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  • Vandenberg Airmen put eyes in sky

    Somewhere on Vandenberg, two Airmen wearing berets and rifle slings have their heads in a monitor as they fly a remote control plane. The Airmen are demonstrating a new capability for security, surveillance, reconnaissance, battle damage assessment and more, in the form of a four-pound,

  • Balad Airmen have sweeping task

    Keeping the busy airfield here free of debris is a lot of work -- and takes a lot of sweeping. But Airmen from the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron airfield management flight and 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron pavements and equipment shop see it as a challenge. "We

  • The making of a memorial

    It was his favorite holiday. He looked at his birthday in October as a count down to Christmas. So Army Sgt. Michael E. Yaschinski loved being with his family at that very special time of the year. “He never missed a Christmas, even when he was stationed in Italy -- except for 2003,” said his

  • Surviving the unthinkable

    Airmen sang Christmas carols as they cruised their armored truck through the thick gray fog of Iraq’s northern desert on that late November morning. It was the 2004 holiday season and the Airmen were in good spirits as they neared the end of their 30-day mission. They had helped guard Army convoys

  • Mishap investigation training changes course

    Figuring out what causes an airplane to crash is no easy task. But many flight surgeons, aerospace physiologists and some psychologists will be part of an aircraft mishap investigation at some point in their careers. So the more they know about what to do, the better. To better prepare students for

  • McConnell completes first refurbishment project

    Several Airmen here joined the 22nd Maintenance Squadron's equipment excellence section in a Refurb Rollout ceremony Nov. 21, which celebrated the end of McConnell’s first complete KC-135 Stratotanker refurbishment. “The result was a 40-year-old aircraft that looked brand new in approximately 30

  • Airmen ‘march to the beat’ in Tokyo

    Band members from units throughout the Air Force came to play in the annual Marching Band Festival held at this city’s Budokan Hall. The concert, on Nov. 18 and 19, is an annual event held near the anniversary of the founding of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. This year, a crowd of nearly 50,000

  • Discovery Channel show visits McConnell 'Dirty Jobs' crew

    “It’s a dirty job, but someone’s got to do it.” That’s a cliché jokingly thrown around in everyday life. But a team of 22nd Maintenance Group Airmen tackle their “dirty job” with such aplomb, the Discovery Channel show “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe” taped an episode about the Airmen here Nov. 21 and

  • Aerial port center making air movements easier

    The U.S. Central Command Air Forces aerial port control center here makes it easier to move troops and cargo through this region each day. That includes tons of cargo and thousands of troops and is a process that takes a lot planning and coordination, officials said. The center cuts a step out of

  • Airmen graduate from Army interrogator school

    More than 90 Airmen stood next to Soldiers when the first “bluesuiter” graduated from the U.S. Army Intelligence Center’s interrogator school at Fort Huachuca, Ariz. The Airmen -- with youth ministers and Scout leaders in their midst -- graduated Nov. 10. The Airmen volunteered after the Army asked

  • Air Force leaders send Thanksgiving message

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley have sent this Thanksgiving message: “Thanksgiving is a special day for Americans to gather with family and friends and appreciate all our nation has to offer. “Whether fighting the Global War on

  • AFIT honors 2005 distinguished alumni

    The Air Force Institute of Technology honored three 2005 Distinguished Alumni for their pioneering roles in science, engineering and education. The institute honored Dr. Anthony K. Hyder, retired Army Lt. Gen. Leo Pigaty and retired Col. Howard M. McCoy Nov. 18. “The title of ‘distinguished alumnus’

  • Reservist medical-dental records easier to get

    The Air Reserve Personnel Center will move the medical and dental records of some reservists to the active-duty base where they serve as part of a test to streamline operations. The process, initiated two years ago, will help reduce duplicate copies of the records. This will decrease work and

  • Fairchild security forces provide combat skills training

    Because Airmen are deploying to hostile areas, the Air Force directed major commands to provide those deploying intensive expeditionary combat skills training. Since much of the training is ground-combat related, security forces are providing the training. Fairchild has started providing its

