HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • America pays tribute to 'Cap' Weinberger

    Caspar W. Weinberger's definition of happiness was "service to a noble cause," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said at the former defense secretary's funeral April 4. Secretary Weinberger died in Maine on March 28 at age 88. He was buried April 4 at Arlington National Cemetery. He served as

  • Keeping fit, healthy the safe way

    A common focus for men and women this time of year is getting ready for swimsuit season. Several magazines offer quick fixes, magic diets, miracle pills and more for people wanting to get slim. But, beware. “The safest way to lose weight is to eat a healthy diet and increase the amount of exercise

  • AFA selects services career field for annual award

    The Air Force Association, or AFA, selected the “services” enlisted career field for its 2006 AFA Team of the Year Award. The following Airmen were named to the team: -- Staff Sgt. Heather Schaffer, Cheyenne Air National Guard, Wyo., representing the Air National Guard; -- Senior Airman John

  • Association of Graduates names distinguished grads

    The Air Force Academy’s Association of Graduates has named retired Generals Hansford T. Johnson, Class of 1959, and Michael E. Ryan, Class of 1965, as the 2006 recipients of the association’s Distinguished Graduate Award. The award honors academy graduates for a lifetime of service to the nation,

  • Officials release C-5 crash survivor list

    Air Force officials released the names of the 17 survivors of the C-5 Galaxy crash here April 3. Survivor names, base and medical conditions are as follows: Capt. Brian Lafreda, Dover, fair Lt. Col. Robert Moorman, Dover, fair Lt. Col. Harland Nelson, Dover, fair Master Sgt. Timothy Feiring, Dover,

  • Air Force releases 2006 posture statement

    The Air Force released its “posture statement” detailing the service’s missions and priorities over the next year. The 52-page document’s introduction asks Airmen to look from their heritage to the horizon, taking lessons from the past and adapting them for the future. It also opens with a letter

  • Award winners save Air Force big bucks

    Seven teams and two individuals recently received top honors for their resource-saving productivity improvements to the Air Force. The winners’ efforts resulted in more than $28.6 million in total tangible savings. The Air Force Productivity Excellence Award recognizes individual Airmen and small

  • Air Force Reserve goes Hollywood

    Hundreds of cast, crew and extras from a proposed WB Network series converged here for a marathon day of filming March 27. They came here to work on the pilot episode of “Mercy Reef,” a science-fiction themed program that could appear on the network as early as this fall, according to Lisa Lewis,

  • Web site lets reservists correct duty history 'live'

    Air Force Reserve members worldwide can now correct or change their duty history via the virtual Personnel Center Guard and Reserve, a customer-service Web portal operated by the Air Reserve Personnel Center. Previously, Airmen had to visit their local military personnel flight or call several

  • Engineers juggle needs, wants with reality

    The wing headquarters building here and the security forces buildings on either side of it are the kind of structures that make an engineer tip his head and rub his chin. With oddly sloping roofs and walls, these buildings seem to waste space. A peek inside a renovated building proves that the

  • Airmen volunteers help improve medical facilities in Kyrgyzstan

    Airmen are working to improve the lives of patients at two Bishkek medical facilities. Last week, volunteers from the Manas Air Base Outreach Society, or MABOS, visited patients in a children’s heart ward and a burn unit in medical centers in Bishkek. They delivered donated medical supplies, linen,

  • Child development organization aids military children, families

    Recognizing that children of servicemembers often face challenges that other children do not, the nonprofit child development organization "Zero To Three" launched a special project geared specifically toward military families. "Supporting military children is an essential element of supporting

  • New center provides single contact for mobility air forces

    Air Mobility Command moved toward a supply process transformation March 29 when the Regional Supply Squadron here was re-designated as the Mobility Logistics Support Center. The center will provide mobility air forces with one stop for ordering, shipping and tracking supplies to troops worldwide.

