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  • Letter to Airmen recognizes Air Force transformation

    In his latest "Letter to Airmen," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley discusses measures that will shape and transform the Air Force.  General Moseley said Airmen today are engaged in a vast array of missions from operating satellites in deep space to applying air power to the surface

  • Salvaged flight deck from C-5 mishap becomes tool

    The crew compartment belonging to the C-5 Galaxy aircraft that fell less than a mile short of Dover Air Force Base's runway April 3 has been salvaged for use in C-5 aircraft crew training. The compartment, commonly referred to as the aircraft's flight deck, was loaded onto a C-5 and airlifted to its

  • B-52 Stratofortress ages like wine

    First deployed in 1955, the B-52 Stratofortress is already twice the age of many Airmen who maintain it. Despite its age, Airmen assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing here have an affinity for flying and maintaining this Air Force legacy aircraft and recognize its relevance today. "She gets finer with age

  • Air Force legal leaders meet with Afghan counterparts

    Two Air Force legal leaders visited Southwest Asia in August, stopping in Kabul, Afghanistan, for a two-day seminar with Afghan military legal leaders on the rule of law.Maj. Gen. Jack Rives, Air Force judge advocate general, and Col. Lindsey Graham, appellate military judge, met leaders from the

  • Academy ranks top in professor availability for 2nd year

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's professors are the most accessible in the nation for the second year in a row, according to The Best 361 Colleges text, released today by the Princeton Review. Faculty availability is an expectation at the academy, where the student-faculty ratio is 8:1, average class

  • AF automates Korean medal process

    Officials from the Air Force Personnel Center have recently added the Korean Defense Service Medal to its list of personnel processes automatically updated in the Military Personnel Data System. The new process automatically updates an Airman's record in the data system for those who served in Korea

  • Americans, Hondurans team to fix broken bones

    A medical team of eight people from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, treated more than 200 Hondurans during a two-week training exercise Aug. 5 to 19.The team of eight medical professionals, led by Lt. Col.

  • AFPC names O'Malley Award winner

    The former Keesler Air Force Base commander and his wife who led the base's recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina recently won the 2006 Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. Maj. Gen. William Lord and his wife, Cynthia, received the award that recognizes the wing commander-and-spouse team

  • 340th maintainers keep pace with optempo

    At one of the busiest refueling hubs in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Airmen from the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit are in constant motion. They support fighters, bombers, cargo and attack aircraft fighting in the war on terrorism. The fact the unit is blended from five bases --

  • Phoenix Warrior prepares security forces

    More than 100 security forces Airmen participated in Phoenix Warrior 06-1, a program run by the Air Mobility Warfare Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, Aug. 5 to 17. The 13-day predeployment course prepares security forces in areas such as weapons and live fire training, convoy operations,

  • AEF Center reassigned to Air Force Personnel Center

    The Air and Space Expeditionary Force Center will be assigned under the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley announced today. The reassignment, which becomes effective Aug. 29, will synergize operations between the two centers

  • Airman pleads guilty in deployed base's first court-martial

    An Airman here pled guilty to larceny and was convicted in a court-martial Aug. 12 to 13. Airman 1st Class Joshua Borth, 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, admitted he stole a fellow Airman's laptop and backpack and some government electronic equipment. This court-martial is the first

  • Senior leaders eye robust intelligence capabilities, people

    Several active duty and retired senior leaders from the Air Force intelligence community gathered with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley at the Pentagon recently as part of an intelligence summit and strategy session. The leaders are reviewing how and when the Air Force uses

  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold pre-game practice at MacDill AFB

    The Tampa Bay Buccaneers broke training camp Thursday and in an unprecedented move for the team, held its day-before-game walk-through at MacDill AFB, Fla. The Buccaneers, who play their second pre-season game against the Miami Dolphins Saturday, have a long-standing relationship and community

  • Malmstrom, Patrick, Peterson tops at Guardian Challenge

    Inside Hangar 140 here, the air was thick with anticipation as teams from across Air Force Space Command maintained nervous conversation over dinner Aug. 17, awaiting the announcement of the Guardian Challenge 2006 winners. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, reminded a highly motivated crowd