  • Rex the dog sporting gold canines

    Most dentists here have performed dozens, if not hundreds, of root canals in their career. But none have ever risked losing a limb for sticking their hand between the jaws of a patient. That is, until now. Enter Rex, a 5-year-old military working dog. The dog could have easily removed a few poking

  • Chaplains deal with deployment issues

    Whether conducting service or casually chatting with Airmen seeking spiritual guidance, military chaplains here stand ready to help. The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing’s five chaplains and three assistants offer the same services found at stateside bases. That is in addition to dealing with the unique

  • Falcons upset Lobos, 42-24

    Air Force played its most complete game of the year, crushing the University of New Mexico Lobos, 42-24, in the Mountain West Conference regular season finale for both teams. Air Force traded in training camp wristbands with the motto “Every Play, Every Day,” for ones that sported its playbook for

  • Uncle, niece serving together in Iraq

    When serving half a world away from home, many servicemembers treasure the little tokens they brought with them to remind them of home. Reserve Senior Master Sgt. Michael Brimmer, the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron first sergeant, has more than that -- his niece, Army Spc. Angela

  • Story time from thousands of miles away

    After years of deployments, some of the ideas Airmen come up with evolve. As the holidays approach, one of those simple ideas is making an impact on family members back home. The Story Time Video Program gives deployed troops here the opportunity to be a part of their children’s lives though they

  • Air Force sets physical training uniform wear date

    The Air Force Uniform Board established an Oct. 1, 2006, mandatory wear date of the physical training uniform, or PTU, for unit fitness activities. The board also released additional guidance for Airmen wearing the uniform for personal workouts. Airmen may wear the PTU during personal workouts given

  • NSPS implementation date moves to Feb. 1

    The Department of Defense will delay implementing the new National Security Personnel System until Feb. 1, acting Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said. Mr. England, and other defense and Office of Personnel Management officials, provided an update on the system matters to members of the

  • Building Iraqi air force is tough job

    Building a nation's air force from the runway up is never going to be easy, a fact one can see at first glance. Dig a layer deeper, and the issues increase dramatically. For the Coalition Air Force Transition Team -- a U.S. Central Command Air Forces think tank of 28 specialists assisting with the

  • Deployed? Find something to sweat about

    Categorizing events on the weekly base activities calendar reveals a simple truth about the Airmen deployed here: They love to stay active, even after a 12-hour shift. “It’s the whole ‘Fit to Fight’ mindset along with the chance for people to enjoy themselves,” said Tech. Sgt. L.J. Kincade, the

  • Fire rescue team supports combat operations

    The role of Air Force firefighters is changing here, with tents replacing fire station, dirt airfields and, at times, rocket attacks. In the last six months, a six-man Air Force fire and crash rescue unit has gone on five missions into some of Afghanistan’s most remote areas. There was enough

  • Elmendorf duo help nab truck thief

    Anchorage police are calling two Airmen heroic for their actions in helping catch a truck thief. Staff Sgts. Joseph Harder and William Young, of the 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron’s aerospace ground equipment section, pulled off the feat. The two were on their way to a restaurant for a

  • ‘Cop-pilots’ fly their own kind of plane

    The glamour of their “piloting” job may not match that of F-15 Eagle or F-16 Fighting Falcon “fighter jocks.” But a group of enlisted Airmen here are using their wings to do a job both kinds of pilots do -- provide base security through air superiority. The half-dozen Airmen -- 407th Expeditionary

  • Minot completes Minuteman emergency communications upgrade

    The 91st Space Wing completed the last modifications to its Minuteman minimum essential emergency communication network at the Oscar-01 missile alert facility in the Minuteman missile complex. The completion of Oscar-01, Nov. 11, marked the final modification to the last of 50 launch control centers

  • New lieutenant colonels to attend senior developmental education

    The P0505A Lieutenant Colonel Central Selection Board selected officers for promotion and identified senior developmental education "selects." The board met at the Air Force Personnel Center here. Selects join a resource pool of officers who will be considered for future attendance at in-residence

