant promotions June 26 (June 27 for those units across the international date line). The list of new staff sergeant promotions will be released Aug. 13 (Aug. 14 for those units across the international date line).The lists of

  • Former CMSAFs offer advice

    Two key members of Air Force enlisted history and former chief master sergeants of the Air Force are visiting with U.S. Air Forces in Europe airmen. Retired Chief Master Sgts. of the Air Force Paul Airey, the first person to hold the title, and Sam Parish, the 8th CMSAF, are here as guest speakers

  • Air Force nursing corps meeting challenges

    The Air Force assistant surgeon general for nursing services met with the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee on defense April 30 to discuss the current state of the nursing corps."As we vigorously execute our mission at home and abroad, Air Force nurses and enlisted nursing personnel are

  • Air Force preparing for next contingency

    Even as deployed airmen return home from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Air Force officials are focusing on what they need to do to reload the service for the next contingency.According to Lt. Gen. Ronald E. Keys, deputy chief of staff for air and space operations, the three priorities in reconstituting

  • Air Force announces OTS selections

    The Air Force is giving 18 enlisted members the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars after being chosen to attend Officer Training School.Air Force Recruiting Service officials conducted OTS Selection Board 0305, which considered 239 total applications, selecting 164 for a 67-percent

  • NCO retraining programs begin

    The Air Force recently began the voluntary phase of its fiscal 2003 and 2004 noncommissioned officer retaining programs. The program is designed to help the Air Force balance its enlisted force by moving NCOs in specialties with surpluses to those with shortages, personnel officials said. It

  • Promotion study guides arrive in May

    The 2003 promotion fitness exam and supervisory examination study guides are expected at Air Force locations worldwide in May.Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron officials here said Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241, Volumes 1 and 2, Promotion Fitness Examination and U.S. Air Force Supervisory

  • Spouses make flags to honor ultimate sacrifice

    Two Air Force spouses are helping revive an old tradition to honor the families of servicemembers killed in battle.Julie Gindhart and Claudia Schmucker, both wives of Air Force majors, have joined with other members of the Military and Civilian Spouses Club here to make "gold star service flags."

  • CENTAF command chief addresses issues

    As Air Force operations continue in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the service's senior enlisted member in Southwest Asia says the exact future of operations has yet to be determined."The war isn't over," said Chief Master Sgt. Mack Williams, U.S. Central Command Air Forces command chief master

  • Personnel data system upgrade smooth, uneventful

    One week before the end of March, in the middle of a war, the military personnel data system underwent a major database upgrade -- and nobody noticed."After some of the things we've gone through that made MilPDS almost a four-letter word throughout the Air Force, this is an important

  • Day in the life: B-52 commander's day filled with make-or-break decisions

    His day begins shortly before 6 a.m., making deposits.Each person he sees, he pats on the shoulder, shakes hands with or offers a warm greeting -- deposits of confidence, calm and comfort. He treats them all alike, from the single-stripe airman to the blue-oak-leaf lieutenant colonel.For Col. Dan

  • Fix nets new stripes for 23 airmen

    Nearly two dozen enlisted airmen will receive an unexpected promotion since personnel officials discovered systemic errors involving people who returned to the Air Force after a break in service.While no stripes will be taken away, officials discovered that 35 "prior-service" airmen had -- unknown

  • Reserve taps 776 for promotion to major

    Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here selected 776 captains for promotion to major, they announced March 25.The officers were selected from the 2004 Air Force Reserve line and health professions major promotion selection boards held at the center Feb. 3 to 7.Board members reviewed the records

  • Airman keeps sight of American dream

    Airman 1st Class George Okorodudu admits with a wide smile that he has nothing.For the better part of two years, the Nigerian-born Okorodudu has been building his American dream with a foundation that includes an Air Force enlistment.Okorodudu is a supply airman currently deployed here from Minot

  • E-8 promotion rates up; critical skills even higher

    The 1,612 master sergeants picked for promotion this year were selected using the chronic critical skills program for the first time.The selectees will be named March 19.The program applies higher selection rates to certain career fields. This year is the first it is being applied to the E-8 and E-9

  • 'Flying Sergeants' helped forge Air Force legacy

    They were not paid much, their opportunities for promotion were limited, and they were treated harshly in training, but that did not stop three generations of enlisted aviators from becoming pilots in the Army Air Corps.Beginning in 1912, enlisted pilots played an important role in writing the

  • Memo serving as officer career guide

    A recent memorandum from the secretary of the Air Force regarding the selection process for general officers could very well serve as a guide to all officers -- regardless of rank -- as they chart out their careers.The memorandum is one of a series of initiatives designed to help explain how

  • Air Force announces E-8 promotions March 19

    Air Force officials plan to announce the service's newest senior master sergeants March 19.The list of those promoted at each installation is releasable the first duty hour on the release date. The entire list will be posted on the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site at