  • AFMC civilian course gains other commands' interest

    Representatives from three commands plan to meet with Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command professional development staff here in May to discuss adapting the AFMC Orientation Course for their commands. Leadership from the three commands, Air Mobility Command, Air Education and Training Command

  • Personnel Services Delivery System initiative begins

    The Air Force Contact Center’s Web-based services and contact center officially began taking calls after a ceremony at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The center is part of a new initiative called Personnel Services Delivery Transformation, or PSD, which uses

  • Air Force expects to choose tanker contractor by mid-2007

    The Air Force hopes to have a contractor selected for a KC-135 Stratotanker replacement by mid-2007. Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne told members of the aerospace industry March 30 the service is hoping to make a source selection for the KC-135 aircraft by the middle of 2007. The Air

  • Response teams prepare for chemical, nuclear threats

    In an abandoned building on the outskirts of town, a lab sits fully stocked and prepared to produce chemical weapons of mass destruction. A tip leads the Air Force Office of Special Investigations to the location. Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear defense teams suit up and prepare to raid the

  • Ramstein airlift mission at full speed

    This airlift hub is now the main “pit stop” on the United States-to-Iraq supply route because of its high-tech facilities and ability to fix aircraft. That makes Ramstein not only the “gateway to Europe,” but also the “gateway to U.S. Central Command,” said Col. Jeff Derrick, commander of the 723rd

  • Airmen receive trophies for maintenance excellence

    Two Airmen earned trophies and praise here for their abilities to keep Air Force aircraft flying and munitions ready for the mission.Maj. Matthew Gamblin and Master Sgt. Edwin Lambert were both honored with the 2005 General Lew Allen Jr. Trophy with a presentation at the Pentagon by Chief of Staff

  • Spring break all about 'service before self'

    “Service Before Self,” one of the Air Force’s core values, is on the minds of 135 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets who are working during their alternative spring break in areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The project is part of the Cadet Service Learning program which centers on community

  • Results are in: Airmen voice opinions in 2005 climate survey

    More than half of all Airmen participated in the 2005 chief of staff organization climate survey, which allows participants to voice their opinions on issues affecting them and their jobs. Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. T. Michael Moseley released the results of the survey to all the major

  • Program helps strike balance between work, play

    Whether stationed in remote Minot Air Force Base, N.D., or at bustling Keesler AFB, Miss., more Airman around the world are learning the advantages of the Air Force arts and crafts program. From photography to fixing a car, Airmen can turn to arts and crafts to help build a better quality of life

  • Mechanics work to keep vehicles in motion

    Airmen from various bases are deployed here to do one of many, behind-the-scene jobs in the Air Force. It’s one that Airmen may take for granted until their cargo loader breaks or their government vehicle doesn’t start in the morning. It’s the job of being a multipurpose vehicle mechanic. For the 16

  • Air Force finds cost savings for Raptor with multi-year purchasing

    The Air Force believes it can save nearly $500 million by going to multi-year procurement with the next 60 F-22A Raptor aircraft. The Air Force has asked Congress to approve multi-year funding for the remaining 60 Raptors it plans to purchase over the next three fiscal years. Multi-year funding

  • Air Force, Army to purchase small cargo aircraft

    By 2010, both the Army and the Air Force may be flying the same aircraft  to provide airlift inside places like Afghanistan and Iraq. The Secretary of Defense has given approval for the Army and the Air Force to work together to purchase those aircraft. The Army has been calling it a "Future Cargo

  • Alaskan team thaws in Honduras

    Imagine you’re a penguin, living happily in minus 40-degree temperatures. Suddenly you’re thrust into the tropical climate of a parrot, where anything below 80 degrees is considered cool. That shock to the system is essentially what happened to 17 Airmen from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron at

  • Deployed Airmen move troops in, out of theater

    When traveling throughout the area of responsibility, accountability is key. Ensuring that servicemembers get where they need to go safely is the responsibility of Airmen here. As one of the main staging points for servicemembers traveling in and out of theater, It’s not unusual to see more than a

  • Deployed emergency responders show off skills, equipment

    Explosive ordnance disposal, medical emergency responders and firefighters combine their skills to respond to several emergencies or the same emergency within a matter of minutes. Their Kyrgyzstan counterparts were invited to the base to see the equipment vital to the Americans’ success and learn

