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U.S. Air Force News

  • Air Force Skeet Team takes world championship

    Pull! The command was shouted thousands of times here from Oct. 3 to 13 where the Air Force dominated 2007 World Skeet Championships as more than 1,700 competitors from around the world gathered at the event in Northwest San Antonio. Among military teams, Air Force Team One took first place in every

  • Oct. 15 airpower summary: F-15E Strike Eagles hit enemy positions

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Oct. 15, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle used flares in a show of

  • Training helps Elmendorf Airman save man's life

    He did what his training taught him to do, he said."I was at my desk and I overheard some co-workers talking about someone in a room having a heart attack," said Master Sgt. Robert Campbell, the 3rd Services Squadron NCO in charge of Lodging at Elmendorf Air Force Base's North Star Inn. The

  • C-17 crews make record airdrop

    Two C-17 Globemaster III crews marked an historic highpoint Oct. 11 as they completed one of the largest single airdrops in Afghanistan since Operation Enduring Freedom began. Airmen from the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, dropped 62 bundles of cargo, weighing

  • Latest doctrine signed on foreign internal defense

    The latest revision to Air Force Doctrine Document 2-3.1, Foreign Internal Defense, has been approved by Maj. Gen. Allen G. Peck, Air Force Doctrine Development and Education Center commander.Although Air Force officials can perform foreign internal defense, or FID, across the range of military

  • CENTAF band, Marines entertain Damerjog villagers

    The U.S. Central Command Air Forces Expeditionary Band and Marines from the 3rd Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion entertained and handed out school supplies, toys and shoes to local villagers Oct. 9 at Damerjog, Djibouti.The "Desert Ramblers" played Irish folk music for the villagers for an hour,

  • Air Force, Boeing team up for early-orbit operations

    Airmen with the 3rd Space Operations Squadron and Boeing Corporation contractors  took over early-orbit operations on Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Vehicle 1 from a Boeing facility in El Segundo, Calif., Oct. 10, approximately 30 minutes after it launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,

  • Air Force officials release new annual training plan details

    Air Force leaders have released the details about the new annual training requirements program for the Total Force. As of Oct. 15, all Airmen will use the new "block instruction" plan that combines nine ancillary training courses into three 30-minute blocks of training, saving more than 6 million

  • Famed Flying Tiger ace dies

    Famed Flying Tigers ace and Texas Air National Guardsman Brig. Gen. David Lee "Tex'' Hill, died Oct. 11 of congestive heart failure at his home here. He was 92. The general is scheduled for burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. General Hill flew with Gen. Claire Chennault as a member of the

  • Hill fighter squadron excels with Total Force Integration mission

    Being the Air Force's first Total Force Integration fighter association, gives the phrase "one team, one fight" a whole new meaning for Hill Air Force Base's 388th and 419th Fighter Wings. As of July this year, the wings entered Phase III of TFI. Now the 419th FW, a Reserve wing, no longer flies and

  • Recruiting quality Airmen remains top priority

    Despite an increasingly challenging recruiting environment, the Air Force reached its 2007 enlisted recruiting goals by 100 percent, bringing in 27,801 new Airmen during the past fiscal year. "The Air Force maintains high standards for recruits in (regard to) aptitude, medical (condition) and

  • New JCS chairman visits Bagram

    The military's top servicemember visited here Oct. 7 to check on operations in Afghanistan and hear the concerns of military members. Adm. Michael G. Mullen, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, thanked servicemembers for their sacrifices during an All-Hands Call for E-6s and below. The

  • The 'So What' factor puts Oct. 10 airpower summary in perspective

    The Combined Air and Space Operations Center's airpower summary provides a daily account of the integration and synchronization of airpower. But some folks may ask, "So what? What does this summary really mean?" The "So What" factor for Oct. 10's airpower summary is that five dozen coalition

  • Reaper UAV now flying in Afghanistan

    The Air Force announced Oct. 11 that the MQ-9 Reaper, the service's new hunter-killer unmanned aerial vehicle, is now flying operational missions in Afghanistan. The Reaper has completed 12 missions since its inaugural flight there Sept. 25, averaging about one sortie per day. Capable of striking

