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  • Airmen help Iraqi army take control of base operations

    Operations continue as normal at Camp Ur. The focus remains the same: keep the base running and the mission on target. Iraqi army soldiers routinely work with their U.S. counterparts, but one important difference now is that the Iraqis have taken command of the controls."It's a historic time for

  • 'Biggest Loser' comes to Osan

    Airmen from the 51st Medical Group here are getting ready for the Air Force's new fitness program that starts January 2010. By taking a popular television show and adapting it to a military lifestyle, the Airmen have created their own "Biggest Loser" competition. The 10-week competition consists of

  • Kadena Airmen 'deploy' to Guam

    Nearly 100 maintenance, operations, and support personnel arrived here Aug. 31 as part of a test of the deployment capabilities of the 18th Wing from Kadena Air Base, Japan.The timing of this deployment coincides with "Obon," which means reduced jet noise coming from the Kadena flight line and over

  • U.S., Romanian air forces discuss aircraft maintenance

    A U.S. Air Forces in Europe maintenance NCO training program traveling contact team met with Romanian air force instructors and aircraft maintainers during a visit to Bucharest, Romania Aug. 25 through 28. The primary purpose of the four-day visit was to discuss the U.S. Air Force's cradle-to-grave

  • Ramstein Airmen support 15-nation medical training exercise

    Thirty-two members of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, arrived here Aug. 25 in support of the Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe 2009. More than 600 people representing 15 nations will participate in this year's annual exercise with a focus on

  • Defense Department to start H1N1 flu vaccinations

    All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, and the vaccine will be available to all military family members who want it, a Defense Department health affairs official said Sept. 2 here. The H1N1 vaccination program will begin in early October, said Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Wayne

  • Academy joins social media scene

    The U.S. Air Force Academy officially entered the social media sphere Aug. 28 with the launch of Web pages on two popular social networking sites. In order to offer the public a convenient way to see what's going on at the Academy, the public affairs office here has created a page on

  • Afterburner retiree newsletter back after 3-year hiatus

    After a three-year hiatus, the hard-copy Afterburner retiree newsletter is back. Special funding was granted to provide news and information to retirees and surviving spouses. However, those with computer access are urged to forego a hard-copy version to save money. There are approximately 770,000

  • Safety: More than just 101 critical days

    Just because you "fly a desk" in an administrative work area, doesn't mean you don't have to worry about safety. In fact, according to 86th Airlift Wing safety officials here, one of the more extreme mishaps that happened this year took place in an administrative environment. One unlucky person

  • Whiteman Airmen test nuclear weapon mission

    Members of the 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron here took part in Combat Sledgehammer Aug. 17 as part of Air Combat Command's nuclear weapon system evaluation program. Combat Sledgehammer is conducted on Air Force bomber and fighter aircraft that are capable of carrying thermonuclear bombs and

  • Air Force secretary praises Airmen, discusses ops with Bagram Airmen

    The secretary of the Air Force visited 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen Aug. 29 here during his second visit to Afghanistan in 10 months. Secretary Michael B. Donley spoke to approximately 300 Airmen at an Airmen's Call held on the steps of an old, Russian air traffic control tower, known as the

  • Photo essay: Supplies drop in Afghanistan

    Pallets of cargo drop from a C-17 Globemaster III to a forward operating base in Afghanistan, Aug. 27, 2009,  in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The aircrew is assigned to the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.View the slideshow.

