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  • Kadena AB Airmen awarded Japanese community service award

    Members of the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron here have recently been named the winners of the Zenko Kai Award, an award given by Japanese government officials to any residents, military included, who have performed outstanding community service. The squadron members were honored for their good

  • Mullen discusses personnel pluses, concerns

    Calling personnel issues his greatest comfort and greatest concern, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff today praised U.S. service members for the way they've adapted through a decade of war.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told attendees at a Government Executive Magazine leadership briefing that while

  • Case managers facilitate care for special-needs child

    Braelyn Whitford, who is 3 years old, was born with Kabuki syndrome, a condition that affects about 1 out of 32,000 children. Thanks to Air Force medical case managers, Braelyn and other children can get the medical care they need when military treatment facilities don't have the resources to

  • Air Force leaders express condolences following Kabul shooting

    Air Force officials confirmed April 28 that eight Airmen were killed April 27 at the Kabul International Airport. The Airmen were part of a NATO team training and advising the Afghan Air Force. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master

  • DOD: NATO sees momentum gain in protecting Libyans

    NATO has gained momentum in the last few days in Libya, British Defense Secretary Liam Fox said at the Pentagon April 26.At a news conference, Secretary Fox thanked the United States for adding Predator drones to the sky over Libya."We've seen some progress on the ground in Misrata, and it seems

  • Aerial porters unload cargo for all of Iraq

    When a runway closed in Turkey, officials scrambled to find another way to get supplies to U.S. forces in Iraq.The answer was quite simple; the Federal Aviation Administration-approved flightline at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, which is the only place in country where civilian U.S. flagged aircraft can

  • Continuing to strengthen nuclear operations: Munitions squadrons to realign

    Air Force officials announced April 27 here plans to transfer munitions squadrons responsible for nuclear mission support from Air Force Materiel Command to Air Force Global Strike Command in the next 12 months.This is another step in continuing to strengthen the nuclear enterprise; under a previous

  • Air force leaders from Africa, U.S. meet in Ethiopia

    Air force leaders from more than 20 nations across Africa joined with U.S. Air Force leaders here April 26 to discuss aviation issues and develop partnerships across the continent.The 2011 African Air Chiefs Conference, which runs through April 28, is hosted by Air Forces Africa, also known as 17th

  • Air Force evacuation team carries wounded warriors home

    By many accounts, 20-year-old Army Spc. Dustin Morrison is a living miracle and a testament to the military medical system that's getting medical care to wounded warriors and moving them to progressively advanced levels of care faster than ever before.Specialist Morrison, an Iowa Army National

  • Communication helps children cope with deployments

    For service members and their families, preparing for an upcoming deployment is another of the many challenges unique to military life. Letting children know that they can talk about their fears and worries when preparing for a deployment helps them prepare for stressful situations in the

  • Honor guard provides unique opportunity

    The hurried commotion of people chatting and finding their seats overwhelms the room. A group of five people stand in the background; not one Airman says a word and all stand tall and unwavering. These five Airmen are silent for a purpose. They are the color guard detail for the retirement ceremony

  • Army, Air Force maintainers keep helicopters flying

    Many people might not think of the Air Force if they look out onto the rows of helicopters that stretch across the ramps of Kandahar Airfield. Most of them belong to the U.S. Army.A handful, however, belong to the helicopter crew chiefs of the 451st Expeditionary Air Maintenance Squadron. Many of

  • Post-disaster energy conservation continues with program at Yokota

    Energy conservation measures here recently increased with the start of the No Heat, No Cool program that began April 18. Members of the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron began shutting off the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in facilities and residential housing buildings as part of a

  • Air Force officials announce helicopter acquisition strategy

    Air Force officials announced their strategy here April 25 to recapitalize the Air Force's helicopter fleet, which is critical to nuclear weapon security response, continuity of government, and combat search and rescue.The Air Force secretary and chief of staff have directed that the service proceed

  • Commissary produce managers get 'top' recognition

    Produce industry officials will honor two Defense Commissary Agency produce managers during a convention in New Orleans in May.Jennifer Smith, from Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Donald Courtright, from Beale Air Force Base, Calif., were chosen from hundreds of nominations by United

  • AFPC officials to stand up operating location at Robins

    As part of a continuing Air Force initiative to provide on-site civilian personnel recruitment support, Air Force Personnel Center officials will stand up an operating location at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., May 1. This is the fourth of five AFPC OLs to support commanders and missions at Air Force