  • Team effort sets airlift standard

    Any significant group achievement can normally be attributed to a strong team, persistence and a relentless commitment to a challenging mission or task at hand. The 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, flying C-17 Globemaster IIIs, contributed the lion's share of intra-theater airlift by flying

  • Guard unit helps protect nation's skies

    On Feb. 4, 2007, the Indianapolis Colts played the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI in Miami's Dolphin Stadium. As the Colts' offense took the field with 1:32 left in the third quarter, the crowd got to its feet and started making noise. Some cheered for the Colts, encouraging their team to get more

  • Raven B has landed in Southwest Asia

    A small unmanned aerial vehicle is now being used to increase the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's force protection capabilities. Maintained and operated by the 380th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, the Raven B is the wing's sixth and smallest aircraft, weighing 4.2 pounds with a wing span of

  • Deployed unit turns fuel into freedom

    Members of the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here are supporting the war on terrorism with their fleet of more than 20 KC-135 Stratotankers. During the past four months, members of the 340th AMU supported more than 3,200 sorties, which provided 107 million pounds of fuel to more than 14,000

  • AF's first active associate unit deploying to Balad

    The Air Force's first active associate unit is preparing to deploy here this month to support the war on terrorism.Activated in July 2006, the 30th Airlift Squadron is the first active duty Air Mobility Command squadron to operationally report to an Air National Guard unit, the 153rd Airlift Wing in

  • DCFACC talks airpower, Airmen

    The mobility machine came to the forefront again just as recently as Airmen assigned to Air and Space Expeditionary Forces 7 and 8 rotated out of the theater and AEFs 9 and 10 came in. According to Maj. Gen. Maury Forsyth, deputy combined forces air component commander, the transition was seamless.

  • Airmen patrol the streets of Baghdad

    Baghdad's international zone is surrounded by a network of security and entry control points aimed at keeping insurgents out of the area. However, law and order within the area rests solely in the hands of Airmen.Approximately 45 security forces Airmen from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England; Grand

  • Air Force Week Atlanta kicks off

    Air Force Week Atlanta began with the reading of the proclamation order Oct. 8 at the Marietta Conference Center here, announcing the Oct. 8 through Oct. 14 dates amid a race car, motorcycle, fighter plane flyovers, a band, Airmen and citizens of the Peach State.Signed by Georgia Governor Sonny

  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs visits Air Force Theater Hospital

    Newly appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, visited service members and staff at the Air Force Theater Hospital Oct. 4 here . Admiral Mullen said he wanted to get a good focus on what is concerning servicemembers and their families. "I came to thank them for a

  • Airmen train for Wideband Global SATCOM

    Five Airmen from the 3rd Space Operations Squadron here were the first to finish training recently for the Wideband Global SATCOM system, which is scheduled to launch Oct. 9. Wideband Global SATCOM, or WGS, is the successor to the Defense Satellite Communications System and will offer 12 times the

  • Operation Deep Freeze main season underway

    Air operations in support of the 52nd Operation Deep Freeze main season are underway.A C-17 Globemaster III from the 62nd Airlift Wing, at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., completed three missions this past week from Christchurch, New Zealand, kicking off the 2007 to 2008 season for the 13th Air

  • Joint Chiefs officials meet with Afghan leaders

    Less than three months after the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited this small southern district, three additional members of the Washington-based Joint Staff stopped by for a meeting with the provincial governor here Oct. 7. Marine Lt. Gen. John Sattler, the Strategic Plans and Policy

  • Airlifters deliver the goods

    To keep troops off the road is an important consideration in the war on terrorism. One way to keep more troops off the road is with airdrop operations. Recently, Airmen from the 777th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron used two C-130 Hercules aircraft to drop 31 Container Delivery System bundles over a

  • Kunsan receives upgraded fighters

    The 8th Fighter Wing received its initial group of Block 40 F-16 Fighting Falcons here this week under the Common Configuration Implementation Program. The aircraft arrival marked the first group of upgraded F-16s flown to Korea. The aircraft were flown here from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, by

