Clinic treats adults, children for cerebral palsy

Officials at a new clinic are providing comprehensive treatment for adults and children suffering from cerebral palsy at the San Antonio Military Medical Complex, formerly called the Wilford Hall Medical Center. The San Antonio Military Medical Complex Adult and Pediatric Spasticity Clinic is

Program helps Guard, Reserve members fill active-duty tours

When his building inspection business slowed, Tech. Sgt. David Marcelli of the District of Columbia Air National Guard needed to find work. He found it by using the Personnel Force Innovation program that matches up organizations that need Guard and Reserve members looking for active duty tours.

Forward air controllers prepare for war

In the profession of arms where timeliness, precision and control are the rules of the day, sometimes a little confusion, disorder and mayhem are good things. It's especially valuable as a training tool for joint terminal attack controllers who hang their hat in hell's backyard to direct lethal

Gen. Hoffman assumes leadership of AF Materiel Command

Gen. Donald J. Hoffman assumed command of the organization responsible for the technology, acquisition, test and sustainment of the service's current and future weapon systems during a ceremony here Nov. 21. General Hoffman took the reins of Air Force Materiel Command from Gen. Bruce Carlson during

Coalition force Reaper unit deploys to Joint Base Balad

A coalition force comprising experts from the U.S. Air Force and Royal Air Force deployed here recently to sustain operations for the world's most lethal unmanned aircraft system. An MQ-9 Reaper aircraft maintenance unit, attached to the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance and Attack Squadron, melds

Medevac mission highlighted in Chronicle feature

An Air Force Reserve crew from the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., carried out a medevac mission earlier this year accompanied by a staff writer and photographer from the San Francisco Chronicle. The feature, written by Carl Nolte and documented with images and a video by

Top AF leaders convene for quarterly council meeting

With a focus on the execution of the 2008 Air Force Strategic Plan, the Air Force Process Council conducted its quarterly meeting Nov.20 at Air Force Materiel Command headquarters here. The council, led by Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz

Stars visible at, from LA observatory

Senior Air Force leaders rubbed elbows with entertainment industry figures Nov. 18 during an Air Force Week reception at the Griffith Observatory here. Hosted by the Friends of the Observatory, a nonprofit organization which supports the world's most visited public observatory, the event honored

Vandenberg receives California Space Authority award

Vandenberg Air Force Base received the National Security Space Award from the California Space Authority Nov. 19 at the SpotBeam Awards ceremony here. The award was presented in commemoration of the base's 50th anniversary of operation as an Air Force base. Both Vandenberg AFB and the Air Force have

Chairman notes Military Family Appreciation Week

Military Family Appreciation Week begins Nov. 21, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a message Nov. 20 noting the observance. Here is the text of Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's message: "This month, as we celebrate our blessings, and give thanks for our freedom to enjoy them, we

Manas officials host Vendor's Day in Kyrgyzstan

Representatives from more than 70 Kyrgyz businesses attended a Vendor Day to learn more about how to do business at Manas Air Base held Nov. 13 at the Bishkek Hyatt Regency in Kyrgyzstan.Airmen from the 376th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron coordinated and hosted the event as a way to help local

Battlelab initiative aims to speed KC-10 cargo loading

Though the Air Mobility Battlelab deactivated here Sept. 24, one of its final initiatives shows great potential to help KC-10 Extender crewmembers do their jobs faster and decrease aircraft weight. With the KC-10 Lightweight Cargo Net and Hoist Initiative, the Air Mobility Battlelab, or AMB, sought

Grand Forks communicators start 2 major base projects

The 130-person 319th Communications Squadron here is busy preparing Grand Forks Air Force Base for two critical information technology projects for the base and the entire Air Force.One project is for the High Frequency Global Communications System is a highly-automated communications system that

'Spread the Word' team addresses workforce concerns

The commander of the Air Force Personnel Center brought her Spread the Word briefing team here Nov. 12 to 14 to communicate personnel changes with diverse groups of customers. Maj. Gen. K. C. McClain is traveling with the team initially to each Air Force base with a major command headquarters