  • Iraq withdrawal agreement still stands, Mullen says

    All American troops will be out of Iraq at the end of the year in accordance with the security agreement signed in 2008, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today."There are no plans, nor has there been any request from the Iraqi government, for any residual U.S. force presence here

  • Officials eliminate exception to short-tour credit

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz approved rescinding a temporary policy established in 2003 that allowed Airmen to receive short-tour credit for overseas TDYs of at least 181 consecutive days. The effective date of the new policy will be announced at a later date.Although the policy

  • Mullen: World community says Gadhafi must go

    NATO has come forward in a very positive way to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya and protect Libyan citizens from the Moammar Gadhafi regime, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said here today.The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also told service members serving with U.S. Division Center in Baghdad that

  • Wounded warrior returns to serve Air Force

    Gunar Moschner knows the pain and anxiety that follows a work-related injury, but he also knows help is available through the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program.Thanks to the program, and his own perseverance, Mr. Moschner is once again serving with the Air Force.His life today is a long way from

  • Air Force leader talks future of air, missile defense at ISAD 2020

    The Air Force's senior leader in U.S. Central Command met with other military leaders from around the globe during the International Symposium on Air Defense 2020 from April 17 to 19 at the Air Defense Forces Institute in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the Combined Forces Air Component

  • Mullen: Meeting reaffirms U.S.-Pakistan ties

    Reaffirmation of the relationship between the U.S. and Pakistani militaries was the most important aspect of his meeting last night with his Pakistani counterpart, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said today. The meeting at Army House in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad was the first

  • Mullen: Leaders see need for partnership

    Leaders in both Pakistan and the U.S. recognize the importance of a strategic partnership with each other and will work through problems to ensure it remains strong, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here today. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen acknowledged relations between the two countries hit

  • Reservists part of gold medal teams at Armed Forces Triathlon

    Four Air Force reservists helped their U.S. Air Force Triathlon teams win the Armed Forces Triathlon Championship for the second consecutive year. Twenty-four Air Force triathletes, including two men and two women from the Air Force Reserve, represented the Air Force at the Armed Forces Triathlon

  • Mullen cites Pakistani cooperation in Afghanistan

    Cooperation between U.S. and Pakistani service members on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border is better than it has ever been, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here April 19. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told reporters traveling with him to Afghanistan and Pakistan that the

  • Gates will present president with cost-cutting options

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is "a leader when it comes to fiscal responsibility" and will provide President Barack Obama with options, along with the pros and cons of each, to make additional defense cuts, the assistant secretary of defense for public affairs said yesterday.Secretary Gates

  • New CPR training wants you to switch your ABCs

    Most Airmen who have gone through CPR training remember being taught the ABCs, or airway-breathing-circulation.However, American Heart Association officials are suggesting people change the ABC sequence to CAB, or circulation-airway-breathing."Changing from ABC to CAB will save more lives," said

  • Falcons bring home Commander-in-Chief's Trophy

    President Barack Obama formally presented the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy to seniors from the Air Force Falcons football team April 18 at the White House.The trophy is awarded to the military service academy football team with the best regular season record against the other two teams. The trophy

  • Air National Guard units respond to Texas wildfires

    Air National Guard officials in three states sent four specially equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft to Texas on April 18 to support civil authorities battling 32 wildfires.The C-130s, equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, were sent under the direction of the Joint Forces

  • CJCS presents Bronze Stars to Nellis pararescuemen

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented Bronze Stars with valor to three Nellis pararescuemen during a ceremony here April 13.Staff Sgt. Asher Woodhouse, Tech. Sgt. Ryan Manjuck and Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Hedglin of the 58th Rescue Squadron were individually awarded the

  • DOD launches sexual assault response helpline

    Defense Department officials launched the Pentagon's newest initiative April 15 to support victims of sexual assault.The DOD Safe Helpline allows service members to click, call or text for victim support services for themselves or others.The resource is free, anonymous and confidential. Those who

  • Air Force officials announce civilian strategic leader program assignments

    Air Force officials here April 18 announced the placement of the Air Force's newest senior leaders into command-equivalent positions as part of the civilian strategic leader program.The CSLP creates multi-skilled GS-14, GS-15 or equivalent level civilian leaders who navigate complex environments in

  • Programs help Airmen obtain financial success

    For Airmen wondering if the struggle for total financial success will ever end, there is good news. The Airman and Family Readiness Center's financial advisers help members reach their financial goals. According to James McDaniel, an accredited financial counselor here, financial readiness is a