  • Sergeant sentenced in cocaine case

    A military judge on Nov. 16 sentenced a staff sergeant for possession and intent to distribute cocaine. Staff Sgt. Vincent U. Kerley received a bad conduct discharge, three years confinement, reduction in rank to airman basic and forfeiture of all future pay and allowances. The sergeant plead guilty

  • A-staff helps sustain joint humanitarian effort

    The 818th Contingency Response Group and 24th Air Expeditionary Group continue handling hundreds of thousands of pounds of cargo each day as part of the continuing Pakistani earthquake recovery effort. Col. Richard Walberg, who commands both groups, said while much of the "visible work" goes on in

  • Online process simplifies tuition assistance

    Airmen are only a few mouse clicks away from financial support for their college education, thanks to the tuition assistance feature on the Air Force’s virtual education center. Online since early 2003, the center helps active-duty, Guard and reserve Airmen pursue their off-duty education from a

  • B-52 simulator plays big role in exercise

    A B-52 Stratofortress simulator is allowing 11th Bomb Squadron students to train with Soldiers and Airmen near Fort Polk, La., taking part in the live fire portion of exercise Air Warrior II. The simulator provides Airmen here a unique training opportunity -- and an alternative to participating in

  • Sergeant provides Cope India 06's contract for success

    Food, bottled water, rooms, cars and cell phones -– it takes all of these things and more to make a deployed unit function smoothly in a foreign country. Getting all of this for the 250 U.S. Airmen supporting exercise Cope India 06 is just one person -– Master Sgt. Elizabeth Wills, from the 374th

  • Communicators lay foundation for Afghanistan’s future

    Before U.S. forces return the airport terminal and tower here to Afghan control, combat communicators first installed more than a mile of copper and fiber cable. Airmen from the 451st Air Expeditionary Group communications flight here stepped up to install the critical communications cables when an

  • Big bangs destroy 2,000 munitions

    Airmen from the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal flight detonated 2,000 munitions, keeping them the out of the hands of insurgents. It took four detonations to destroy the weapons, which members of the Iraqi national guard had captured. After each big bang,

  • Tuskegee Airmen get Air Force update

    Members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen visited the Pentagon to learn about today's Air Force and visit with the secretary of defense. The Airmen visited Nov. 10. One pioneering Airman, retired Lt. Col. Howard Baugh, took time to reflect on the changes in the military since the day he joined in 1942.

  • Maintainers rescue 'Herc' stranded in Mosul

    Two maintainers went to Mosul, Iraq, to rescue a stranded C-130 Hercules cargo plane. Hydraulics specialist Staff Sgt. David Harrelson and crew chief Senior Airman Brian Kundick, of the 386th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, went to Mosul Nov. 12. The Airmen boarded a C-130 and flew into

  • Teamwork keeps Balad power on

    A group of Airmen has the tough and fast-paced job of maintaining all the generators that power this desert base. The Airmen are with the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron’s aerospace ground equipment and heating ventilation and air conditioning shop. They stay busy. "Power generation is the

  • Controllers keep Balad traffic flowing

    A director producing a blockbuster film must know where each actor and camera is at all times to ensure the right shot. Air traffic controllers from the 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron must be just as diligent to ensure aircraft take off and land safely at this busy base. The

  • Airmen compete for spot with Tops In Blue

    Airmen from around the Air Force got the chance to showcase their talents during the Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. This year, Tops In Blue officials went through 117 video applications looking for talent, selecting 61 applicants to compete in the talent show,

  • Airmen reach out to help Kyrgyz children

    Some Kyrgyz children stricken with cancer now have a new, safer place to play -- thanks to a group of concerned Airmen deployed to this base. The Airmen, volunteer members of the Manas Air Base Outreach Society, find ways to help the people of this country. Most recently, the group donated clothing,

  • Soldiers win first Camp Bucca Raft Race

    Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors traded their military vehicles and weapons for homemade boats and paddles to take part in the first-ever Camp Bucca Raft Race. The Air Force-sponsored race, held Nov. 13 on a small pond here, matched the talents and ingenuity of 17 teams vying for the top prize and camp