  • Chief chaplain discusses role of service

    There are 2,200 chaplains and enlisted support people from the active and Air Reserve components serving a unique mission in today's Air Force. Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Charles C. Baldwin, Air Force Chaplain Service chief, visited Edwards on March 16 as part of a tour of five base in five days. He took

  • Air chiefs discuss Middle East challenges

    Air chiefs from 13 nations gathered here March 25 to 27 for the fifth Middle East Air Symposium to discuss issues and challenges facing the region. The focus of the talks was the unconventional roles of air forces in the changing security environment. King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of

  • Secretary Wynne considers Airmen as diplomats

    Warfighting is about relationship building as the Air Force moves forward in the 21st century, especially in the Pacific where bilateral exercises are taking on increasing importance. That was one of the messages from the secretary of the Air Force as he addressed a crowd of about a thousand Airmen

  • Seminar brings hope, help to abused, neglected children

    More than 16,000 cases of suspected child maltreatment are reported annually in the military, according to the Armed Forces Center for Child Protection Web site. The AFCCP is helping to protect children throughout the DOD through education and awareness training such as that held here at Wilford

  • Manas Air Base volunteers restore children’s home, hope

    A children’s home near Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, damaged by a fire, is being put back together, piece by piece, by volunteers from nearby Manas Air Base. Everywhere in the house there are sounds of progress … floorboards ripped up, window sills sanded down, nails hammered into the new floor. A more

  • Food for thought: Dining facility continues to break records

    Thirty-five tons of apples, oranges, bananas and plums, 1,600 gallons of milk, 16 tons of grilled chicken breasts and 39,040 candy bars. The list of food consumed here in one month goes on and on. “It’s an amazing operation,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Schields, 379th Expeditionary Services Squadron

  • Hypervelocity wind tunnel reaches 3,000-run milestone

    The Arnold Engineering Development Center's Hypervelocity Wind Tunnel 9, located near Silver Spring, Md., recently completed its 3,000th test-run as the facility approaches 30 years of operation. The first test, ironically in support of an Air Force system, occurred in 1976 when the facility was

  • Targeting pods enhance battlefield awareness

    An armed F-16 Fighting Falcon is “watching” the road below for the convoys rolling through a dangerous land. The concept of using fighter aircraft equipped with targeting pods to monitor the battlespace is known as non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or NTISR. Air Force

  • Kingpins use blend of old, new technology to counter threats

    In the sky over Iraq, technology developed in the 1940s helps fight a 21st century war. From their unique vantage point, the Kirkuk long-range radar surveillance site searches the sky. It’s almost as if the slow cyclonic pace hypnotizes everything in the airspace to spill their deep dark secrets --

  • Humanitarian relief remains constant priority

    In a turbulent world, with natural disasters striking at random and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan surging with a tide of violence, one thing has remained constant – U.S. Air Force humanitarian relief operations. These operations, planned out of the Combined Air Operations Center, or CAOC,

  • McConnell employee donates marrow

    An Air Force civilian employee traveled to Washington, D.C., on March 23 to give the gift of life to a 10-year-old boy with severe aplastic anemia, a condition where the bone marrow does not produce enough -- or any -- new cells to replenish the blood cells. James Speanburg donated 5.5 cups of

  • Cope Thunder exercise now Red Flag - Alaska

    The Air Force chief of staff has announced the Cope Thunder exercise held in Alaska will be renamed and enhanced so it provides complementary training on the same level as the current Red Flag exercise held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Red Flag - Alaska coupled with Red Flag - Nellis will provide

  • Crew chiefs ‘dedicate’ to aircraft maintenance

    The 347th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron held a dedicated crew chief ceremony March 24 to officially resume the historic flightline program. The program has been in existence here since 1997, but had fallen by the wayside. Airmen pushed to re-energize and reactivate the program. The ceremony formally

  • Treating Airmen outside the wire

    Most medical teams deployed to Iraq treat their patients from the forward operating base, but three Airmen in Kirkuk are taking their knowledge to the streets by providing medical care to security forces troops outside the wire. The 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron boasts a medical cell

  • Smart Ops 21: Improving the Air Force one process at a time

    “What have I improved today?” That’s a question Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne urged Airmen to ask themselves in his March 8 Letter to Airmen titled Air Force Smart Operations 21. Airmen in Air Force Space Command will soon drive improvements through the Smart Ops 21 program, which