  • Munitions Airmen make bombs built to order

    Hitting a two-meter target with 2,000 pounds of high explosives while traveling hundreds of miles an hour takes sophisticated weapons aboard aircraft flown by talented pilots. But, before these munitions can be used they must be inspected, tested, built, loaded and delivered to the aircraft. That is

  • COMUSAFE concludes Russian visit

    Improved relations and future operational cooperation between U.S. and Russian air forces was the goal of a four-day visit to Russia by the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.Gen. Tom Hobbins, who visited Moscow and Lipetsk Air Base Aug. 14 to 17, said the military-to-military relationship

  • Maintainers keep jets healthy, safe during Viper Lance

    While most participants involved in Exercise Viper Lance 2006 here call it a day at sunset, the workday is just beginning for maintainers on the night shift.Of the more than 250 Airmen here for the air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercise, roughly 170 support the maintenance mission. Viper

  • 'Natural Fire' provides assistance to African nations

    Three East African nations and the United States are participating in Natural Fire 2006, a multilateral training exercise that is providing medical, veterinary and engineering civil assistance.The exercise includes approximately 1,000 servicemembers from the United States, Tanzania, Uganda and

  • Convoy Airmen face challenging duties

    For more than two years Airmen have been driving convoys for the Army on some of the most dangerous roads in the world. From their Army camp to the border of southern Iraq and to the most northern reaches of a country roughly the size of California, members of the 586th Expeditionary Logistics

  • California Air National Guard embraces new mission

    The sun heats a Nevada desert landscape as a small group of warriors focus on computer terminals. These men and women know their actions directly support others facing the heat of another desert half a world away. Members of the California Air National Guard's 163rd Air Refueling Wing have spent the

  • New platforms provide patients comfort

    In an effort to improve safety and comfort for patients being transported on high-deck aircraft, Air Mobility Command officials plan to soon acquire several high-deck patient loading platform, or HDPLP, vehicles. The HDPLP is a vehicle with a series of hoists that allows the cab and patient seating

  • Raptor meets new challenges, expands capabilities

    For the men and women taking care of the Air Force's newest and most lethal fighter aircraft, the F-22A Raptor, firsts seem to be a common occurrence. Along with milestones by the 27th and 94th Fighter Squadrons have come new challenges in places such as Alaska, Utah and Florida that have left

  • Deployed Airmen register for marrow program

    The faces on posters that call attention to a number of worthwhile volunteer causes are often lost in the hustle of accomplishing the daily mission. However, the association of one poster to a deployed Airman at a recent drive in Southwest Asia put a face on the critical need for all to register as

  • B-2 Spirit exceeds mission standard

    The B-2 Spirit exceeded Air Combat Command's fully mission capable rate standard of 51 percent in June, a feat not achieved since September 2004. Keeping the B-2 ready for war is an effort that requires the hard work and support of everyone who works on base, said Col. Bob Dulong, 509th Maintenance

  • Challenge continues for security forces

    Guardian Challenge security forces showed off their tactics and marksmanship skills at Jacks Valley here Aug. 14 and 15. The tactics portion was planned out by a team of 19 Airmen and headed by Capt. Kathy Jordan, Air Force Space Command. She said the team started planning the scenario in May.

  • COMUSAFE boosts U.S.-Russian relations with visit

    The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe is in Russia to bolster relationships and security cooperation between U.S. and Russian Air Forces during a visit Aug. 14 to 17. Gen. Tom Hobbins' visit is reciprocal for one taken by Gen. Col. Aleksandr Zelin, deputy commander in chief of the Russian

  • AFSO21 Leans out uniform development

    In January, a limited number of the new Air Force utility uniforms will roll off production lines. Their arrival will mark the end of a nearly five-year development cycle. Lessons learned from development of the Airman Battle Uniform will be applied to the Air Force's next uniform project, the

  • Justice Department Web site explains military rights

    The Department of Justice has launched a Web site to protect servicemembers' rights, said the attorney general. Alberto R. Gonzalez, speaking to the Disabled American Veterans annual convention in Chicago, said the Justice Department has made it a priority to enforce civil rights laws for American

