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U.S. Air Force News

  • Tops In Blue names 2008 team members

    Officials of Tops In Blue, the Air Force's expeditionary entertainment group, have announced the names of 25 new members of the 2008 "Deja Blue" tour. "Our 2008 team is made up of some of the most talented members we have had join us in many years," said Jeri White, production manager for Air Force

  • PACAF receives Air Force maintenance award

    The vice chief of staff of the Air Force presented Pacific Air Forces the Gen. Wilbur L. Creech Maintenance Excellence award Jan 16 at the Pentagon. Gen. Duncan J. McNabb presented the award to Chief Master Sgt. Robert L. Norcross II and Master Sgt. Jeffrey Soots for the more than 10,000 maintainers

  • German airman assists with Holloman ceremony

    Attendees at the 49th Fighter Wing change-of-command ceremony were treated to a strange sight if they looked closely at the honor guard detail that was presenting the colors Jan.11 here as one member of the six-man team stood out, due to the fact that he was wearing a different uniform and carrying

  • Airmen featured on Food Network's 'Dinner: Impossible'

    Television viewers nationwide will see a renowned chef attempt to feed 1,000 people at Sheppard Air Force Base when the Food Network airs a new episode of "Dinner: Impossible" in the coming weeks. Chef Robert Irvine and his culinary crew were given 10 hours to feed members of the base and visiting

  • Personnel center leadership changes hands

    Air Force Personnel Center officials welcomed their 23rd commander during a change-of-command ceremony here Jan. 16. Maj. Gen. K.C. McClain, a 30-year career Airman, succeeds Maj. Gen. Anthony F. Przybyslawski, who was selected for reassignment as director of operations for Air Education and

  • Air Force announces top recruiters for 2007

    Fourteen Air Force recruiters were named tops in their field for fiscal 2007 by Air Force Recruiting Service officials here Jan. 14. The Air Force Blue Suit recruiters for 2007 are: -- Master Sgt. Russell Benigno of the 337th Recruiting Squadron at Fayetteville, N.C., -- Master Sgt. Brian Clark of

  • Airmen participate in dedication ceremony at South Pole

    Two Airmen attended the Jan. 12 Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station dedication ceremony, the culmination of the National Science Foundation's 12-year effort to construct a new station on Antarctica.Maj. Gen. Robert A. Knauff, the New York Air National Guard chief of staff and commander, and Col. Ron

  • Dover, McGuire raise money for CFC in hockey game

    Members of Dover Air Force Base and McGuire AFB, N.J., raised $1,500 for the Combined Federal Campaign in the first-ever ice hockey fundraiser Jan. 13 in Philadelphia. The event drew about 300 spectators and saw the Dover AFB team topple McGuire AFB's team 9-4. Michael Ramos, one of the offensive

  • Airmen airdrop 80,000 pounds of food, supplies for Afghans

    Airmen of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here airdropped nearly 80,000 pounds of food and water through the Afghan sky Jan. 14 as part of humanitarian efforts in the region. The supplies were pushed out the backdoor of a C-17 Globemaster III and the cargo landed at the feet of

  • Biomedical maintainers ensure combat medical success

    Airmen of the 332nd Medical Support Squadron Biomedical Maintenance Flight here help save lives by ensuring proper preparation of patients prior to air evacuation from the theater of operations every day.The Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base is the hub for en-route patient care, and

  • Air Force official alters cold-weather gear policy

    The deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel here recently authorized commanders to use their discretion to authorize deviation from policy for wear of cold-weather battle dress uniform outer garments with the airman battle uniform during the coming winter months. "The original guidance was

  • Exercise trains next Horn of Africa task force leaders

    Leaders preparing to deploy to Djibouti as the next headquarters staff at Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa are wrapping up a week-long exercise to prepare them for the challenges they'll face.The mission rehearsal exercise is under way at U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Warfighting Center

  • Balad Airmen take on galactic mission

    For Airmen assigned to the 721st Aircraft Mobility Operations Group Det. 5 here, going to work each day means taking on two of the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory. Charged with maintenance support for the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III, the Airmen provide en route maintenance,

