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  • 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

  • Air Force officials establish core team for Nuclear Surety Inspections

    Air Force Inspection Agency officials here recently created a new team to increase the standardization and consistency of Nuclear Surety Inspections across the Air Force. The establishment of a centralized team of nuclear inspectors, known as the Air Force NSI Core Team, is another critical

  • ACC commander visits Airmen at Joint Base Balad

     The commander of both Air Combat Command and the Air Component of Joint Forces Command visited the base July 17 to thank Joint Base Balad personnel for their service and survey various missions here. Gen. John D.W. Corley shared his perspectives on emerging missions, joint integration and the role

  • Airmen open medical clinic in Indonesia

    Residents from this rural area of Indonesia were already waiting for medical services by the time American and Indonesian medical professionals opened a clinic at 8 a.m. July 16 at a local elementary school here.More than 300 patients were seen by medics in just the first day as word at the

  • Commander says Rodeo 2009 competition will be 'best ever'

    With the shouts and sounds of the fit-to-fight competition resonating in the background, Maj. Gen. Brooks Bash, Air Mobility Rodeo 2009 commander, said he believes this year's edition of Rodeo will be the best ever. "That's because of the great spread of international partners and U.S. teams we have

  • Air Mobility Rodeo begins at McChord

    More than 2,500 servicemembers from around the Air Force and the globe gathered here July 19 to officially kick off the 2009 Air Mobility Rodeo, which runs through July 24. The Rodeo, sponsored by Air Mobility Command, is a week-long mobility readiness competition that brings teams from AMC bases

  • Photo essay: Japanese royalty pay homage to America's fallen

    Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko paid tribute to the interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific July 15 here. The ceremony included the laying of a chrysanthemum wreath, the playing of "Taps" and a joint flyover by U.S. Navy and Japan Self-Defense Forces aircraft.View

  • Airmen, KC-135s support exercise in Australia

    Two KC-135 Stratotankers delivered 140,000 pounds of fuel to two B-52 Stratofortresses participating in Talisman Saber 09, currently underway in Australia, and scheduled through July 25. Talisman Saber is a U.S. Pacific Command-directed, bilateral command post and field-training exercise designed to

  • Air Guard flight crews undergo water survival training

    Thirty-five F-16 pilots and flight surgeons assigned to the 182nd Fighter Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base participated in required water survival and rescue training here. Members were briefed on the availability and use of tools contained in their survival gear. The water instruction ended with

  • UAS sensor operator training to begin at Randolph

    Air Force officials recently gave Randolph Air Force Base instructors the green light to begin training the next generation of enlisted sensor operators to support unmanned aircraft systems. Stemming from the high demand for unmanned aircraft and operators, the 1UOX1 Air Force Specialty Code career

  • Volunteers ensure success at Veterans Wheelchair Games

    Disabled veterans of all ages and skill levels are competing in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games here July 13 through 18, but while the athletes are earning the spotlight, the nearly 3,000 volunteers behind the scenes have worked to make sure every event runs smoothly. "These Wheelchair

  • USAFE officials stand up air ground operations wing

    The stand up of U.S. Air Forces in Europe's first wing solely dedicated to supporting battlefield Airmen took place during a July 16 ceremony at Ramstein Air Base. The 435th Air Ground Operations Wing takes over the mission previously performed by two 86th Airlift Wing units here -- the Contingency

  • Sesame Workshop aims to help military children, keep families connected

    "Sesame Street" usually conjures visions of Muppets teaching young children their letters and numbers, but they also teach life lessons to help military children cope with deployments, injuries and now, loss. The newest phase of Sesame Workshop's "Talk, Listen, Connect" initiative is aimed at

  • Charleston officials provide dignified transfer training for Army chaplains

    More than 170 Army chaplain candidates gathered on the flightline here July 14 to receive training in the honors given to fallen servicemembers during dignified transfers of human remains. Last August, officials at the Army Chaplain Center and School at Fort Jackson, S.C., began coordinating with

  • Former Airman competes in veterans wheelchair games

    Swimming 100 meters is difficult. Swimming this distance without the use of your legs seems near impossible. Yet, this is exactly what Terri Fuda did July 15. She is taking part in the 29th National Veterans Wheelchair Games here, where she competed in the 100-meter freestyle swimming event at

