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  • Special duties require commander nomination

    The selection process for 10 special duty positions now requires unit commander nomination and hiring authority certification, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. The process change implemented this month affects staff sergeant, technical sergeant and master sergeant positions in special

  • AF encourages Airmen to be key part of SAPR solution

     In an effort to address the growing concern of sexual assault in the Air Force, the service has kicked off an initiative to give Airmen the capability for their voice to be clearly heard called "Every Airman Counts." "I believe Airmen are a key part of the solution to this," said. Maj. Gen.

  • National commission to visit 13 bases

    The "National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force" is planning to visit 13 Air Force locations, beginning with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., on July 16.Appointed by the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act, the commission is reviewing the Air Force's structure to determine if

  • Innovation extends ORS-1's life, mission

    The Operationally Responsive Space-1 satellite launched June 29, 2011, and has been a star Air Force performer since its first day on orbit. Members of the 1st and 7th Space Operations Squadrons celebrated the spacecraft's second birthday recently. "This is a great time to recognize all of ORS-1's

  • Liberian soldiers employ training during medical outreach mission

    A team of Armed Forces of Liberia soldiers, U.S. service members and county health officials conducted a mobile medical outreach mission in Grand Cape Mount County recently. The mobile mission held from 1 - 4 July was a first for the AFL medics, who, until now, have been focusing their efforts on

  • New commander takes lead in air campaign

    U.S. Air Forces Central Command has a new leader.In a change of command ceremony here July 11, Lt. Gen. John W. Hesterman III took command of USAFCENT from Lt. Gen. David Goldfein.Army Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, the commander of U.S. Central Command, presided over the ceremony."The power of the

  • A 5,000-mile journey to recovery

    An active-duty Air Force crew aboard a C-17 Globemaster III made history July 10 while flying specialized medical teams and a patient requiring equipment never before used on board a tran-Atlantic mission. The spouse of an active-duty Army service member, who wishes to remain anonymous, was being

  • AF chief scientist addresses future

    The Air Force chief scientist addressed members of the Air Force Association about the Global Horizons study, which looks into the near and long-term application of science and technology in the force.Dr. Mica Endsley, who was recently appointed as the 34th Air Force chief scientist, focused her

  • Airman crosses from deaf culture into the blue future

    The house in Norfolk, Va., was noisy. The children shouted across the house to each other. The T.V., when on, always had closed captions. The father was born able to hear and eventually lost his hearing. The mother was born deaf. They aren't aware of the noises they make. They shout occasionally--to

  • Principal military official stops moves to Egypt

    Military officials have temporarily halted movement of personnel, to include permanent change of station moves and most temporary duty assignments to Egypt, due to the Department of State's ordered departure of all dependents and non-mission essential personnel from Egypt.The stop movement order,

  • Air Force officials release first enlisted LEAP selection board results

    The U.S. Air Force Culture and Language Center recently released the results of the first Language Enabled Airman Program selection board solely for enlisted Airmen. The selection of 199 applicants nearly triples the number of enlisted Airmen in the program.The program aims to sustain, enhance and

  • Hagel calls DOD education support a strategic priority

    The Defense Department's commitment to military families and to quality education for military children is a strategic imperative that leaders will maintain, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said in remarks July 9.During closing remarks at the Military Child Education Coalition's 15th National Training

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman saves lives, delivers twins

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It was a typical day for Senior Airman Rainier Jeffrey as he rode to the Upolu Hospital in Samoa. As a medical technician deployed out to sea with the

  • Deployed controllers deliver hope

    When serving on a remote forward operating base in Afghanistan, service members rely on deliveries of ammunition, tools, food, water and other supplies. Many times these vital provisions are airdropped by 8th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron cargo jets. "Cargo is the life blood of downrange

  • AF leaders stand behind civilians during tough furlough times

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III send the following furlough message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force:As you all know, Department of Defense civilian furloughs begin this week. With few exceptions, our civilian Airmen face

  • Pararescueman train with Army, military canines

    Look in the air ... it's a bird ... it's a plane ... Well, not quite: It's a German Shepard in a harness hanging from an HH-60G Pave Hawk.More than 15 U.S. Army tactical explosive detection dog handlers and their canines participated in rescue training scenarios June 21, with pararescuemen assigned

