HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Air Force on target with recruiting, retention

    Air Force leaders' efforts to have the "right number of people in the right jobs" remains a challenge and so far, the Air Force is headed in the right direction, according to Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, the deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel. The general was one of several senior

  • Top agents praise OSI efforts within Afghanistan

    The Air Force's top Office of Special Investigations leaders recently spoke with agents and support personnel serving in Afghanistan during a Feb. 23 through 26 visit to Bagram Airfield. Brig. Gen. Dana Simmons, the Air Force OSI commander, Col. Humberto Morales, the 24th Expeditionary Force

  • Players, spectator save life of fallen Airman

    Five minutes into an intramural basketball game, two base teams were locked in a battle for victory but then had to shift focus to battle to save a fallen player's life at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 18 here. A player fell head first to the floor at the Pope Fitness Center's basketball court, but two players

  • Air Force Climate Survey yields insights

    More than 90 percent of Airmen responding to a recent survey indicated that they are happy with their Air Force jobs and the performance of their organizations. These findings are according to a study that measures Airmen's attitudes toward their work environment and unit. "I am extremely pleased to

  • Guard aviators gear up for Afghanistan deployment

    Four New York Army National Guard aviators got a taste of high-altitude flying in Afghanistan on Feb. 25 without leaving the United States. The Afghan-bound members of Detachment 20, Operational Support Airlift, went through high-altitude training at an Air Force oxygen chamber here. The Soldiers

  • Chapel team goes outside wire for duty

    The chaplain and his assistant for the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group here serve Airmen who perform their duties in combat zones outside the wire, so they do to.Chaplain (Capt.) David Haltom and Staff Sgt. Porscha Howard, the chapel team for the 732nd AEG, provide chapel support to joint

  • National Guard chief visits troops in war zone

    The National Guard's first four-star general visited citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen serving throughout Southwest Asia in dozens of formal briefings, town hall meetings and tours at the end of February and early March.General Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited the Guard

  • Challenging Air Force weather mission at Academy

    With an area of 18,000 acres, an elevation gain of 2,800 feet and Pikes Peak only 15 miles to the southwest, staying ahead of the weather here can be difficult. Add to that an airfield that relies heavily on weather conditions that allow pilots to land by looking outside the cockpit and you have

  • JCS chairman stresses value of joint warfighting

    As military officials in Chile work toward building a joint force, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shared insights from U.S. history and emphasized the importance of the joint process."The U.S. military is the best in the world" partly because leaders and servicemembers have embraced joint

  • Misawa officials welcome home 300 deployed Airmen

    The Misawa Air Base community welcomed home about 300 Airmen who had been deployed supporting expeditionary operations Feb. 27 through March 1 here. Families gathered on the flightline to greet their loved ones who have been gone for five to six months at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, in support of the

  • Army, Air Guard at full strength, directors tell Congress

    The Army National Guard is over strength and the Air National Guard has met its end strength for the first time since 2002, the directors told Congress March 3 here. "This is a new era for us," said Army Lt. Gen. Clyde Vaughn, the director of the Army National Guard. "We've never been in this

  • Leaders address issues at AFA symposium

    The top Air Force leaders outlined today and tomorrow's challenges for the service Feb. 26 at the 25th Annual Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium and Technology Exposition in Orlando, Fla. Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Gen. Norton Schwartz, chief of staff of the Air Force,

  • Rescue crews assist search for missing boater, NFL players

    Air Force Reserve rescue crews from the 920th Rescue Wing here launched two aircraft March 2 as Airmen helped with the continued search for three missing boaters in the Gulf of Mexico, two who are NFL players. The 920th RQW maintenance teams prepared an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and an HC-130P/N

  • Physical therapy keeps Airmen fit to fight

    A person passing by the physical therapy office at this base in Southwest Asia might not notice it exists, because much of the recovery equipment found in stateside clinics isn't there. But Maj. Jesse Richardson, 379th Expeditionary Medical Group physical therapist, said this allows him to get out