Air Force takes center stage as Bulls visit Lakers

In a sea of purple and gold, it was Air Force blue that took center stage as Airmen from across the country performed in honor of Air Force Week Los Angeles when the Chicago Bulls came to LA to take on the Lakers Nov. 18 at the Staples Center here. Airmen from bases across the country represented

Air Force chief of staff visits Arnold

The chief of staff of the Air Force made his first visit to middle Tennessee and to Arnold Engineering Development Center here Nov. 17 to see and learn about developmental testing of current and future weapons systems. Gen. Norton Schwartz's inaugural tour of AEDC started off with a bang, literally,

Remains of B-52 aircrew laid to rest at Arlington

The remains of six B-52 Stratofortress aircrew members killed when their aircraft crashed off the northwest coast of Guam July 21 were laid to rest in a ceremony held Nov. 14 at Arlington National Cemetery. Dozens of family members, friends and Airmen gathered at the graveside to bury Col. George T.

E-9 board president emphasizes record verification

The president of the 2008 chief master sergeant evaluation board convened Oct. 20 at the Air Force Personnel Center here emphasized the importance of record verification by each eligible individual prior to the evaluation board convening. Brig. Gen. Frederick H. "Rick" Martin, the U.S. Africa

Air Force Band performs at Disneyland

Visitors to the world-famous Disneyland Resort are excited to see characters like Mickey Mouse, Goofy and Donald Duck, but on Nov. 17 these same people were also able to see and hear a concert by the Air Force Band of the Golden West. Based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the band performed a

Chairman: Serious debate on security investment needed

Americans need to have a serious debate about what it takes to defend the United States, said the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Nov. 17 here. Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen has long proposed a floor for funding for national security of 4 percent of the gross domestic product. With the

Eagle Vision lands at Peterson

A Department of Defense Eagle Vision team demonstrated its capability Nov. 9 through 14 at Peterson Air Force Base. Eagle Vision is a family of deployable, commercial satellite ground stations that down link unclassified commercial imagery data from Earth-orbiting satellites. Eagle Vision ground

Wounded warriors look for second chances

In less than five seconds, the security forces Airman went from being able to shout out commands that could save lives to not being able to speak above a whisper. When an explosive force projectile struck Staff Sgt. Scott Lilley's Humvee April 15, 2007, shrapnel smaller than the size of a BB pellet

Guard's first 4-star general ready to take Minutemen forward

A crowd of more than 300 people from all ranks and services watched as the secretary of Defense swore in and promoted the first four-star general to lead the National Guard in its 372-year history Nov. 17 in the Pentagon. Gen. Craig R. McKinley became the chief of the National Guard Bureau and

Academy Board of Visitors to meet

The Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors is scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C., Nov. 20, to discuss a variety of issues, including the impact of faculty deployments on offering cadets an operational perspective from their instructors and an update on the non-profit organization for the benefit

Aerospace exhibition entertains, informs during Air Force Week Los Angeles

Dominik Goldschmidt was in heaven. He loved anything to do with airplanes and today was all about them. The 9-year-old boy scout was attending the aerospace exhibition at the Long Beach airport, where he was able to see, touch and explore larger-than-life Air Force aircraft. The two-day expo, called

Air Force Week kicks off in Los Angeles

Air Force Week Los Angeles began here Nov. 14 with an opening ceremony at the Hollywood and Highland Center. The week officially started when the event's guest speaker, actor Ricky Schroeder declared, "Welcome to Air Force Week Los Angeles!" Air Force Week Los Angeles is designed to expose the local

Council addresses Airmen issues

Officials of the Force Management and Development Council recently met under its revitalized structure and is now better organized to address issues facing all Airmen -- enlisted, officer and civilian. The 27 senior leaders who make up the council have met biannually since 2004, and in the most

