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U.S. Air Force News

  • Air Force Secretary to speak at C2ISR symposium

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley will be the dinner guest speaker at the C2ISR Symposium and Technology Exposition, joining a number of presenters for the event. The symposium will be held Sept. 28 through 30 at the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Conn. The secretary will speak

  • Travis Airmen provide presidential support

    Members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing here were there to smooth the way for President Barack Obama's two-day visit to Guadalajara, Mexico, for a North American summit held with leaders from Mexico and Canada Aug. 9 and 10. When the president travels, he relies on Air Force contingency

  • Dog days of summer

    A handful of Airmen and their canine companions deployed here as part of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron defend Bagram Airfield and search up to 700 vehicles on a daily basis. Since they inherited the base defense mission, the Airmen and their K-9s have found thousands of pounds of

  • 24th Air Force activated, 2 units realign in joint ceremony

    Air Force officials here activated the newest numbered Air Force and realigned two units under its command in a joint ceremony here Aug. 18. The 24th Air Force activation under Air Force Space Command is a major milestone in the combination of space and cyberspace operations within one command. Gen.

  • New unit, new way of doing international business

    Recently, a C-17 Globemaster III sat on the end of the runway here, as many others do, but this particular aircraft was quite different. As loadmasters and the crew paced around, completing preflight checklists, one couldn't help but notice the nation patches on their flight uniforms were

  • USCENTCOM commander visits Manas

    Gen. David Petraeus, the U.S. Central Command commander, visited personnel here Aug. 16. During his visit, General Petraeus briefed servicemembers and coalition forces deployed to the Transit Center as well as talked about the roles they play, serving as the gateway for personnel transiting in and

  • National Guard adds Liberia to partnership program

    Liberia will be the eighth African nation to take part in the National Guard's State Partnership Program. The National Guard will add Liberia to its State Partnership Program this year, bringing to eight the number of African nations taking part in the program. The addition fulfills a request from

  • 14 force support courses move to Maxwell

    Fourteen force support courses will transition from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to the Eaker Center for Professional Development at Maxwell AFB, Ala. by Oct 1."We are always focused on educating, developing and preparing our career field leaders, and recent changes to the emerging force

  • Redesigned NCO retraining program begins with voluntary phase

    The 2010 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program has a new look and focus as Air Force officials here seek to fill approximately 1,124 shortage career field and special duty positions. The entire program has been reduced from nine months to 120 days to better serve both Airmen and the Air Force

  • Air Force officials release staff sergeant selection statistics

    Air Force officials here selected 15,223 of 30,574 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant for a selection rate of 49.79 percent that will released at 8 a.m. CST Aug. 20. The average score for those selected was 275.81, with an average time in grade and time in service of 2.09 and

  • 'Today's Air Force' features standup of new command

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the stand up the service's first new major command in nearly three decades is highlighted. Also featured are Airmen with special skills train for combat in Afghanistan and the best-of-the-best food service professionals in Europe compete for top honors. Air

  • Military members, families keys to year of success

    After a year in the job, the Air Force chief of staff said he is still impressed with the contributions of Airmen of every specialty, stateside and overseas."It's still stunning to see what our Airmen are doing," Gen. Norton Schwartz said.  "There is work to do. There are challenges to face. But

  • VA creating 28 new vet centers

    Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced Aug. 14 that combat veterans will receive readjustment counseling and other assistance in 28 additional communities across the country where the Department of Veterans Affairs will establish vet centers in 2010. "VA is committed to providing

  • '84 Academy grad to pilot shuttle

    A U.S. Air Force Academy graduate will pilot Space Shuttle mission STS-134 to the International Space Station, NASA announced Aug. 12. Retired Col. Gregory Johnson will serve as the pilot for the mission, commanded by Navy Capt. Mark Kelly. Mission specialists are Col. Michael Fincke, Greg

  • CMSAF visits expeditionary center

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy took stock of the people and the mission of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center during a visit here July 29. Joint Base personnel gathered in the expeditionary center's auditorium for an "All Call" town hall-style gathering. Chief Roy answered a

  • Deliberate path ahead for Airmen

    New co-chairs assumed their leadership positions as the Enlisted Force Development Panel met at the Pentagon Aug. 5. Daniel R. Sitterly, the force development director for the deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy, are now