  • Global missions all in a day's work

    Many people say they joined the Air Force to have exciting adventures and see the world. For a C-17 Globemaster III aircrew from Detachment 1 of the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, those perks are part of their average day. "An average mission can range anywhere from a 12-hour day to a 72-hour

  • Web site honors Air Force heroes

    A nonprofit organization's Web site is letting people pay tribute to Air Force heroes. A section in the Air Force Memorial Foundation's Web site, titled Air Force Heroes, allows people to honor an Airman with a paragraph about what makes them extraordinary. With the Air Force memorial scheduled to

  • 'Bats' shield Airmen from harm

    Their mission is simple: save the lives of troops on the ground in Iraq by providing an electronic shield around them. That is the job of the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron. Known as the Bats, they take to the air every day of the week to actively support coalition warfighters in

  • Decorated Vietnam vet back at war

    It may be surprising to hear that the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing has a Vietnam era Purple Heart recipient working at the wing. It is even more surprising to hear that the combat veteran is actually a C-130 Hercules deployed from Ramstein Air Base, Germany. On the flight deck of aircraft 63-7865 is

  • Two Alamo City Airmen vie for 'American Idol' spot

    A former "Tops in Blue" performer and an Air Force chaplain's assistant turned Batman are a step closer to stardom. Staff Sgts. Keith Loudermill and James Warren, both from Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, each earned a "golden ticket" Aug. 11 at the Alamodome here for a shot at becoming the next

  • Air Force sweeps armed forces golf tournament

    The Air Force capitalized on its home-course advantage to capture the 2006 Armed Forces Golf Championship on Aug. 11 at the Marshallia Ranch Golf Course here. Air Force golfers took top honors at the conclusion of the four-round tournament, winning the men's and women's team competitions, as well as

  • Air Force Week concludes in St. Louis

    In a testament to the U.S. Air Force vision of "Lasting Heritage ... Limitless Horizons," the inaugural Air Force Week brought together Airmen of the past, present and future to celebrate the service's history and future.With the St. Louis Gateway Arch as a backdrop, Air Force Week 2006 events

  • Comm team keeps Viper Lance participants connected

    One mile of cable, six pallets of equipment and three days to set up fully functioning communications for a forward base is standard work for members of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron. Thirteen members of the 1st CBCS, headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, are here to support Exercise

  • Dental corps aims to stem shortage

    It may be a tooth and nail struggle for the Air Force to keep its dentists, but its dental service is dedicated to providing expert care to Airmen worldwide, said the director of the Air Force Dental Corps here recently. "I think Airmen need to know that we are committed to providing them the dental

  • Air Force still hiring

    Despite rumors to the contrary, the Air Force is still hiring. People interested in joining are always encouraged to apply, even in light of the Air Force's recently released force-shaping initiatives. To match the Air Force's new strength numbers, next year's recruiting goals have reduced by nine

  • Sather medics treat detainees

    Airmen here supported an Army forward surgical team in providing medical treatment to detainees as they transitioned from the Abu Ghraib Theater Internment Facility to a new facility on Camp Cropper near Baghdad.Multi-National Force-Iraq officials established the new facility July 30 to replace Abu

  • New Web portal to help enlisted career development

    Enlisted Airmen will soon have a new development Web site portal designed to meet all of their career development needs, allowing them to navigate different aspects of their time in service from their desktop computers, Air Force officials here said. My Enlisted Development Plan, or MyEDP, is

  • AMC Airmen take part in Tuskegee Airmen convention

    Nearly 90 Air Mobility Command Airmen participated in the 35th Annual Tuskegee Airmen National Convention here July 31 to Aug. 4, celebrating the history of the nation's first black combat pilots. The event was particularly memorable for one participant attending his first convention."I found out

  • Officials announce clarification of EPR criteria, policy

    The Air Force has released a policy to clarify senior rater endorsement and stratification procedures for enlisted performance reports. While many supervisors and senior NCOs looked to completion of the Senior NCO Academy and a Community College of the Air Force degree as criteria for consideration