  • EOD Airmen remove 35 tons of ordnance from range

    Explosive ordnance disposal Airmen from the 366th Civil Engineering Squadron were joined by fellow EOD Airmen from nine different bases to perform the annual range clearance at Saylor Creek and Juniper Butte Range complexes, Idaho.Members from the 366th Fighter Wing and other units have spent the

  • AF chaplain, NASCAR team to help service members

    On April 27, 2012, Chaplain (Col.) Steven West went to Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., to speak about ministry; he left with a plan to change the world. He left his office as the chaplain for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to meet with Dell Hamilton, a partner of Hamilton

  • Naples-based wife named Air Force 'Spouse of the Year'

    Sonya Rayford Cage, spouse of Allied Joint Force Command Naples member, Maj. Ernest Cage, was awarded the 2013 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year for her outstanding support to local military personnel and their families. This honor follows closely on the heels of her US Air Force NATO spouse of

  • 'Check Six' teaches deployed service members combatives

    When faced by an attacker, sometimes the only means of defense are ones instincts and ability to fight back. To hone those instincts, deployed service members are armed with basic, defensive fighting skills at the weekly Check Six combatives classes offered at the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing

  • Joint STARS: Deployed maintainers saving lives

    U.S. and coalition ground forces deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations depend on many different airframes and assets to complete their day-to-day operations. That includes the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System maintained by the 7th Expeditionary Aircraft

  • AF, Army unite to protect Transit Center

    When faced with a shortfall in manning, an Air Force reservist here devised a plan to join forces with the Army to keep security operations on par."Most of the time, a singular service component is given the mission of base security," said Master Sgt. Brian Nicoletti, the 376th Expeditionary

  • AF study highlights world trends, core missions

    The Air Force Chief Scientist has officially concluded his last study, looking into the Air Force's core mission of global vigilance, global reach and global power in the context of how global trends will affect those missions in the next 25 years. The Global Horizons study, led by Dr. Mark Maybury,

  • Maintaining the maintainers

    Maintainers fix and keep aircraft flying; we all know what they do. But, how are our maintainers able to solve complex technical problems and keep our more than 50 year old tanker fleet in the air?Ask any maintainer and they will probably tell you the Maintenance Qualification Training Program is

  • Air Force JAG turns 20

    Celebrating 20 years of providing the Air Force with trained and qualified judge advocates, civilian attorneys and paralegals, the Air Force Judge Advocate General's School recently commemorated the historic occasion."The 20th anniversary of the JAG School building dedication is a momentous day in

  • Voluntary retraining application window closes July 7

    Enlisted Airmen in overmanned career fields who want to retrain into an undermanned field have until July 7 to submit their application under Phase I of the fiscal 2014 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials reminded Airmen.The two-phase program is used to

  • Senior leaders remember fallen heroes on America's birthday

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody send the following Independence Day message to the men and women of the U.S. Air Force:Happy Birthday, America! For 237 years, our Nation has been built

  • Airmen participate in 'speed-mentoring' event

    Dozens of Airmen received mentorship, advice and an opportunity to converse with senior NCOs at a speed-mentoring event June 21 at Hurlburt Field, Fla.The event mimicked "speed dating." Attendees rotated from one senior NCO to another with the opportunity to ask various questions -- an attempt to

  • Academy cadets deploy, experience expeditionary life

    More than 40 U.S. Air Force Academy cadets visited the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here to observe deployed operations first-hand and interact with deployed U.S. and coalition forces."Being out here really broadens our horizons, allowing us to truly take in what it means to be an Airman," said

  • CSAF to sponsor 3 captains for PhD program

    The Chief of Staff of the Air Force will sponsor three eligible captains to pursue a doctorate degree through the fiscal 2014 CSAF Captains Prestigious PhD Program, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced."The program helps develop a cadre of strategic thinkers," said Tech. Sergeant Jason

  • Wounded warriors adapt, overcome at Andrews sports camp

    More than 30 Air Force wounded warriors gathered here June 26, to kick off a two-day adaptive sports camp designed to help them overcome challenges and enjoy a physically active lifestyle.This was the first Air Force Wounded Warriors Adaptive Sports Camp, held especially for the patients at here and