  • Airmen vigilant for threats

    Airmen with the 379th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's Escort Flight keep a vigilant eye throughout the base interior 24 hours a day, seven days a week to protect the base's operational security and everyone's safety. The flight of more than 180 Airmen preserve security by escorting

  • 386th Airmen contribute to Victoria wildfire relief

    When the Australian servicemembers of Force Support Unit 1 at an air base in Southwest Asia passed a bucket around at their last barbecue to raise funds for the victims of the Victoria wildfires, they had hoped for some loose change from their Air Force guests. What they got surprised them.  Between

  • Squadron continues tradition, honors fallen comrades

    Members from the 1st Special Operations Squadron took off Feb. 26 from Kadena Air Base, Japan, on a MC-130H Combat Talon II to honor fallen brethren that were lost 28 years ago.A 1st SOS MC-130E, call sign Stray 59, crashed during an exercise killing eight crewmembers and 15 passengers Feb. 26,

  • Airman welcomes first child via Web cam

    A 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Airman deployed at an air base in Southwest Asia witnessed the birth of his first child in the Oklahoma City area live via Web cam Feb. 19. Senior Airman Daniel Warila, a 380th Expeditionary Maintenance aerospace ground equipment mechanic, watched his son, Lucas Daniel

  • Rescue crews join search for missing NFL players, boaters

    An Air Force Reserve Rescue crew from the 920th Rescue Wing here took off in an HH-60G Pave Hawk at 5 p.m. March 1 to join the Coast Guard in a search for four missing boaters in the Gulf of Mexico. Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith and Oakland Raiders linebacker Victor Cooper were among the

  • Multinational exercise to test interoperability in Caribbean

    An initiative aimed at boosting capacity among Central and South American security forces will get put to the test in early March when 18 countries come together for a national security exercise in the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. The United States and England will join 16 Caribbean countries

  • Secretary Donley to remain as SECAF

    White House officials announced Feb. 26 that Secretary Michael B. Donley will remain the secretary of the Air Force."I am very honored that the president and the secretary of Defense have asked me to continue in this capacity," Secretary Donley said. "It remains a privilege to serve the men and

  • Air Force looking for military training instructors

    Few other figures in the Air Force exemplify leadership more than the military training instructor and more are needed to help meet short- and long-term manning goals. Because of the demands of increasing end strength, Air Force officials need to bring in about 220 additional MTIs. About 4,000

  • A-10 unit reaches 10,000-hour milestone

    Members of the 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here reached a historic milestone Feb. 24 when the unit surpassed 10,000 combat flight hours in the A-10 Thunderbolt II for a single deployment rotation. Col. Raymond Strasburger, the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group commander, and Lt. Col. Sam

  • Afghanistan operations not vulnerable to supply line dangers

    Despite dangers U.S. convoys face in delivering supplies to coalition forces in Afghanistan by way of Pakistan, military operations there aren't susceptible to those threats, the Defense Department's top uniformed logistician said Feb. 26. Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, commander of U.S. Transportation

  • Honoring a brother's sacrifice

    An Airman here is honoring his brother's service two years after he paid the ultimate sacrifice when an improvised explosive device detonated and struck his vehicle while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq.Senior Airman Jason Nathan was killed June 23, 2007, and today Staff Sgt. Joe Nathan Jr. is deployed

  • Defense officials to allow photographs of caskets with family's permission

    Defense Department officials will allow the news media to photograph the flag-draped caskets of fallen U.S. troops returning home if their families agree, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Feb. 26. The announcement authorizes family members to choose whether to allow media access to the

  • Air Force's top enlisted Airman to retire

    The Air Force chief of staff announced the pending retirement of the 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force Feb. 26 here. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley will retire this summer after serving for 30 years. Chief McKinley has served as the chief master sergeant of the Air

  • Tiger team to improve command, control

    Command and Control, one of the keystones to modern warfare, is getting a boost thanks to an Air Combat Command-led tiger team. The team, comprising more than 20 senior leaders from across the Air Force, is responsible for stewardship of the Air Force theater air control system and brings different

  • Special operators honored at Pentagon ceremony

    Five special operations Airmen were honored at a ceremony in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes Feb. 24. The award winners are: Fighter Duty Officer Award - Capt. Brett E. Plummer Captain Plummer is a fighter duty officer assigned to the 4th Air Support Operations Squadron at Sullivan Barracks in

  • Egress technicians keep Raptor pilots covered

    A specialized polycarbonate is the main element that separates an F-22 Raptor pilot from threatening and compromising conditions like lightening strikes, blinding sun rays and the possibility of bird strikes. "The F-22 canopy is an integral part of the F-22 system and an engineering marvel, said Lt.