  • KC-135s take on aeromedical evacuation role

    While the KC-135 Stratotanker was originally designed to extend the length of other aircrafts' flight times, aircrews at Fairchild are also using the airplane for a completely different mission: to extend medical care to critically injured patients. Tanker aircraft began augmenting the Air Force's

  • Gateway Grizzlies honor Airmen

    Hundreds of servicemembers from all branches of the U.S. military and their families packed the GCS Stadium in Sauget, Ill., Tuesday evening for a special Gateway Grizzlies baseball game that paid tribute to Airmen as a part of the inaugural Air Force Week. Lasting from Aug. 6 to Aug. 13, Air Force

  • 'Spirit of Solano' arrives at Travis

    The much anticipated C-17 Globemaster III, the "Spirit of Solano," arrived home at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on Aug. 8. Festivities began with a flyover of all three major airframes now based at Travis: the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender and C-17. The crowd of approximately 2,000 applauded as Maj.

  • Top chief elaborates on Airman pride

    The top enlisted Airman shared his thoughts on Airman pride during his visit here. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley was in San Antonio to check out basic training at Lackland Air Force Base and security forces expeditionary training at nearby Camp Bullis.The chief was impressed

  • C-17 Globemaster III crew doing its part

    A long day of loading and unloading cargo off of the C-17 Globemaster III is nothing new to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron aircrew. On this day the crew was able to fly in more than 80 aircraft pallets full of supplies to Balad, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. "The deployed

  • Royal Air Force pilot makes history in B-2 Spirit

    At first glance, he looks like any other Air Force pilot: olive-green flight suit, polished boots and a bluish-gray flight cap with rank insignia prominently displayed. On closer inspection, you realize the little differences.His shoulder boards don't feature bars or leaves, but instead a

  • Medic discovers more about himself during PRT mission

    When a suicide bomber slammed and ignited his missile-laden vehicle into the Humvee in front of Staff Sgt. Eric Mathiasen, the Air Force medic exploded into action. He did not think about his wife or two children, or that there was unexploded ordnance lying about. He just grabbed his medical bag and

  • Program assists heroes in reaching next level

    They gave something that they can never get back, and a group here does its best to ensure these heroes smoothly move on to the next phase of their lives. Palace HART -- Helping Airmen Recover Together -- is a program that assists Airmen injured in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Many

  • Power pros critical to mission

    Eighteen Airmen ensure there is no peace here, because silence at Balad Air Base would mean chaos.The power production team's work is audible and emitted by the drone of 200 Air Force generators fueled by 7,000 gallons of fuel a day and immeasurable amounts of sweat and work hours. "I'm not going to

  • Air Force Week kicks off in St. Louis

    The first Air Force Week kicked off here Aug. 6 during the St. Louis Cardinals-Milwaukee Brewers game at Busch Stadium with Airmen participating in the toss of the first pitch and a flyover by Missouri National Guard F-15 Eagles. Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz, commander of U.S. Transportation

  • KC-10 maintainers keep mission flowing

    KC-10 Extender maintainers work long days on the flightline with temperatures reaching nearly 135 degrees on the scorching concrete, and it is even hotter in the KC-10s parked on the ramp. These are the conditions facing the Airmen of the 380th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The

  • Vandenberg golfers exploit home course advantage

    In a battle of hometown heroes, one Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Airman beats out another in the playoff round of the 2006 Air Force Golf Championship Aug. 4 at the Marshallia Ranch Golf Course here. In the end it was Air Force golf veteran Geoffrey Mann, who won the same tournament in 2003,

  • Airpark dedication honors Tuskegee Airmen

    More than 50 Tuskegee Airmen attended an airpark dedication ceremony in their honor Aug. 2 in front of the 944th Fighter Wing headquarters here. The airpark features an F-16 Fighting Falcon static aircraft painted in World War II Tuskegee colors in recognition of the "Red Tail" warriors of the

  • Space brings invisible power to the fight

    When space professionals deploy, they learn how to better provide combat effects, and warfighters learn more about the invisible power space brings to the fight. "It's not good enough to fly satellites from afar," said Lt. Col. John Shaw, the 4th Space Operations Squadron commander. "We need to