  • Stick 'em up: Corrosion control shop develops decals for rapid recognition

    From the "bandit" nose at the tip to the "Box D" high on the tail, 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotankers are easy to distinguish from other bases' Stratotankers. Getting them that way, however, is no small task. It takes a crew of Airmen at the aircraft structural maintenance corrosion

  • USAF shooting team aims for excellence at national competition

    Members of the U.S. Air Force Shooting Team are setting their sights on excellence as they compete in the 2009 National Rifle and Pistol Championships here. The championships, sponsored by the National Rifle Association, began July 14 and run through August 19. This competition is considered to be

  • Osan cross servicing program fosters good relations

    The first combat cross servicing program evaluation of the year for Osan Air Base Airmen took place Aug. 10 when two South Korean F-5's landed on the flightline here. The Osan AB combat cross servicing program is a mutual agreement between the U.S. and South Korean air force that allows maintainers

  • Convention showcases unmanned capabilities

    Senior defense officials are getting a glimpse of the latest in unmanned systems technologies, which many concede is the way of the future for the U.S. military, in August here.More than 5,000 people from 30 countries took part in the exhibition of robots and unmanned systems capabilities at the

  • Air Guard women honored for their service

    It may have taken place at the "House of Blues" in Los Angeles, but no one was feeling down last night as five Air National Guard women were honored for their service. The women were recognized as "unsung hometown heroes" as part of a "America's Search for Hometown Heroes" program, according to a

  • Air Force officials welcome new surgeon general

    The Air Force's 20th surgeon general took office during a Pentagon ceremony presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Aug. 12 here. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green was the Air Force's deputy surgeon general since August 2006, and he replaced Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush,

  • Airmen hand over visitation operations at Camp Bucca

    A ceremony was held to mark the end of Air Force participation in visitation operations at Camp Bucca's theater internment facility as the Army assumed responsibility of the mission Aug. 10 here.More than 120 Airmen from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron were recognized for bringing

  • Reservists integrate with active duty for theater security

    Air Force Reserve Command's first F-22 Raptor total integration unit is deployed here to suppport the U.S. Pacific Command commander's theater security package mission in the Asia-Pacific region. These Airmen are from the 302nd FS and the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Elmendorf Air Force

  • Airmen partner with Kyrgyz security service K-9 team

    Airmen of the 376th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here are aiding a team of Kyrgyz Department of State Security Service dog handlers to hone the skills necessary to manage their own law-enforcement, force protection, antiterrorism and explosive-detection canine program.The program, which

  • Robins maintainers give pilots unobstructed vision

    Members of the 561st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron transparency shop here has a "clear" mission: to ensure there are no blemishes in F-15 Eagle canopies that could impact pilots' views. When the shop restores a canopy, it saves the Air Force about $350,000 from buying a new one. About 10 percent of

  • Airmen rescue motorcyclist from raging fire

    As the fire quickly consumed the 4-foot-tall crops and anything in its path, Chief Master Sgt. James Eggers knew what he had to do. His first priority was to quickly locate the motorcyclist laying somewhere in the field. It was late July when Chief Eggers, the 31st Medical Group superintendent here,

  • Airmen assist Iraqis with gunner training

    A trio of Airmen here are teaching Iraqi air force aerial gunners to defend their crew and cargo against threats. The three Airmen are part of the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron, whose mission is to "train, advise and assist" the Iraqis at the helicopter squadrons. The Iraqi gunners train

  • Infrared camera saves base money, time

    The camera looks about like any standard home-video camera, but the price tag for it is about that of an expensive luxury sedan. And it has more than paid for itself, said Wayne Merritt, a predictive maintenance technician with the 78th Civil Engineer Squadron here. The camera, which costs about

  • General stresses safety to Airmen

    As iron sharpens iron, we will all make one another more focused when it comes to safety, said the Air National Guard's senior officer here Aug. 4 during a safety summit. Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, kicked off the summit that included guest speakers from the

  • Iraqi official tours Joint Base Balad medical facilities

    The Iraqi deputy governor of the Salah Ad Din Province visited the Air Force Theater Hospital and Sgt. Ivory L. Phipps Clinic here Aug. 5 to develop ideas for improving health care within his district. Ahmed al-Krayem toured units within the facility and talked to several members of the

  • Biometric database offers security stamp of approval

    Members of the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here ensure the security of base personnel and resources by using a Department of Defense advanced security system designed to track the movement third country nationals who work on base. Defense Biometrics Identification System is an

