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U.S. Air Force News

  • 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

  • Kunsan firefighters assist local fire department

    Firefighters from the 8th Civil Engineer Squadron assisted local fire departments in response to an industrial fire in Gunsan City here Dec. 3. At approximately 9 a.m. the Kunsan Air Base fire department received a call and quickly dispatched 11 personnel and two fire trucks to help local Gunsan

  • Santa brings holiday cheer to Arnold party

    Santa took a break from making his list and checking it twice to attend a children's Christmas party Dec. 2 at Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. Instead of arriving by the power of nine reindeer, Santa made his grand entrance in a 150-horsepower specially-outfitted 1967 Cessna float plane. More than 500

  • Leaflets urge Iraqis to help capture insurgents

    More than one million leaflets were pushed out of a 40th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130 Hercules over ten designated drop zones urging local citizens to provide information on three top leaders of an armed insurgent militia in Iraq. The leaflets are the wanted posters of the region and were

  • Dec. 2 airpower summary: F-16s support ground troops

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Dec. 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped guided bomb

  • 'Mind of Mencia' entertains troops in Middle East

    American servicemembers were treated to a United Service Organizations show where they were exposed to the "Mind of Mencia" Nov. 28 in Southwest Asia. Comedians Carlos Mencia, who stars in the Comedy Central show "Mind of Mencia," and Brad Williams entertained more than 600 servicemembers with two

  • Military must understand, master change, JCS chief says

    The U.S. military needs to understand change and the pace of change if it will succeed in the future, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told students at the Army War College recently."Some of the change is happening so quickly we have no idea how (it) will end up," Adm. Michael G. Mullen

  • Conference makes virtual training a reality

    The special weapons and tactics team quickly moves through the terrorist camp to the front of a safe house while forces from air and sea take out the rest of the camp. With precise and quick tactics, the team proceeds though the house, takes out the remaining terrorists, secures the hostage, and

  • CSAF's Scope highlights Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets Jr.

    The CSAF's Scope focuses on current topics the Air Force chief of staff feels are of special importance to today's Airmen. Among Gen. T. Michael Moseley's top issues is the recent death of Brig. Gen. Paul W. Tibbets Jr., the pilot of the famous Enola Gay. "We all know General Tibbets as the pilot of

  • American servicemembers mentor Afghan maintainers

    American servicemembers are mentoring the Afghan national army's 205th Maintenance Corps to keeping its fleet of more than 1,300 vehicles operational at Forward Operating Base Hero in Afghanistan. Capt. Eric McGreevy and Army Staff Sgt. Mark Reynolds of the U.S. maintenance mentoring team here train

  • Air Force firefighters teach Iraqis blaze fighting basics

    Seven local Iraqi firefighters shared a momentous occasion as they graduated from the Ali Base basic firefighter skills course. The 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron fire and emergency services flight firefighters put on a six-day training course to train Iraqi firemen of varying

  • AFSOC welcomes new commander

    Air Force Special Operations Command ushered in a new commander Nov. 27 in Freedom Hangar at Hurlburt Field, Fla. Lt. Gen. Donnie Wurster assumed command of AFSOC from Lt. Gen. Mike Wooley, during a ceremony presided over by Gen. Duncan McNabb, Air Force vice chief of staff. "It's with the deepest

  • Ministry support team visits troops in Tanzania

    A Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa ministry support team traveled to Tanzania to support the Civil Affairs Team 11, C Company, 486th Civil Affairs Battalion Nov. 19-23. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Lawrence F. Keith, CJTF-HOA Religious Affairs deputy director, and Chaplains Department Senior Enlisted

  • Bagram Airmen launch 'care strikes' to spread cheer

    For the last two months, a group of Airmen have been conducting what some are calling "care strikes," to enhance morale among servicemembers here. Capt. Ken Valardi, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Chaplain and his assistant, Staff Sgt. Aaron Smith, began the project in September with the delivery

  • AF leader discusses acquisition focus areas

    People in the Air Force acquisitions office are focusing on the workforce, product improvement and acquisitions processes, said Sue C. Payton, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition. The acquisitions office is comprised of 24,183 people responsible for 127 major programs. They are

  • SECAF addresses logistics professionals on future missions

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne spoke about the future of Air Force logistics before a crowd of more than 1,300 officers and civilians at this year's annual Logistics Officer Association National Conference. "For some time now, I've been talking about a new way of war, and you all have