  • 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year highlighted

    The 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year are selected based on superior leadership, job performance, significant self-improvement/ personal achievements and base/community involvement. The Air Force Chief of Staff reviews the selections. The selections for the 2009 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

  • Air Force leaders roll out UAS flight plan

    Air Force leaders ushered in a new era of airpower capabilities with the approval of the Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Systems Flight Plan June 23 by Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.The plan, which was developed by the Air Force's UAS Task

  • RAF communications leader visits Global Cyberspace Integration Center

    The Royal Air Force assistant chief of staff for communications met with the Global Cyberspace Integration Center director to gain a better understanding of missions and issues faced by military forces from the U.S. and England July 14 here. RAF Air Commodore Mark Neal talked with Stan Newberry as

  • Weapons loaders arm jets for the fight

    Without the work of Airmen who load munitions on aircraft, F-16 Fighting Falcons in the fight here would be no different than any commercial airliner in terms of strike capability. Combat missions occur around the clock here and weapons loaders from the 332nd Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance

  • Wheelchair athletes participate in national veteran's competition

    William Ethridge won't stand up to greet people, he won't give up his seat for a lady and if someone drops something in front of him, he won't help pick it up. But he doesn't do these things because he's rude or indifferent; he just physically isn't able to. Mr. Ethridge is paralyzed from the waist

  • Airman's Roll Call: 12 Outstanding Airmen

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on this year's top enlisted members, the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.  An Air Force selection board recently selected them out of 33 nominees representing major commands, direct reporting units, field operating agencies and the Air Staff. They are

  • 'Today's Air Force' features proposed force structure changes

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights possible force structure changes that are on the horizon, the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and TAC-P Airmen training for an upcoming deployment.Featured in the first segment, Air Force officials announce the 2010 Force Structure plan, a proposal that, if

  • Veterans wheelchair games kick off in Spokane

    More than 500 disabled veterans rolled into the convention center here to take part in the 2009 National Veterans Wheelchair Games July 13 through 19. The event, which is sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and Department of Veterans Affairs, began July 13 with a wheelchair basketball

  • 17th Air Force members support presidential visit to Ghana

    Before President Barack Obama could land in Accra July 10, Airmen, Sailors and Marines were on the ground days in advance preparing for the visit.More than 150 Airmen in Accra and more than 1,000 Sailors and Marines aboard the USS Iwo Jima came together to form a task force to support the

  • Airman selected for Military Times Service Members of the Year award

    An Airman joined members representing each of the service branches for a recognition ceremony at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill July 9. Staff Sgt. MercedesKimble L. Crossland, currently assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office at Aviano Air Base, Italy, was nominated

  • Airmen improve base in Iraq

    Airmen of the 557th Expeditionary RED HORSE Squadron are changing the landscape of Contingency Operating Base Basra rapidly. Some buildings already have been built by engineering specialists from 76 bases throughout the United States have improved the operational capability of Multinational Division

  • Officials announce Predator, Reaper additional formal training location

    Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico will be the new location for an additional MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper formal training unit, announced the commander of Air Combat Command here July 13. Gen. John D.W. Corley, with concurrence from the chief of staff of the Air Force, announced the additional

  • French unmanned aircraft protect Bagram Airmen, coalition forces

    Airmen of the French unmanned aircraft system operational squadron here are active on patrols in the sky over Afghanistan looking for any movement that could mean danger to friendly troops as they provide coalition and International Security Assistance Force troops with intelligence, surveillance

  • Military Health System embraces social media

    The Military Health System is one of the many Defense Department organizations embracing social networking in order to provide information to and receive feedback from servicemembers. Dr. Michael Kilpatrick, director of strategic communications for the Military Health System, detailed the

  • Tops In Blue entertain deployed forces in Kyrgyzstan

    Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and coalition forces got a taste of America July 9 through 10 as the Air Forces' expeditionary entertainers, Tops in Blue, visited Manas Air Base to lift the spirits of troops supporting expeditionary operations.Tops in Blue, some of the Air Force's most talented