  • New Air Force lieutenant colonels selected for SDE

    The lieutenant colonel central selection board held at the Air Force Personnel Center here has identified senior developmental education "selects." Officers identified as selects join a resource pool of officers who will be considered for future attendance at in-residence SDE. SDE enhances the

  • PACAF leaders see flash of future in Georgia

    Senior leaders from Pacific Air Forces toured the F-22 Raptor production facility here Aug. 3 and got a look at the command's first 5th-generation fighter aircraft. Raptor 4087, bearing "AK" on its tail, is bound for Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. It will be the first of 36 Raptors, in two

  • Airmen train in ground combat at Camp Shelby

    About 170 Airmen have graduated from Camp Shelby, Miss., after four weeks of ground combat skills training in preparation for deployment to Afghanistan to support Army embedded training teams. "Very few of us knew each other when we first got here," said Maj. Brenda Frye, support team commander.

  • How to catch a falcon by the tail

    The tension must be right on, down to a thousandth of an inch. If the measurement is off, it means a multimillion dollar F-16 Fighting Falcon could careen off the runway at nearly 150 mph. And if the system fails completely, that same gray metal beast, filled with jet fuel, and its pilot will meet

  • Sergeants toy with donations

    Two Airmen deployed here are trying to further Iraqis' understanding of Americans through the simplest objects: children's toys. Staff Sgts. Scott Klobucher and Samantha Ross are volunteers at the Air Force Theater Hospital. The sergeants are two of about 600 people who volunteer at the hospital,

  • Air Force leaders sign memorial spire

    Two of the Air Force's top leaders signed a segment of the nearly completed Air Force Memorial during a visit to the construction site in Arlington, Va., on Aug. 3. Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley both inked their

  • 'Gateway to the West' embraces Air Force

    To honor the men and women of the U.S. Air Force, mayors, administrators and councils in the St. Louis metropolitan area are proclaiming the week of Aug. 7 as "Air Force Week" in their respective cities, villages and towns. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay will sign a decree Aug. 7 proclaiming the week

  • Officials prepare for F-22 arrival

    As Pacific Air Forces prepares to bring the F-22 to the command next year, the Headquarters PACAF F-22 Program Integration Office is working to ensure no detail is overlooked. The job is not a small task. The integration office staff is responsible for guiding, coordinating and synchronizing the

  • Wynne: We are logisticians of information

    As does its enemies, the Air Force considers cyberspace a warfighting domain. The Air Force has always been in the business of flying and fighting in the air, and in past decades, has included space in that mission. This year the Air Force expanded its mission to include cyberspace -- the domain of

  • 'Your Guardians of Freedom' site set to scale down

    Budget constraints and contract services reductions have forced officials  to make changes to the "Your Guardians of Freedom" Web site starting Oct 1. The Web site enables Air Force members to order pins for employers of activated Guardsmen (E pin), parents (P pin) and spouses (S pin). Pin

  • Five personnel centers scheduled for realignment

    In an effort to provide and deliver services in the most effective and efficient way for the Air Force, military officials plan to realign about 170 civilian personnel positions to the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. From the 170 positions, 135 are slated to realign

  • FAA authorizes Predators to seek survivors

    Traditionally tasked to hunt for targets, Air Combat Command's Predators are now authorized to seek survivors during disaster relief operations. A certificate of authorization, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration May 18, allows the MQ-1 or MQ-9 to support relief operations by providing

  • Small-diameter bomb makes F-15E squadron more lethal

    When the 494th Fighter Squadron deploys to Southwest Asia later this year, its new small-diameter bomb will make its F-15E Strike Eagles even more lethal. The squadron will be the first to use the Air Force's new Guided Bomb Unit-39 bomb. It is a thin, Global Positioning System-guided 250-pound bomb

  • Air Force announces staff sergeant promotions

    The Air Force has selected 13,298 of 37,071 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant, a 35.87 percent selection rate. The Air Force will release the promotion list at 9 a.m. CDT on Aug. 9. The complete list of selectees will be posted online at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil  by 5