  • Brothers reunite on first deployment

    The night before Thanksgiving, Staff Sgt. Malik Calhoun, 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, K-9 handler finished playing his last flag football game and hurried over to the phantom center just before midnight. There, a new team of Airmen who had just arrived were in-processing, and there

  • Aviation resource Airmen train for future success

    Known amongst each other as "one-charlies," Airmen in the Air Force's aviation resource management career field can get advanced training through a pair of courses in the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's Mobility Operations School at Fort Dix, N.J. The Host Aviation Resource Management course,

  • Airmen help establish Iraqi air force

    Camp Taji Airmen are helping rebuild the Iraqi air force.The camp, located approximately 20 miles northwest of Baghdad, is home to the 370th Expeditionary Training Squadron made up of officer and enlisted Airmen from various career fields who are training Iraqis in several technical training

  • Airmen provide optometry care to deploying African troops

    Air Force optometry speicialists provided eye care to two battalions of African military members prior to the battalions leaving on a peace keeping mission in Somalia. The team, which saw 1,597 Burundi, Africa, military troops Nov. 6 to 15 at Gakumbu military base, Africa, consisted of team chief,

  • Spangdahlem bodybuilder makes professional debut

    A Spangdahlem Air Base Airman made his professional bodybuilding debut at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation World Championship Nov. 10 in New York City."I went as a representative of the U.S. Air Force, but I also went along with the German team assisting their amateur athletes competing in

  • Airmen help Kyrgyz build homes, hope for the future

    Even the rain couldn't dampen the spirits of 20 local Kyrgyz families who received keys to their new homes Nov. 23 from Habitat for Humanity, and built with the help of Airmen here. Many of them, or their family members, had spent the last six months helping construct the four residential structures

  • Operation Seasons Greetings brings holiday cheer to overseas Airmen

    What do you get when you cross a country music star, a latin pop sensation, a comedian and some cheerleaders? Ask Airmen here and they'll say a star-studded holiday tour called Operation Season's Greetings, which performed for the base's residents today. "It was cool," said Airman 1st Class Bryce

  • General honored for decades of service

    The current longest-serving person in the Air Force was inducted into the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Hall's Wall of Achievers during an enlisted academy graduation ceremony in downtown Montgomery recently. Maj. Gen. Thomas F. Deppe joins more than 140 individuals on the Wall of Achievers. Names

  • Traditional holiday meal to replace field rations for many

    When troops stationed in the Middle East sit down to Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey won't come in a brown field rations pouch. Thanks to the efforts of the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Dubai and Djibouti will enjoy a traditional holiday meal.

  • Audit agency keeps war machine well tuned

    Even the greatest machines need a tune up from time to time and the warfighting efforts of the Air Force are no exception. The task of improving the Air Force's overall operations efficiency and proper use of assets in deployed areas is performed by the Air Force Audit Agency. The agency deploys

  • Secretary, chairman give thanks for troops, families

    The two top Defense Department leaders expressed gratitude today for the efforts of servicemembers and their families and called on the nation to remember those serving this Thanksgiving. "Let us give thanks for them and for the difficult job they do. Let us also remember their families, whom we

  • Chaplain assistant chiefs evaluate pre-deployment training

    Enlisted leaders in the Air Force's chaplain assistant career field made a special visit to the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center in early November to talk with chaplains and chaplain assistant students in the Advanced Contingency Skills Training Course and to observe the course. The visit brought

  • Fairford Airmen prepare for shuttle launch

    When the Space Shuttle Atlantis, mission number STS-122, launches on Dec. 6, a world will stand watching. While it takes a massive crew to get the shuttle off the ground, there will be hundreds more waiting after the blast off. They are ground crew members of the Space Shuttle Transatlantic abort

  • Wilford Hall Medical Center: 50 years of medical excellence

    Hospital officials and guests commemorated Wilford Hall Medical Center for 50 years as the Air Force's medical flagship in a ceremony here Nov. 16 that marked medical excellence from 1957-2007.Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Thomas W. Travis, commander of the 59th Medical Wing, led the ceremony to celebrate the

  • 3rd Medical Group ready for Soldiers' return

    The 3rd Medical Group here is ready to provide treatment to the more than 3,700 Soldiers from Fort Richardson's 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, who have returned or are preparing to return from deployment. "The men and women of the 3rd Medical Group have been making the

  • Airmen practice runway repair, RAAF airmen observe

    Approximately 110 personnel, most from the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, attended the Det. 1, 554th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer Silver Flag exercise here last week. After a week of mostly classroom training in their respective