  • Military leaders embrace social media

    The very day he assumed his post as NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe last week, Navy Adm. James Stavridis reached out in a way none of the previous 15 NATO commanders since Army Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower had: he posted a blog. Admiral Stavridis has had a lot of firsts in his military

  • New Air Force sexual assault prevention, response Web site announced

    To reinforce the Air Force's commitment to eliminating incidents of sexual assault, officials here have debuted a new Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Web site to raise awareness and provide prevention training, education, and victim advocacy. "Sexual assault is absolutely inconsistent with

  • Rescue Coordination Center officials help save 3 lives

    Air Force Rescue Coordination Center officials here helped coordinate three separate search and rescue operations in Utah, Washington and Colorado July 8 with local and state agencies saving the lives of three American citizens. The Beaver County Sheriff and Utah Department of Safety contacted the

  • Def Leppard, Raven Drum Foundation offer free concert tickets

    The rock group Def Leppard and Raven Drum Foundation have started giving away 100 free concert tickets to military members and veterans with military ID for each show in the 2009 Def Leppard summer concert tour to honor the military and provide a little fun and excitement over the summer months.

  • Force Development announces new civilian orientation course

    As the Air Force continues developing its total force initiatives, heritage, culture and core values are now available to new civilians with the advent of a comprehensive online "bluing" program. The online Air Force New Employee Orientation, or NEO, course ensures civilian employees receive a solid

  • Chief of staff visits with Elmendorf Airmen

    The Air Force's top uniformed member spent time with the men and women of Elmendorf Air Force Base July 6. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz received mission briefings from Col. Thomas Bergeson, 3rd Wing commander; visited the 3rd Wing's award-winning hospital; and stopped in at Hangar 1

  • Civilian development 'roadmap' launched

    Air Force officials here recently approved four initiatives that make up part of the civilian institutional development "roadmap." The initiatives are key to helping civilians excel professionally while working to achieve the Air Force mission of fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. Air

  • Airmen in EC-130H unit complete 2,000th combat mission

    An EC-130H Compass Call aircrew here completed their unit's 2,000th combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom July 8. The Airmen, assigned to the 41st Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, provided direct support to coalition ground forces in Afghanistan on the milestone

  • Officials release Lackland ground accident report

    An Air Combat Command accident investigation board report into the Jan. 12 death of a Combat Controller Selection Course student who was removed from life support three days after a training incident was released July 7 by Air Force officials here. Based on the accident investigation board report,

  • Remains of 7 troops killed in Afghanistan return home

    The remains of seven American troops killed July 6 during combat operations in Afghanistan returned to their nation during a dignified transfer July 8 here. Twenty-six family members from every region of the country stood on the tarmac witnessing their loved one's return. Subdued voices of the carry

  • 2 Airmen chosen as astronaut candidates

    Two Air Force officers have been chosen by NASA officials for the 2009 Astronaut Candidate Class July 9.Lt. Col. Mike Hopkins and Maj. Jack Fischer will attend the first iteration of a program designed to ready astronaut candidates for new missions and settings.With NASA's space shuttle program

  • Air Force combat camera team discusses role of media in military

    The media has played a major role in every American military conflict, from the use of newspapers and pamphlets to stoke the American Revolution to embedded journalists in the Middle East. But a story often lost in the mix is that of the military journalists; those men and women in uniform whose

  • Air Force wounded warrior visits White House

    Senior Airman Duane Dunlap enjoyed a very special Independence Day with President Barack Obama. Airman Dunlap, a security forces journeyman assigned to the 59th Patient Squadron at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was one of five Airmen chosen to participate in a Fourth of July Salute to the Military

  • Defense schools work to raise awareness, prevent suicides

    Officials from Defense Department schools are taking on the tough topic of suicide to prevent what is a leading cause of death among teens. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 15- to 19-year-olds, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, and that makes it an important topic for

  • Officials mandate base housing for military families at Okinawa

    U.S. military leaders on Okinawa approved a policy to require all incoming military families to reside on base beginning Aug. 1. The change comes as an effort to save money as military family housing on Okinawa sits at just more than 50 percent capacity while families living off base are given an