  • State-of-the-art battlefield system to integrate controllers

    Construction is scheduled to begin this month on a facility to house a state-of-the-art battlefield command and control system that will integrate air traffic management throughout Iraq. The $30 million Battlefield Command and Control CENTAF, or BC3, will house air traffic controllers from the

  • Active duty, retired Air Force leaders gather

    Air Force leaders met with retired senior Air Force leaders at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C., this past week to discuss important issues facing the Air Force. "The Air Force is at a critical moment in history," Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne said. "Our nation needs to be proud of our

  • Tactical airlift key to winning war on terrorism

    For every 24 tons of cargo airlifted in Iraq, a supply truck and two troops are spared a trip on a dangerous road. For every 50 passengers airlifted, one more busload of servicemembers is also spared from Iraq's dangerous roads. Members of the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron moves everything

  • Dover exercise tests Airmen's combat environment skills

    Once fine tuned and sharpened with razor-edge precision, an ordinary axe became something magnificent during the Middle Ages. The battleaxe, a choice weapon due to its inexpensive cost and abundant availability, was a dangerous weapon on the battle fields of long ago. The methods of warfare have

  • Air Force leaders discuss F-15 accident, future

    Senior Air Force leaders gathered for a press conference here Jan. 10 to share findings from the accident investigation board currently examining the Nov. 2 crash of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C Eagle. The upper right longeron -- one of four metal beams that help hold the cockpit to the main

  • Air Force maintainers help improve future for Afghans

    The efforts of a trio of Airmen here are helping ensure success for a mission bringing self-governance, security and economic growth to the people of Afghanistan's Paktya and Logar provinces. Vehicle maintainers Tech. Sgt. Kendrick Ouzts, Staff Sgt. Andrew Hawley and Staff Sgt. Russell Achee enable

  • Airmen, Soldiers aid local beach in oil spill clean-up

    The smell of crude oil was still evident as 45 Airmen and Soldiers from Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, joined more than 150 workers and volunteers in another day of beach clean-up Jan. 4 following the nation's worst oil spill, which occurred almost one month ago at Mallipo Beach. South Korean coast

  • Pararescueman raises money for AIDS awareness

    An Airman battled body, mind and social stigmas to raise awareness about AIDS and HIV testing for African Americans by running from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 14 days in December, which was approximately 26 miles a day for two weeks. Tech. Sgt. Lejon Boudreaux, a California Air National Guard

  • General Brady offers parting thoughts

    To many below the headquarters and major command levels, the title "AF/A1" may not mean much, but it should. AF/A1 is the office of the Air Force's senior officer in charge of all personnel issues from force shaping to education and training, and for nearly four years, Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady has

  • Airmen design everything from bridges to buildings for Army

    Airmen here are helping their Army brethren everyday in different parts of Iraq, improving their quality of life by creating the blueprints for what may be the next place the Soldiers rest. Those Airmen are the engineering assistants of the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Det. 6. They're

  • Academy seeks enlisted applicants

    Enlisted Airmen interested in attending the U.S. Air Force Academy this entry year must submit completed forms no later than Jan. 31. There are 135 slots available for enlisted Airmen each year through the Leaders Encouraging Airman Development program. "The LEAD program is an ongoing effort to give

  • 2007 a time of reflection, success

    The year 2007 was a time for reflection as Air Force people celebrated the service's 60th anniversary, but it was also a time of great success as Airmen across the world defended their nation through air, space and cyberspace. In celebration of the 60th anniversary, six locations across the country

  • Air Force cartoonist publishes book while deployed

    It's hard being only a figment of someone's imagination. Just ask 1st Lt. Kenneth Dahl, an F-15 Eagle fighter pilot with the imaginary 809th Fighter Squadron. Lieutenant Dahl, call sign "Barbie," is the star of the online Web comic Air Force Blues, and a hero, of sorts, to his Internet following.