  • Basic trainees begin to receive ABUs

    A huge step in the Air Force's transformation to the Airman battle uniform occurred Oct. 3 at the basic training equipment issue at Lackland Air Force Base. The trainees who entered the door at the uniform facility this week got a little something different in their duffel bags than the previous

  • Rescue Flight crew makes toughest save of careers

    When a rescue team that's been saving lives for more than a decade calls one rescue "by far the toughest," you know it's time to sit up and listen, they've got a story to tell. The life-saving men of the 36th Rescue Flight performed the memorable rescue Oct. 1. Over the course of that evening and

  • Iraqi air force flying training school opens at Kikuk

    The Iraqi air force flying training school opened its doors Oct. 1 and began to train Iraqi aviators with the assistance of American Airmen. The planning for the school has been in the works for approximately two years and is all part of the plan to return Kirkuk Air Base back to the Iraqi air

  • Today's finest teach tomorrow's pilots

    Three local children diagnosed with serious illnesses suited up and jumped into the cockpit of an F-15 Eagle during the "Pilot for a Day" event here Oct. 2. The 95th Fighter Squadron hosted the children and their families for a fun-filled event allowing them to experienced a day in the life of an

  • CCAF recognizes 300,000th degree milestone

    The Community College of the Air Force recognized its 300,000th degree recipient during a ceremony at the Air Force Association's 2007 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition in Washington, D.C. The milestone highlights the significant role advanced education plays in sustaining a highly

  • Prime BEEF stamps hoof prints on Gitmo

    Airmen from the 474th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron have started the process to transform Guantanamo's McCalla Airfield into an expeditonary legal complex here last month. The airfield resembles a military construction site in Iraq, complete with blowing dust, heavy equipment and a sprawling

  • Aeromedical evacuation team tops 500 transports

    The only Air Force medical unit in Afghanistan with the mission of transporting injured military warriors, as well as injured civilians and enemy combatants, has cared for, and transported, more than 508 patients since May. The members of the 455th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight team,

  • General Corley takes command of ACC

    Gen. John D.W. Corley assumed the reins of Air Combat Command from Gen. Ronald E. Keys Oct. 2 in a ceremony here. "Today we transition Air Combat Command from one great American to another," said Gen. T. Michael Moseley, the Air Force chief of staff. "I'm proud to be able to hand over the watch to

  • Force Protection Battlelab inactivates

    In a reunion-like setting, current and past members of the Air Force's Force Protection Battlelab gathered at the Air Force Security Forces Center here Sept. 28 to mark the end of an era in force protection, the inactivation of the battlelab. This ceremony served as both personal and professional

  • Some NCOs may apply to reenter old career fields

     Air Force officials here are offering some active duty staff, technical and master sergeants the opportunity to reenter previously held career fields now in demand, provided they apply by Oct. 31. The Air Force initiated the fiscal 2008 NCO Limited Reclassification program due to unexpected

  • 'Setting the Conditions for Victory' video premieres online

    The secretary of the Air Force video "Setting the Conditions for Victory" made its online debut Oct. 3. The 8-minute video, a follow-up to last year's "How We Fight" presentation, outlines the Air Force role in the war on terrorism and how the service succeeds in its domains of air, space and

  • Active-duty, Guard wings pave future alliances

    Two Fairchild Air Force Base air refueling wings merged Oct. 1 and forged into Air National Guard and active-duty wings. In response to the Congress-mandated 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, the last of the KC-135 Stratotankers belonging to the Washington ANG's 141st Air Refueling Wing

  • Servicemembers receive 'Outstanding Americans by Choice' award

    Four Airmen, a Soldier and Coast Guard member each received an "Outstanding American by Choice" award from the chief of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services during a ceremony Sept. 30 in Washington. The award recognizes naturalized citizens who have demonstrated a commitment to the country