  • Being 'green' is key part of commissary operations

    Each year, Defense Commissary Agency stores use more than 200 million gallons of water, spend more than $60 million on utility services and generate more solid waste than most mid-sized cities. However, as DeCA officials deliver the commissary benefit, they also are responsible for eliminating or

  • Innovative Airmen make jobs, lives easier

    Airmen from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing have applied the axiom "work smarter, not harder" to come up with solutions on the job that are saving manpower, time and money here in Southwest Asia. Examples of innovation are not limited to just one group. Each of the four groups assigned to the 379th

  • 'Today's Air Force' features chief of staff first-year reflections

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the chief of staff of the Air Force reflects on his first year on the job, the Global Positioning System gets a high tech upgrade, and Airmen turn to a new program in Iraq to get help dealing with combat stress.Major changes have taken place across the Air

  • AFCENT commander, command chief visit JBB

    Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the new U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, and AFCENT Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff visited Joint Balad Base Aug. 25 to survey various missions and address some of the Airmen he now commands. During his visit, General Hostage met with Army officials from the

  • Officials outline adoption process for military working dogs

    Military working dogs have come a long way since the days of ancient Persia and Assyria, where they donned armor, spiked collars and warned of impending attack or charged on the enemy's cavalry. Modern battlefield and customs conditions bring forth complex and ever-changing challenges, and as such,

  • Defense Department turns to ESC to lead way on NextGen

    Dr. Tim Rudolph, the Electronic Systems Center's chief technology officer, has been named the Defense Department's lead architect for a federal initiative known as the Next Generation Air Transportation System. The center's 653rd Electronic Systems Wing here, which has a lot of experience with

  • New vice chief of staff takes office

    Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler is the new vice chief of staff of the Air Force, succeeding Gen. William M. Fraser III who held the position since October 2008. General Chandler comes to the Pentagon after two years of service as commander of Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S.

  • Misawa Airmen rescue Japanese citizen

    Eight Airmen from Misawa AB saved the life of a Japanese citizen Aug. 15 when they pulled him away from a house and car that were engulfed in flames. The Airmen and their families were on a bus returning from a night of celebrating a child's birthday and bidding farewell to a fellow Airman.

  • Contractor, U.S. Attorney agree on $15 million fraud suit settlement

    Earlier this month, the United States Attorney and Dynamics Research Corporation, known as DRC, corporate officials reached a settlement agreement in a False Claims Act suit filed by government officials recently. DRC, an advisory and assistance services government contractor supporting the Air

  • Guardsman lauds employer for military support

    The past five years have been "the most exciting, dynamic and rewarding" of Brad Sams' professional career, not because of his success as an attorney, but because of the military opportunities his employer has enabled him to pursue, the Air National Guard major said. "They create a culture that

  • Next-gen spacecraft stops at Holloman

    NASA's next generation of a manned-spacecraft  made a stop at Holloman AFB on its way to White Sands Missile Range, N.M. where launch abort tests will be performed. The Orion Program's Pad Abort One Crew Module arrived here Aug. 19 via a C-17 Globemaster III and left aboard a tractor-trailer Aug. 21

  • Academy to transform character development program

    Academy superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould unveiled plans Aug. 27 for a major transformation and expansion of the Academy's character development efforts. Plans include re-designating the Center for Character Development to the Center for Character and Leadership Development, or CCLD, and relocating

  • Charleston Airman shows strength for recovery

    An explosives ordnance disposal technician with the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron mustered the strength to brace himself and stand for the first time in three weeks Aug. 21 after an explosion turned his deployment upside down. "I just want to take each day slowly but surely. In the next week or two

  • Air evacuation liaison team's battle buddies wear Army green

    Airmen with an Air Mobility Command air evacuation liaison team and Soldiers from Army patient administration staff trained with each other during Joint Readiness Training Center Exercise 09-09 at Folk Polk, La., through Aug. 25. Their goal: prepare for Middle East deployments. "Our main goal is to

  • Info to abound at USAF Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo

    USAF Marathon officials here say you should plan to be informed and inspired at the USAF Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo on Sept. 17 and 18.Nationally-syndicated "consumer warrior" Clark Howard and Boston Marathon Director Dave McGillivray are just two of the speakers scheduled to provide

  • U.S. Air Forces Africa help Nigerian C-130 fly again

    A group of active-duty Air Force and Tennessee Air National Guardsmen recently helped restore one of Nigeria's C-130 transport aircraft to flying condition as part of an ongoing military-to-military engagement between 17th Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Africa) and the West African nation. Lt. Col.