  • Balad radar air traffic controllers run skies of Iraq

    It looks simple in theory. All you have to do is keep little blips on a screen from bumping into each other. Now consider that those blips represent billions of dollars of government assets and hundreds of lives, all relying on one person's ability to control air traffic. This is the job of the

  • Air Force officials recognize top cadet

    Air Force officials honored the 2007 Cadet of the Year in a ceremony Jan. 3 at the Pentagon. The Cadet of the Year Award recognizes the most outstanding cadet in an Air Force commissioning program. Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Duncan McNabb presented the award to U.S. Air Force Academy

  • Trio of deployed Airmen get holiday surprise

    Three Airmen deployed here from the 110th Fighter Wing at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Mich., received a welcome holiday message recently. Staff Sergeants Bryce Moore, Kevin Rynbrandt and James Liston received word on Dec. 21 that they all were selected for pilot training. "Our supervisor

  • Airman participates in Marine Corps martial arts program

    An Airman deployed to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa received the Marine Corps martial arts program green belt Dec. 28 here. Airman 1st Class Joseph Cawood, an 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron aerospace ground equipment technician, is participating with more than 30 Marines assigned to

  • 'Wheel' saves lives in Afghanistan

    Days after deploying here, Tech. Sgt. Stephen Thackery saw first-hand the cost of the Taliban's war on the Afghan people, and responded as he was trained, by saving lives. The Hamilton, Va., native was on alert when the call came in to the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron. A suicide bombing had

  • Airmen, Soldiers deliver wheelchairs to Hondurans

    A Civil Military Operations team from Joint Task Force-Bravo delivered 100 donated wheelchairs to disabled villagers along the Miskito Coast of Honduras Dec. 28. The Alabama non-profit organization Missions Unlimited contacted the U.S. Agency for International Development to coordinate the donation.

  • Marriage seminar helps Kirkuk servicemembers

    Being away from family for an extended period of time, like a deployment, can really stress a relationship. To help reduce the stress, members of the 506th Air Expeditionary Group Chapel along with the 506th Expeditionary Medical Group Mental Health Flight sponsored a three-week marriage seminar at

  • Deployed Airmen find ancient artifacts at Iraqi air base

    An Airman and his team discovered fragments of pottery, possibly dating back as far back as 2,000 years during a recent job at Kirkuk Air Base. Tech. Sgt. Kelly Wayment, a heavy equipment operator with the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here, was carrying out a routine operation near a

  • Reserve recruiting earns business award

    Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service officials earned a nationally recognized sales award Dec. 6 at a ceremony in Las Vegas. Judges handed a "Stevie" Award, the business world's own Oscar awards, to recruiting officials as the Recruitment/Staffing Sales Organization of the Year Award for

  • Bagram Airmen celebrate season

    Airmen in Afghanistan found ways to celebrate the holiday season while providing continuous airpower and combat support for U.S. and coalition forces throughout the country. While family and friends back home marked the holiday season with gifts and celebrations, deployed Airmen in Afghanistan

  • Kadena Airmen aerovac patients in need

    Airmen from the 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here aerovaced a patient on a KC-135 Stratotanker Dec. 18 from Yokota Air Base, Japan. Members of the 18th AES travel throughout the Pacific picking up critical patients and transporting them to hospitals that can meet their needs.Every week a

  • Comm team prepares Kadena for cyber war

    "Intruders" from cyberspace are trying to hack into the Kadena Air Base network and steal information from unsuspecting e-mail users. The intruders are not hackers, though they pretend to be to gain access to information they would need if they wanted to cripple the mission here. Fortunately, they

  • American servicemembers deploy to Costa Rica

    More than 600 patients were seen during a two-day medical readiness training exercise Dec. 18 and 19 in Costa Rica by Joint Task Force-Bravo American servicemembers from Soto Cano, Honduras. The team, made up of 28 Airmen and Soldiers spent two days in the village of Piedra Mesa operating a

  • Air Force provides Army burn flight team with training

    Since Operation Iraqi Freedom began in March 2003, Army burn flight and Air Force critical care air transport teams have evacuated and treated hundreds of patients who've suffered burn and inhalation injuries primarily resulting from improvised explosive device detonations. In response, joint

  • Servicemembers celebrate school dedication in Djibouti

    American Servicemembers from the 486th Civil Affairs Battalion and Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa were greeted with a traditional Djibouti dance by the students and community members of Kouta Bouya Dec. 17 as part of the school dedication ceremony here. During the five months of

  • Pope says goodbye to last A-10s

    Pope Air Force Base officials held a Dec. 19 ceremony to say goodbye to their last three A-10 Thunderbolt IIs as the aircraft took off here and flew to Moody AFB, Ga.  The reorganization of aircraft is designed to mitigate Air Force hardship from the shrinking budget. To preserve the heritage of the