  • Organization honors service members' children

    Officials with Our Military Kids honored four children and a military family here yesterday in an award ceremony at the Navy Memorial here.During the organization's "Our Military Kids of the Year" event, retired Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, the 16th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and an Our

  • Tops in Blue wraps up 2010 tour

    After touring the world performing for service members home and abroad, Tops in Blue took the stage April 9 at the Trinity University's Laurie Auditorium in San Antonio.Tops in Blue is the premier performance group of the Air Force, made up of 35 active-duty amateur musicians and performers who

  • Teamwork essential to safely recovering aircraft

    Their job is to get planes in the air as quickly as possible, but once a plane is gone, they wait for it to come back.The more than 130 Airmen who work on ground crews here ensure when an aircraft lands after completing a 10-hour mission over the area of responsibility, it receives the best care to

  • Carter outlines military acquisition improvements

    The Defense Department has made much progress toward buying and fielding equipment smarter and faster, the Pentagon's undersecretary for acquisitions, technology and logistics told a congressional panel April 13.At a time when President Barack Obama and Congress look for ways to fix the nation's

  • Medical team saves life with 'cool' procedure

    Members of the Air Force Theater Hospital emergency staff here recently performed an unconventional medical procedure to help save a Soldier's life. The 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group staff used therapeutic hypothermia to ensure the patient, who had suffered cardiac arrest, would fully

  • CDC staff members continue to care for Yokota children

    Child development centers here are pulling together in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami to keep their operations as normal as possible.Combined, the Yume and Kibo CDCs here have lost 24 staff members and 75 children to the voluntary departure flights from Japan that began March 19."The

  • Misawa children roll-up their sleeves, pitch-in with volunteer efforts

    Children from here, accompanied by 16 parents, were part of the first Misawa Helps program family mission April 12 to take place since the volunteer organization stood up in the days following the March 11 earthquake and resulting tsunami.With spring break and children out of school this week, this

  • President's plan likely to affect 2013 defense budget

    President Barack Obama's effort to seek additional savings within the Defense Department likely will affect the department's fiscal 2013 budget, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said April 13.The president announced that he plans to work with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm.

  • Chairman thanks USO for service to military

    For 70 years, the USO and its thousands of volunteers have stood as a compass for the nation and adapted to the needs of every war Americans have fought, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said April 12 at the organization's 29th annual awards dinner."To the thousands and thousands of

  • Security forces train Iraqi air force security forces

    Members of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron spent several weeks in March and April training 12 Iraqi security forces airmen from New Al Muthana Air Base on force protection techniques. Fourteen security forces members trained the Iraqis on procedures and techniques used every day by

  • AFCENT band entertains Kyrgyzstan youth

    The Air Forces Central band, Wild Blue Country, arrived here April 3, ready to take the sound of American country music to the people of Kyrgyzstan. "One of the most important missions of the AFCENT band is to bring joy and goodwill to international partnering communities," said Senior Master Sgt.

  • Charity run raises money for American Cancer Society

    Six weeks after Staff Sgt. Tyler McInturff deployed here in January, he received news that his aunt had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer."Being my godmother, she's been very close to me my whole life," said Sergeant McInturff, the 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels

  • Readiness exercise paves way for Operation Tomodachi success

    For six days in March, Airmen here focused on an operational readiness exercise, working long hours every day to prove that the base's warfighting plan was sound. The 374th Airlift Wing surged demands across the base, ensuring that individuals would be ready to support contingency operations if they

  • Baristas donate tips to Japan relief efforts

    Watching the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that ripped through Japan March 11, cafe workers here have decided to give back."When you're here (in Japan) and you see the damage done, it hits home," said Amy Turner, a barista here. "We have a lot of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and

  • Military family support a 'national priority,' Obama says

    President Barack Obama today made caring for military families a national priority, calling to action his entire administration and communities across the U.S. on their behalf."The strength and the readiness of America's military depend on the strength and readiness of our military families," the

  • Firefighters retire memorial plaque

    More than 60 Airmen and Soldiers attended the retirement ceremony of an Airman's memorial April 6 at the fire station here.Staff Sgt. Ray Rangel, a 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, died Feb. 13, 2006, while trying to rescue two Soldiers trapped in a Humvee that had overturned

  • Army has new chief of staff

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wanted an Army chief of staff willing to challenge the status quo, and he believes he has one in Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.General Dempsey succeeded Gen. George W. Casey Jr. as the Army chief of staff during a ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., April 11."Whatever challenges

