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  • Judge advocate general steps down amid investigation

    The Air Force’s top lawyer was granted a request to be relieved from his duties until an inspector general investigation about certain activities is resolved.On Sept. 22, Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper approved a request by Air

  • Deployed Airmen experience local tradition

    Airmen deployed to the 3rd Air Expeditionary Group here experienced a South Korean tradition Sept. 28 that is more than 2,000 years old.Every year during the harvest season when the moon is full, South Koreans celebrate a holiday similar to the American Thanksgiving called Chu Sok or Harvest Moon

  • Hockey team participates in Air Force survival training

    A water-survival class normally held for aircrew members here was turned into a day of cross-training for American Hockey League players Sept. 23.The Philadelphia Phantoms participated in an all-day Air Force water-survival training exercise in hopes to build core strength and a “little mental

  • Airman likes being part of bigger picture

    "I just love knowing that I'm part of taking care of this country and making sure that we keep all the freedoms that we have now," said Staff Sgt. Georgina Baldwin. "I just love it. I love the military. It's just like one big family."Sergeant Baldwin, an allergy and immunization technician with

  • Guardsmen, aircraft wow South African crowd

    They were daunted by the size of the C-5 Galaxy transport and KC-135 Stratotanker, and mesmerized by the sleek, bold designs of the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and F-16 Fighting Falcon.So it was easy for crowds of children and military enthusiasts to swarm to New York Air National Guardsmen

  • Despite predictable weather, specialists still keep busy

    When an area averages an annual temperature of about 100 degrees and less than 1 inch of rain, a person could assume that the weather is fairly predictable. One could also assume that a bunch of weather specialists would not be gainfully employed at such a location. But then again, everyone knows

  • Humanitarian airlift brings $15 million in aid to base

    The largest amount of humanitarian aid to enter the Kyrgyz Republic since it became its own country in 1991 came by way of C-17 Globemaster IIIs from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., on Sept. 23.About $15 million worth of medicines and medical supplies were unloaded at the Bishkek International

  • Despite danger, convoy Airmen keep on trucking

    The hours are long, and their jobs are dangerous, but Airmen keeping supply lines running on northern Iraq roads are determined to keep on trucking. That is because they realize the importance of what they do, said Capt. Harley Smith, commander of more than 140 Airmen assigned to Detachment 1 of the

  • Academy town hall meeting reaches worldwide audience

    The Air Force’s three top leaders opened a town hall meeting here Sept. 27 by speaking about the service’s force size and its future in space.Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper explained the current force management is “not a cut” but designed to reshape the force. “It is getting us down to where

  • Airfield manager flies U.S. flag for Afghan children’s aid

    Each time Barry McKelvy sees the U.S. Flag waving from the air control tower here, he knows his nation’s symbol is providing comfort for Afghan children. Mr. McKelvy, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing’s flag-flying program coordinator, flies flags in honor of family and friends for donations. The

  • Airmen help save lives following UH-60 crash at Tallil

    Just after 9:20 p.m. Sept. 21, two Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters took off from the flightline here.Two minutes later, something went horribly wrong with one of them.“The first thing I heard was a loud, dull thud, kind of like a fist hitting a wooden wall,” said Senior Airman John Byrum, a

  • Now showing: Sept. 27 edition of AFTV News

    The latest edition of Air Force Television News focuses on the conflict in Afghanistan. Tech. Sgts. Pachari Lutke and Joy Josephson spent a week in the Kyrgyz Republic, reporting on the Air Force mission in this former Soviet territory and how Airmen there are supporting Operation Enduring

  • Trial ends for Air Force translator

    Senior Airman Ahmad al-Halabi, a supply clerk who served as a Guantanamo Bay translator, was found guilty of three charges and four specifications of violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The trial ended here Sept. 23.Col. Barbara Brand, the military judge for the case, sentenced

  • Deployed Airmen visit South Korean orphanage

    More than a dozen Airmen deployed to the 3rd Air Expeditionary Group here joined their South Korean counterparts for a visit to a local orphanage Sept. 24.Airmen witnessed the smiles, laughter and boundless energy of more than 80 children.“This was a wonderful opportunity to join with our (South