  • CSAF announces selectees for new senior officer program

    Seven senior officers were recently selected to be part of a new program directed by Chief of the Staff of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley. As part of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellows program, these select officers will work directly for the chief of staff in lieu of serving as a

  • Behind the scenes, Airmen help to open hospital

    Airmen on a medical mentoring team have been working hard to ensure the successful opening of an Afghan national army hospital here for the past several months. The team's original mission was to mentor their ANA counterparts and teach them the necessary medical skills to treat Afghan military and

  • Flight safety office brings Balad bird strikes down 30 percent

    With the help of volunteers from around the base, the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing flight safety office reduced the number of bird strikes on aircraft by 30 percent here in November. They accomplished this through the Bird Aircraft Strike Hazard program, which uses awareness and proactivity to

  • Assistant Air Force Surgeon General visits LRMC, Germany

    During a recent visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Dec. 12, Maj. Gen. Melissa A. Rank interacted with staff and patients and commented on how armed forces medical care in Germany has evolved throughout her career. General Rank, the assistant Air Force surgeon general for medical force

  • JCS chairman sends holiday message

    The following is a holiday message from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen."Whether this holiday season finds you celebrating Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa, I offer my very best wishes for a season filled with joy. "The holidays are a time to reflect on the past

  • Linebacker II anniversary marked in memorial ceremony

    Servicemembers, congressional representatives, civil leaders and their families paused December 18 to recognize the 35th anniversary of Linebacker II in a memorial ceremony at Arc Light Park here. Linebacker II was an intensive bombing campaign in December 1972 ordered by President Richard Nixon to

  • CAP members place wreath at Air Force Memorial

    Members of the Civil Air Patrol paid their respects to fallen Airmen at a wreath laying ceremony at the Air Force Memorial here Dec. 15. CAP Brig. Gen. Amy Courter, national commander, joined the Hagerstown, Md., unit at the memorial to "offer support in the spirit the Civil Air Patrol always has."

  • Langley Winds spread holiday cheer

    Wearing battle dress uniforms with red Santa hats on, the Langley Winds from the Heritage of America Band spread holiday cheer Dec. 13 to Pope Air Force Base members. The band from Langley AFB, Va., toured around the base and sang songs such as "Jingles Bells," "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,"

  • Immunology laboratory named Center of Excellence

    The newest Center of Excellence for radioallergosorbent, or RAST, testing in the Air Force Medical Service lies within the Diagnostic Immunology laboratory at Wilford Hall Medical Center here. RAST testing is the process of using a patient's extracted blood to detect the antibodies associated with

  • Volunteers deliver food to Honduran mountain village

    American servicemembers from Joint Task Force-Bravo took to the mountains to deliver food and supplies to Hondurans living off the beaten path Dec. 14 around Soto Cano Air Base. Approximately 60 volunteers joined the three-mile trek, sponsored by the JTF-Bravo chapel staff, carrying more than 600

  • U.S. team opens shelter for Afghan women

    Officials of the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team unveiled a new women's shelter during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec. 13 in Kapisa Province.Khuweja Abubaker, the Kapisa Provincial governor; Safura Kohistani, the director of women's affairs for Kapisa Province; and members of the PRT were on

  • USO group visits servicemembers in Southwest Asia

    More than 3,000 U.S. and coalition forces servicemembers were treated to a United Service Organizations show featuring Lance Armstrong, Lewis Black, Kid Rock, Robin Williams and Miss USA Rachel Smith Dec. 17 in Southwest Asia. Brig. Gen. Charles W. Lyon, the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander,

  • Air Force names 2007 Sijan award recipients

    Air Force leaders recognized four Airmen with the service's 2007 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. The Sijan award annually recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities. The Senior officer category winner is Lt. Col. Laura A. Soule, who is assigned to Lackland Air

  • Balad aerial port bests cargo movement record

    The 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Aerial Port Flight broke the single-day cargo-movement record here Dec. 6. The aerial port Airmen surpassed the previous record set in 2006 by more than 100 tons, moving 930 tons of cargo from 77 aircraft. "It's not surprising we broke the record,