  • Promotion test change impacts deploying airmen

    Commanders of technical and master sergeants facing short-notice deployments now have greater flexibility as to when their airmen test for promotion.New overseas manning requirements and the freezing of the air and space expeditionary force cycle prompted officials at the Air Force Personnel Center

  • Air Force opens 14th NCO academy

    With a growing population of technical sergeants in need of professional military education, the Air Force opened a 14th noncommissioned officer academy at Gunter Annex here.The first class at Gunter NCO Academy is 189 students strong and consists of 14 flights. Class 03-3 began its course of 28

  • First sergeant changes benefit entire AF

    Air Force officials are touting recent changes made to first sergeant assignments and hope that more senior noncommissioned officers take advantage of what some are calling "the best job I've ever had in the Air Force."The Air Force converted the career field into a special-duty assignment in

  • Deployed troops offered educational opportunities

    The 320th Air Expeditionary Wing at a forward-deployed location is scheduled to have a fully operational education center by Feb. 15."Ultimately we hope to offer educational services the same as stateside bases," said Tech. Sgt. John Becker, base education officer.The base has been approved to

  • ARPC announces colonel promotions

    The Air Reserve Personnel Center here announced Jan. 9 the 2003 Air Force Reserve colonel promotion selection board results that selected 229 officers for promotion.The list of officers selected is available on the ARPC Web site at arpc.afrc.af.mil under "Promotions."A selection board convened at

  • Air Force announces medical promotions

    The Air Force has selected 638 medical and dental corps officers for promotion. The officers were chosen by the colonel, lieutenant colonel and major medical and dental corps selection board that convened at the Air Force Personnel Center here Oct. 28 to Nov. 4.The lists of promoted officers,

  • CAP national commander, vice receive stars

    Civil Air Patrol National Commander Major General Richard L. Bowling addresses the audience following his promotion here Dec. 3. The position was upgraded to major general by the Air Force chief of staff in November because of the organization's planned role in homeland security. The CAP is the

  • Jumper emphasizes total force development during visit

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper met recently with airmen here who support operations Northern Watch and Enduring Freedom.The stop was one of many Jumper and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald Murray are making to observe overseas operations and visit troops during the holiday

  • Officials may change Air Force fitness program

    Air Force health officials are proposing a change to the service's fitness program to help airmen place a greater emphasis on their overall health and well-being.Many airmen incorrectly think that the Air Force fitness program is cycle ergometry, according to Maj. Lisa Schmidt, chief of health

  • Air Force selects newest chiefs

    The Air Force recently selected 561 senior master sergeants for promotion to the service's highest enlisted rank as part of the 02E9 promotion board.The Air Force will release the promotion list the first duty hour Nov. 6 (Nov. 7 for those units across the international date line.) The complete

  • Officials announce OTS selections

    The Air Force is giving 42 enlisted members the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars after being chosen to attend Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.Officials from Air Force Recruiting Service headquarters conducted OTS Selection Board 0208, which met here Aug. 6 to 9.

  • 10 years later, ALS continues to evolve

    A little more than a decade old, airman leadership school has evolved in much the same way the rest of the Air Force has. Although the school and curriculum have changed with the times, one thing has not, said Tech. Sgt. Pamela Jones, an instructor and director of education at the Senior Master Sgt.

  • ARPC selects 1,877 for promotion

    Air Reserve Personnel Center officials here announced Sept. 12 the results of the fiscal 2003 Air Force Reserve Line and Health Professions Captain and Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Selection Board. Board members selected 1,877 officers for promotion.A selection board convened at ARPC from June 24

  • Blood donor restrictions also apply to retirees

    Some military retirees have been surprised to find that they are no longer eligible to give blood, according to officials at the Armed Forces Blood Program Office here. A substantial number of active-duty and retired military personnel cannot donate blood because of past duty assignments in the

  • Promotion study list now available

    Promotion-eligible enlisted people can now find out which materials to study for the 2003 testing cycles.The most current Weighted Airman Promotion System catalog, which lists the materials used by test writers to develop the 2003 promotion tests, is now available on the Air Force Personnel Center

  • Officials release supplemental board results

    Fourteen airmen, out of 243 considered, were selected for promotion during the latest senior enlisted supplemental board.This was the largest pool of candidates in years, said officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here.The large number reflects an unusual year. The pace of current operations,

  • Resume requirements clarified for Air Force civilian employment

    Palace Compass officials here recently clarified whether or not applicants need a resume when applying for civilian employment."Applicants for job vacancies filled by the Air Force Personnel Center may not need a resume," said Lee McGehee, technical director. "But all applicants must self-nominate

  • Air Force announces OTS selections

    The Air Force is giving 92 enlisted members the chance to trade in their stripes for gold bars after being chosen to attend Officer Training School.Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service conducted OTS Selection Board 0207, which met here June 25 to 28. The board considered 654 total applications,