  • Flight engineer reaches combat sortie milestone

    A fllight engineer assigned to the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron here reached 400 combat sorties, a milestone not easily achieved. Master Sgt. Brian Fahey accomplished this feat flying June 14 on two different aircraft platforms. He flew his 255th combat sortie on the KC-10 Extender in

  • Training helps deployed Airman save lives

    "I wouldn't really consider these lifesaving gestures, I was just doing what I am trained to do," said Senior Airman David Kitchen, 455th Expeditionary Aerial Port Squadron, aerial transportation journeyman.In many circumstances training acquired in the military helps airmen save lives, but for

  • Civil engineers recall, reflect 17 years after Khobar Towers bombing

    On the night of June 25, 1996, near Dhahran Air Base, Saudi Arabia, terrorists positioned a tanker truck filled with explosives less than 100 feet away from a building in the Khobar Towers complex that housed deployed Airmen. Shortly before 10 p.m. local time, the bomb detonated, killing 19 Airmen

  • Air Force selects 5,654 for technical sergeant

    More than 5,000 staff sergeants have been selected for promotion to technical sergeant, Air Force officials said today. The 5,654 selected represent 15.03 percent of the 37,608 eligible.The list of selectees will be released to the public June 27 at 8 a.m. CDT.The average score for those selected

  • Air Force Medical Service website focuses on Men's Health Month

    The Air Force Medical Service supports Men's Health Month to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases among men, such as prostate cancer. Each year thousands of men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. More than 30 million men

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Love, service, sacrifice define Airman's career

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)An Airman here disarms explosive devices for a living, rides a Harley Davidson for fun and has tattoos all over to illustrate stories of love, pain and

  • F-35 is backbone of Air Force's future fighter fleet, Welsh says

    The Air Force's most advanced strike aircraft, the F-35 Lightning II, is a vital capability that the nation needs to stay ahead of adversary technological gains, the Air Force chief of staff told a Senate panel here, June 19.Testifying before the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on

  • Air Force sets plan to integrate women in combat jobs by 2016

    The Air Force released details of the service's plan to fully integrate women into previously closed career fields June 18.The implementation plan was recently submitted to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel for review.More than 99 percent of Air Force positions are currently already open to female

  • 37 overseas commissaries to remain open during furloughs

    Thirty-seven military commissaries in Europe and the Pacific will remain open with local national employees while U.S. civilian employees are affected by furloughs, the Defense Commissary Agency's top official said here today.Most Defense Department civilian employees will be off work for up to 11

  • Dempsey to Minot AFB Airmen: Nuclear enterprise is top priority

    More than 1,000 Airmen, spouses and local community members turned out here June 17, for a town hall meeting with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey said he came to Minot AFB because he wanted a chance to interact with those performing what he called "the vital

  • Fighter squadron inactivation signals end of A-10s in Europe

    The Air Force inactivated the 81st Fighter Squadron June 18, here, in support of force-shaping procedures across the service.The squadron employed the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and the closure signals the end of A-10 operations in Europe."For 71 years, the men and women of this fine squadron have ensured

  • Joint readiness training wraps up in Hawaii

    Reserve component medical personnel from the Air Force, Navy, Army and Air National Guard came together for medical innovative readiness training June 2-15, on the islands of Lanai, Maui, Molokai and Hawaii.The medics provided free health care clinics and performed community service projects for

  • Website allows units to claim repurposed supplies, save money

    Units in U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa now have the ability to obtain equipment and supplies for free through the command's Business Transformation Office Airmen's List SharePoint site. The site, accessible through the USAFE Portal, allows unit representatives to post equipment or

  • Skies to conquer: Langley Airman scales Mount Everest

    In the early hours of May 19, Capt. Kyle Martin battled cutting winds gusting at 100 mph as he fought to summit the highest point on earth. After nine hours of technical climbing, he and the rest of the Air Force 7 Summits team stood atop 29,029 feet of rock and ice. Martin, an F-16 Fighting Falcon

  • Academy firefighters step up efforts to combat Black Forest blaze

    Sixteen firefighters and five vehicles from the U.S. Air Force Academy Fire Department joined with their counterparts from Peterson and Schriever Air Force bases, Fort Carson's 4th Infantry Division, the Colorado National Guard and local community agencies to battle a fire in Black Forest that has