  • Air Force dental team cares for Iraqi counterparts

    The Airmen deployed with a purpose -- to advise and train Iraqi military dental specialists to care for their own -- but they're redeploying home with a reward -- the experience of lifetime. Airmen of the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group Special Operations Iraqi Transition Team, or SOITT, came to Iraq

  • Airman supports burn clinic for Iraqi children

    When Army Cpl. Joseph Barzeski invited Staff Sgt. Tracy Davidson to tour the Convoy Support Center's burn clinic in Scania, Iraq, he didn't think she would be back. But she did come back, again and again. "I didn't think she was going to want to stay, but she wanted to help," said the corporal. "She

  • Entertainers begin holiday tour of overseas bases

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael G. Mullen is bringing United Service Organizations entertainers to visit with troops in seven countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe through the next week. "We want to thank as many servicemembers as we can," Admiral Mullen said. "The

  • USAFE hosts AFSO 21 Process Council

    The Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century Process Council was hosted by U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials Dec. 10 and 11 at Ramstein Air Base. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley kicked off the council with a round-table

  • Review provides update on Global Logistics Support Center

    More than 80 supply chain customers and practitioners from across the Department of Defense and the Air Force came together here recently to participate in the second program management review for the Global Logistics Support Center. The sessions allowed Col. Joan Cornuet, Mobility Air Forces

  • Air Force's top nurse visits Landstuhl medical center

    Approximately 30 years of experience separate the careers of 2nd Lt. Shelley Briggs and Maj. Gen. Melissa Rank, and both appreciated a recent opportunity to bridge the gap. "It was a great opportunity to glean some of the wisdom from her years of experience," said Lieutenant Briggs, one of a few

  • Basic training instructors help mold Iraq's future leaders

    The bark of the military training instructor's command voice, when heard by many current and former Airmen, may bring back memories of one of the most stressful periods of their lives, basic training. However, for the Iraqi air force warrant officer candidates in training here, it is the sound of a

  • CSAF's Scope cites maintenance, logistics reorganization

    The Chief of Staff of the Air Force's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen.Gen. T. Michael Moseley's latest CSAF's Scope focuses on the reorganization of wing maintenance and logistics."As chief of staff, I'm responsible for

  • Kadena F-15 pilots train to keep talons sharp

    Despite the Air Force-wide stand down of F-15 Eagles, Kadena Air Base pilots are maintaining their skills and capabilities through virtual means. Members of the 18th Operations Support Squadron and Boeing civilian contractors with the unit have stepped up and provided increased time in flight

  • Commander brings holiday cheer to Ecuadorian schools

    U.S. Southern Command's deputy commander, Lt. Gen. Glenn F. Spears, visited two schools Dec. 10 in Manta, Ecuador, presenting both with certificates pledging thousands of dollars to fund renovation projects and provide school supplies. General Spears was accompanied by a group of personnel from

  • Air Force graduates first network warfare class

    The first Undergraduate Network Warfare Training Class graduated Dec. 7 here representing the Air Force's expansion into the domain of cyberspace. The course, developed and taught by members of the 39th Information Operations Squadron, represents the most comprehensive network warfare training

  • Senior NCOs mentor junior sergeants in Iraq

    More than 30 NCOs attended the Ali Base Top 3 Council's NCO Mentorship Seminar Dec. 8 here to enhance their professional development. A panel of three chief master sergeants gave Airmen a glimpse into what it takes to make E-9, and discussed the new performance report and feedback. "The role of the

  • Forecasters save millions in resources via storm updates

    Heavy rains this year rescued three states suffering from 54 years of drought, while prompting military resources in the region to guard against flooding in the process. Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, mired in a decades-long drought, saw major storms throughout much of the year provide much needed

  • Fairchild Airmen rescue stranded hiker

    A four-member crew from the 36th Rescue Flight here rescued a stranded, injured hiker Dec. 4 after an avalanche that killed two others hit in the Snoqualmie Pass area in Washington. The crew took off Dec. 4 and arrived at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., where they were tasked by the Washington State

  • FM chiefs attain bottom line at conference

    Financial management and comptroller chief master sergeants from across the globe gathered at Gunter Annex's Senior NCO Academy Dec. 3 to 7 to discuss the state of the Air Force financial management transformation.While attending the Financial Management Chief's Conference, 38 chiefs focused on the

  • Air Force leaders: Make a difference this holiday season

    The following is a holiday message from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley. "Thank you for the difference you make every day, defending the United States of America and promoting our interests and ideals around the world. As the holiday

  • Warfighting integration, cyberspace expands service's reach

    Shortening the "kill chain" and enabling commanders to make well-informed decisions are a priority for the Air Force, said the chief of warfighting integration at the recent Air Force Information Technology Day here. Technology and cyberspace are the two top components for that priority, said Lt.