  • CENTAF Mobility director visits Airmen at Camp Lemonier

    The U.S. Central Command Air Forces director of Mobility visited Airmen assigned to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti recently as part of his first visit of the Southwest Asia area of operations since assuming his position. "My purpose is to find out what (the) requirements are and how we can help (the

  • Mullen becomes 17th JCS chairman

    Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen took the helm Oct. 1 as the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, vowing to work to give servicemembers "clear direction, outstanding equipment and focused policies" to accomplish current missions and prepare for future ones. Admiral Mullen paused following his

  • CENTAF vice commander: Airmen performing wonderfully

    America's Airmen across the globe are performing well, said the deputy commander of U.S. Central Command Air Forces recently during a tour of Southwest Asia. Maj. Gen. William L. Holland, who is also the vice commander of 9th Air Force, visited 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen Sept. 30 and Oct. 1

  • Chief of staff addresses future of airpower at conference

    The Air Force chief of staff wrapped up the three-day Air Force Association's 2007 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition with an address before a crowd of several hundred Sept. 26 here. In his address, titled "To fly, fight and win in the 21st century," Gen. T. Michael Moseley drove

  • Flag officers complete warfighting course

    Flag officers from four of the military services and a senior civilian recently gathered here to prepare for their future roles as senior warfighting planners. The senior leaders took part in Air University's two-week Joint Flag Officer Warfighting Course, and had the opportunity to talk with

  • AFA honors 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

    The Air Force's top 12 enlisted Airmen were treated to a gala affair Sept. 24 during the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here. Each year, the AFA honors the 12 Airmen at its annual convention in Washington, D.C. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J.

  • F-22 performs first drop of small diameter bomb

    The F-22 Raptor Combined Test Force staff conducted the first airborne separation of a small diameter bomb from the internal weapons bay of an F-22 during a September test mission here. "This is a major milestone for the F-22 modernization roadmap," said Lt. Col. Daniel Daetz, the 411th Flight Test

  • C-5 lands at Bagram, opens galaxy of capabilities

    The Sept. 22 landing and launching of one of the Air Force's largest aircraft at Bagram Air Base promises to bring "tremendous" capability for the movement of critical cargo across the region, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing officials said here. The Air Force's C-5 Galaxy landed here without

  • Air chiefs conference comes to close

    Strengthening partnerships with coalition and allied air forces is one of the Air Force's strategic goals and this week's Global Air Chiefs Conference was an effort to accelerate progress toward achieving that goal, said the Air Force's top officer. "We aimed this conference at establishing and

  • Aerial intercept training prepares warfighters

    F-16 Fighting Falcon crews practiced rapid response situations during aerial intercept training held Sept. 24 at Andersen Air Force Base.The training took advantage of deployed airframes present on the island, and the "hostiles" in the exercise were deployed KC-135 tankers simulating enemy

  • Air Force announces team-excellence awards

    Five teams have been recently selected for the 2007 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards during a Sept. 25 ceremony in Washington, D.C. Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, the Air Force vice chief of staff, recognized the teams for their use of a systematic approach to enhance mission capability, improve

  • Attack controllers receive 2,000th remote receiver

    Officials from U.S. Central Command Air Forces recently received the 2,000th remotely operated video enhanced receiver, a small laptop with an external antenna that allows joint terminal attack controllers on the ground to coordinate more accurate air strikes. The device is rapidly gaining

  • Bagram Airman makes difference on 2 fronts

    An Airman deployed to Bagram Air Base is not only making a difference in the war on terrorism, but also in his Louisiana hometown. Tech. Sgt. Bruce BeeJay Johnson, an information manager from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and deployed with the 755th Air Expeditionary Group, has been positively

  • Air Force claims gold in women's softball

    The Air Force Women's Softball Team took home gold medals as they won the 2007 All-Armed Forces Women's Softball Championships with a record of 7-2 held Sept. 18 to 20 at Hill Air Force Base. For the second time in three years, the Air Force won the tournament with power hitting and solid defense.