First female four-star general promoted

Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody became the first female four-star general in U.S. military history in a Pentagon ceremony Nov. 14 and later assumed command of the U.S. Army Materiel Command here from outgoing commander, Gen. Benjamin S. Griffin. Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. presided over the

Civilians graduate with lessons in military culture

The first class of the Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training program graduated recently here giving the 25 attendees a better understanding of what the active-duty Air Force does. The course, designed to acquaint civilian employees with military culture, included lessons on Air Force core

17th Air Force Airmen support Africa Command

Airmen from 17th Air Force here received initial operational capability Oct. 1 and are already supporting missions for the U.S. Africa Command. In the first 30 days since declaring initial operational capability, aerial missions on the continent have coincided with continuing administration and

Airmen respond to buried threat in Afghanistan

When the Soviet Union pulled out of Afghanistan, they left thousands of mines and other explosive remnants of the war behind. At Bagram Airfield, with constant civil engineering projects to expand the flightline and other facilities, it's a daily occurrence to find small explosives in the soft sand.

Recruits enlist in the Rose Bowl

Nineteen new Air Force recruits were sworn in prior to the UCLA/Oregon State football game Nov. 8 at the Rose Bowl Stadium here. Col. Jeffery Robertson, director of staff for 4th Air Force from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., administered the official oath. "It's what these kids are doing (serving

Wounded Airman: 'Absolute privilege to defend America'

A wounded NCO spoke to 300 Airmen, retirees, Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce officials and members of the Alamo Chapter of the Air Force Association Nov. 3 at the Randolph Air Force Base Enlisted Club. The AFA-sponsored "Combat Breakfast" hosted Staff Sgt. Christopher Slaydon and 21 other

Iraqi doctors study AF aeromedical evacuation program

Two doctors from Iraq's Ministry of Defense visited the Air Force Theater Hospital and Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility here Nov. 5-8 to study Air Force aeromedical evacuation procedures. The visit will help the doctors, Maj. (Dr.) Abdul-Razaq and Capt. (Dr.) Mohammed, establish an

Gen McCoy assumes command of AF Global Logistics Support Center

The commander of Air Force Materiel Command installed a new commander for the Air Force Global Logistics Support Center Nov. 13 in ceremonies at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. During those ceremonies Gen. Bruce Carlson, who leads AFMC, AFGLSC's parent unit, awarded command of the center to Maj. Gen.

General, NCO talk about warrior care on national TV

The Air Force deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services at the Pentagon and an injured sergeant made an appearance on Fox News to speak about "Warrior Care Month" Nov. 10 here. Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III and Tech. Sgt. Israel Del Toro appeared on television to tell the American

Aviano spouse named Air Force Spouse of the Year

The spouse of a senior NCO in the 31st Communications Squadron here has been presented with the Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year Award during a special ceremony in Washington D.C. Melanie Huk, wife of Senior Master Sgt. Edward Huk, 31st CS, was presented the award by Michael Donley, secretary

Warrior Care: Program ensures support for Reserve members

Pentagon officials developed the Military Personnel Appropriation Medical Continuation to ensure Reserve and Guard members supporting the war on terrorism are taken care of. Military Personnel Appropriation Medical Continuation ensures Air Reserve Component members injured or become ill receive the

Jets honor servicemembers with military appreciation day

More than 100 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen participated in the New York Jets Military Appreciation Day prior to the football game Nov. 9 at Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey. The game, played against the St. Louis Rams, kicked off with the unveiling of a giant flag by 60

Chairman promises wounded warriors they will be cared for, remembered

The United States will remember the servicemembers who have made incredible sacrifices on the nation's behalf, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here Nov. 7 during the "A Salute to Our Troops" dinner sponsored by United Service Organizations and Microsoft. "I promise you we will never,

CMSAF visits veterans at armed forces home

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and his entire staff visited veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Washington, D.C., Nov. 10. The group arrived in time to have lunch with the residents, and then spent the majority of their time greeting veterans. "I enjoy seeing people who will