  • Letter to Airmen focuses on diversity

    In the latest Letter to Airmen, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Chief of Staff of the Air Force T. Michael Moseley issue a policy memorandum regarding equal opportunity and diversity in the Air Force and how today's Air Force does not tolerate harassment of any type. "Tolerating

  • Lajes Airmen refuel U.S. Army tugboat

    Airmen from the 65th Air Base Wing at Lajes Field, Azores, provided support for the U.S. Army tugboat Major General Winfield Scott here today before it left for Fort Eustis, Va. The tugboat received more than 28,000 gallons of diesel fuel and other supplies. "The support we've received has been

  • New utility uniform on track for distribution

    The new Airman Battle Uniform is moving into production and on track for distribution to deploying Airmen next summer. Patterns have been finalized and are being run through production to ensure sizing and garment construction as well as preparing for assembly-line operations, said Senior Master

  • St. Louis to host inaugural Air Force Week

    Air Force officials have announced the first-ever Air Force Week.  It will begin Aug. 6 in St. Louis, culminating in an open house and air show at nearby Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Aug. 12 to 13, featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.The St. Louis metro region was selected by Air Force

  • 15th CMSAF takes first look at space

    On his first visit here July 28 as the top enlisted servicemember in the Air Force, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley stressed the importance of recognizing, leading and taking care of Airmen. "I want to focus on our junior enlisted to make sure we take care of them," he said.

  • Cadets experience 'war' during visit

    Cadets from ROTC units across the country finished their three-week visit here by going to "war" with members of the 460th Space Wing. Eighteen cadets, who were here June 25 to July 14 as part of the Operation Air Force program, took part in War Week July 10 to 14. Airmen at Buckley participate

  • Lakenheath Strike Eagles return from Bulgaria

    Airmen and their F-15E Strike Eagles returned to this base today from Bulgaria with new flying skills and friends in a land they had never visited. About 200 Airmen and 10 jets from the 48th Fighter Wing deployed to Graf-Isnatievo Air Base, Bulgaria, for the two-week exercise Immediate Response that

  • Cryogenics course keeps pilots, planes on target

    Cryogenics sounds like some future way of recreating life or a search for a cure of an unknown plague. It also sounds like something from "Star Trek" episodes or possibly even "Star Wars." In the Air Force, it means keeping pilots and aircrews alive when they're flying above the 10,000-foot level.

  • Air Force operations and organization doctrine updated, released

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley has approved the latest revision to Air Force Doctrine Document 2, Operations and Organization. It is considered the Air Force's capstone document outlining the operations and organization of air and space power, officials said. The revised document

  • Balad Air Base now part of Air Force Public Web

    Airmen in Iraq supporting the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base can expect to see a new look on their public Web site. The Air Force plan to consolidate and standardize the appearance of its sites has reached deployed bases as part of the Air Force Public Web program. The Secretary of

  • Public affairs, multimedia functions merge under Strategic Communication

    Twenty-four hour news cycles and the demand for real-time data and images dictate an adjustment in how the Air Force is organized in order to better leverage its capabilities and provide timely and focused information to the public, the Air Force chief of staff said recently in a memorandum. "To

  • Falcons cut Mildenhall bird strikes

    Keith Mutton and Alan Marenghi roam the flightline at this base in their small blue vans doing a job that is truly for the birds. The father and stepson duo command a squadron of falcons, hawks and owls that help keep away birds that pose a bird-strike threat to aircraft here. But, it is not an easy

  • AIA safety office reminds drivers to stay alert on roads

    Many people take for granted the danger that comes with driving long distance. Without giving it another thought, the average person would jump in their car after an eight-hour work day and drive the four or five hours to visit a friend for the weekend even though the consequences could be deadly.