  • President Bush thanks troops at Elmendorf

    President George Bush stopped here on the first leg of his week-long Asia tour and thanked servicemembers and civilians for volunteering to serve and continuing the fight the global war on terrorism. It was the president’s second visit here. He spoke for nearly 45 minutes with more than 4,500

  • Airmen should verify deployment credit

    Airmen not issued contingency, exercise or deployment orders should verify their personnel records include credit for those deployments. A deployment is any temporary duty away from home station filling a validated combatant or component commander or supported major command requirement for forces in

  • Communications network impacts intelligence

    The blue forces are pinned down. Mortars are exploding all around them. A blue force attack controller requests help from a nearby MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle armed with Hellfire missiles. The Air Force responds to the request. The attack controller on the ground is able to locate and

  • Airman says manual, training saved his life

    When he went to sleep one night, Staff Sgt. Stephen Jones felt tingling in his fingers and toes and had a high fever and chills. Sergeant Jones remembered from reading his Airman’s Manual -- and from his pre-deployment self-aid and buddy care training -- that those signs were serious. He realized he

  • Wargames are serious business

    To the untrained eye it seems to be a room full of computers. However, to Airmen of the 608th Combat Operations Squadron the combined air and space operations center here is a lethal weapon system. “It’s the total package, we find the target, fix the position, track it, engage the target and assess

  • Airman, volunteers working to renovate hospital

    Airmen from the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing here are revamping the Air Force theater hospital, creating a brighter and safer environment for patients and providers. The 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, 332nd Expeditionary Communications Squadron and 332nd Expeditionary Medical Support

  • Labor Department launches veterans employment program

    Military personnel and veterans will receive 300,000 wallet-sized cards and key charms with critical employment and job-training information in the next six months, the U.S. Department of Labor said. The department also unveiled the recovery and employment assistance lifelines -- REALifelines --

  • Innovative program helps troubled veterans turn lives around

    A unique center is helping troubled veterans turn their lives around by providing a military style program designed to help them beat addictions, develop career skills, land jobs, find homes and become productive citizens. The Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training, MCVET for short,

  • General Smith takes helm of joint forces, NATO transformation commands

    Gen. Lance L. Smith took command of NATO's Allied Command Transformation and U.S. Joint Forces Command during an assumption ceremony aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower at the Norfolk Naval Station here. General Smith assumed his duties Nov. 10. He thanked the personnel of both commands for their

  • Accident report out on Iraqi Comp Air 7SL

    Air Force Special Operations Command ended its investigation into the May 30 crash of an Iraqi air force Comp Air 7SL aircraft in Iraq that killed five Airmen. The primary purpose of the investigation was to set forth factual information concerning the accident. But because the investigation lacked

  • AWACS crews watch over president

    Members of the 552nd Air Control Wing were in Argentina through Nov. 7th to provide airborne surveillance for the Summit of the Americas attended by President George W. Bush. Thirty-three North and South American leaders convened at the summit to discuss solutions to common political, economic and

  • Kadena Airmen teach English to Japanese Airmen

    In a combat environment communication between allies is important. That’s why more than 25 Kadena Airmen practiced English communication with Japan Air Self Defense Force Airmen preparing to deploy to Southwest Asia recently. Kadena Airmen -- from senior airmen to major -- paired up with their

  • Counseling helps Airmen decide on Air Force

    Average income for a civilian eight years after high school graduation –– $42,000. Total compensation for a staff sergeant with eight years time in service and no dependants –– $52,244. Attending the right decision and career decision briefings –– priceless. Making the right decision in which way to

  • JCS chairman sends Veterans' Day message

    Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace has sent the following  Veterans' Day message:"This Veterans’ Day we honor those men and women who have defended our nation in the armed forces. Today is an opportunity for Americans to recognize the tremendous accomplishments and proud

  • Schoolhouse trains tanker instructor pilots to be weapons officers

    Some Airmen here are helping produce experts in Air Force tanker operations. Members of the 509th Weapons Squadron do that by conducting the KC-135 Weapons Instructor Course and running the tanker intelligence formal training unit here. The squadron is one of three that make up the U.S. Air Mobility

  • General Myers receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

    President George Bush presented retired Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a White House ceremony today. General Myers, who stepped down as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Sept. 30, was one of 14 Americans honored with the nation's highest civilian award.