  • Academy site of town hall meeting Sept. 27

    Arnold Hall here is the setting for a town hall meeting Sept. 27 featuring Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James Roche, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper and Chief Master Sgt. Of the Air Force Gerald Murray.The meeting begins at 1 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on The Pentagon Channel

  • U.S. military supports South African trade show

    U.S. military equipment and Airmen from the New York Air National Guard are here for the Aerospace Exhibition.The event marks the first time aircraft and guardsmen from New York have participated in a South African air show, officials said.Visitors will get a close-up look at four static displays:

  • Gotta fix ‘em before you fly ‘em

    Nestled in a small, nondescript building among a dozen aircraft revetments here, the 353rd Maintenance Squadron’s consolidated tool kit section hums with activity around the clock.With more than 1,600 bench-stock items, 200 pieces of test equipment and 120 hazardous materials, it is the first and

  • Families of students using assignment deferment program

    Sixty-three Air Force families with a child who entered his or her senior year of high school this year will get to stay additional time at their current duty stations.The High School Seniors Assignment Deferment Program allows senior master sergeants and below, and officers up through the rank of

  • Pax terminal gets Airmen where they need to be

    Long hours spent working in temperatures hovering around 100 degrees has made a trip home one of the sweetest ideas for Airmen in Southwest Asia. However, many troops face delays and hang-ups that would frustrate the most patient traveler. Fortunately, the “Mighty 8th” is ready to help.The

  • White House breakfast honors American Indian servicemembers

    President Bush took honored those to whom the newest Smithsonian Institution museum is dedicated Sept. 23.He praised the contributions of American Indians, both military and civilian, from Sacagawea's presence with Lewis and Clark to the Code Talkers of World War II."The National Museum of the

  • Number of officers receiving command pay reduced

    Command Responsibility Pay now received by some field-grade officers in command positions will end in October.In a Sight Picture titled, “Recognizing the Responsibility of Command,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper announced the Air Force would reduce the number of command positions that

  • Volunteer coach shares passion for boxing

    A maintainer here offers people an alternative to being on the street, one that teaches them lifelong skills. In turn, those people teach him how to become a better coach and allow him to be involved in the sport he adores."I love boxing," said Staff Sgt. Edward Rivas, a flying crew chief with the

  • Airborne network takes 'wireless' to new heights

    Leaders at all levels can soon access information from their home stations regardless of where they are in the world thanks to an airborne local-area network.Engineers at the 412th Flight Test Squadron here and the Air Force systems networking program office at Gunter Annex, Ala., developed and

  • Partnership brings space to classroom

    More than 300 students and teachers boarded yellow buses for a field trip like no other. No, they did not visit the zoo or any of the local tourist attractions; they ventured all the way to space -- well, Air Force Space Command headquarters here.The students were invited as part of the “Space in

  • ATOC keeps troops, supplies moving

    Get ‘em in, get ‘em out. From troops to supplies, the Airmen of the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron’s air terminal operations center here take care of it all, ensuring aerial transport lines keep flowing smoothly.With only about one-fifth the number of people with which the aerial

  • Command, control: Prescription for aeromedical-evacuation success

    A battlefield injury or illness poses a threat to those deployed worldwide. When that threat turns into reality, the Air Force’s extensive aeromedical-evacuation network ensures wounded warriors are moved rapidly to a medical facility to get the care they need. The expansive network includes Airmen

  • Special ops maintainers team up on Kadena's tiny troubles

    Ehren Wahl and Wesley Brown are both staff sergeants, they are assigned to the 353rd Maintenance Squadron, and they each have spent most of their careers here on Okinawa, a tiny island in southern Japan. That is where the similarities end.Sergeant Wahl is an outspoken, 24-year-old from New York who

  • Airmen remain in control of their futures

    In spite of the Air Force’s force-shaping measures, Airmen are learning they remain in control of their futures, even in over-manned career fields.There are choices for those whose re-enlistments are coming up soon: retrain, join the Guard or Reserve, join the Army with “Operation Blue to Green” or

  • Deployed contracting makes it happen

    It is hard to believe that a stroke of a pen can cost the Air Force hundreds of thousands of dollars; it is even harder to believe that it is a staff sergeant’s pen that does this nearly every day.Such is the job of 379th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron Airmen at a forward-deployed location.