  • Maintainers repair Iraqi police station radio

    For four members of the 407th Expeditionary Communications Squadron, their latest job was not a usual one. Three ground radio maintainers and their flight commander responded to a request to fix a high frequency radio belonging to an Iraqi police station. The HF radio is important because of its

  • Japanese Airmen intern with Kadena NCOs

    Could something as simple as tying engine wires by hand instead of by tool bring two allies closer together? For Staff Sgt. Aiko Koba and Senior Airman Airica Velazquez, it means gaining a greater appreciation for what they do for their respective air force. Sergeant Koba is one of seven Japan Air

  • Controllers bring airpower directly to fight

    Airmen working side-by-side with the Army has become common place these days. But long before Airmen began performing convoy duties and other jobs historically done by their Army counterparts, Tactical Air Control Parties were assigned to Army combat maneuver units around the world. TACPs live,

  • Manas AB and local Kyrgyz communities forge bonds of friendship

    With warm and milder weather, spring has brought opportunities for the base and local community to strengthen friendly relations. Emergency responders on base pulled out all the stops to host officials and staff from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency for an annual tour and barbeque March 18. The two

  • Spangdahlem mechanics fix jet engines on ‘the line’

    Mechanics at this base fix F-16 Fighting Falcon engines on a production line that makes the process of getting engines back in service more predictable. The 52nd Component Maintenance Squadron’s propulsion flight switched to the new maintenance method less than a month ago as part of a lean

  • Three Air Force trailblazers among Hall of Fame inductees

    Three Air Force trailblazers were among the five women inducted into the Women in Aviation, International, Pioneer Hall of Fame here March 25. An audience of more than 2,000 witnessed the induction of retired officers -- Maj. Gen. Jeanne Holm, Maj. Gen. Betty Mullis and Lt. Col. Betty Jane Williams.

  • Squadron keeps deployed Airmen in touch with their families

    During World War II and the Korean and Vietnam Wars, deployed troops looked forward to mail call. This was their primary mode of communication with family and friends. However, letters could take weeks or even months to arrive. Today’s warriors still receive mail, but now they have instantaneous

  • Medics use Smart Ops 21 to decrease patient notification time by half

    For the past year, the 436th Medical Group here has applied a continual improvement process many people often associate with maintenance personnel and programs. LEAN, Six Sigma and Continual Process Improvement are all programs the Air Force has introduced into the maintenance career fields over the

  • Loyal four-legged friends protect Aviano, deter crime

    With their powerful jaws, strong sense of smell and unwavering loyalty, they are not only man’s best friend, but also an incredible asset to the 31st Security Forces Squadron. Aviano’s seven explosive and two narcotic working dogs are always training and patrolling the base as part of their mission

  • Deployed Airmen teach English to Kyrgyzstan teenagers

    With the help of volunteers from the American military base just a few miles away, teenagers in Kyrgyzstan are learning the English language. During hectic deployment hours and long work weeks, Airmen from U.S. Central Command Air Force’s Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan still find time to help out the

  • U-2 maintainers boast streaking hot record

    In the world of sports, there have been some incredible streaks. Cal Ripken Jr. played in 2,632 consecutive major league baseball games. Lance Armstrong was victorious in seven Tour de France races. Football great Johnny Unitas threw at least one touchdown pass in 47 straight games. But none of

  • Maintainers multi-task to keep C-17s safe

    In a dusty tent in the middle of maintenance town, computers are humming and a lone radio squawks the status of an incoming C-17 Globemaster III. The only sign that anybody works here is a row of desert camouflage blouses hung neatly near the door. A few of them belong to crew chiefs. The rest were

  • Teamwork keeps Bosnia air base safe

    Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia, has an airfield that has been maintained by the Air Force since the mid 90s. But because it was a pre-existing location, many issues of safety, that would be disallowed at a stateside or NATO base, must be covered in a waiver package under United States Air Forces in Europe

  • WWII Airman receives belated Purple Heart

    March 21 was a special day for one Airman. It was the day that he received his Purple Heart Medal. It was a proud day, and a long overdue one at that. Mr. Leo Bach received his medal after suffering injuries to his right leg and back after bailing out of his B-17 Flying Fortress nearly 62 years ago.