  • African airmen return to Air University for U.S. Air Forces Africa symposium

    Military officers from the air forces of 16 African countries returned to Air University for the African Airmen Alumni Symposium June 11-13.The symposium, held at Air War College and sponsored by U.S. Air Forces Africa, is geared toward strengthening key partnerships, enhancing regional cooperation,

  • As Nellis AFB grounds aircraft, training goes virtual

    The sky over southern Nevada is quieter than they have been in quite some time due to the June 1 Air Combat Command directed stand down of flying operations.Despite the stand down, the 64th Aggressor Squadron remains committed to accomplishing their mission, said Lt. Col. Michael Shepherd, the 64th

  • Air Force leaders congratulate Army on 238 years

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody congratulate the Army on its 238th birthday, June 14.Donley wrote a letter to the secretary of the Army stating:"Congratulations on the U.S. Army's 238th

  • Tinker AFB, community develop cost-saving initiatives

    In light of defense budget constraints, officials from Tinker Air Force Base and the local community partnered to develop and implement cost-saving initiatives expected to save the base more than $4,000 annually.In November 2012, Tinker AFB and local community members from Del City, Midwest City and

  • Making the trip: Airmen tackle life at missile facilities

    Senior Airman Jacob Petersen is packing for the "trip." Extra uniforms, underwear, socks, some special snacks. He kneels to give his 18-month-old daughter an extra hug and kiss before heading out the door. But Petersen isn't going on a deployment or an extended TDY or school. On this morning,

  • Operation Pacific Angel 2013 soars in Vietnam

    The United States and Vietnam began humanitarian assistance operations here June 10 as part of Operation Pacific Angel.Operation Pacific Angel which is in its sixth year, is a joint and combined humanitarian assistance exercise led by Pacific Air Forces."We are here to provide medical care and

  • Andrews Airmen powered by innovation

    Airmen with the 11th Logistics Readiness Squadron here answered the call to innovate as the Air Force faces a slashed budget this year.The four-member logistics team realized JB Andrews could save more than $10,000 per year by changing the way they acquired cars used to transport distinguished

  • Doors open at first AF collocated sexual assault victim support facility

    A collocated Special Victims' Council and sexual assault response coordinator office began operations here June 3, marking an Air Force first and the arrival of a revolutionary Air Force pilot program, providing specialized legal assistance to victims of sexual assault throughout the United

  • Former safety chief heads sexual assault prevention efforts

    Senior officials announced June 6 that they have appointed a two-star general to lead the Air Force's effort to reduce sexual assault within the ranks, and provide victims the support they need.Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward was appointed the new director of the reorganized Air Force Sexual Assault

  • Siblings reunite for brother's retirement

    Being part of a large family is not that unusual, but the Maldonado siblings take being part of a larger family -- the Air Force family -- to new heights.That family got a chance to travel from around the world for Senior Master Sgt. David Maldonado's retirement from Det. 1, 552nd Air Control

  • Academy cadets operate small unmanned aircraft systems

    Eleven U.S. Air Force Academy cadets learned to operate RQ-11B Raven small unmanned aircraft systems, or SUAS, during an initial qualification training course at Choctaw Airfield, Fla., June 3-14.The RQ-11B Raven is a lightweight and low-altitude, remotely piloted system that provides real-time

  • Airmen assist organization to help homeless vets

    Members of Luke Air Force Base joined to help homeless veterans in the state during the 12th annual Arizona StandDown.The Arizona StandDown is a nonprofit organization and is the largest homeless outreach event in Arizona. In 2012 more than 1,290 at-risk veterans benefitted from the event. This year

  • Women's leadership discussion: 'Why are women leaving the Air Force'

    Deployments, starting a family, bad mentorship and losing passion for the job are just a few reasons mentioned by uniformed and prior-service women during a panel discussion about why women are leaving the Air Force, at the Joint Women's Leadership Symposium here June 7.The Air Force panel

  • Missile officer recertification program makes great strides

    Ten of the 19 missile crew members from the 91st Operations Group at Minot AFB, N.D., have been recertified and are able to fully perform their alert duties.The remaining officers continue to progress through the retraining program with the remaining decertified crew members expected to return to