  • World War II MIAs recovered in Germany

    A line in the Airman's creed states, "I will never leave an Airman behind." For the McMurray Crew 801 with the 492nd Bombardment Group, that promise was fulfilled, albeit 60-plus years after their B-24 bomber went down during World War II. An international crowd gathered Feb. 20 at the

  • Chief of staff pays tribute to heritage

    When the Air Force chief of staff visited here recently, it wasn't just about looking forward and to the future of aviation with unmanned aircraft systems; it was also about looking back and recognizing where the service has been. Before Gen. Norton Schwartz stepped into the 99th Flying Training

  • Special Operations Command Airman dies in Afghanistan

    An Air Force Special Operations Command combat control journeyman died Feb. 20 while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis, 28, of Aberdeen, Wash., died near Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive

  • Air Force, Army leaders lay out joint UAS future

    The Air Force and Army chiefs of staff signed a plan recently in Washington, D.C., taking the two services one step closer to supporting the full spectrum of conflict with their larger, multirole unmanned aircraft. Military officials presented the Army/Air Force Multirole Unmanned Aircraft System

  • Airman's Roll Call: Motorcycle safety

    This week's Airman's Roll Call focuses on the spring spike in motorcycle mishaps involving Airmen. Air Force Safety Center officials conducted a study of motorcycle mishaps from fiscal 2006 to 2008 and determined motorcycle fatal mishaps doubled in the spring over the winter season numbers. With

  • Exercise offers A-10 crews chance to hone warfighting skills

    Airmen are improving their warfighting skills as they train to conduct close-air-support missions for ground forces in preparation for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan during Exercise Green Flag East here. The exercise is in partnership with the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La.,

  • 43rd EECS passes 20,000 combat hours

    Airmen with the 43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron, a unit that has almost five years of continuous deployment, clocked their 20,000th combat flight hour early Feb. 17. The 43rd EECS aircrews and the EC-130 Compass Call aircraft they fly provide communications jamming support to U.S. and

  • Taurus XL experiences anomaly

    Vandenberg and NASA officials said the most recent West Coast launch experienced an anomaly minutes after the 1:55 a.m. take-off of a Taurus XL rocket equipped with NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite Feb. 24 from the 576th-E Space Launch Complex here. The satellite failed to reach orbit.

  • Turkish officers get lessons in Air Force enlisted training

    Four members of the Turkish air force visited Gunter Annex's Barnes Center for Enlisted Education complex Feb. 12 to gain insight into how to improve their air force's enlisted education. The group from Turkey headed by Col. Metin Ozdemir, included Lt. Col. Cem Acar, Maj. Huesyin Uysal and Lt. Eyup

  • Kadena Airman attends Singaporean leadership school

    A Kadena Air Base senior NCO is attending the advanced leadership program at Singapore's armed forces warrant officer school in February. Senior Master Sgt. David Duncan, director of operations at the Kadena AB Erwin Professional Military Education Center, is the only international student in the

  • Predator passes 500,000 flight hours

    Airmen of the 432d Air Expeditionary Wing here flew an MQ-1B Predator unmanned aircraft in a combat mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Feb. 18, and the flight surpassed the 500,000 flight-hour mark for the aircraft. Members of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron flew the

  • DOD officials identify Air Force casualty

    Department of Defense officials here announced the name of of an Airman who died supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Staff Sgt. Timothy P. Davis, 28, of Aberdeen, Wash., died Feb. 20 near Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device. He was

  • Airmen escort presidential papers into history

    Air Force District of Washington Airmen took their place in history Feb. 23 as they were honored for moving presidential documents safely and in "record" time. Standing before the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights, Airmen from AFDW, the 316th