  • Technology convergence could prevent war, futurist says

    The convergence of "exponentially advancing technologies" will form a "super-intelligence" so formidable that it could avert war, according to one of the world's leading futurists. Dr. James Canton, CEO and chairman of the Institute for Global Futures, a San Francisco-based think tank, is author of

  • Total-force team airdrops 10-ton artillery load

    A team of Bagram Airfield Airmen airdropped an M198 artillery piece to an Army unit in a remote Eastern-part of Afghanistan Aug. 8. New York, Ohio and Missouri Air Guard members joined with reservists and active-duty Airmen to form the total-force aircrew that loaded and delivered the 155 mm

  • Airman have opportunity for education, commission with LEAD

    Airmen have the opportunity to compete for admission to the U.S. Air Force Academy through the Leaders Encouraging Airman Development program where they can earn a degree and a commission. "As an enlisted member, you have gained valuable knowledge, experience and discipline," said Col. Chevalier

  • 'Top Guns' receive awards at Tuskegee Airmen convention

    The National Tuskegee Airman Inc. president presented members of the historically-acclaimed 332nd Fighter Group awards during the 38th annual convention Aug. 6 through 9 here. The honoring ceremony marked the 60th anniversary of the original "Top Guns" who claimed victory in the 1949 National

  • Exercise tests joint cargo operations

    Airmen and Soldiers assigned to U.S. Transportation Command's Joint Task Force-Port Opening are participating in Eagle Flag 2009, an Air Expeditionary Center-sponsored exercise here where they are being evaluated on their ability to establish and operate a port of debarkation and cargo distribution

  • Airmen keep airlift mission moving

    Air Mobility Command Airmen and aircraft have flown nearly 74,000 sorties and delivered about 251,000 tons of cargo in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in 2008 and through June 30, 2009. With the statistics soaring, airlift is making a strong case as a primary source of warfighting

  • Air Force Global Strike Command activated

    Air Force officials stood up a new major command to oversee all of its nuclear forces in an activation ceremony Aug. 7 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Global Strike Command will provide combat ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of

  • Air Force Global Strike Command will stress nuclear mission

    A key step in reinvigorating the Air Force's nuclear deterrence mission will be made Aug. 7 with the activation of the Air Force Global Strike Command at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said the new command will bring together the Air Force bomber force and

  • Weather fails to dampen Air Force-NASCAR relationship at Pocono

    The Air Force and NASCAR have long enjoyed a proud relationship that continues to grow with each race. That relationship was very much in evidence at the Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. Thousands of race fans flooded the track grounds Aug. 1 to watch their favorite drivers complete practice runs

  • EOD Airmen help keep community safe

    Airmen from the Cannon Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight responded to a bomb scare in July in Clovis, N.M., and they used their training and skills to defuse the situation. The suspected bomb turned out to be a training aid once owned by a now-deceased Albuquerque, N.M., arson

  • Officials look to solve social network risks without ban

    As Pentagon officials here weigh the benefits and risks of social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, they hope to craft a policy that shores up security vulnerabilities without requiring a ban. Meanwhile, Marine Corps officials clarified its guidelines on social networking, and said they

  • AMC supports air forces in Africa

    Air mobility Airmen are providing their experience and expertise to the Air Force's newest geographic combatant command, U.S. Africa Command, and its components with daily C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules airlift missions across the continent. "Intratheather airlift is fundamental to building

  • New total force C-5 inspection program saves money

    Airmen are testing a new inspection program here that will not only save the Air Force $1.38 billion over the next two decades, but also will keep four extra C-5 Galaxy aircraft available every day for air mobility efforts. The new program, which will change the way the Air Force conducts C-5

  • New leaders take command of redesignated AFCENT, 9th Air Force

    New leaders took command during the 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central change of command and redesignation ceremony Aug. 5 at Shaw Air Force Base.Lt. Gen. Gary North relinquished command of 9th Air Force/AFCENT, then the two units were redesignated into two separate commands.Army Gen. David

  • Airmen assist Iraqis with maintenance training

    On the flightline, in hangars and in backshops here more and more Iraqi air force members are repairing their own helicopters with less and less instruction from American Airmen.Airmen assigned to the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron help the Iraqi air force become self-sustaining by

  • Guam Guard members leave mark in Dili

    An 11-member team from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, recently provided much-needed civil engineering assistance as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2009 in Dili. Pacific Angel is a Pacific Air Forces humanitarian and civic assistance program conducted in the Asia-Pacific region and led by 13th Air

  • Photo essay: Academy football drills

    The U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons coaching staff began looking for the starting lineup during the second day of football practice at the Academy in Colorado. The Falcons host the Nicholls State Colonels Sept. 5 in their home opener. View slideshow.