  • Air Forces Africa commander visits Kenyan air force

    Air Forces Africa officials arrived in Kenya Aug. 21 for the latest in a series of engagements between U.S. and Kenyan forces. AFAFRICA, also known as 17th Air Force, is the air component for U.S. Africa Command. AFAFRICA Commander Maj. Gen. Ronald R. Ladnier led the visit, which came in the wake of

  • NCO donates kidney, begins 'donor chain'

    Valinda Jones, a nurse in Woodland Hills, Calif., has endured more than 14,500 hours of dialysis throughout the last five years -- that's eight hours a day, every day -- relying on a machine to filter impurities from her blood. Thanks to Master Sgt. Nicole Lanstrum, Ms. Jones is back to a living a

  • New munitions units advance nuclear weapons center role

    With the activation and assumption of command for the 798th Munitions Maintenance Group at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Aug. 18, Air Force officials significantly advanced one of their top goals: reinvigorating the service's nuclear enterprise. The maintenance group was the last of four similar

  • Collaboration key to success in cyber operations

    The Air Force Information Technology Conference opened Aug. 24 in Montgomery, Ala., with keynote addresses from the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Air Force chief of staff and the CEO of McAfee, Inc. Collaboration emerged as a key theme in the opening day of the conference, which is now in

  • Airmen, Soldiers host health fair for Iraqi children

    Airmen and Soldiers here hosted a Department of State Provincial Reconstruction Team-initiated health fair for local Iraqi children Aug. 22. More than 30 children from the surrounding Salah ad Din province interacted with servicemembers while learning about basic first aid, the role of emergency

  • Iraqi agency ready to take over civil aviation operations

    The Iraqi civil aviation authority staff will independently conduct day-to-day civil aviation operations beginning Aug. 25 after Airmen of the Regional Air Movement Control Center helped direct the organization stationed here. The Regional Air Movement Control Center staff worked for more than half

  • Iraqi air force brings ISR capabilities online

    Intelligence collection has become a valuable capability for the Iraqi air force in its push to provide security and stability. Unique to the Iraqi air force, the King Air Squadron 87 here boasts the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities necessary for detecting and deterring

  • Airmen, community help vets

    Beale Air Force Base volunteers teamed with partners from the Yuba-Sutter community to transform a shady patch of lawn at the River Bottoms Park here into a mini tent city used to provide assistance to veterans in need Aug. 20 through 22. "It's good to help out and give back to them," said Staff

  • Platelet donations bring troops home

    The pint-sized bags of cloudy, yellow liquid may not look like much, but the fluid inside them has proved to be a lifesaving substance to injured servicemembers. "Platelets heal. I've seen it firsthand," said Lt. Col. Thomas Jordan, the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Support Squadron platelet

  • Airman witnesses daughter's birth via webcam

    Airmen take pride in the electronic devices that allow them to listen to their favorite music, see distant targets or identify the movements of an enemy force.But one Airman assigned here used modern technology recently to witness something a little different and a lot more personal.Tech. Sgt.

  • Chief of staff visits Beale

    Deployment lengths, force-shaping efforts and emerging unmanned aircraft missions were some of the topics on the minds of Beale Airmen during the visit by the Air Force chief of staff here Aug. 21. In his first visit to Beale since becoming the Air Force's top officer just over a year ago, Gen.

  • Lajes Field clinic hosts school, sports physical day

    A steady flow of children and their parents passed through the 65th Medical Group clinic during a school and sports physical day here Aug 20. With almost 120 appointments scheduled for the day, the 65th MDG staff was far busier than a normal duty day as children came in to get their school and

  • Airdrop fuels troops in austere Afghan locations

    Air Force officials from here airdropped 3.3 million pounds of supplies into Afghanistan during the month of July. Members of the 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron contributed more than 276,000 pounds of equipment, ammunition and other supplies ranging from fuel to food and water to fellow