  • Air Force presents top civic award to Indianapolis Colts

    The Indianapolis Colts earned the National Football League's Lombardi Trophy as the Super Bowl XLI champions last February in Miami. Now the team can add a prestigious Air Force award to its ever-expanding trophy case. Gen. William R. Looney III, commander of Air Education and Training Command,

  • Warriors with mild to moderate injuries stay near the fight

    Warriors wounded in war with mild to moderate injuries are being sent to the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group where they can be treated, recover and returned to duty. There are seven nurses on staff, which includes three intensive care unit nurses, who deal with a lot of different injuries or

  • Airmen, Afghan police set example

    The Afghan National Police have been working to better their country with the help of some Airmen here. Special Agents from the Office of Special Investigations Expeditionary Det. 2405 and the ANP regularly partner together on a broad range of missions related to humanitarian assistance and

  • New 400-hour phase inspection equates to lives saved

    F-15E Strike Eagle maintainers here recently became the first in the Air Force to implement a new inspection process that promises greater airpower capability throughout Afghanistan. Shortly after becoming the first deployed F-15E unit in the Air Force to return to full operational capability

  • New IO course expands technology knowledge

    Recent studies indicate more than one billion people worldwide digest information through the Internet alone. The Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center brought together 12 flag officers from across the defense department and governmental agencies Nov. 6 through 9 to learn how to

  • Gen. Hobbins honored with Order of the Sword

    With all the pomp and circumstance the U.S. Air Forces in Europe enlisted corps could muster, some 800 guests witnessed the induction of Gen. William T. Hobbins, USAFE commander, into the Order of the Sword here tonight. The Order of the Sword is the highest honor enlisted Airmen can bestow on an

  • Air Force sharpshooters help commanders see the future

    When servicemembers go outside the wire here, they occasionally have an extra set of eyes watching over them. Concealed, the members of the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's Close Precision Engagement Team observe, provide intelligence and, if necessary, neutralize threats. The CPET

  • 8th FW commander, ROKAF fly in training mission

    Airmen of the 8th Fighter Wing and the Republic of Korea Air Force's 38th Fighter Group flew in a combined training mission Nov. 14. The mission led by Col. CQ Brown 8th Fighter Wing commander, was designed to enable the different units to work together and share their experiences. This was also the

  • EagleCash lands at Ali Base

    An Air Force EagleCash Card program team has been flying throughout the area of responsibility for the past six months implementing a time- and money-saving technology in southern Iraq. The three-person team, which included a member of the U.S. Department of the Treasury and two members from U.S.

  • 'In-lieu-of' Airmen keep Army rolling along

    A team of Air Force professionals is keeping the Army rolling and the mission moving every day over the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. Deployed on a year-long "in-lieu-of" tasking to a forward operating base near the city of Qalat, Afghanistan, four Airmen keep more than 30 vehicles mission-ready

  • SECAF honors international affairs office with award

    The secretary of the Air Force presented members of the deputy undersecretary of the Air Force for international affairs office with the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award November 15. "Air Force International Affairs has been recognized over the years as one of the premiere organizations

  • Wingmen save fellow Airman's life at Kunsan

    When Pacific Air Forces officials sent out guidance for all the Pacific bases to have a Wingman Day, no one could have thought that during the day three wingmen would come to the aid of another Airman saving his life. At approximately 8:40 a.m. Nov. 13, as Kunsan Air Base members were gathering in

  • AFOSI commander: 'Can do' attitude makes agents stand out

    Constantly on the hunt, Air Force Office of Special Investigations agents listen carefully and watch for clues, gathering information that will help them zero in on the insurgents they seek. They're after the improvised explosive device directors, makers and planters, and cell leaders who are

  • Pilots focus on air superiority, operations during Keen Sword

    Honing their skills against enemy air threats over the skies of Japan, Misawa fighter pilots participate in a two-week long training exercise here. Exercise Keen Sword, which began Nov. 6, is a  joint and bilateral exercise simulating the defense of Japan using more than 60 military units from 24

  • U.S., Australia share new communications satellites

    Representatives from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force met at the Australian Embassy here to sign a memorandum of agreement that will provide both nations assured access to the Wideband Global SATCOM system, expanding the WGS constellation to six satellites. The expansion will