  • Airmen evacuate injured Russian sailor

    Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the 56th Rescue Squadron raced 230 miles to evacuate an injured 19-year-old sailor from a Russian destroyer Sept. 14. The mission off the southern coast of Iceland began after squadron officials were notified of the situation at 1:25 p.m. “We always keep one

  • Mountain Home ‘maintainer’ readies skis for season

    Flanked on two sides by nearby mountains, this high-desert fighter base is a short drive from prime wintertime skiing, snowboarding and sledding hotspots.Though the temperature is still in the 80s, Idaho’s winter season starts in mid-September for the staff of the busy outdoor recreation supply

  • Virginia Air Guard responds to Florida storms

    Nearly 50 Virginia Air National Guardsmen responded to hurricane relief efforts in Florida, making it the first time their unit has deployed to Florida for a natural disaster.The 203rd Red Horse Squadron from Virginia Beach deployed to assist in the clean-up efforts after Hurricane Frances and wound

  • Air Force medics take control of combat hospital

    Troops with emergency medical needs will now visit the Air Force Theater Hospital while deployed to Iraq.Central Command Air Forces officials announced that Sept. 20, Air Force medics took control of the base hospital, formerly known as the 31st Combat Support Hospital.The decision to transfer

  • Civil engineers do whatever it takes to keep ‘em flying

    Airman 1st Class Aaron McDonald radios the air control tower for clearance to enter the runway. His mission: Break up five different 24-inch squares of damaged runway sections and put them back together again before the next aircraft takes off. He has less than an hour to clear each one. Each

  • Airman goes green to aid OIF medical mission

    When Senior Airman Gary Doran graduated from the Department of Defense biomedical equipment technician’s course in 2002 and moved to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., he thought his time at the joint-service school would be his last experience working with Soldiers for a long time. In fact, he said he

  • Air Force announces team-excellence awards

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper announced the five teams selected for 2004 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Awards during a ceremony Sept 14.Fifteen teams were nominated for the awards, which recognize outstanding team performance and promote systematic process improvement. The awards

  • Minot officer dies after fall

    A lieutenant colonel here died Sept. 18 at about 12:30 p.m. from injuries sustained in a fall earlier in the day.Lt. Col. David Patterson, 5th Maintenance Group deputy commander, fell from an obstacle at the base’s confidence course while participating in a team-building exercise.The colonel arrived

  • Jeanne sends ‘Hurricane Hunters' home

    Air Force Reserve Command's "Hurricane Hunters" are being hunted again. This time “Jeanne” is chasing them out of Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., and forcing them to return to Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.About 120 reservists, 15 WC-130 Hercules weather reconnaissance aircraft and three C-130

  • Jumper: Terror threat greater than any other

    The threat of terrorism is greater than any threat this nation has ever faced, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper. And he said he believes today's Airmen are up to the challenge.The threat of terrorism is "greater than Nazism, greater than communism," General Jumper said. "This

  • AETC commander gives education update

    Right number, right skills, right training and right quality.That is the bottom line, said Gen. Donald G. Cook, commander of Air Education and Training Command, when he gave his stakeholders’ report at the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition on Sept.