  • Pentagon officials weigh social networking benefits, vulnerabilities

    Defense Department officials here are weighing the benefits of social networking and other Web 2.0 platforms against potential security vulnerabilities they create. In a memo issued in late July, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III directed a study of social media sites like Twitter,

  • Officials urge parents to check students' immunization records

    Department of Defense Education Activity officials here are reminding parents to review their children's immunization records to ensure they're up to date by the first day of the school year. "Updating students' immunizations is an important part of back-to-school preparations," said Mary Patton,

  • Command chief master sergeant screening board convenes

    The command chief master sergeant screening board for calendar year 2009 recently selected 200 candidates out of a field of 740 eligible chief master sergeants to fill 80 expected requirements. A significant change in this year's selection process was the "all-in" concept approved by the Air Force

  • Installation Acquisition Transformation revises implementation plan

    Air Force officials here recently completed a comprehensive restructuring of installation acquisition within the continental United States, dubbed Installation Acquisition Transformation, and adopted a revised implementation strategy. The Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century high-value

  • Operation Allied Force comes alive through 'Tanker Living Legends' series

    Four veterans of NATO's 78-day air war, Operation Allied Force in 1999, recalled their experiences through the "Tanker Living Legends" speaker series July 30 at the Global Reach Planning Center at Scott Air Force Base. Among the "living legends" who spoke included Lt. Gen. Vern M. "Rusty" Findley

  • Obama: New GI Bill renews commitment to troops

    President Barack Obama today saluted the implementation of the Post-9/11 GI Bill Aug. 4 during a ceremony at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Signed into law June 20, 2008, the new GI Bill is a Department of Veteran Affairs-sponsored program that provides the most comprehensive educational

  • LeMay Center holds first Service Core Function Symposium

    The developers at the LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education here concluded a symposium July 28 that helped define the new service core functions enabling Airmen to accomplish the full gamut of missions the Air Force provides to the joint force. "The Air Force's first Service Core

  • Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman cites Coast Guard's 219th birthday

    Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton convinced Congress to authorize construction of 10 topsail schooners Aug. 4, 1790, for the U.S. Revenue-Marine to combat widespread smuggling. Our nation proudly celebrates that day 219 years ago when the U.S. Coast Guard was born. Since then, thousands of men

  • Silver Flag provides contingency training for USAFE Airmen

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe Airmen participated in a week-long contingency operations training exercise here July 27 through 31. Silver Flag consisted of five days of classroom training and two days of field training. Airmen from various Air Force specialty codes had to work together to set up and

  • Air Force officials focus on information protection

    The recent spate of cyber attacks against government systems has gotten the attention of the administration and the DOD. Just as flight altered the way the Air Force operated in the 20th century, the information explosion promises to shape the way the nation fights and wins its wars. In a recent

  • Operation Lone Star underway

    Operation Lone Star, which provided health care to more than 11,000 South Texas residents in just two weeks last year, has expanded this summer to provide free health clinics in even more locations. Military personnel, state and county officials and hundreds of volunteers are providing free health

  • Uncertainty about military suicides frustrates services

    The most frustrating part about suicide prevention is the uncertainty about what causes troops to take their lives, top military leaders said here July 29. This near-unanimous chorus was sounded on Capitol Hill when the second-ranking military officers of each service testified about military mental

  • Minot Airmen use AFSO 21 to save $1 million annually

    Members of the 5th Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight here recently initiated an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century process to increase the unit's effectiveness with a $325 investment that is expected to yield a return and more than $1 million annually. An increase

  • Airmen save Iraqi girl's life after IED blast

    Security forces Airmen, emergency medics and hospital staff here saved an Iraqi girl after an improvised explosive device detonated at her feet in July near Joint Base Balad. The girl and her family had just attended a Joint Base Balad-sponsored clothing-and-toys distribution for local children at

  • Airmen step back as Iraqis take control of mission support

    American Airmen don't run dining facilities for the Iraqi military here. They don't pump fuel and they don't make runs to ammunition storage points. At least not any more. All of these daily tasks that require the utmost attention to detail to supporting mission readiness are handled directly by