  • Airmen named the 'Best of the Best' performers

    From a little bit of country to a whole lot of rock and roll, 56 Airmen from around the world displayed their talent before standing room only crowds, during free live performances this past weekend at the Bob Hope Theater at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. All have hopes of not only being named the

  • Djiboutians delight in the sounds of 'Hot Brass'

    The U.S. Central Command Air Forces Expeditionary Band "Hot Brass" played for nearly 100 Djiboutians Dec. 6 at a community development center in Douda, Djibouti. The Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa in Djibouti was the Airmen's first stop on their tour of the U.S. Central Command area of

  • Keesler couple earns 2007 O'Malley award

    The former Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., commander and his wife, who led the base's recovery efforts the two years following Hurricane Katrina, recently won the 2007 Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. Brig. Gen. Paul Capasso and his wife, Laura, received the award that recognizes the wing

  • Holiday generosity in motion for wounded warriors

    Strong and steady waves of donations are arriving daily at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.The wave of gifts and cards will usually crest toward the end of December, but chaplains, their assistants and a dedicated core of volunteers will be kept busy until January spreading the holiday cheer

  • Lieutenant's oversight mission vital to Air Force testing

    In his duties as the air propulsion test project manager at the Arnold Engineering Development Center here 1st Lt. Josh Frederik plays a key part in numerous multimillion dollar projects."You're dealing with these big numbers and as the representative on the government side you need to be a good

  • Key maintenance, logistics functions realign

    The alignment of fighter and combat search and rescue aircraft maintenance units under flying squadrons was announced by the Air Force chief of the staff  Dec. 7 here. Between July and November 2008, AMUs supporting fighter and CSAR flying squadrons will realign within those squadrons, Gen. T.

  • Portal IM service allows Airmen, friends, family to connect

    Friends and family members can keep in touch with Airmen anywhere in the world through an instant messaging program available through the Air Force Portal. Every Airman is permitted up to five guest users through the Friends and Family Instant Messaging service, which works "24 hours a day, seven

  • F-15s undergo extensive technical inspections

    Air Force maintainers continue to perform methodical and time-intensive inspections on all F-15 Eagle A, B, C and D model aircraft which are revealing more cracks in the aircraft longerons. The discovery of more structural damage in the F-15s prompted the Dec. 3 stand-down order from Air Combat

  • Commander retires after 38 years of service

    With one last review of a formation of Ramstein's finest Airmen, and along with it, one last coin challenge, Gen. William T. Hobbins, commander of United States Air Forces in Europe, was retired at a ceremony here Dec. 10 after more than 38 years of service. General Hobbins cited cooperation as key

  • Combat leadership course takes PME to next level

    What does an Air Force supply noncommissioned officer and an Army infantry NCO have in common? What can someone who spends their days troubleshooting computers learn from someone who spends their days on convoys? The answer to these questions is leadership. Regardless of the branch of service or

  • Spirited remembrance: B-2 marks Pearl Harbor event

    Two members of the 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron piloted their B-2 Spirit stealth bomber over Pearl Harbor Dec. 7 in honor of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. This flight was part of a stealth bomber global power sortie, where the aircrews practice their global reach capability by flying more than

  • Hickam commemorates 66th anniversary of attack

    Survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Hickam Air Field, and their family members descended upon Hickam Air Force Base for a commemorative ceremony to pay tribute and remember those who paid the ultimate cost. With the Courtyard of Heroes Eternal Flame burning in the background, Chaplain (Maj.)