  • Hurricanes, home, mission focus of Gwangju Airmen

    Airmen deployed with the 3rd Air Expeditionary Group here focus daily on the task of ensuring the F-15E Strike Eagles can perform the mission and return safely. But for more than 100 of them, that focus is split between accomplishing the mission here and keeping their minds on the weather causing

  • Secretary, chief send Air Force birthday message

    The following is an Air Force birthday message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“Happy birthday to the Airmen of the world’s greatest air and space force! Our 57 years of history may be short, but they are packed with astounding

  • Italians, Americans work together in mass-casualty exercise

    Senior Airman Shaun Hasha expected to spend his morning Sept. 13 strolling the aisles of a local store. Instead, he spent the time running from authorities and choking on toxic fumes.The 31st Medical Operations Squadron Airman was not overcome by criminal mischief; he was a volunteer during a large

  • Creative Airmen shape tomorrow’s Air Force today

    The initiative and innovations of Airmen today will shape the Air Force of tomorrow, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper on Sept. 15 at the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.“The theme of this symposium is people, and throughout the

  • Medics provide critical support during hurricane

    Four respiratory therapists from the 59th Medical Wing here are working side by side with Navy and civilian medics to provide critical support at a shelter in Orlando, Fla., during the hurricane in Florida.Staff Sgts. James Woods and Jennifer Murphy, Senior Airman Tabitha Freeman and Airman 1st

  • AEF still an evolving concept

    While the air and space expeditionary force construct is not new, it is not finished growing yet either, according to the Air Force deputy chief of staff for air and space operations.“(It is likely) we’re not going to fight a war (in the United States),” said Lt. Gen. Ronald E. Keys on Sept. 14 at

  • Thirteen years later, Air Force dedicates its memorial

    Soaring 270 feet into the sky over America’s capital, three stainless-steel spires forming an equilateral triangle will memorialize the U.S. Air Force.The groundbreaking ceremony and site dedication for the Air Force Memorial was Sept. 15, in Arlington, Va. The ceremony included speeches by Chief

  • Myers sends Air Force birthday message

    The following is an Air Force birthday message from Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff:“On the 18th of September, 1947, our Nation created the U.S. Air Force. Over the last 57 years, the Air Force has changed dramatically, employing new technology and responding to a

  • EOD team enjoys ‘a booming business’

    Most boys dream of growing up to be just like their fathers. They imitate the way they walk, the way they talk and even the way they dress. Tech. Sgt. John Bell went a step further. He imitates the way his father made things explode.“I guess you can say blowing up things runs in the family,” said

  • Airmen make an F-16 ‘Thunder-ready’

    It takes less than 72 hours to convert a red, white and blue Thunderbird F-16 back to combat status. But what about taking a combat-ready Fighting Falcon and making it "Thunder-ready?"That is exactly what the people of the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, demonstrated

  • POW/MIA day provides time to reflect, thank

    “However long it takes, wherever it takes us, whatever the cost.”Those words reflect the pledge of the more than 600 people who work every day to locate and identify 88,000 American servicemembers still missing from World War II through today.They are also apt words to describe the theme of the

  • Chief of staff hosts four-star forum at AFA

    The top generals in the Air Force addressed the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 14, taking time to share their views and answer questions from the audience.“It is a privilege to sit here in a leadership position in the greatest Air Force on

  • Americans, Czechs honor those lost in World War II battle

    While people worldwide paused to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, a few hundred residents and visitors here gathered to remember a different air disaster -- one that occurred the early afternoon of Sept. 11, 1944. That was when a particularly fierce and bloody World War II air battle took

  • Personnel chief gives force development update at AFA

    The Air Force deputy chief of staff for personnel told Airmen at the 2004 Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition on Sept. 14 about three key programs that will shape their service.Adhering to the theme of this year’s AFA conference -- professional development

  • Command chiefs address Airmen’s concerns

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force joined command chief master sergeants from Air Force major commands at a forum during the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 13.“As I travel around the Air Force, I (stress) that one of the most

  • AMC vice commander addresses mobility in 21st century

    Lessons learned during the war on terror are reshaping the way Air Mobility Command wages war, said Lt. Gen. John R. Baker, AMC vice commander, during the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 13.“(We need) the ability to go into an austere place,

  • Chief of staff outlines plans for fewer combat aircraft

    The Air Force will have fewer fighters and strike aircraft, but the lethality of those that remain will increase, the service’s top general said Sept. 13 at the 2004 Air Force Association’s Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper said the