  • Soto brothers endure Balad together

    Deployments often mean working long hours thousands of miles away from family and friends. But for two Airmen here, that is not the case. The Soto brothers are both deployed to the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. Tech. Sgt. Orlando Soto and Senior Airman Saul Soto deployed from the

  • McConnell testing new Air Force personnel initiative

    The Air Force is testing a new organizational structure at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., designed to improve convenience and timeliness for customers worldwide.The Personnel Services Delivery, or PSD, Transformation initiative allows Airmen to complete transactions online or through contact

  • Civilian personnel system allows employees control over advancement

    The National Security Personnel System, which will go on line soon, will provide a more performance- and market-based system of hiring, pay and evaluation. With NSPS, Department of Defense civilians can influence the amount of money they will receive by their performance, their value to the

  • Bagram Airmen spread cheer, share smiles

    Airmen fighting the global war on terrorism from nearby Bagram Air Base took time to spread cheer and share smiles with the people of a village here. As part of an adopt-a-village visit Nov. 3, Airmen distributed more than 1,200 pounds of winter clothes, blankets, school supplies and toys, said

  • Rescue squad puts training to test

    The blades of the Army UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter beat the air as four firefighters rushed to it with 200 pounds of specialized extrication gear. The 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen knew this time it wasn’t a drill. Two trucks were in a near head-on collision 10 minutes

  • Changes on horizon for PME

    The Air Force professional military education process has developed grade-related education and education opportunities that support specific jobs for officers. "On the enlisted side, the Air Force has long had a continuity of PME programs that are associated with rank advancement, but you also have

  • Communications keep Cope India Airmen connected

    Setting up complete operational communication support for 250 deployed Airmen in a foreign country doesn’t just happen overnight. But the 35th Communications Squadron’s 10-person theater deployable communication package did that in 48 hours. The unit from Misawa Air Base, Japan, is here to support

  • 76 recruits ‘sign up’ at 49ers game

    Seventy-six delayed entry program recruits swore into the Air Force before a crowd of 70,000 at a San Francisco 49ers game here Nov. 6. The recruits -- some traveled 100 miles to the Monster Park football field -- enlisted through the 364th Recruiting Squadron out of Sacramento, Calif. The annual

  • Eagles, Raptors team to deter ‘attack’

    Every day, F-15 Eagle instructor pilots here teach dozens of student pilots how to fight and win in combat. But the instructors rarely get a chance to showcase their own warfighting skills. Fortunately, some 1st Fighter Squadron instructors got a chance to test their skills against the toughest and

  • Airmen start deployment training early

    Members of air expeditionary forces nine and 10 here began preparing for their deployment by learning essential combat skills. The 88th Air Base Wing readiness section started the expeditionary combat skills training course last month to cover the 19 hours of training troops need before deploying.

  • Job fair highlights veterans' skills and commitment

    Employers anxious to tap into the skills and discipline military service instills in its members converged at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center here during the first Salute Our Heroes Veterans Job Fair and Career Expo. There were also thousands of job-seeking veterans at the Nov. 3 event.The

  • Wynne: Air Force needs more joint role

    Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne said as the Air Force evolves to a new global war on terrorism era he wants it to participate in more joint operations. The Air Force is operating “as a joint service, right now -- today," the secretary said. But he said the service needs to foster a more joint

  • French finish coalition flying mission

    After three months of flying support and combat sorties, the French air force successfully fulfilled its mission here today. The French air force flew Operation Enduring Freedom began close air support, armed reconnaissance and convoy-escort missions in support of the parliamentary elections in