  • Bombers fly down under

    Members of the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron here completed 10 sorties flying more than 110 hours while participating in Talisman Saber 2009 July 15 through 24 over Australia. The bilateral command post and field training exercise was designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and

  • War hero brought home, laid to rest after 40 years missing in action

    As three rifle vollies rang throughout Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery July 27, the sounds meant a Vietnam War veteran who had been missing in action for more than 40 years was finally home to rest . Active-duty members, retirees and their families gathered at Chief Master Sgt. Quincy Adam's final

  • Air Force doctor wins national award

    An Air Force doctor here was one of 10 receipients recently selected for the 2009 American College of Rheumatology Distinguished Award. Capt. (Dr.) Angelique Collamer is a physician, teacher and researcher assigned to the 59th Medical Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, but works in the

  • Lackland officer wins Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Award

    The operating room flight commander at the 59th Surgical Operations Squadron here recently was selected the 2009 recipient of the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Military Award at the field grade officer category by the Tuskegee Airmen Incorporated. Lt. Col. Jacqueline Mudd will be presented with the

  • Academy ranked among nation's best colleges

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's professors are among the most accessible in the nation, according to The Best 371 Colleges guide released by Princeton Review July 28. Faculty availability is an expectation at a military service academy, and the Academy ranks fourth in the nation in professor

  • Airmen aid coalition with multilanguage skills

    Thought not traditional Air Force linguists, two multilingual Airmen bring a unique skill to Manas Air Base. Capt. Jecek Dempnaik and Staff Sgt. Maria Hudgeons, who speak a combined seven languages, reduce communication barriers between Air Force members and coalition forces through written

  • Joint Base Balad troops aid first sergeant during heart attack

    Whether Joint Base Balad servicemembers have a wingman or a battle buddy, the ethos of helping a comrade in need arose during a basketball game here July 14. Headed by their coach, Army Sgt.1st Class Anthony Jones of the 699th Maintenance Company, a basketball team compiled of Airmen and Soldiers

  • Center gives troops tools to combat stress while deployed

    An innovative restoration program in Afghanistan is giving troops the tools they need to "stay in the fight" by helping them overcome the stresses and challenges of being deployed, the director of the Freedom Restoration Center at Bagram Airfield said recently. Army Capt. Donald Hawkins and his

  • 'One of a kind' war records staging facility gets Air Force, national review

    Air Force and the National Archive and Records Administration officials visited the only Air Force war records staging facility in existence for the first time during a trip here June 30 to July 2. The Air Force records officer and NARA representatives toured the Air Forces Central Staging Facility

  • Academy officials add unmanned aircraft system into curriculum

    U.S. Air Force Academy officials here integrated unmanned aircraft systems into the school's curriculum. "The Air Force has made unmanned aircraft systems a priority for our service, and the value of these capabilities is evidenced on a daily basis in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Lt. Gen. Michael C.

  • Gold Bar Recruiter program returns

    Eighteen second lieutenants completed the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Gold Bar Recruiter program first annual training course here July 23. This is the first group of lieutenants to go through the 10-day Gold Bar training course since the program was converted to a contract in 2002,

  • Remote base uses natural energy to power facilities

    A small Air Force Space Command base on the British-owned island of Ascension uses natural energy to help power its facilities. Called Ascension Auxiliary Airfield, the small base serves as a satellite tracking station for the 45th Space Wing.Located in the South Atlantic Ocean several thousand

  • Combat weather Airmen test out new initiative

    Combat weather Airmen from the 93rd Air Ground and Operations Wing, as well as units from all over the world are currently participating in a training exercise here to test a new total-force initiative. The total-force initiative proposes the need to consolidate training locations and resources for

  • Secretary Donley visits mobility air forces competition

    The secretary of the Air Force received an in-depth look at the mobility world during a visit here July 22 for Air Mobility Rodeo 2009. Secretary Michael B. Donley toured the competition, met with Airmen and international partners, and experienced the sights and sounds of the many Rodeo events. "It

  • Unmanned aircraft take on increased importance

    The U.S. military's expanded overseas use of unmanned aircraft highlights the increased importance of such aerial platforms to current and future military operations, senior Air Force officers said here July 23. The Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan announced July 23 will serve as a template for