  • Air Force Association’s 2004 conference opens

    Touting America’s superior air and space force, the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition opened here Sept. 13.Under the theme “Professional Development for the Total Force,” the conference features three days of workshops focused on furthering the potential

  • Survey will measure personnel services delivery

    Airmen can help make their personnel services delivery system better through survey feedback beginning Sept. 20.Air Force officials said they are transforming the way personnel services are delivered to make them more effective, efficient and timely. This PSD transformation uses technology to place

  • Now showing: Sept. 13 edition of AFTV News

    The Cold War and Vietnam legacies of the B-52 Stratofortress highlight the latest edition of Air Force Television News. Staff Sgt. Leigh Bellinger traces the history of the bomber during its half century of service in the Air Force, including its significant role in both wars against Iraq, and its

  • Twins stick together, even on deployment

    For the past month, people here have been seeing double but family and friends of Staff Sgts. Sharon and Lerinda Carle have been seeing double for 22 years.Ever since these identical twins joined the Air Force two weeks after graduating from high school in Silverton, Idaho, their careers have

  • ‘We’ve Been Waiting for You’ campaign returns to television

    The secretary of the Air Force unveiled a new Air Force television advertising campaign Sept. 13 at the Air Force Association’s 2004 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here.The four 30-second ads are a continuation of the “We’ve Been Waiting for You” theme, showing how young people

  • Airmen ensure medical lifeline in Pacific

    A ready, reliable and efficient war reserve materiel operation is the “heart and soul of medical readiness,” said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Alfaro, superintendent of the 374th Medical Group’s logistics flight here.WRM is pre-positioned equipment and consumable items needed to support Air Force

  • Aid to local cop nets sergeant meeting with president

    Saving an Albuquerque policeman's life and receiving the Airman's Medal for his actions earned a Kirtland pararescueman the right to welcome the president during a recent visit to the area.Staff Sgt. David Biddinger, assigned to the National Assessment Group here, met President George W. Bush as he

  • Airman tells of medical response to Pentagon attack

    When terrorists attacked the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001, the ops tempo at nearby Andrews Air Force Base, Md., hit a feverish pitch, said an Airman who was there.At that time, Senior Airman Andrea Taylor, a 319th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron bioenvironmental engineering journeyman, was working with a

  • Pilot recalls Sept. 11 medical flight mission

    Three years after terrorist attacks killed more than 3,000 people, Capt. Kenneth Langert is deployed fighting the war on terrorism.The terror war is a direct result of those attacks -- taking the fight to the enemy in an effort to prevent any future “9-11s.” For Captain Langert, this effort has

  • Logistics transformation roadmap takes shape

    In less than 18 months, Air Force officials are seeing the benefits of “eLog21,” the service’s logistics plan for the new century.“We’ve only just begun, and we’ve made great progress thus far,” said Lt. Gen. Donald J. Wetekam, deputy chief of staff for installations and logistics. “We’re more into

  • Reserve recruiters exceed goal for 4th straight year

    For the fourth year in a row, Air Force Reserve Command recruiters exceeded the command goal.They brought in 9,636 new recruits by the end of August. Their goal was 9,600 by Sept. 30.Besides making its goal early, the command had its highest percentage of successful recruiters. Of the 284

  • General to head DOD sexual assault task force

    Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness David S.C. Chu announced the selection of Brig. Gen. K.C. McClain Sept. 9 as the commander of the Joint Task Force for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.The task force will support Dr. Chu in advising the secretary of defense on all policy

  • Radar techs keep combat zone airspace safe

    The sky over here is filled with aircraft around the clock -- A-10 Thunderbolt IIs share airspace with cargo aircraft and helicopters.Keeping those aircraft safe is an important and daunting task; but a team of Airmen recently installed new equipment to make that task a little easier.“We installed

  • Secretary, chief send Patriot Day message

    The following is a Patriot Day message from Secretary of the Air Force Dr. James G. Roche and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper:“On the third anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, the world will remember those tragically lost (because of) the heinous actions of terrorists in New York, the