  • Contracting provides base 'buying power'

    When Airmen deploy they quickly find there are differences from how they do their job at their home station. At a deployed location, if something needs to be purchased, built or serviced, chances are the contracting office has a hand in it. According to the 447th Air Expeditionary Group chief of

  • Joint Chiefs enlisted adviser speaks at Bolling

    The first person selected to serve as the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke recently to some of the Air Force's newest senior NCO about his role and their responsibility as leaders. Invited to be the guest speaker at a recent senior NCO induction ceremony,

  • Medical team conducts mission in Ecuador

    A medical team is conducting the first Medical Readiness Training Exercise, or MEDRETE, held in Esmereldas, Ecuador, through July 28. The two surgeons, a nurse anesthetist, two medical technicians and an anesthesiologist are led by Maj. (Dr.) Matthew Talarczyk, 859th Surgical Operations Squadron

  • Hospital revamps referral appointment system

    Air Force Smart Ops 21 initiatives are not just for operational matters. The Referral Management Center at the hospital here is making a difference in the care for all patients requiring the need of a specialist. The hospital caters to more than 21 specialties in 12 separate clinics, according to

  • PACAF exercise hosts Mexican observers

    Mexican air force observers are seeing firsthand how U.S. and coalition forces work together during Cooperative Cope Thunder to aid in their decision to become future exercise participants. As part of his cooperative engagement strategy, Gen. Paul V. Hester, Pacific Air Forces commander, invited the

  • Air Force meeting requirements for F-22 multi-year funding

    The Air Force will meet all requirements to proceed with multi-year funding on purchasing of the last 60 F-22 Raptor aircraft.During a July 26 testimony before the Senate Armed Service Committee air-land subcommittee, Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne said the service has met five of six

  • Retraining program seeks to fill more than 1,100 positions

    The 2007 NCO Retraining Program begins today as the Air Force seeks to fill more than 1,100 shortage career field and special duty positions. NCOs notified of their vulnerability to retrain must submit their shortage career field choices they would most like to retrain into or apply for a special

  • Manas C-17 crews help Americans depart Lebanon

    The C-17 Globemaster III detachment here recently had a name change and change of scenery. The 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron's detachment used to be Detachment 4, but due to a reorganization of the theater's airlift placement, is now Detachment 1. Det.1's primary mission is flying passengers

  • C-130s assist humanitarian relief efforts in Cyprus

    Two C-130 Hercules crews assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing delivered more than 10 tons of food and other relief supplies during two missions this past week to support American citizens leaving Lebanon. Both missions were no-notice taskings delivered by U.S. Central Command Air Forces'

  • Long days, flexibility part of tanker crew's life

    Air Force tankers refueled fighters over a stretch of the North Sea off England's East Anglia coast Tuesday in support of a joint NATO exercise. The scenario is nothing new for the two KC-135 Stratotanker crews that flew the mission from Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England. About 100 miles off the

  • Medical team transports newborn from Puerto Rico

    Seth and Stephanie Parker held each other's hands and waited. As the plane touched down at 12:05 a.m. July 22 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, they smiled at each other and looked at their son. Four-day-old Stuart lay across from his parents on a medical cart surrounded by doctors, nurses and

  • Gen. Moseley: New long-range bomber on horizon for 2018

    A new bomber scheduled for operation as early as 2018 will enhance America's long-range strike capabilities, according to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley in a recent Armed Services Committee speech. In a step to develop future long-range strike capabilities, Air Combat Command is

  • Air Force officials announce 2007 force-shaping initiatives

    Air Force officials announced today new force-shaping initiatives to be used to meet the required 2007 fiscal year end-strength numbers. The new initiatives are designed to bring the officer numbers down as the enlisted end-strength numbers are on target for 2007. Officials said more than 8,000

  • Pit stops in 'hot' zone require quick off-loads

    When people deployed to Afghanistan say a location is "hot," it could mean one of two things. Either it feels like the sun is closer than the moon, or the enemy is lurking about. Here, both meanings apply. For pilots, that equates to making quick pit stops here so they can get in and out of this

  • Security forces members battle HEAT

    Airmen here are receiving specialized training designed to help them know what to do if their tactical vehicle was to rollover and increase survivability.The training, termed HEAT, encompasses instruction and the use of the Humvee egress assistance trainer. "This is a two-part training exercise,"

  • MySpace use comes with risks

    The online site MySpace offering individuals free membership to create a personalized Web page can also serve as a vulnerability for Air Force people to post personal information that can cause problems or risk operational security.MySpace members can share personal photos and use it to catch up