First students graduate Raptor Basic Course

Four student pilots at Tyndall AFB became the first graduates of the Air Force's F-22 Raptor Basic Course Nov. 1, setting another milestone in the fielding of the Air Force's most advanced fighter aircraft. These pilots are the first in the Air Force to have the F-22 as their first operational

Chairman cites history in Veterans Day message

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has issued a Veterans Day message to those who now serve or have served in the armed forces. Here is the text of the chairman's message: "When Armistice was declared on Nov. 11, 1918, effectively ending World War I, over sixty-five

'Today's Air Force' features warrior care

This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the month of November as Warrior Care month. The military has designated millions of dollars for wounded, ill and injured servicemembers with plans to establish a center for excellence that will specialize in research and development. And see how some

Hyperbaric chamber team to study traumatic-brain-injury treatment

A team with the San Antonio Military Medical Center Hyperbaric Center and the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine received funding to study the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on mild to moderate traumatic brain injuries. Researchers hope to find additional ways to treat wounded warriors

Air Force officials seek recruiters, instructors, MTIs

Air Education and Training Command officials here are seeking hundreds of members for immediate assignment as recruiters, technical school and Basic Military Training instructors. The need for instructors is in response to the Air Force end-strength increase of roughly 4,000 members and the Basic

Defense Media Activity breaks down barriers

The Defense Media Activity is all about breaking down barriers between reporting disciplines, the new organization's chief of staff said in an interview Nov. 5. The activity, which stood up Oct. 1, combines the internal information portions of the services' and Defense Department's public affairs

McChord Airmen help controllers train for new runway

McChord Air Force Base Airmen shared their training simulator here with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport tower controllers to ensure they are certified and ready for operations when the civilian airport's third runway officially opens Nov. 20. Since September, members of the 62nd Operations

Vandenberg officials launch Minuteman III missile

Vandenberg Air Force Base officials launched a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly at 1 a.m. PST Nov. 5 here. The launch was an operational test to determine the weapon system's reliability and accuracy. The

Airman helps make a difference in Afghanistan

Since combat operations began in Afghanistan, Airmen have taken on new roles traditionally held by their Army counterparts. Staff Sgt. Don Elias, deployed from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is a prime example. The sergeant joined the Air Force in 1998 and has served two tours in Iraq. He

American servicemembers continue to provide promise

The poverty-stricken neighborhoods of this bustling port capital of Trinidad and Tobago where crime, drug abuse and murder are facts of everyday life is not a place likely to attract American visitors. But for 15 engineers from the 5th Civil Engineer Squadron's Prime BEEF, along with a handful of

Warrior Care: Giving wounded what they need, deserve

Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen didn't like the way wounded Vietnam veterans were treated when he first entered the service in 1968, and he is working to ensure that America's wounded from Iraq and Afghanistan get the care and help they need and deserve. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said

Inaugural committee prepares to welcome new president

Members of the Armed Forces Inaugural Committee are preparing to welcome President-elect Barack Obama when the nation's 44th chief executive takes the oath of office Jan. 20 here. AFIC is a joint-service organization that coordinates all military ceremonial support for presidential inaugurals,

Newest mobile air shelter set up for training

The newest model of deployable, mobile command posts is set up at the Air Force Expeditionary Center's main building here to give Airmen a view of what that may work on when they deploy in suppot of the war on terrorism.The Hard-sided Expandable Lightweight Air Mobile Shelter, or HELAMS, eventually

JCS chairman accentuates Warrior Care Month

November 2008 is dedicated as Warrior Care Month by the Department of Defense. As we gather together, in the season of both thanks and giving, our nation pauses to recognize the sacrifices of today's service men and women in uniform, along with their families. Many families still face significant

Airmen hone contingency skills at Silver Flag

A handful of Airmen scan their checklists to make sure their mobility bags and other essentials are in order, while others thumb through their Airman's Manuals to bone up on proper chemical warfare procedures. The Airmen are in a wooded 1,200 acre site at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and this is

Wounded warrior receives new ears

Looking in the mirror, Marine Capt. Ryan Voltin couldn't get past his ears. Not that they were strange looking, but that they were there at all. He just wasn't used to seeing them. The AH-1 Cobra pilot lost his when the helicopter he was flying erupted in flames during a training accident last year.