  • Yokota celebrates cherry blossoms, hope with community

    Officials here invited the community to come on base April 9 and view the base's collection of the flowering pink and white cherry blossom trees. More than 1,300 local nationals came to the open house.The event comes on the heels of Operation Tomodachi, the relief efforts supported by Team Yokota in

  • Senior leader letter to men and women of the Air Force

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy issued the following message to the men and women of the United States Air Force:We remain hopeful that a government shutdown will be averted. However, prudent

  • Army drill sergeant pushes BMT flight

    When Army Staff Sgt. David Peters marched Air Force Basic Military Training Flight 258 past reviewing officials during a parade here April 8, it completed one half of a basic training instructor exchange between services.The drill sergeant-military training instructor exchange has given the Air

  • Enlisted medics honored at Armed Services YMCA gala

    Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Guard enlisted medics were among those from all service components honored at the Armed Services YMCA's 5th Annual Angels of the Battlefield Gala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here March 31. Army Gen. Raymond Odierno, the commander of

  • Exchange to continue Ops despite potential government shutdown

    The Army and Air Force Exchange Service is planning to continue operations even if the U.S. Government shuts down.On April 9, the current budget authorization will expire. At that point, the federal government will potentially institute a mandatory shutdown for "non-essential" personnel. While this

  • Safety Investigation Board convenes for A-10 crash

    A Safety Investigation Board tasked with investigating the A-10 Thunderbolt II crash that occurred April 1 in a field outside Laufeld, Germany, a town north of Wittlich convened here April 5. The team, led by Col. Michael Winters, the 100th Air Refueling Wing vice commander and SIB president, will

  • Former COMUSAFE awarded highest Latvian honor

    A former commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe was presented the highest Latvian honor April 1 in a ceremony in Washington D.C. Retired Gen. William Tom Hobbins, the USAFE commander from 2005 to 2008, was awarded the Order of Viesturs, First Grade, by Latvian President Valdis Zatlers in recognition

  • Critical self-assessment puts Global Strike Command on the right path

    With the Air Force conducting operations on multiple fronts across the globe and facing shrinking resources, Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen are focusing on finding smarter ways to accomplish the mission."(The Analyses, Assessments and Lessons Learned Directorate) is the entity that is aimed

  • MC-130J rollout accelerates AFSOC recapitalization

    Air Force Special Operations Command officials welcomed the latest variant of the MC-130 at a rollout ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's Marietta, Ga., factory recently.The rollout accelerates AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Donald C. Wurster's priority to recapitalize the fleet by acquiring MC-130J Combat

  • Program develops senior civilian leaders

    The Civilian Strategic Leader Program director assignment offers a structured strategic path for developing future Air Force senior civilian leaders.The program serves as a process for identifying civilian employees at the GS-14 and 15 or equivalent levels who will be the most competitive for

  • Gates, Shinseki agree to joint electronic medical records

    Two years after they joined President Barack Obama in announcing plans to create a joint virtual lifetime electronic record, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki have agreed to create a joint common platform for their departments' electronic medical

  • Airmen keep Yokota AB safe, healthy for relief efforts

    A group of Airmen here are working to keep the people at Yokota AB safe.Members of the 374th Aerospace Medicine Squadron ensure that Airmen around base are safe during operations by ensuring prudent safety precautions are implemented.To do this, technicians visit worksites where harmful elements are

  • DJC2 system provides communications support for JSF, USFJ

    Personnel assigned to the Joint Communications Support Element at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., were recently deployed here to provide joint-support-force command and control operations for Operation Tomodachi. The primary support responsibility for the JCSE members sent here is to operate the

  • Dover Airmen support Operation Odyssey Dawn

    Three C-5M Super Galaxy aircrews from here delivered cargo March 23 to 27 in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.The Air Force Reserve's 709th Airlift Squadron and the active-duty 9th AS here worked together to deliver 387,000 pounds of cargo. On March 18, the secretary of defense approved and ordered

  • DOD celebrates Month of the Military Child

    Children of U.S. service members around the world will be honored throughout the month of April for their contributions to their families' well-being and sacrifices on behalf of the nation, a Defense Department official said.Each April, Americans pause to recognize the nation's 1.8 million military

  • Service members assist Japan relief efforts

    Following the March 11 disasters in Japan, service members from here have pitched in to help.Master Sgt. Augustine Circello III, from the 773rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, said initial support was difficult due to communication problems."Trying to coordinate with all the different internal