  • Operation Ruthless Raven: OSI cracks down on drug smugglers

    The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is heading up Operation Ruthless Raven, a joint task force to combat drug smuggling. Ruthless Raven Task Force goals are to identify vulnerabilities in the Air Force transportation and mail systems and to leverage internal and external capabilities to

  • Skeet shooters bring home victory for Air Force

    The Air Force Skeet Team presented a plaque to the director of the AIr Force SErvices Agency in a ceremony at the Pentagon here Nov. 2, capping a season that blasted Navy, Marines and Army teams in competition. Maj. Vernon Lucas, who represented the skeet team and works at the Pentagon, expressed

  • C-130s drop humanitarian aid into Pakistan

    Two C-130 Hercules aircrews left here Oct. 29 and airdropped an estimated 50,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies to victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake in Pakistan. Fourteen containers filled with food, water, shelter and supplies descended by parachute to people below. “As far as the C-130 goes, you

  • Elections, security will determine size of force in Iraq

    Iraqi security forces are now shouldering more security burdens, said Marine Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, director of operations for the Joint Staff. "Iraqi security forces continue to grow in capability and confidence," he said. The Iraqi army and police have more than 210,000 members trained and

  • SECAF: Integrity first

    The newly confirmed Secretary of the Air Force has set a strong emphasis on both individual and organizational responsibility and accountability -- one of his goals for his tenure. "We have to … continuously emphasize the integrity of purpose and integrity of the individual," Secretary Michael W.

  • Cutting edge micro-satellite achieves milestones

    A 220-pound micro-satellite developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate here recently accomplished significant mission milestones when it rendezvoused with the upper stage of a Minotaur I launch vehicle at distances between 1.5 kilometers and 500 meters. The Air Force

  • Afghanistan’s busiest runway undergoes repairs as mission continues

    Age, weather and more than 3,000 operations every week take their toll on the busiest runway in Afghanistan. Without a continual effort to repair the runway here, the mission would virtually come to a halt. A nine-man spall-repair team from the 455th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron spends more

  • New SECAF sends 'Letter to Airmen'

    The following is a "Letter to Airmen" from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne:"It is an honor to serve as Secretary of the Air Force, and I look forward to working alongside you in keeping our Nation safe. Because of your dedication, skill, and sacrifice, the U.S. Air Force gives an

  • Save-A-Life tour is an eye-opener

    Travis members experienced the dangers of driving under the influence this week when the Save-A-Life tour visited here. The tour uses a drunk-driving simulator that allows people to experience first-hand how alcohol impairs their driving skills. The machine has an instrument panel and three screens,

  • Airmen lend helping hand to enlisted village residents

    Airmen here gave up their free time help their neighbors during Make a Difference Day Oct. 22 and 28. Residents of Bob Hope and Theresa villages and Eglin’s Thrift Shop benefited from these Airmen’s labors. The annual event is the most encompassing national day of helping others -- a celebration of

  • Joint Fires Center of Excellence begins training

    The Joint Fires Center of Excellence opened its doors Oct. 17 as the U.S. military’s only Europe-based joint firepower education center. The U.S. Air Forces in Europe-inspired initiative is designed to enhance close air support operations by providing a convenient training environment for

  • Air Force must stay the course with FTF, AEF

    The Air Force must transform through Future Total Force and stay the course with the Air and Space Expeditionary Force concept, said the directors of the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. The Future Total Force concept is the Air Force's plan to better integrate the Air National Guard, Air

  • CSAF reading list announced

    Officials announced the new Chief of Staff of the Air Force reading list Nov. 1. "Our Air Force has an incredible heritage… a heritage built on courage, valor, brilliance and perseverance," said Gen. T. Michael Moseley. The reading list focuses on history and heritage. Understanding history allows

  • Wilma visits couple during Mexican honeymoon

    They enjoyed long walks on the beach, romantic dinners and winds of 159 miles per hour? Master Sgt. Leon Palmer and his new bride, Staff Sgt. Rena Palmer, both members of 22nd Security Forces Squadron, had an unexpected visitor during their honeymoon earlier this month in Cancun, Mexico. “We were in