  • Stage facility provides aircrews one-stop support

    A management team at this base is helping aircrews spend less time preparing for flying with a streamlined, one-stop approach to en route mission planning. The result is an increase in mission velocity, said Lt. Col. James Kirk, commander of the 726th Air Mobility Squadron. That leads to a more

  • SECAF makes first official tour of Pacific Region bases

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne is currently touring the Pacific Region to introduce his top priorities for the Air Force -- winning the war on terrorism, fostering mutual integrity and respect, and revitalizing for the service’s aging infrastructure and fleet. The 21st secretary of the

  • Refuelers await over Afghanistan

    On any given night over Afghanistan, a KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft may be flying nearby as Soldiers in night-vision goggles move in on an enemy position. If needed, Soldiers call for close-air-support from the Air Force -- an A-10 Thunderbolt II may answer the call for help. No matter how

  • Statistics show command's fitness program needs to improve

    Since the new fitness program began in 2004, Air Force Reserve Command’s performance has stumbled. In 2003, 76 percent of unit reservists took the fitness test. Most of them -- 98.9 percent -- passed their assessments. Now, two years later, 68 percent of the reservists tested. But, this time 7

  • Air Force pilot becomes one of newest astronauts

    A former F-22A Raptor test pilot has now joined the ranks of an even more elite group of pilots. Lt. Col. James Dutton became an astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration following his graduation in February. “I wanted to be an astronaut when I joined the Air Force so I always

  • Cheney gives Oath of Enlistment to servicemembers at Scott

    Nine servicemembers and one enlistee had the privileged opportunity to raise their right hand and receive the Oath of Office from the vice president of the United States. During a recent visit to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Vice President Richard Cheney assisted 375th Airlift Wing commander Col.

  • Civil Air Patrol volunteers affected by hurricanes

    During Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, hundreds of aircraft flew missions to evacuate the stranded residents of New Orleans. But, it wasn't just military aircraft running rescue missions in the congested skies above the hurricane-stricken region. Members of America's Civil Air Patrol also provided

  • Reservists' mission keeps 'boots on the ground'

    It’s hot, dry, windy and dangerous on the air base. Sand blows in your face and stings like it would at the beach. But this is no beach. This is where people from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., are playing a vital role in the war on terrorism, thousands of miles from home. Chief Master Sgt. Tim

  • New customer support centers make life simpler

    New Air Force combat and mobility logistics support centers, opening in early April, will make ordering, tracking and shipping supplies to troops worldwide a simpler, more customer-friendly process, said officials here. The centers will open at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and Scott AFB, Ill. “The

  • Fighter aircraft help apprehend insurgents

    Air Force fighter aircraft pilots helped apprehend three suspected insurgents accused of mortaring Balad Air Base, Iraq, March 16. The pilots, who flew two F-15E Strike Eagles with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, were on a close-air-support mission near Balad when mortars were detected by the

  • Joint Strike Fighter program crucial to future air dominance

    Keeping the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program on track is important because the Air Force needs to replace aging aircraft and it is an important complement to the F-22A Raptor aircraft. That Capitol Hill testimony came March 16 from Lt. Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, deputy chief of staff for Air

  • Chief of staff releases 'Letter to Airmen'

    In his latest “Letter to Airmen,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley remembered the third anniversary of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The March 19 anniversary marked the removal of an oppressive and dangerous regime, and the culmination of a joint and coalition intense effort on land, air

  • Fuels Airmen train members of Iraqi Air Force

    Fuels Airmen take pride in knowing they provide fuel to the fight by supplying aircraft with the juice that keeps them flying. One more thing they can be proud of is their role in getting the Iraqi Air Force off the ground. Members of the 506th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels flight

  • Nuclear Weapons Center set to open at Kirtland

    Kirtland will become the home of Air Force Materiel Command's newest organization, the Nuclear Weapons Center, on March 31. "The base has been at the heart of nuclear activities for over 60 years, so it is no surprise that the NWC would find a home here," said Col. Greg Foraker, director of the