  • SECAF outlines Year of the Air Force Family

    The secretary of the Air Force emphasized the Air Force's firm commitment to its families during his speech at the 2009 Air Force Sergeant's Association Professional Airmen's Conference here August 19. Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz designated July 2009

  • Air Force unveils new fitness program

    Approval of the new Air Force fitness instruction in the coming weeks will bring about some of the most significant changes to the Air Force fitness program in the last five years.Those changes, which take effect Jan. 1, 2010, shift a greater responsibility of maintaining physical fitness 365 days a

  • Leaders issue joint message, define cyber mission

    In a joint Letter to Airmen, the secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force chief of staff focus on the alignment of the service's cyberspace mission."Without question, cyberspace is vital to today's fight and to the future U.S. military advantage over our adversaries," said Air Force Secretary

  • Pacific Airlift Rally 2009 kicks off

    A biennial symposium involving Pacific Rim nations to enhance military airlift interoperability with a focus in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations kicked off here Aug. 17. Pacific Airlift Rally 2009, co-hosted by the American and Royal Malaysian air forces, includes

  • Civilians can now apply for new professional development program

    Air Force civilian employees can now apply for a new professional development opportunity with applications due to Air Force Personnel Center officials by Sept. 4. The Civilian Acculturation Leadership Training program provides a unique in-residence experience at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.,

  • Shaw Airmen train with South Carolina Civil Air Patrol

    Shaw Air Force Base Airmen joined volunteers of the South Carolina wing of the Civil Air Patrol in Exercise Fertile Keynote Aug. 11 here. The training exercise occurs five to six times per month and gives 20th Fighter Wing alert Airmen experience with different scenarios, said Maj. Benjamin Price,

  • 5 NATO countries take part in jump week

    Five NATO countries including Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States participated in airborne jump operations during International Jump Week Aug. 9 thru 14. Parachuting out of the back of a C-130 Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron here, more than 250 paratroopers guided

  • Gates, Mullen use new media to hear from troops, public

    Got questions you'd like to pose directly to the defense secretary or chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? Now is your chance! Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen have launched interactive, virtual town hall sessions through the Internet. The initiatives are part of a broad administration

  • Clinic traffic downrange shows need for hearing protection

    When gearing up for a mission in Afghanistan, servicemembers don't forget their helmet, gloves, weapon, eye protection or body armor. But what about hearing protection? Staff Sgt. Lee Adams, an ear, nose and throat technician here, said more than half of the patients seen in the ENT walk-in clinics

  • Flying hospital staff gives wounded fighting chance

    At any given moment, a call can come in requiring an entire aeromedical evacuation staff here to stop what they are doing and begin preparing to care for the wounded and sick headed their way. The team of Airmen will pull supplies, alert additional crewmembers, get updates from aid stations and make

  • Mildenhall serves as base for Turkish C-130 engine replacement

    A team of 13 Turkish air force mechanics arrived here Aug. 17 to repair one of their C-130s after a maintenance inspection revealed problems with one of the aircraft's engines. Members of the 100th Maintenance Squadron lent support of its facilities and equipment to the team while they swapped out

  • General North assumes command of Pacific Air Forces

    The command of Pacific Air Forces, celebrating 65 years of providing American airpower in the Pacific this month, was passed from Gen. Howie Chandler to Gen. Gary North during a ceremony here Aug. 19 on Freedom Tower Mall. General North assumed command here after completing more than three years of

  • AMC commander receives Order of the Sword

    Arriving at the Scott Club in a horse-drawn carriage while a bagpipe melody filled the air, the commander of Air Mobility Command and his wife became a part of military history Aug. 14 here. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte and Chris Lichte received the carriage ride under security forces escort as the start

  • Teamwork keeps tankers flying

    A team of active-duty, Reserve and Guard servicemembers of the 340th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here maintain aircraft built during President Dwight D. Eisenhower's era in temperatures exceeding 110 degrees here. The working dynamics at the 340th AMU differ from most Air Force bases working on KC-135

  • 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