  • Defense Education Forum panelists discuss modernization, emerging missions

    Defense Education Forum panelists recently gathered at the Reserve Officers Association headquarters here to discuss the Air Force Reserve's role in modernization and emerging missions. Maj. Gen. Howard N. Thompson, the Air Force Reserve deputy, cited the importance of volunteerism as Reserve Airmen

  • Flight engineers: Critical component to combat search, rescue mission

    If the actions of a combat search and rescue crew were viewed as a symphony, flight engineers would be the conductors. They are experts on the aircraft's weapons systems, know how to operate the hoist, serve as radio operators and operate the .50 caliber machine gun. In many ways, it's man in

  • Air mobility, tanker support key elements of Global Thunder

    Air Mobility Command airlift and tanker support were key contributors to Exercise Global Thunder 2009 that ran June 24 through 30, AMC officials said recently. Global Thunder 2009, a U.S. Strategic Command-led exercise, provided training opportunities for various service components, units and their

  • Airmen train with Army to become JTACs

    Rain and mud may not have been forecasted for radio operators, maintainers and drivers' training in the wilderness, but Airmen geared up anyway to practice combat lifesaver skills, convoys, air-assault egression, and improvised explosive device reaction with one goal in mind: to become combat

  • Airmen coordinate smooth transition of wounded to higher medical care

    An Airman with the aeromedical evacuation liaison team looks and shields his eyes as a helicopter touches down just outside of the hospital at Camp Bastion. A litter team rushes forward. A Marine's life is saved. All in a day's work for the aeromedical evacuation liaison team. Getting wounded

  • Airmen rescue aids in 'Golden Hour' recovery of coalition forces

    Racing against the clock, rescue flights launch into action to retrieve wounded servicemembers and other battlefield casualties. As the helicopters hover over a hostile area, the Guardian Angel team rushes out to retrieve the wounded - often risking their own lives "so that others may live." The

  • Air Force chief of staff to deliver keynote address at C2ISR Symposium

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz will be a keynote speaker at the Air Force C2ISR Symposium and Technology Exposition, to be held Sept. 28-30 at the MGM Grand Hotel at Foxwoods in Ledyard, Conn.  C2ISR is command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.General Schwartz,

  • Chairman recalls Lincoln in Independence Day message

    In his annual Independence Day message to members of the U.S. armed forces worldwide, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff recalls a speech Abraham Lincoln delivered in Chicago in 1858. Here is Navy Adm. Mike Mullen's holiday message: The Fourth of July in America perpetually binds us to the

  • Innovative maintainers save time, lives of front line troops

    Maintainers here have come up with an innovative phase maintenance process to keep as many close-air-support aircraft airborne in theater that is being hailed by U.S. Central Command senior leaders. A-10 Thunderbolt II maintainers deployed from the 23rd Maintenance Group at Moody Air Force Base,

  • 86th AGE flight shows benefits of AFSO 21

    In March 2006 when former Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne called for a new way to evaluate how the Air Force operates, called AFSO 21, he encouraged the elimination of unnecessary steps. He suggested the Air Force leverage on technology, using the right tools and techniques to see any

  • AMC commander visits Airmen in Southwest Asia, highlights mobility's role

    Like clockwork, an Air Mobility Command aircraft departs on a mission within the area-of-operations every two minutes every hour of every day. Providing the three cornerstones of the command's mobility mission -- airlift, aerial refueling and aeromedical evacuation -- AMC Airmen have provided

  • Air Force officials name 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

    Air Force officials here July 2 selected the service's top enlisted members, naming the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2009. An Air Force selection board at the Air Force Personnel Center here considered 33 nominees who represented major commands, direct reporting units, field operating

  • Vice president visits RAF Mildenhall, meets Airmen

    Vice President Joe Biden met and talked to several Royal Air Force Mildenhall Airmen during a stop at the base en route to an undisclosed location. The vice president thanked Airmen for their service and encouraged them to continue doing a great job for the nation.Airman 1st Class Victoria Smith of

  • Aerial gunners provide cover for lifesaving mission

    Air Force combat search and rescue crews on HH-60G Pave Hawks fly throughout Afghanistan to provide airlift and medical care to servicemembers wounded on the battlefield. More often than not, this requires them to fly into and operate in extremely hostile and precarious situations and locations,