  • Airmen train Afghan Soldiers for first long-haul mission

    U.S. Airmen recently trained Soldiers from the Afghan National Army’s Central Movement Agency for their first long-haul convoy mission. The mission March 12 covered hundreds of miles from Kabul to Kandahar and involved two trucks, each carrying 6,000 liters of fuel. The Airmen and ANA soldiers rose

  • Single C-17 breaks airdrop record

    A single Air Force C-17 Globemaster III airdropped 32,400 pounds of humanitarian aid within 40 minutes to four locations in central and eastern Afghanistan March 16. This feat marked the most cargo airdropped to this many drop-zones in the shortest amount of time from a single aircraft in the

  • Osprey simulator up, running

    The CV-22 Osprey simulator was officially welcomed at the 19th Special Operations Squadron with a ceremony earlier this month. The $21 million simulator is intended to provide refresher and proficiency training to pilots, said Lt. Col. Jonathan Jay, CV-22 simulator program manager. “We are not

  • AAFES, MWR officials testify to congressional committee

    Air Force officials overseeing morale, welfare and recreation, or MWR, for Airmen testified before the House Armed Services Committee military personnel subcommittee March 15. Maj. Gen. Paul Essex, commander of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, or AAFES, and Arthur Myers, director of Air

  • JDAM continues to be warfighter's weapon of choice

    To call yourself the Airman warfighter's weapon of choice is one thing, but it's quite another to go out and back it up. Since its debut in 1999, the Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, has been called upon more than 15,000 times and continues to be used in the global war on terror. JDAM is a

  • Airfield managers keep runways ready

    The 379th Expeditionary Operational Support Squadron is tasked with the demanding job of managing an entire airfield. An airfield manager’s job encompasses almost anything that deals with the airfield, said Tech. Sgt. Michael Adams, 379th EOSS airfield manager and reservist deployed from Dobbins Air

  • Missouri Guard unit first ever selected for B-2 mission

    Air Force officials announced March 16 that the 131st Fighter Wing at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis will join the elite B-2 mission at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The announcement means the 131st Fighter Wing's Airmen will team up with the world's only B-2 long-range stealth bomber

  • Commander shares vision for future force

    Lt. Gen. Gary L. North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander, shared his insight and vision for the future at the Combined Air Operations Center March 10. During his first visit as CENTAF commander, General North discussed the CENTAF mission and challenges facing Airmen and

  • Airman Battle Uniform finalized, ready for production

    The new Airman Battle Uniform is ready for production and will be available in fiscal 2007, said the Air Force deputy chief of staff of personnel. Many factors were considered in developing the final uniform selection, with the concern for Airmen being at the top of the list, said Brig. Gen Robert

  • Command tasking process gets "quick win"

    The way Air Force Materiel Command delegates and tracks suspenses just received an upgrade thanks to people from across the command who met here during an efficiency event March 6 to 10. When Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century kicked off in AFMC, the tasking process was immediately

  • DOD releases annual sexual assault report

    The Department of Defense released the results of the second annual report on the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program. The report addresses data on alleged sexual assaults that were reported during 2005 in which members of the armed forces are victims or offenders. The Air Force received

  • Family Matters introduces updated AF Crossroads Web site

    The Air Force A1 office of family matters will soon unveil its updated Air Force Crossroads Web site for Airmen and families to gather facts about installations, military moves, education and more. Though the current site contains a lot of information, its many layers made the site difficult to

  • EOD Airmen reflect on six-month tour in Iraq

    Improvised Explosive Devices’ prevalence in Iraq has placed increased demands on Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists, and the members of the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron EOD flight are on the leading edge of the effort to combat these IEDs. Explosive ordnance disposal

  • CMSAF speaks about future changes

    As threats against the United States evolve, Airmen can expect the Air Force to evolve as well said the Air Force’s senior enlisted member during his visit here, Friday, March 10. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray talked about the Air Force’s evolution and the initiatives