  • Officials express confidence in new Civilian Personnel System

    Pentagon officials want to emphasize to civilian employees that the changes in their personnel system are all about improving national security. After a two-year process, officials have designed the new National Security Personnel System to be faster, more flexible and more agile, said Michael

  • Air Force authorizes Berlin Airlift streamers

    Nearly 60 years after the operation, Air Force units involved in the Berlin Airlift are now authorized a new streamer to add to their unit guidons. “A question was raised to Dick Anderegg (the Air Force historian) a couple months ago if the Berlin Airlift was a campaign, and if so, do we have a

  • Recruiters, enlistees highlighted at A/TA Convention

    Pledging one’s devotion to their country and reciting the Oath of Enlistment can be inspirational to most. This first step to becoming a member of the nation’s military is special in itself, but 10 enlistees from the 330th Recruiting Squadron had this moment made even more memorable during this

  • Maintainers resurrect historic aircraft

    A group of Edwards aircraft maintainers recently joined efforts to restore a historic aircraft for the Air Force Flight Test Center museum. A team of 36 maintainers from the 412th Equipment Maintenance Squadron's corrosion control, armament, structural maintenance, inspection flight and fabrication

  • Enlisted aide career field continues to improve

    From preparing meals to arranging official social events, enlisted aides have long proven themselves invaluable to general officers. But over the last three years, their career field has evolved to include better training, recognition programs and the chance to earn a Community College of the Air

  • Tuskegee Airmen come to encourage, leave inspired

    It was to deliver a message of inspiration and support that led five members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen to visit the members of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing here Oct. 29. However, during a question-and-answer session here at their last stop in the region before returning home, the Tuskegee

  • 'Open the air base' unit returns from successful desert trial

    Say you need to move troops to a war zone in some isolated region or relief supplies to a devastated area, and you need to do it in a hurry. Who do you call? The men and women of the 816th Contingency Response Group have a simple answer: "Call us." From Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to the recent

  • Supporting those outside Balad

    The 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group Personnel Support for Contingency Operation team has a unique mission here -- to account for Airmen who fill Army and Marine billets. Although the majority of these In Lieu of Forces Airmen are geographically separated from Balad Air Base, they must be

  • First deployed SARC stationed at Manas

    In the continuing effort to ensure that deployed Airmen are as well taken care of as their home station counterparts, the Air Force recently deployed its first sexual assault response coordinator here. The effort is part of the Air Force’s Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program drive to have

  • Medical logisticians deliver medical relief

    When warriors are wounded in the field, many rely on the men and women of the 379th Expeditionary Medical Squadron medical logistics flight for the medicine and supplies needed to patch them up. With a staff of seven, the logistics flight works long hours keeping medical supplies flowing to field

  • Air commandos learn martial arts from Marines

    Beaten, bloodied and loving it. It’s the best way to describe the 20 battlefield Airmen who went toe-to-toe in hand-to-hand combat here, Oct. 17-28. Air commandos from Air Force Special Operations Command units around the world gathered at the 720th Special Tactics Group here to learn from three of

  • Air Force communications directorate expands

    The Air Force chief of staff announced plans today for an enhanced integrated communications capability that will enable the Air Force to better inform the American public about its engagement in the global war on terrorism and support to the nation. The plan eventually calls for a two-star general

  • New tanker ramp opens, improves deployed operational safety and efficiency

    It is a scene that plays often at air bases -- crew chiefs guiding aircraft onto the ramp.But this time the aircraft was taxiing onto a brand new tanker ramp, and the sound of its engines signaled a new era of safety and efficiency for air operations here. The Oct. 22 opening of the new ramp --

  • The Air Force needs your feedback

    People still have time to take the 2005 Air Force Climate Survey, but the Nov. 23 deadline is rapidly approaching. Twenty-nine percent of the Air Force had taken the survey as of Oct. 27. The survey, which began Oct. 1, gives Air Force people an opportunity to provide honest and productive feedback