  • C-17 aircrew delivers RAAF fire truck during Talisman Saber 2009

    C-17 Globemaster III aircrew maneuvering below canyon walls, landed on a remote dirt runway to deliver a team of Australian and U.S. firefighters, along with a 23-ton fire truck July 19 during a mission in Northern Australia. This mission, part of Exercise Talisman Saber 2009, was to deliver a Royal

  • Siblings reunite at Joint Base Balad

    For many families, deployments mean being apart from loved ones. For siblings Staff Sgt. Alissa Taylor and Senior Airman Robert Laxton a deployment to Joint Balad Base is a family reunion. "Back home, it's difficult to schedule time to see each other," said Sergeant Taylor, a 64th Expeditionary

  • Barnes Center single voice for enlisted education

    Nearly one year ago, Air University officials embarked upon housing all Air Force enlisted professional military education under a single command at the Thomas E. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education here. The sweeping venture brought the Air Force First Sergeants Academy, the Air Force Senior

  • CCAF: A powerful weapon system in recruiting arsenal

    The Community College of the Air Force staff helps Air Education and Training Command officials accomplish their educational mission by attracting young men and women before they enter Basic Military Training. Staff Sgt. Charly Moreau of the 349th Recruiting Squadron can attest to the impact of the

  • Air Force's newest mobile air shelter part of Rodeo

    Contingency response Airmen competed using the Air Force's newest mobile air shelter during the Air Mobility Rodeo July 20 here.The hardside expandable light air mobile shelter is a command and control mobile air shelter designed to be set up on a new airfield within 48 hours and is teh first year

  • Afghan national army air corps commander travels to AETC

    The commander of the Afghan national army air corps visited Air Education and Training Command here in July to strengthen the training partnerships between the two air forces. "The primary reason for coming here is trying to learn from the experience of AETC in the areas of recruiting pilots and

  • Airmen's time tour makes follow-up visits

    In today's fast-paced, resourced-constrained environment, Air Force officials here said they are attempting to return a precious commodity to Airmen: time. A team, chartered by Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, the deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, will visit units at 11 Air Force

  • Families, children key issue for chief of staff

    Support for families -- especially in the area of child education -- is a pressing issue for the military. That was the message from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and two other service chiefs and other service representatives here in July for a panel discussion focusing on issues

  • Family, friends gather to remember fallen crew of RAIDR 21

    The morning of July 21, 2008, six Airmen set out from Andersen Air Base, Guam, in their B-52 Stratofortress, call sign RAIDR 21, on what would be their final mission. Today, one year later, a small, solemn ceremony took place here in remembrance of the fallen RAIDR 21 Airmen: Maj. Chris Cooper,

  • Guard members bring unique skills to war effort

    A ground theater air control systems unit from the Wisconsin's Air National Guard deployed here in May brought experience and expertise to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The 128th Air Control Squadron from Volk Field, Wis., joined forces with their active-duty counterparts at the

  • Girls' school opens in Panjshir

    Local Afghans, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Greg Mortenson, an author, and members of the Panjshir Provincial Reconstruction Team, attended the grand opening ceremony of the province's newest girls' school, July 15. Mr. Mortenson, who wrote the book "Three Cups

  • Air Force to hire civilians to manage unit programs

    Squadrons with more than 50 military and civilian members could start seeing relief in managing their additional duties as early as this fall, with a 1,200 newly created civilian unit program coordinator positions. Feedback from the 2008 Airman's Time Assessment revealed Airmen were being pulled

  • Airmen keep exercise participants flying high down under

    The Northern Australian Outback offers many dangers to those who venture across its terrain, including six of the most venomous snakes in the world, saltwater crocodiles, and multiple poisonous insects. However, it is the young tigers, eagles and hornets in Australia's sky that are garnering much

  • Mother Nature never takes breaks, neither do weather Airmen

    Even with today's modern aircraft technology, one uncontrollable factor -- the weather -- is often the deciding factor as to whether an aircraft gets off the ground. But uncontrollable doesn't mean unpredictable. Here in Southwest Asia, the eight-member weather flight of the 379th Expeditionary

  • British cadets nurture 'spirit of adventure' at Ramstein

    England's Air Training Corps sent numerous cadets to Ramstein Air Base in July in hopes to guide their cadets "to foster the spirit of adventure and develop qualities of leadership and good citizenship."As one of the goals for cadets according to the Air Cadet Organization's Web site, cultivating