  • Cadet-designed trailer could power future austere deployments

    A cadet capstone project designed to build upon cadets' research in 2012 could have broad-ranging applications from powering austere bases to supplementing stateside bases' power grids, instructors in the computer and electrical engineering department here said recently.The project, a solar- and

  • Today's Air Force visits Academy graduation, Boston bombing victims

    Air Force Television News released a new, edition of Today's Air Force on June 7.On this episode's "Straight from the Top," Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley speaks about the challenges of Sequestration and continuing efforts of Air Force leaders to meet mission needs during this time of

  • PyroLance: Water with firepower

    Today's aircraft rescue and firefighting emergencies require a quick response and the ability to access complex composite structures such as the many Air Force airframes protected by the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighters here.To do this, firefighters require top-notch tools

  • NCO retraining program application window open

    Staff sergeant-selects through master sergeants in overage career fields can apply for retraining into an undermanned career field during Phase I of the fiscal 2014 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program. Retraining applications will be accepted June 4-July 8.The two-phase program is used to

  • T-1 Jayhawk modifications take electronic warfare training airborne

    The 451st Flying Training Squadron completed the final step of a long journey when a T-1A Jayhawk modified for electronic warfare training took flight on a training sortie June 4. This is the first time in Air Force history an undergraduate aviation program has formally incorporated the fundamentals

  • Cheating Death: A story about second chances

    May 27, 2012, is a day that Tech. Sgt. Mark Hopkins will never forget -- even though it's a day he can barely remember.It was the day he made a choice that drastically altered his life forever, and almost ended it in the process."All I remember is hopping on my motorcycle around noon on my way to

  • Combat communications group and wing inactivate

    Air Force Space Command and 24th Air Force officials announced inactivation of the 689th Combat Communications Wing at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and the 3rd Combat Communications Group at Tinker AFB, Okla. Inactivation of both units is scheduled for September. The inactivations are part of overall

  • Airmen must understand business of cyber, general says

    As U.S. Cyber Command gains strength and steadily extends its range across the newest warfare domain, it has called on all the services over the next five years to contribute trained-up teams of cyber operators to ensure U.S. military freedom of action, defensively and offensively, in cyberspace.For

  • Gorenc nominated as USAFE-AFAFRICA commander

    Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced June 4 that the president has nominated Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc for appointment to the rank of general and for assignment as commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe; commander, U.S. Air Forces Africa; commander, Allied Air Command; and director, Joint Air Power

  • Leaders urge care in changing commanders' UCMJ responsibilities

    Commanders must be a part of any solution to the crisis of sexual assault in the military, service leaders told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.Commanders are responsible not only for the health and welfare of those in their commands, but also for good order and discipline, they

  • Sexual assault is a 'cancer,' Welsh says

    The Air Force chief of staff testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee along with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and service chiefs from the Army, Navy Marine Corps and Coast Guard on pending legislation regarding sexual assaults in the military June 4.Gen. Mark A. Welsh

  • After 3 decades, maintainers keep B-1 on top

    With a career that spans across three decades and a warfighting reputation that rivals nearly every aircraft in the Air Force's arsenal, the B-1 Bomber has established itself as one of the United States' most crucial assets to maintaining air and ground superiority. This achievement was built on the

  • AF excepts civilians affected by tornadoes from furlough

    The Air Force announced Monday, June 3, that civilian employees whose homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the recent Oklahoma tornadoes will be "excepted" from administrative furlough.While most Air Force civilian employees received their notices May 28, Tinker Air Force Base delayed

  • AF appoints first female chief scientist

    The Air Force appointed the service's first female chief scientist to lead the way in the technology and science fields. Dr. Mica Endsley assumed her new duties and responsibilities as the 34th chief scientist June 3 in support of Air Force senior leaders and Airmen across the service."Having served

  • Tyndall Airmen reach out to Tinker tornado victims

    "I will never leave an Airman behind," is a part of the Airman's Creed and the spirit behind this creed was demonstrated by Tyndall Airmen May 28 as they rallied to support wingmen living in Oklahoma.Service Before Self motivated Tyndall to take action to help fellow wingmen affected by the

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Dog Handler brings her values to career

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)It's 6 p.m., and Chrach, a military working dog whose name is pronounced "Crash," is anticipating his evening meal.His handler has been feeding him twice