2009 aviator continuation pay details released

Air Force officials here released Nov. 4 the details for aviator continuation pay for this fiscal year. For active duty Airmen, the program gives various rated aviators -- namely some pilots, combat systems officers and air battle managers -- the opportunity to sign an active duty service commitment

Airmen spend day with Chilean children

Airmen in Chile as part of an exchange with Latin American air forces spent Oct. 30 to brighten the outlook for neglected Chilean children in a suburb of Santiago.Fourteen Airmen and one Army National Guard member drove to a home for abused or neglected children where the servicemembers gave the

Handbook consolidates warrior care information

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said a new handbook is another step in improving the care and support wounded, ill or injured troops and their families deserve. The handbook compiles the myriad information they need in one succinct, easy-to-read publication. In his foreword to the Compensation and

AF doctor's persistence leads to diagnosis of rare disease

A young patient at San Antonio Military Medical Center-South, or Wilford Hall Medical Center, has been diagnosed with a rare disease that mainly affects African American females recently. Lakeshia Blueitt, 17-year-old daughter of retired Master Sgt. Curtis Blueitt, started experiencing major changes

Civilians begin leadership training program at Air University

Twenty-five Air Force civilians began the first Civilian Acculturation and Leadership Training Program at Air University's Officer Training School Oct. 27 here.The program leads the 25-member group through a two-week course adapted from the OTS curriculum indoctrinated with Air Force leadership and

F-16 pilots receive Mackay Trophy

Four F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots were awarded the Mackay Trophy at the National Aeronautic Association Fall Awards Banquet in the nation's capital Nov. 3. The award honors the "most meritorious flight of the year" by an Air Force person, persons or organization. This year's recipients were: -- Col.

Officials identify Airman missing in action

Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office officials here announced Nov. 3 that the remains of a U.S. Airman missing in action from World War II have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors. He is Staff Sgt. Martin F. Troy of the Army Air

Chief of Staff attends BMT graduation

Tricare officials recognize Warrior Care Month

November is Warrior Care Month, and Tricare officials seek to educate wounded, ill and injured service members about their benefits. "It is our goal to share with all service members as much information about their benefits as possible," said Army Maj. Gen. Elder Granger, deputy director of

Airmen show true grit in Strongman competition

Airmen, Sailors and Soldiers battled it out in a showdown of guts and glory at the Strong Man/Strong Mind Challenge Oct. 25 at an air base in Southwest Asia. Out of the 20 participants in the multiforce face-off, three Air Force warriors emerged victorious with the top three spots. Senior Airman

Information center to ease transition to AF management

Base residents seeking support services can receive assistance from an information center at the 332nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group here once a joint-service initiative, called Base Operating Support-Integration, takes effect Nov. 6.BOS-I is a changeover of base support functions that

Airmen continue building South American partnerships

More than 70 Airmen are spread across four South American countries learning and sharing with their partner nations' military members and performing community outreach events. Operation Southern Partner, a Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern) led event aimed at providing intensive, periodic

Airmen train Afghan cops

Three Airmen trained and graduated 900 Afghan national police in Nangarhar, Nuristan, Kunar and Lagman provinces during a nine-month deployment as part of a Department of State program.The program provides a secondary-level of professional police officer education at the Jalalabad Regional Training

Red Horse Airmen renovate Chilean school's library

Two Airmen completed renovations of a dilapidated library at a Chilean culinary and hotel service high school here Oct. 31 giving 80 students a comfortable and usable library the students and faculty can use for years to come. The renovation, the result of Operation Southern Partner - a two-week