  • Fairchild helicopter crew rescues fallen hiker

    Members of the 36th Rescue Flight here rescued a stranded 20-year-old hiker Nov. 11 about 20 miles south of Missoula, Mont. Local emergency responders were unable to rescue the man due to the hazardous terrain; therefore the 36th RQF UH-1N Huey flew to the site and lowered an independent-duty

  • Fallen Airmen, Soldiers honored at Aviano

    Aviano Air Base officials held a memorial service Nov. 15 to honor the lives of four Airmen and two Soldiers who were killed when an Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter attached to the 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment here crashed Nov. 8. Friends and family members gathered to pay their respects

  • AF top JAG: 'Rule of law' critical for success in Iraq

    A fair justice system, which holds people accountable for their actions, is vital in stopping the violence in Iraq, said the Air Force's top judge advocate general recently during a tour of Southwest Asia. Maj. Gen. Jack L. Rives visited the men and women of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing during a

  • Servicemembers deliver medical relief following storm

    A medical team from Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, set up a makeshift clinic to provide medical relief to the local population Nov. 13 from a school here following the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Noel to the region. As of Nov. 12, American and British aircrews had delivered more than 241,000

  • Air Force claims armed forces basketball title

    The Air Force team swept away the competition to win the Armed Forces Basketball Tournament that concluded Nov. 13 here. The Air Force captured the gold for the second year in a row by going undefeated in the tournament. The defending champion Air Force team faced off against the Marine team during

  • Not just another day at the office

    Staff Sgt. "Dean" was having a bad day at the office. As an Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller embedded with ground forces, his job was to serve as liaison between the ground commander and aircrews. On the afternoon of Oct. 27, the ten-vehicle convoy he was traveling with in Southern

  • Book offers lessons on fighting terrorism with airpower

    Airpower is a valuable weapon in the fight against terrorism but only if it is applied with discrimination and care, according to a new study of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War published by Air University officials. Widespread criticism of Israel for relying on its air force to attack Hezbollah

  • Honor Guard drill team performs for special-needs students

    Though the usual cheering and applause was muted, the excitement was palpable as the Air Force Honor Guard drill team performed for a special audience Nov. 8 in Las Vegas. The drill team, in Las Vegas to perform for the Air Force's 60th Anniversary Air Force Week at Nellis Air Force Base, put on a

  • Air Force wins four motorcycle safety awards

    Each year, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation acknowledges outstanding achievement and excellence in rider education and training, honoring agencies, organizations, programs, dealers, media and individuals who enhance motorcyclist safety. For 2006, the Air Force won four of the five MSF awards in

  • Kunsan Airmen show Thanksgiving spirit with South Koreans

    Kunsan Air Base members hosted approximately 60 disabled South Koreans for a traditional Thanksgiving meal here Nov. 10. More than 20 volunteers from the Kunsan AB Company Grade Officers Council, Team 5/6 and other volunteers from across the 8th Fighter Wing hosted the South Koreans for a day of

  • Tricare to make access to dental care easier overseas

    Presently, host nation dentists often require military families to make full payment up front, and then wait for reimbursement from United Concordia, the administrator of the Tricare Dental Program. Now, Tricare has modified their dental contract in an effort to eliminate the problem by seeking out

  • Airmen show their edge during Keen Sword

    Over the next two weeks, 300-plus Airmen will be participating in the largest bilateral field training exercise in Japan, designed to practice defending Japan against foreign aggression. The goal of Exercise Keen Sword is to improve interoperability between the Japanese Air Self Defense Force and

  • Medical mission becomes primary focus following Noel

    Military members deployed to the Dominican Republic to assist the island nation recover from Tropical Storm Noel are gearing up for a new, more focused mission. A team of 13 servicemembers from Joint Task Force-Bravo's Medical Element, based at Soto Cano Air base, Honduras, arrived Nov. 8 to provide

  • Aviation pioneers attend Heritage to Horizons ceremony

    Five members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots who served during World War II attended the Heritage to Horizons proclamation ceremony for Air Force Week Nevada during a city council meeting Nov. 7 at the Las Vegas City Hall. The ceremony was part of a weeklong Air Force's 60th Anniversary

  • Postured to help: 3rd Air Force ready

    Third Air Force officials have developed a new, quick-response humanitarian assistance capability to support the European theater, and Nov. 5, they launched a 36-hour Humanitarian Relief Operation 9-1-1 exercise to test it. The exercise scenario challenged the ability of Airmen at Ramstein to