  • Cyberspace expert briefs AFA conference attendees

    "The first battle in the wars of the future will be over the control of cyberspace," said Dr. Lani Kass at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 26 in Washington. Ms. Kass, a special assistant to the Air Force chief of staff, has long been an expert on

  • Intel deputy highlights ISR transformation progress

    The transformation of Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance was among the airpower topics highlighted during the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here. "We've spent the last 100 years figuring out how to hit any target anywhere on Earth --

  • AMC commander cites successes, needed upgrades

    The commander of Air Mobility Command briefed attendees from across the globe Sept. 26 on the command's past, present and future contributions to the nation's defense during the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here. "It takes bravery and courage to do our

  • Top Air Force generals address Airmen's concerns

    Recapitalization, creation of an Africa Command, unmanned aerial vehicles and deployed Airmen were just a few of the key issues discussed during a four-star forum at the Air Force Association 2006 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 24. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, the Air

  • Global Air Chiefs Conference hosts second air chiefs forum

    Air chiefs from three countries offered presentations at the second air chiefs forum held Sept. 25 as part of the Global Air Chiefs Conference in Washington. Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, Maj. Gen. Ng Chee Khern and Gen. Ricardo Ortego Perrier presented their observations and concerns for air

  • Air Force Space Command general speaks at AFA conference

    General Kevin Chilton, Air Force Space Command commander, addressed hundreds of military members and civilians at the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 25. The general, nominated to become the head of U.S. Strategic Command, expounded on the history of

  • Combat controller recounts battle for AFA audience

    A combat controller assigned to the 21st Special Tactics Squadron at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., brought an Air Force Special Operations Command perspective on the war on terrorism to attendees at the Air Force Association's 2007 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 24. "You will

  • AFA convention features command chiefs forum

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley and command chiefs from five Air Force major commands joined to answer Airmen's questions during a forum at the Air Force Association's 2007 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 24. The forum provided Airmen in attendance

  • SECAF addresses Air Force Association conference

    "The Air Force Association is the preeminent wingman and our strongest supporter," Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told the audience during the opening day of the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition event Sept. 24. Secretary Wynne directly addressed

  • 'Today's Air Force' highlights medical care, Air Force birthday

    This week's edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights one of the Air Force chief of staff's priorities: medical care. Also featured in this edition are weapons training and the Air Force's 60th Birthday. The 30-minute, weekly news show can be seen every day on The Pentagon Channel, American Forces

  • After one year, Phoenix Warrior course soaring high

    Airmen at the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron have finished their first year of teaching the Phoenix Warrior Training Course, and all signs point to the fact it is helping prepare security forces for their wartime mission."Phoenix Warrior, from inception, has

  • General Moseley kicks off AFA conference

    The Air Force chief of staff spoke at the opening ceremonies for the Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 24. "This is a celebration of being a separate service with a primary mission of flying and fighting and defending our country," Gen. T. Michael Moseley

  • Worldwide Talent Contest applications due by Oct. 26

    If you have talent, the Air Force has a place for you to showcase it -- the Worldwide Talent Contest -- and applications are due by Oct.. 26. This year the contest runs from Dec. 2 to 10, and if you can sing, dance or play a musical instrument, you could find yourself as a member of the Air Force's

  • Legal assistance helps Airmen manage stress

    Earlier this year, Air Force officials introduced a year-long campaign that highlights monthly initiatives to help Airmen and their families manage stress. The initiative for the month of September is "legal assistance." "Legal assistance is an incredibly valuable resource available to all Airmen

  • 5th Air Force celebrates 66 years

    Members of 5th Air Force celebrated its 66th anniversary in a Sept. 21 ceremony at Yokota Air Base. Lt. Gen. Bruce A. Wright, the U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force commander, led the ceremony."Today, 5th Air Force directs its focus on a bilateral approach to maintaining a robust and integrated

  • POW/MIA Day: Remembering those who are not home

    Retired Lt. Col. John Yuill looks forward to National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Day every year. Not because he longs to relive his time in a Vietnamese prison camp, but because he understands how important it is to remember those who have still not made it home. "I love this