  • Kunsan Airmen paint arctic F-16s for Eielson

    Airmen from the 8th Maintenance Squadron corrosion shop recently completed painting an arctic scheme on one of their F-16 Fighting Falcons -- a first for Kunsan and soon Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. In October, Kunsan received its initial group of Block 40 F-16 aircraft under the Common

  • PME classrooms open for sister service

    Some students attending the Elmendorf Professional Military Education center wear a different shade of blue ... U.S. Coast Guard blue. Two Coast Guard members are enrolled in the Elmendorf NCO Academy while three other guardsmen are in Airman Leadership School. They are set to graduate Dec. 13 with

  • Award winning program prevents suicides

    The 59th Medical Wing leads the Department of Defense in patient safety for significantly reducing the chances for inpatient suicides among high risk people. The 59th Mental Health Squadron's winning initiative, "Nurse/Mental Health Technician Change of Shift Safety Checks," led by Capt. Jose

  • Airman medic comes to aid of Soldiers, Afghans

    For a combat medic with the Police Mentor Team Linoma here, a normal day at the office can include calling out enemy positions to a gunner or treating life-threatening injuries. Senior Airman Neil Murray, an emergency room medical technician deployed from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., has spent the

  • Air Force receives 2 DOD disability awards

    Defense officials here lauded an Air Force civilian and 15 everyday heroes for overcoming disabilities, as well as named the Air Force an outstanding organization for hiring people with disabilities Dec. 4 in Bethesda, Md. Among the award recipients was Ronald Greenfield, the chief of staff for the

  • Air Force officers earn Cheney Award

    Two Air Force Special Operations Command officers were recently awarded the Cheney Award for actions in southern Afghanistan, where they provided close-air-support for special forces on the ground. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Duncan J. McNabb presented Majs. Bradley Downs, and Daniel Roesch

  • First Air National Guard contingency response group trains

    Airmen assigned to the nation's first Air National Guard contingency response group unit attended 22 days of training at the Air Force Expeditionary Center's Mobility Operations School here. Fifty-six Airmen from the 115-person 123rd Contingency Response Group of the Kentucky Air National Guard at

  • NCO retraining program involuntary phase begins

    Airmen identified as required to retrain must submit a retraining request by Dec. 17 or separate from the Air Force under Phase II of the Air Force Fiscal 2008 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program. After meeting the Dec. 17 deadline, Phase II eligibles next must choose an Air Force specialty

  • Comm Airmen get tower-certified

    A team of Airmen making a stop here to do checks on the latest radio communications on the battlefield took time out to give some Airmen valuable qualification training. A team from the Combined Air and Space Operations Center came here to perform preventive maintenance on the Radio-over-Internet

  • USAFE answers call of wounded warriors

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials made a recent donation of two, four-story buildings, and the buildings have saved hours on the road for wounded U.S. forces. The former Air Force hotels, transformed by $2.5 million renovations, provide convenient lodging for 190 to 200 wounded warriors on the

  • Survivor assistance program manager receives new A1 award

    He provided around-the-clock assistance to more than 200 families who suffered the loss of an active-duty member, mentored 25 Airmen seriously injured or wounded in action, and was appointed by the secretary of Defense to serve on the Independent Review Group at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

  • Air Force engineers improve Marine quality of life in Iraq

    Airmen are improving the lives and operating conditions of Marines by constructing more than $9.8 million in aircraft shelters, taxiways and temporary shelters at Al Asad Air Base. Deployed in an "in-lieu-of" tasking in support of the 20th Army Engineer Brigade, 557th Expeditionary REDHORSE

  • Leaders review programs, processes that take care of Airmen

    A cross-functional team of senior Air Force leaders is reviewing programs and processes essential to the health and welfare of Airmen using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century problem-solving tools. One of the 10 AFSO 21 key processes, "Caring for People," was chartered to take on

  • Misawa team forges international friendships on the field

    Bitter temperatures, rain and snow couldn't stop die-hard hard soccer players from coming out to play a game with local Japanese teams as part of a friendship tournament held between Misawa United and two Japanese teams from an off-base league here in November. Misawa United is a team comprised of

  • Officials name 2007 Mission Support Award winners

    Air Force officials announced the winners of the 2007 Mission Support Awards Nov. 30. The results are: Personnel Gen. Robert J. Dixon Award:  Brian K. Hunter, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas Roger M. Blanchard Memorial Award:  John Beckett, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Pentagon Gen. Horace M. Wade