  • The Raven puts more eyes in the sky

    The little cousin of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper is making a big splash here as the RQ-11B Raven program takes flight. The Raven is a small unmanned aerial vehicle used to conduct visual reconnaissance up to ten kilometers away, said Staff Sgt. Daniel Garcia of the Force Protection Aerial

  • Travis firefighters become four-time world champions

    Under the lights of the original Las Vegas strip, firefighters from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., won a fourth consecutive Scott World Firefighter Combat Challenge here. In a time of 4 minutes, 37.89 seconds, the Travis team earned the right to keep their trophy another year. "It was amazing to win

  • Airmen in Afghanistan honor veterans with silent vigil

    Airmen here honored veterans past and present with a 10-hour silent vigil Nov. 11. Following a formal wreath-laying ceremony, teams of two airmen -- a total of 80 in all -- stood at "parade rest" near the flagpole of Camp Cunningham here as a constant reminder of the significance of Veterans Day.

  • Air Force officials identify victims in helicopter crash

    Four Airmen were killed and three were injured when a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter attached to the 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment, crashed at approximately noon Nov. 8, 22 miles southwest of Aviano, Italy. Staff Sgt. Robert D. Rogers, Staff Sgt. Mark A. Spence and Senior Airman

  • Secretary and chief of staff send Veterans Day message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley send this Veterans Day message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force: On Veteran's Day, our nation honors the great Americans who have stood ready to give life itself on behalf of freedom in

  • Secretary Wynne speaks at symposium in Las Vegas

    The secretary of the Air Force spoke about the past accomplishments and future plans of the Air Force to a crowd of more than 300 people during the 2007 Air and Space Leaders symposium at the Wynn Hotel and resort Nov. 8 in Las Vegas. Secretary Michael W. Wynne was the keystone speaker of the

  • Vietnam wall speaks to both present and past

    At a time when wounds and memories of a long and bitterly protested war were still open and raw, when veterans were treated as villains instead of heroes, an Army veteran by the name of Jan Scruggs conceived the idea of building a memorial to honor those who served in Vietnam. Facing more opposition

  • Six servicemembers die after helicopter crash

    Six U.S. servicemembers have died of injuries sustained when a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter attached to 1st Battalion, 214th Aviation Regiment crashed at approximately noon Nov. 8, 22 miles southwest of Aviano. Five died in the crash and one died later that evening.Eleven U.S. Airmen and

  • Chief McKinley updates Airmen on Air Force priorities

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley recently reaffirmed the Air Force's three top priorities as winning the war on terrorism, developing and caring for Airmen and their families, and recapitalization and modernization. The Air Force's top enlisted Airman then spelled out where the

  • Reaper drops first precision-guided bomb, protects forces

    The MQ-9A Reaper demonstrated it's unique precision strike capability as a hunter-killer attack platform by dropping its first precision-guided bomb Nov. 7. "The beauty of the MQ-9 Reaper is that we're able to synchronize and integrate unmanned aerial attack platforms over the skies of Afghanistan,

  • 3rd Air Force commander, 24 Airmen visit Normandy

    Airmen from 3rd Air Force here relived history by retracing the footsteps of American Soldiers in Normandy who orchestrated one of the most epic battles in U.S. history -- the D-Day invasion. Lt. Gen. Robert D. Bishop Jr., the 3rd Air Force commander, and 24 Airmen from 3rd Air Force walked the

  • 2nd 'Portraits in Courage' features warrior Airmen

    Over trouble spots or on the ground, today's Airmen demonstrate their mettle in the face of danger -- that's the underlying message of the 2nd edition of the chief of staff's Portraits in Courage Gen. T. Michael Moseley said that the 13 Airmen chosen for this edition represent a small sampling of

  • GI Mail offers safer way to stay in touch

    Global Internet Mail is a personal e-mail program available to all servicemembers that can be used from any computer with Internet access, including government systems. While official government e-mail accounts are the most secure form of e-mail communication, messages sent between GI Mail accounts

  • Airman takes next step toward her American dream

    One Airman's version of the American dream includes some children and a bakery of her own. It is a dream Airman 1st Class Olga Bilobol now has as a brand-new American citizen following a Nov. 6 naturalization ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base. "It means so much to me that I have a hard time

  • Upgraded A-10s prove worth in Iraq

    A new version of the A-10 Thunderbolt II has been flying over Iraq providing close-air support for the ground troops from Al Asad Air Base for nearly two months. As part of the Precision Engagement Upgrade Program, the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Wing has been converting it's A-10s from A to