  • Strolling Strings awaken young minds

    Members of the U.S. Air Force Strolling Strings played a mini-concert for the string orchestra class at Kalani High School here Sept. 14 as part of the Air Force's 60th anniversary celebration during Air Force Week Honolulu. The Strolling Strings is a key element to the United States Air Force Band

  • NORTHCOM commander shares joint, interagency experience

    No service or nation can operate independently in (today's) global environment. Said the Northern Command's top official Sept. 20 during a visit to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala."We've got to find ways to take advantage of our sister services and benefit from what other nations bring to the fight,"

  • Schriever Airmen transition to new GPS control system

    Space systems experts with the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here reached a crucial milestone in deploying the $800-million Architecture Evolution Plan ground control system Sept. 14. The transition from legacy to Architecture Evolution Plan, called AEP, was conducted seamlessly in real time without

  • Air Force officers have alternate path to joint qualification

    The Air Force will adopt a more flexible process for officers to gain joint qualification beginning Oct. 1. Previously, only officers who were assigned to a joint-duty assignment could become joint qualified, but this criteria will change as a result of the National Defense Authorization Act of

  • International air chiefs to meet in Washington

    The Air Force chief of staff will host air chiefs of more than 80 international air forces during the third Global Air Chiefs Conference here Sept. 21 to 28. The gathering provides a forum where defense leaders from the nations can develop personal relationships while talking about issues of mutual

  • Agency activates 2nd Weather Group

    In streamlining the way the Air Force Weather Agency functions, the 2nd Weather Group activated Sept. 19 at the Bennie Davis Maintenance Facility here. The ceremony marked the culmination of an AFWA reorganization that began in May 2006 with the standup of the 1st Weather Group. The 2nd WXG is made

  • Air Force secretary announces provisional Cyber Command

    The secretary of the Air Force announced the Air Force is officially standing up a provisional Cyberspace Command during his address at the Air Force 60th anniversary celebration Sept. 18 at the Pentagon. Secretary Michael W. Wynne said the provisional command, called AFCYBER (P), will be located at

  • Air Force awarded 'best of best' for ozone sustainment

    The Air Force received the Best-of-the-Best Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award for outstanding leadership in stratospheric ozone protection from the United Nations Environmental Programme and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The award was part of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the

  • CENTCOM commander visits 380th AEW Airmen

    The commander of U.S. Central Command visited Airmen from the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Sept. 17 at their forward deployed location in Southwest Asia.Adm. William J. Fallon was greeted by Brig. Gen. Lawrence Wells, 380th AEW commander; Col. Bruce VanSkiver, the 380th AEW vice commander; Chief

  • Air Force celebrates 60 years

    A lineup of top military officials, musical entertainment and the chance to meet those who made early Air Force history drew representatives from each service to the Air Force's 60th anniversary celebration Sept. 18 in the Pentagon courtyard.Members of the Air Force entertainment organization Tops

  • Celestial Eagle: Historic anti-satellite mission remembered

    The F-15 Eagle test pilot settled into the cockpit of the fighter jet at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., awaiting takeoff with a 2,700 pound, 18-foot long missile mounted to the jet's centerline. The mission, dubbed the "Celestial Eagle Flight," called for a nearly vertical ascent to 35,000 feet and

  • Air Force leaders gather at memorial for anniversary

    The Air Force's three top leaders laid a wreath at the Air Force Memorial Sept. 18 to commemorate the service's 60th anniversary. "The memorial gives (us) a home to honor the service and sacrifice of men and women of the Air Force and its predecessors, and so it is right that we lay this wreath here

  • 1 woman, 1 big award

    An Air Force colonel received the National Aeronautic Association's Katharine Wright Award Sept. 15 at a conference of the Ninety-Nines in Boulder, Colo. Col. Catherine A. Chilton, senior mobilization assistant to the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, at Wright-Patterson Air Force

  • Chairman salutes Air Force on 60th anniversary

    Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sends his greetings to all Airmen on the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force."On Sept. 18, we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United States Air Force. From its infancy, air power has proven itself vital to America's ability to

  • Secretary, chief send Air Force birthday message

    The following is a message from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley on the Air Force's 60th birthday Sept. 18. "Sixty years ago today the Air Force became an independent service. Three days before becoming the first secretary of the Air

  • Bagram medical staff 'Smooth Operators'

    The Task Force Med operating room staff at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital display the true meaning of teamwork, as they care for wounded American and Afghan patients here. Nicknamed the "Smooth Operators," the team arrived in May and made the surgical suite mission-ready in less than 48 hours.