  • 8th ASOS hosts first joint coalition jump week

    Airmen from the 8th Air Support Operations Squadron hosted the U.S. Army 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team and Italian Army paratroopers during a joint coalition training exercise here March 21 through 25.More than 1,400 Italian and American soldiers came from the U.S. Army Garrison in Vicenza,

  • Total force Airmen support Odyssey Dawn

    Aircraft and Airmen from more than 10 bases across the Air Force have united to form the 313th Air Expeditionary Wing here.The wing formed in 72 hours after the start of Operation Odyssey Dawn, a mission to enforce a no-fly zone put in place to protect the civilian population of Libya.The first unit

  • Air Force officials present budget to appropriations committees

    Air Force leaders discussed the service's fiscal 2012 budget request and their concerns about operating under a continuing resolution with members of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees during hearings here March 30 and 31.In the March 30 hearing before the Senate Appropriations

  • VA makes progress to end veteran homelessness

    They served their country in uniform -- many on the front lines in Iraq and Afghanistan. And now that they've returned home and rejoined civilian life, an alarming number of veterans have found themselves on the streets and living under bridges.Veterans Affairs Department officials are making

  • Project Crossbow enhances capabilities

    A collaborative U.S. Air Force and United Kingdom Royal Air Force program is making it easier for the two services to share information collected via intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems.The program, dubbed Project Crossbow and modeled on the U.S. Air Force's Distributed Common

  • Budget slows defense growth, comptroller says

    Cost savings reflected in the fiscal 2012 Defense Department budget do not represent a cut from current funding levels, but rather a slower rate of growth than has been seen in recent years, the Pentagon's comptroller and chief financial officer told a Senate committee here March 29.Defense

  • Disabled vets discover 'miracle on mountain'

    Sheila James threw her arms up in joy, flashing a smile that stretched from ear to ear as she celebrated a personal victory during the 25th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic here March 29.A motor vehicle rollover in 2009 turned the former senior airman's life upside-down, landing her

  • Yokota Airmen central to supporting Operation Tomodachi

    Airmen working in the Emergency Operations Center here have been central to processing and coordinating disaster relief efforts in support of Operation Tomodachi. Emergency Operations Center members work on a strategic level to coordinate emergency preparedness, emergency management and disaster

  • Officers share cross-flow experiences, skills

    Cross-flowing into one career field from another isn't a new concept for Airmen. Most officers, at one time or another throughout their career, have served in a position or job outside of their original or primary Air Force Specialty Code. Take, for example, Lt. Col. Ginger Wallace, a former

  • Training for repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell ongoing for Airmen

    Air Force officials began training Airmen March 1 in anticipation of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell with a goal of having all Airmen trained on or about June 30.Commanders throughout the Air Force will schedule commander's calls or other such events to ensure face-to-face training is available

  • Commander discusses Yokota's role in Operation Tomodachi

    Yokota Air Base's role as the sole airlift hub of the western Pacific increased in significance following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan.Col. Otto Feather, the 374th Air Wing commander here, discussed the importance of the wing's partnership with Japan to ongoing relief

  • Yokota AB Airmen tackle Herculean airlift missions into Sendai

    Over the past two weeks, Sendai Airport has served as a critical relay point for relief efforts throughout northeastern Japan, and the Airmen of the 36th Airlift Squadron are working to ensure that the airport stays open for business.Since the incapacitated airport reopened to air traffic, 36th

  • Photo essay: Guardsmen deploy in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn

    Members of the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing here prepare a KC-135 Stratotanker for deployment March 25, in support Operation Odyssey Dawn. The KC-135s will provide air-refueling support to coalition aircraft enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya.View the slideshow.

  • Yokota AB Airmen play vital role in cooling Fukushima power plant

    A team of Airmen from here labored nonstop March 25 through 27 to design and create essential components for water pumps to be used at a nuclear power plant in northern Japan. The power plant, located roughly 130 miles north of here in Fukushima Prefecture, incurred catastrophic damage to its

  • Total-force team supports Operation Tomodachi

    While supporting combat operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, a total integrated force of active, Guard and Reserve Airmen are supporting humanitarian relief efforts in Japan following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that ravaged parts of Japan March 11.Air Force officials are increasingly

  • AAF officials graduate first weapons safety NCO

    The Afghan air force recently saw an improvement in its safety program with the graduation of the first weapon safety airman in the entire force.AAF Sgt. Yosufzai Hamayattullah completed the two-month basic explosives hazards course on a AAF base here, establishing with him the foundation of a