  • Families of fallen find caring support in family liaisons

    June 9 will mark three years since Master Sgt. Marisa Flores lost her husband, Tech. Sgt. Michael Flores, when he and four other pararescuemen died from injuries received during a HH-60G Pave Hawk crash in Afghanistan. Some days are still a challenge. Every now and then, Flores said she comes across

  • AF science guru appointment closes out

    The Air Force's chief scientist will spend his last day on the job May 31 after more than two and half years in the Pentagon. Dr. Mark Maybury's time with the service is heavily marked by major strides in the science and technology. Three of those major changes include studies that created roadmaps

  • Air Force establishes F-35 IOC target

    The Air Force announced today it expects to declare F-35A Lightning II initial operation capability in December 2016. The announcement was included in a joint report detailing service-specific IOC requirements and dates for each of the F-35 variants that was delivered to Congress today."The Air

  • Officials reaffirm DOD's commitment to fighting sexual assault

    At an open house marking the Defense Department's launch of a new peer-support service for sexual assault victims, senior Pentagon officials today reaffirmed the department's commitment to eradicating sexual assault in the military.The Defense Department has joined with a private organization to

  • Air Force OCC chopper retires

    After more than five years of service, one of the Air Force's mobile marketing assets, the F-22 Raptor-themed chopper, retired and moved to its new home in the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Designed by the Orange County Choppers, the chopper

  • Air Force announces OTS selection board results

    A total of 110 men and women from across America have earned an opportunity to become Air Force leaders following their selection for an officer's commission, officials here announced today. Air Force Recruiting Service officials considered 668 applications as part of the Officer Training School

  • Deployed medical experts learn skills to identify sexual assault

    From across Afghanistan, 22 U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy medical professionals gathered here for the Sexual Assault Forensic Examinations training.Collecting forensic evidence from patients reporting sexual assault is essential. It can be used to identify an assailant, recent sexual contact and

  • Tinker AFB reservist survives monster tornado

    What started out as a sunny, routine day for one member of the 507th Force Support Squadron and the estimated 250 staff and patients at the Moore Medical Center took a sudden turn for the worse on Monday, May 20, as a mammoth 1.3 mile-wide tornado bore down on them. Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Nikki

  • SecAF: Sequestration hits AF readiness, modernization

    Sequestration has hit the Air Force particularly hard, impacting its force structure, readiness and modernization, senior Air Force leaders said here today.Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the chief of staff, said Congress must provide a solid budget number so the

  • AF provides special counsel to sexual assault survivors

    Often, when survivors of sexual assault are "put on the witness stand, they can feel like they're being attacked," said Capt. Dustin Kouba, a special victims counsel attorney. "I feel like I'm almost defending them ... I'm like their big brother."The Air Force is taking the lead on providing special

  • Commissaries plan for Mondays furlough

    When furloughs are implemented, most military commissaries will close one day a week on Mondays, the Defense Commissary Agency's top official said. The closures will be for up to 11 days between July 8 and Sept. 30."We know that any disruption in commissary operations will impact our patrons. "Also,

  • AF leaders remind force to be safe this summer

    With Memorial Day kicking off this year's Critical Days of Summer Safety campaign, Air Force senior leaders have asked Airmen to be as intense about safety as they are about accomplishing the mission.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Mark Welsh, and the Chief Master

  • Director details furlough plans for DOD schools

    Students, teachers and parents of the Defense Department's schools can be confident that despite the department's upcoming civilian furloughs, the school year will start on time, the Department of Defense Education Activity's director said May 22.DODEA operates schools overseas and at some U.S.

  • KC-46A training, operational bases, alternatives selected

    Air Force officials announced today Altus Air Force Base, Okla., as the preferred alternative for the KC-46A formal training unit (FTU).McConnell AFB, Kan., was selected as the preferred alternative for the first active duty led KC-46A main operating base (MOB 1) and Fairchild AFB, Wash., and Grand

  • AF 7 Summits team scales Everest

    A group of Airmen with the Air Force Seven Summits team reached the highest point of the world, Mount Everest (29,035 ft.) just after 5 a.m. local time May 19. The success marks the first time a team of military members from any nation has reached the highest point on all seven continents: Mount