  • Lajes baby born on way to hospital

    When Morgon Damron asks his parents about his birth, Kimberly and Todd Damron can tell him he was born a Portuguese citizen. Then they can tell him he must have been very anxious to be born, because he could not wait until they got to the hospital.“I was sitting in the front seat of the car, and I

  • American Eagle flies in Swiss sky

    The F-15 Eagle West Coast Demonstration Team from the 33rd Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., thrilled nearly 400,000 people at the Air 04 air show here Sept. 4 and 5.This is the first time in more than 12 years there has been an air show in Switzerland, and air show officials said this is

  • New training program for navigators, EWOs begins soon

    A new combat systems officer training program for Air Force navigators and electronic warfare officers begins here Sept. 30 with the 562nd and 563rd Flying Training Squadrons.The new program responds to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper’s request to redesign the current training to

  • Airmen deliver aid to Russia

    Two C-130 Hercules crews from the 38th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, flew medical and humanitarian supplies here Sept. 6.The crews dropped off about 36,000 pounds of medical and humanitarian supplies for relief agencies treating hundreds of victims of a terrorist attack on a school

  • NATO’s top leaders discuss air power

    A NATO Air Chiefs Conference held here Aug. 30 and 31 brought together the top leaders of NATO's air forces to discuss their favorite subject, air power.The air chiefs of 19 nations, including six of the seven new-member nations accessed in March, came together to discuss current operations, the

  • Command post controllers always on duty

    The job of a command post controller is a challenging one. In a deployed location his or her job can be even more demanding than at home. The staff is on duty around the clock to assist with emergencies and notifications that crop up at all hours of the day.A controller’s job is dictated by the

  • Report shows space programs improving

    Space programs are improving and cultural change is under way, according to a recent review of the May 2003 Task Force on Acquisition of National Security Space Programs report.In the 2003 findings, the task force had called for a one-year progress report. The results of that progress report were

  • Air Force ROTC detachment commanders' board meets Nov. 8

    The Air Force ROTC detachment commanders’ board, originally scheduled for Sept. 8, has been rescheduled to Nov. 8 at the Air Force Personnel Center here.The board will select Air Force ROTC detachment commanders for July 2005 reporting dates.Lieutenant colonels and colonels interested in applying

  • Florida bases prepare for Hurricane Frances

    As forecasters predict Hurricane Frances will reach land near Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., on Sept. 4, bases have begun preparing for the storm Sept. 1.At Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., the 482nd Fighter Wing commander ordered 16 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort

  • For two Airmen, being good Soldiers kept them alive

    More and more Airmen are finding themselves training for convoy duty, deploying to Iraq and making mad dashes from Point A to Point B while under the watchful eye of the enemy. It is dangerous duty. During a convoy, Staff Sgt. Amelia Grahn, a transportation dispatcher from Royal Air Force

  • Academy welcomes space leader

    The Air Force executive agent for space brought messages of the past, present and future during a visit to the nearby U.S. Air Force Academy on Aug. 27.“Space assets are more important to national security than anytime in the past,” said Undersecretary of the Air Force Peter B. Teets during a

  • Medical warriors deploy to Iraq

    About 100 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing at Wilford Hall Medical Center here left Aug. 30 to staff a field hospital in Iraq.They are the largest contingent of about 160 people from the medical center deploying to Iraq."We’re proud to be sending highly trained and qualified (medics)," said Maj.

  • Jumper speaks on decreased Air Force manning

    A decrease in recruiting rather than forced reductions is the right way to reduce manning, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper on Aug. 30.Throughout this process, ensuring America’s Airmen know they are appreciated is a No. 1 priority, he said during a visit here.“Retention and

  • Airmen will receive AEF ID cards

    The Air Force chief of staff directed all major command officials to issue air and space expeditionary force identification cards before the beginning of Cycle 5 in September. Card usage ended during the height of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom because six to eight AEFs were deployed

  • Airmen give 'Warthogs' bite

    In a war zone, two elements make the A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog, unsurpassed in its close-air support mission.The first is speed. Its slow speed allows it to loiter in an area for long periods of time. The second is weaponry -- A-10s pack a wide variety of munitions giving them

  • Now showing: Aug. 30 edition of AFTV News

    The far-flung supply train for troops in Iraq headlines the latest edition of Air Force Television News.Tech. Sgt. Angie Pianga goes to Moron, Spain, to show how active-duty, Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen are performing a vital role in getting people and equipment to and from Iraq. Tech.