  • Airmen support NATO AWACS operations

    Twenty-eight thousand feet in the sky above Hamburg, Germany, and more than 4,200 miles from home, a crew from a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling squadron supports a NATO E-3 Sentry. Airmen of the 126th Air Refueling Squadron from the Wisconsin Air National Guard stationed at Gen. Mitchell

  • Air Force to commemorate 60 years of service

    In honor of the Air Force's 60th anniversary, a number of official events are being held Sept. 18 in the nation's capital. The day's events will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Air Force Memorial. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne, Chief of Staff of the Air

  • PRTs help rebuild Afghanistan, one road at a time

    A joint effort between the Bagram Provincial Reconstruction Team based here and local Afghan villagers led to the opening of a new road Sept. 14 in Bagram District. Brig. Gen. James W. Hyatt, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, was on hand to mark the ribbon cutting for a new three-kilometer

  • All Air Force Reserve officer candidates to train at Maxwell

    Starting in October, Air Force Reserve Command will send all candidates for reserve line officer training to the Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Previously, only rated officer candidates - pilots, navigators and air battle mangers - attend OTS at Maxwell AFB.  The first

  • Chief of staff announces major total force integration steps

    The Air Force's top officer announced the addition of Dannelly Field Air Guard Station, Ala., as well as other initiatives, to the service's evolving set of total force integration efforts at an event Sept. 13 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley said the move is

  • Latest 'Vector' highlights importance of discipline

    The Air Force chief of staff released his latest vector for Airmen and it focuses on the importance of a disciplined force. "Commanders and supervisors at all levels must lead by personal example, ensure compliance by all, and reinforce the highest standards of the United States Air Force," Gen. T.

  • Airmen commemorate 60th anniversary through the mail

    Airmen will have a unique opportunity to commemorate the Air Force's 60th anniversary Sept. 18 through Oct. 18. The Air Force and U.S. Postal Service have joined forces to offer a commemorative postmark that will be available for cancellation from Sept. 18 to Oct. 18 at 40 base post offices

  • AFMC executive director discusses challenges

    Air Force Materiel Command's top civilian leader discussed several challenges facing the Air Force, including the increasing costs of personnel and military health care, during a speech to the International Test and Evaluation Association Antelope Valley chapter Sept. 5 here. Barbara A. Westgate,

  • Korean War veterans give sage advice to Airmen

    Eight Korean War fighter pilots, many now in history books, gave advice to Airmen at Yongson Army Garrison Sept. 10 during their tour of South Korea. After laying a wreath at the South Korean National Cemetery in honor of all those who sacrificed their lives during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953,

  • Expeditionary center's Air Force art collection inspires Airmen

    When the Air Force Expeditionary Center was first established in 1994 as the Air Mobility Warfare Center, the walls of the building were bare.Gen. William J. Begert, then commander, and his wife, Judy, made a special trip to the Air Force Art Program's warehouse to find items to display within the

  • Air Force to transform financial services

    Air Force financial services are undergoing a major change that will save millions of dollars and return hundreds of Airmen to the fight, said a senior Air Force financial management official here Sept. 12. As part of a two-year plan, the Air Force Financial Services Center will open its doors Sept.

  • Pilots of yesteryear interact with Airmen of today

    Airmen can learn from past experiences, the Web and books, but on Sept. 10 Osan Air Base Airmen expanded their knowledge by learning from living legends.As if magically appearing from the pages of an Air Force history book, four Korean War veterans mingled with the young men and women stationed at