  • Joint rescue saves stranded scuba divers

    Thanks to the combined efforts of Airmen from Kadena Air Base and local Japanese responders here, two scuba divers were rescued early Monday morning following a five-hour search and rescue operation. The two scuba divers -- a local Okinawan and a U.S. Marine -- were found clinging to the bottom of

  • Air Force gets aggressive about combat training

    To become the best Airmen in the world, the Air Force trains against the best Airmen in the world. Aggressors, as they’re known, scrimmage against their fellow Airmen, much like football teams preparing for a game. Traditionally, aggressors have focused on aircrews, but in the near future, the Air

  • New checklist helps expedite hiring process

    The Air Force Personnel Center has created a Request for Personnel Action checklist to help managers during the hiring process. The RPA checklist is a valuable tool used to assist managers and hiring officials in managing their civilian positions in a more efficient and timely manner. It was

  • Gen. Renuart: U.S. strategy built for new threats

    The U.S. military has sculpted its strategy to account for the different threats, cultures and circumstances posed by the global war on terror, said the Joint Staff's chief of strategic plans and policy. While the Defense Department does focus a great deal of effort on Iraq and Afghanistan, the war

  • Airman saves co-worker

    A security forces noncommissioned officer lost consciousness and was saved by a fellow Airman at a Las Vegas restaurant March 5. Members of the security team for Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment '06 were at dinner when Master Sgt. Jeff Jones noticed that Staff Sgt. Dionne Bennett, an Air

  • Engineers support the fight

    Air Force engineers from the 557th Expeditionary Red Horse Squadron are supporting Bastogne Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry near Hawijah, Iraq, by increasing the quality of living on forward operating base McHenry. “It’s a mission worth supporting,” said 2nd Lt. Tim Brodman, the officer

  • What’s in a name?

    The Space Warfare Center here became the Space Innovation and Development Center in a formal ceremony March 8. The name has changed, but the organization’s mission remains the same, the commander said. “One of the things I want people to understand is that there’s no change in our mission,” Col.

  • Dental residency program fills experience gap

    A dental residency program here teaches dentists career field specialties and how to serve in a deployed location. The advanced education in general dentistry resident program is the only dentistry program in the Air Force that accepts dentists who have already served in the military for a few

  • The nose knows -- military working dogs complete security forces mission

    “Get 'em!” With one swift movement, military working dog Breston is off like a flash, covering the distance between his handler and his target in just a few fluid strides. The reward for his speed and agility is a nice juicy bite. Of course the juicy bite was just the “bite suit” but Breston, a

  • Analysis of tanker fleet alternatives released

    The RAND Corp. released an executive summary March 7 detailing its findings from an analysis of alternatives study to replace the Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker fleet. The report states, "A fleet of medium to large (300,000 to 1,000,000 pounds maximum gross takeoff weight) commercial derivatives is

  • Warfare center creates mobility warriors

    Every day more than 550 Airmen pick up a proverbial sword and shield and step onto the battlefield. Their sword is knowledge honed to a razor’s edge by experience and technology; their shield, the Air Mobility Warfare Center; their battlefield, deployed locations around the world. “We are

  • Medics, volunteers meet Iraqis' medical needs

    Several times a week, medics from the 447th Expeditionary Medical Squadron take a break from their normal “hustle and bustle” work schedule at the clinic to help local Iraqis who feel under the weather. The medics head out close to the wire to see these patients at the Radhwaniya Medical Clinic

  • Heritage to horizons: Advice from former chiefs spans generations

    There is one distinct common observation most former chief master sergeants of the Air Force have about today’s Airmen, and that’s the level of education and sophistication coming out of today’s society. “[When] you talk about our Airmen of today, you also have to talk about the young citizens of

  • Air Force introduces next generation cruise missile

    Since the late 1970s the Department of Defense has tried and failed numerous times to give the warfighter an affordable standoff cruise missile capable of taking out the enemy's air defenses early on in a conflict. Fast forward to 2006 and that warfighter need has finally been met by the Air Force's

  • Weather info delivered to warfighter faster with integration

    Net-centric weather integration is one of the many important initiatives being tested during the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. This integration, sponsored by the Air Force Weather Agency, demonstrates the capability to provide critical, time-sensitive