  • Airmen can now apply to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits

    Department of Defense officials began accepting applications from Airmen to transfer Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to dependents June 29. "The Post-9/11 GI Bill transfer of benefits option is a landmark benefit to eligible Airmen," said Lt. Gen. Richard Newton III, deputy chief of staff for Air Force

  • Air Force reservists 'tweet,' blog, post their way to cyberspace

    A couple of times a day, Master Sgt. Collen McGee logs onto the 433rd Airlift Wing's Twitter account and "tweets" updates to 675 followers from around the world. Using the twitter handle of @AFRC_433, Sergeant McGee condenses messages to 140 characters, often including links to related Web sites.

  • Wounded EOD technician has big plans

    One step on May 11 changed the life course of an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron here. Staff Sgt. David Flowers, 28, was deployed with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, when he was wounded by an anti-personnel mine on

  • Air Force bids farewell to Chief McKinley, hails Chief Roy

    After more than 30 years of service, the Air Force's top enlisted leader bade farewell to fellow Airmen in a June 30 ceremony here as a new Airman became the 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force. Along the manicured ceremonial lawn, hundreds of spectators cheered the service of Chief Master

  • New PTSD program answers need for comprehensive treatment

    Symptoms of combat stress and post-traumatic stress disorder for wounded warriors include continual nightmares, avoidance behaviors, denial, grief, anger and fear. Some servicemembers battling these and other symptoms, can be treated successfully as an outpatient while assuming their normal duties,

  • Wounded warrior program assists Airmen, families

    Air Force officials here have developed a new program to assist Airmen in need because wounded warriors and their families remain a top priority. The recovery care coordinator is designed to be an "ultimate resource" for seriously wounded, ill, or injured service members. RCCs work closely with

  • Couple remembered as 'best this nation has to offer'

    A former commanding general of the Washington, D.C., National Guard who was killed June 22 in a subway accident along with his wife was remembered in a June 29 ceremony celebrating his life and accomplishments. Retired Maj. Gen. David Wherley and his wife, Ann, a mortgage banker, both 62, were

  • U.S. servicemembers withdraw from Iraqi cities, move to main installations

    Under the Security Agreement signed between Washington, D.C., and Baghdad, Iraq, officials in November 2008, U.S. servicemembers are to withdraw from Iraqi cities, villages and localities by June 30.As a result of the agreement, some servicemembers are moving onto main installations such as Sather

  • Fairchild Airmen rescue hikers

    Airmen of the 36th Rescue Flight from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., rescued a hiker from Fort Lewis, Wash., who tumbled more than 1,000 feet June 14 down a mountain just west of Wenatchee, Wash.The 58-year-old man and his son were hiking around 3 p.m. when the older man stumbled down a mountain

  • Wildlife conservation a priority for remote Air Force base

    Ascension Auxiliary Airfield, a small base belonging to a detachment of Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing here, is constantly facing invasion. But the invaders aren't foreign soldiers coming to claim the island for their own. Instead, they are green, scaly creatures from the sea. And, every

  • Pentagon official: Iraqi troops ready for added responsibility

    The withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from all Iraqi cities and towns was completed over the weekend and ahead of the June 30 deadline, a Pentagon spokesman said on a cable TV news show June 29. "Overall, the security situation is stable enough for Iraqi security forces to take on this added

  • H1N1 case confirmed at Goodfellow

    Air Force officials confirmed June 25 that the first case of the H1N1 virus was diagnosed at Goodfellow Air Force Base. The affected person is a dependent of a military couple stationed at Goodfellow AFB, and the patient is being treated by the 17th Medical Group pediatric staff. Base personnel have

  • Airmen in Europe test threat responses

    Airmen from six U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases competed in the 2009 USAFE Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Challenge June 22 through 26 here. The full-spectrum threat response strike teams were tested in six scenarios based on real-world hazardous material events in a rodeo-style

  • Airmen spend time with students during deployment

    Nine deployed Airmen from the 525th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit spent their off-duty time assisting three teachers with 60 students in the Machananao Elementary School summer program here June 19. The Airmen deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, are from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, to