  • Sexual assault prevention, response report released

    The Air Force has released a study that assessed the service’s sexual assault prevention and response capabilities. The 96-page document titled, Report Concerning the Assessment of USAF Sexual Assault Prevention and Response, was released Aug. 30. In February 2004, the secretary of the Air Force

  • Annual program honors pioneers

    Air Force Space Command officials here will welcome six more pioneers into the Air Force Space and Missile Program Hall of Fame on Sept. 1.The program recognizes individuals who played a significant role in the early history of Air Force space and missile programs. “In keeping with our celebration

  • Every second counts for EOD techs

    The 12-inch doors clunk shut as the explosive ordnance disposal team climbs into their armored Humvee. If it was not for the cool breeze from the air conditioner, the Airmen would be puddles of sweat dripping through the floorboard.Since the side windows are barely a foot tall, 2-feet wide and

  • Airmen provide FAST security

    As the two security forces Airmen receive their weapons from the armory, they go over the day’s plan. Today, they will cover more than 1,800 miles, stop in two different countries and then return home within 10 hours. Armed and geared up, they proceed to their transportation for the day, a C-130

  • Vehicle mechanics strive to maintain perfect record

    Athens, Greece, is not the only place where records are being set. At this base, located north of Afghanistan, a team of five mechanics are making history in their own little corner of the world.Vehicle mechanics from the 416th Air Expeditionary Group’s logistics readiness flight replaced a

  • One dies, one injured in work-related accident

    One senior airman was killed and another seriously injured in a work-related accident here Aug. 23.Senior Airman Jesse Williamson Jr. died, and Senior Airman Ryan Robinson was injured while using a hydraulic lift to replace light fixtures inside an aircraft hangar, said Col. Greg Patterson, 78th Air

  • Bad checks, AWOL net Airman confinement

    Writing $18,000 in bad checks and being absent without leave for six days netted a 377th Security Forces Squadron Airman here a bad-conduct discharge, six months confinement and demotion to airman basic.Airman 1st Class Jessica Morris was convicted by a general court-martial. Military judge, Lt.

  • Airmen deserve recognition for national security operations

    Air Force leaders want to ensure Airmen get the recognition they deserve for fighting the war on terrorism at home and abroad, and for many more operations critical to national security.That is why Air Force personnel officials are looking at better ways to apply modern air and space mission

  • Test cell maintainers keep aircraft engines revving

    Straddling an F-16 Fighting Falcon engine that is producing 30,000 pounds of thrust as it furiously roars full blast during testing is not for the faint hearted. The ground shakes as the engine shoots 30-foot flames out the exhaust with a deafening noise, and the strong winds can knock someone to

  • Civil engineer celebrates 63 years of service

    With admiration, he glides his hand across a huge trapezoid-shaped conference table made of solid oak. Bending down, he points out with a steady hand how he built the base precisely and securely to fit the top without nails or screws, just wooden dowels. His pride in his work and his steady hand

  • Fuels Airmen pump up

    On a busy day at their home station, the Airmen from the fuels element measure their amount of pumped fuel by the thousands. When they are deployed here, they measure it by the hundreds of thousands. Busy is not the word.The 40th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Flight fuels Airmen pumped their

  • Water rescue team saves two lives

    The fire department water rescue team here rescued two swimmers at a local beach Aug. 21. When the rescue team arrived on scene just after midnight, security forces were already there, said Master Sgt. Gregory Chesser, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron assistant fire chief for training. The victim had

  • RAPCON Airmen control sky over Iraq

    Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, coalition forces have controlled the air space over Iraq. The 332nd Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron's radar approach control flight here is responsible for nearly 35,000 square miles of that air space. It makes up one of three area control