HQ-level office created for nuclear mission

Air Force leaders have created a new Air Staff directorate that began operations Nov. 1 to strengthen the focus on the nuclear enterprise. The new office, aligned as A10 on the staff, is officially called the Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration Office and will be led by Maj. Gen. C. Donald

Maintainers partner to exchange new practices

Nearly 30 Argentinean air force aircraft maintenance mechanics, students and instructors came together at Palomar Air Base here Oct. 31 to exchange new ideas and techniques on preserving and evaluating aircraft as part of Twelfth Air Force (Air Forces Southern)'s Operation Southern Partner. U.S. Air

Petraeus assumes leadership of U.S. Central Command

Army Gen. David H. Petraeus assumed leadership of the U.S. military command charged with helping to build peace in a tough and war-torn part of the world today. General Petraeus took the reins of CENTCOM from acting commander Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey in a ceremony here. Defense Secretary Robert

Africa Command headquarters to remain in Stuttgart

U.S. Africa Command's headquarters will remain in its current location in Stuttgart, Germany, for the foreseeable future, a Pentagon spokesman said Oct. 30. The decision by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates allows the newest unified command to gain greater operational experience and develop and

Team seeks Airmen ready for 'something different'

Air Education and Training Command officials here encourage Airmen seeking to do "something different" during their Air Force career to apply for special duty assignments. To spread the word, members of the Air Force Recruiting Service Recruiter Screening Team visit Air Force bases across the nation

Joint Chiefs chairman highlights keys to defense

The nation's top military adviser completed a whirlwind tour of several Baltic States earlier in the month and addressed an array of topics to Air Force leaders Oct. 28 here.From cooperation with allied countries to the care of fallen military members' families, Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the

Servicemembers provide water to flood-affected community

Servicemembers here are involved in a 10-day water filtration project scheduled to end Nov. 5 after a weeklong stretch of rain flooded a community near La Paz, Honduras. Joint Task Force-Bravo servicemembers are providing water to the community as not only homes ruined, but also their well water

School supplies light up Afghan student's eyes

"Mister, mister pen. I need pen," echoes repeatedly from the mouths of young Afghan boys and girls reaching out with their hands whenever they see American servicemembers. When members of the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team walked onto a local boy's school campus recently, the students received

Commissaries to promote Warrior Care in November

The Defense Commissary Agency will join other Defense Department organizations in observing November as Warrior Care Month.The observance is designed to inform military members and their families about the many programs that are, and will be, available to assist wounded warriors. In a memorandum

Admiral Mullen cites culture of change during address

Change is the cornerstone and is at the heart of every aspect of today's military, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told more than 800 Air War College students Oct. 28 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. "I see it in technology. I see it in people. I see it in missions. I see it in the joint

Air Force 'moving in right direction' on nuclear program, Gates says

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates pointed to broad initiatives within the Air Force he said are helping to return its nuclear mission to "the standards of excellence for which it was known throughout the entire Cold War." Speaking at the Carnegie Institute for International Peace Oct. 28, Secretary

Joint Base Balad Airmen remember fallen wingman

A memorial service was held here Oct. 27 for a 332nd Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron NCO who was found dead in his housing unit Oct. 23 at Joint Base Balad.Airmen held a town hall meeting here that started with a roll call. A senior NCO with the 332nd EMXS called out names of Airmen in the phase

Work continues to replace T-38 aileron levers

To meet the challenge of building more than 1,000 aileron actuator levers for T-38 Talon aircraft, workers in the 532nd Commodities Maintenance Squadron's New Manufacturing and Repair Division literally had to start from scratch. The levers, which control moveable flaps on the T-38's wings, are

Defense secretary: Nuke capability critical to deterrence

Calling nuclear weapons one of the world's "messy realities," Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here Oct. 28 that as long as others who could potentially threaten the United States possess or seek them, it's critical that the United States does as well, and that they be kept safe, secure and

Veterinary care helps build relations with nomadic tribe

Airmen and Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team vaccinated hundreds of animals in preparation for the long, hard Afghan winter in October here. In a region where the average income is less than a dollar a day, the PRT's veterinary civil assistance patrol not only strengthened the

