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  • 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

  • AF medical service celebrates 60 years

    Air Force medical service officials commemorated 60 years of service here June 25. Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush hosted the event at the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk to honor the medical service's contributions over the last 60 years and to highlight the way ahead.

  • Ground, flight tests yield zero interference for interrogator system

    Overseas ground and flight testing on a NATO Airborne Warning and Control System recently demonstrated that a prototype waveform designed to better distinguish friendly forces from foes did not interfere with European civilian air traffic control. This paves the way for 635th Electronic Systems

  • Tinker Airmen make mark in 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'

    Airmen of the 552nd Air Control Wing's E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System here had a unique mission recently: helping Autobots fight off Decepticons in support of worldwide security. As seen in the newly released movie, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," an E-3 Sentry aircrew played an

  • Air Force officials announce fiscal 2010 force structure realignments

    Air Force officials here announced June 26 its proposed force structure realignment for fiscal 2010. The announcement addresses the Air Force's force structure, realignment and management actions supported by the president's fiscal 2010 budget and summarizes the civilian and military personnel

  • Air Force general becomes newest SOUTHCOM commander

    Gen. Douglas M. Fraser became the first-ever Air Force officer to lead U.S. Southern Command during a change-of-command ceremony June 25 at the command's headquarters here. More than 300 invited guests and military leaders attended the event, including Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Vice

  • Bomber crews improve mission skills at Northern Edge 2009

    The 96th Bomb Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., deployed here for exercise Northern Edge 2009 to practice mission planning and war-time procedures. The 96th BS brought three B-52H Stratofortress long-range bombers to train in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and over the Gulf of

  • Sather AB renovates runway, paves way for Iraq's future

    Sather's runway recently underwent a major overhaul, improving the quality, capability and safety of the airfield here. Construction on the 10,830-foot runway began Dec. 27 and finished June 16, the day the airstrip re-opened. The renovations included concrete and joint repairs, rubber residue

  • Coalition forces, Kirkuk officials partner to care for bombing victims

    The bright pink soccer ball was clearly out of place on the flightline here June 22; however, it was in just the right place to begin the healing process for a 9-year-old girl atop a stretcher being carried on board a Turkish air force C-130 to be aeromedically evacuated to Ankara, Turkey. She was

  • Northern Warfare Training Center helps prepare SEALs

    A West Coast-based Navy SEAL team continued their training during Northern Edge 2009 with help from the Northern Warfare Training Center staff here June 17. The SEAL team learned and practiced several river crossing techniques to prepare them for overseas contingency operations. "The training that

  • AETC Future Learning Division staff 'tweets' for new programs

    Air Education and Training Command's Future Learning Division staff here plummeted into the social networking, micro blogging Web site Twitter last month in an effort to explore the site's potential uses in training today's Airmen for tomorrow. "[The future learning division is] looking into

  • Joint Base San Antonio moves closer toward implementation

    Representatives from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and participating branches of the service met to finalize the way ahead for Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland AFB and Fort Sam Houston during a joint basing workshop hosted by Air Education and Training Command officials June 9 through 11

  • Medics perform 3-tier mission in Nangarhar

    The medics assigned to the Nangarhar Provincial Reconstruction Team boast a three-fold mission here. The medical team is responsible for running an aid station, providing combat support and helping with the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Nangarhar Province. As a recent addition to their

  • 386th AEW conducts dorm fire exercise

    Members of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and 386th Expeditionary Medical Group tested their skills during a simulated dormitory fire exercise here June 22. The exercise coordinators used smoke machines to simulate a dormitory fire and six U.S. Air Force Academy

  • Kirkuk self-help project protects airfield assets, saves money

    Members from every 506th Air Expeditionary Group unit joined forces for a self-help project here to improve airfield security here in June. Security forces members, medics, civil engineers, air-freight controllers, air-traffic controllers and communications technicians united to fulfill one of the

  • Tactical Satellite-3 completes successful first month of operations

    The Tactical Satellite-3 has exceeded expectations and is performing well a month after being launched, according to the program manager of the experimental spacecraft. Launched May 19, TacSat-3 is managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate officials here. The TacSat-3

  • Command, control relationships critical to close-air-support mission

    Air Force offensive aerial units operating within the Central Command area of responsibility are focused on one primary task: close-air support. "It is my opinion that close-air support is the most effective fire support asset in Afghanistan right now, and I haven't heard any different from the

  • Airmen take reins on Army cargo movement mission

    As the dust settled after one of the worst sandstorms of the year, a small group of Airmen from the 22nd Movement Control Team took the reins of the Army's 258th MCT mission June 14 here. Sixteen Air Force logisticians are responsible for the processing and management of cargo and passengers

  • Suicide prevention message rolls through cities nationwide

    The Department of Veterans Affairs took to the road, literally, when it decided to advertise about its "VA Suicide Prevention Lifeline" on public transportation buses in 124 communities across the country. "We continue to look for new, innovative ways to reach our veterans," said Tammy Duckworth,

  • Streamlined ancillary, expeditionary skills training eliminates redundancy

    New policy, released in March, streamlined redundant and outdated ancillary training programs and aligned expeditionary skills training with warfighter requirements. However, Air Force leaders recently addressed the time requirement to complete ancillary training after discovering a common

  • Ground equipment Airmen show 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 Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO 21, he encouraged the elimination of unnecessary steps in any work process. He suggested Air Force people

  • Airmen mentor Afghan counterparts to provide care

    Air Force medics here are working hand-in-hand with their counterparts from the Afghan National Army, out of a co-located clinic, to provide mentoring on medical equipment, administration and military medical care. The three-person staff, consisting of a physician's assistant, independent medical

  • C-17 crew uses combat offload to deliver materials to warzone

    A C-17 Globemaster III crew from the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron used a combat offload procedure here June 20 to deliver materials that will be used to help defend the local population. Due to the austere location of the forward operating base, the personnel stationed here did not have the

  • Test cell upgrades capability, reliability

    Another piece of the digital age arrived June 14 at the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron engine-test cell here as the operational test of a C-130 Hercules engine with a new 21D model engine-test cell brought the unit up to par with home station capabilities. The new digital model brought

  • Tactical comm Airmen keep military ops online, on target

    Performing missions within the Nangarhar province of Afghanistan requires the U.S. military to maintain an open line of communication at all times, especially when convoys take people outside the wire. For one Airman in particular, the role of tactical communications means knowing a variety of