Airmen receive cavalry spurs for building new base

For their efforts in building more than 25,000 square feet of housing and administrative offices for 1st Cavalry Division Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 29 Air Force Airmen received cavalry combat spurs, symbolic of cavalry service in a combat zone, from the

Commander discusses 'jewel in crown' of America's military

The United States military is the best-manned, best-equipped and best-trained force in the world, but that doesn't mean a thing if it can't get to the fight, said the commander of U.S. Transportation Command. The 138,000 military and civilian men and women of the U.S. Transportation Command and its

Lackland-based institute teaches English to partner nations

Communication is key to maintaining healthy relationships. The same is true of interactions between the United States and members of its allied militaries: strong, clear communication opens the door to a better, stronger relationship. And being able to speak the same language helps this process

Chief of staff wraps up Middle East tour at Joint Base Balad

The Air Force chief of staff finished a visit to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility with a last stop to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Oct. 25 here. Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley learned about Airmen's accomplishments in theater,

Guard, Reserve warfighters chart tactics course

Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve officials prepared the roadmap for weapons and tactics needs for their near- and long-term during a conference Oct. 20 through 24 in Tucson.The annual Weapons and Tactic Conference began at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., with opening remarks by Lt.

Nellis Airmen begin 'War on Waste'

The "War on Waste", a new Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, began at Nellis AFB, following an Enterprise Value Stream Analysis held here Oct. 6 to 8. The Enterprise Value Stream Analysis, conducted by the 99th Air Base Wing Executive Council, aligned the wing commander's

Air Force officials to establish new nuclear major command

The Air Force will stand up a new major command specifically to manage its nuclear assets, the service's top official announced Oct. 24. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will fold into its ranks thousands of Airmen and all of the Air Force's domestic nuclear capabilities in

Top leaders bring praise, vision of future to Airmen in Iraq

The Air Force chief of staff and chief master sergeant of the Air Force praised Airmen for their role in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and discussed the "way ahead" during their on-going visit to meet face-to-face with Airmen deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Oct. 24

Chief of staff reenlists crew chief over Southwest Asia

The Air Force chief of staff reenlisted a C-17 Globemaster III flight crewmember 32,000 feet above the U.S. Central Command area of operations Oct. 23. Gen. Norton Schwartz signed up Senior Airman Tyrell Haney, a 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, for another tour of duty -- his second

Air Force leaders work to develop cyberspace roadmap

Air Force leaders here continue to create a roadmap of the service's cyberspace mission while adjusting to a new organizational construct outlined by Air Force officials in October. Officials from the Air Force Cyber Command (Provisional) team here and Air Force Space Command are moving forward

Airmen speed delivery of lifesaving medicine

Coordination and hustle between several American military agencies here enabled a lifesaving package to reach an Iraqi snakebite victim and save a life Oct. 15 here. The Army Medical Materiel Center Southwest Asia staff received an urgent request for anti-venom to help a young Iraqi woman who was in

Air Force Nuclear Enterprise Roadmap report calls for new command, headquarters agency

Establishment of a Global Strike Command and a Headquarters Air Force staff agency to handle Air Force nuclear assets are some of the recommendations found in the Nuclear Enterprise Roadmap released Oct. 24 by senior leaders. The roadmap, titled Reinvigorating the Air Force Nuclear Enterprise, also

Cannon officials use AFSO 21 to improve inprocessing

Cannon Air Force Base officials recently revamped its inprocessing program using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century to take a three week process into a four hour program. Beginning in July, base officials worked to improve and consolidate inprocessing for new base members and their

F-35 completes air-start test at Edwards

The prototype F-35 Joint Strike Fighter AA-1 completed an air-start test validating the aircraft's ability to shut down and restart its engine in flight Oct. 23 here. This ensures the aircraft, which is called the F-35 Lightning II for the Air Force, can regain power and fly safely in the event of