  • Airmen teach Iraqi air force members aircraft maintenance

    Airmen from the 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron here are teaching Iraqi air force members aircraft structural maintenance as both parties learn each other's language. The advisers concluded that the best way to teach the Iraqis the intricate tasks of aircraft structural maintenance was to

  • Rapid acquisition, training team helps secure Iraqi elections

    An Electronic Systems Center rapid acquisition project helped ensure recent Iraqi elections were conducted peaceably. ESC officials provided 600 all-weather, fully stabilized metal detectors that were used at polling venues across Iraq, and center officials also provided three members of a

  • FOBs tap into Iraqi power with help of Airmen

    An initiative that will save the U.S. government thousands of dollars took place Feb. 20 in the International Zone here, as Airmen with the Joint Expeditionary Team helped to convert power from generators to commercial sources. By tapping into the Iraqi power grid, many areas within Forward

  • Military opens rehabilitation center for troops in Afghanistan

    Servicemembers in Afghanistan now have a place to turn to cope with the toughest aspects of deployment when they need it most. The Bagram Freedom Restoration Center here is the first rehabilitation center for troops in Afghanistan. The center's main goal is to give servicemembers skills to cope with

  • CSAF to Airmen: Everyone is important

    The Air Force's top officer had one message for Airmen during a town hall meeting here Feb. 20: Every Airman is important.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said all Airmen are integral to the service's success and no job or no one is more important than another."I think the fundamental

  • Chief of staff sees UAS role expanding

    The Air Force chief of staff called the buildup of the unmanned aircraft system program "profoundly important" Feb. 19 during a visit with instructor and student aviators here.In remarks during a question and answer session with 12th Operations Group instructors, students and staff, Gen. Norton

  • Kadena NCO Academy trains joint partners

    NCO Academy officials here bridged culture gaps of more than one kind recently as they graduated two Japan Air Self Defense Force NCOs as well as noncoms from each of the three sister U.S. military services. The PME center, which routinely educates JASDF and sister service NCOs, operates the

  • Air Force efforts put nuclear surety back on track

    Prioritization and "incredible attention to detail" have restored "nuclear surety" in the Air Force, the general in charge of the service's nuclear program said here Feb. 19. Nuclear surety is the equipment, people and processes aimed at ensuring the safety, security, reliability and control of

  • Chairman cites need for more 'dwell time' between deployments

     The nation's top military officer expressed concern here about servicemembers and their families "toughing it out" with frequent deployments and little time together between those deployments. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked about the stresses of war and a

  • Safety center employee receives public service award

    The Air Force's traffic safety manager is one of four current federal workers and a retiree to receive a 2008 Government Employees Insurance Company Public Service Award.Frank Kelley received the honor, in the "Traffic Safety and Accident Prevention" category, for significant contributions to

  • Speckled Trout reeled in to new home

    A Boeing KC-135, "Speckled Trout ," which served as the personal aircraft of every Air Force Chief of Staff since 1975, was moved from Kelly Field Annex, Texas, to its new home at the Lackland Training Annex here Feb. 15. The move culminated a process that began after the historic aircraft arrived

  • Manas Air Base 'not irreplaceable,' official says

    Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted Feb. 19 to close Manas Air Base, a key logistics hub for the U.S. military, but a senior Pentagon official said the base closure would not affect operations in Afghanistan. "[Manas Air Base] is an important base for operations in Afghanistan, but it's not

  • Center helps with psychological health, traumatic brain injury

    A new 24-hour outreach center now provides information and referrals to military service members, veterans, their families and others with questions about psychological health and traumatic brain injury. Operated by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain

  • Civilian job announcements changed to help managers, applicants

    Air Force Personnel Center officials recently changed how civilian job announcements are listed to improve the civilian hiring process. "AFPC is improving our civilian hiring process and reducing the time it takes to fill civilian position vacancies. Changing the way we list our civilian job

  • JCS chairman visits Minot AFB

    Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited here Feb. 18 to discuss the importance of family support, concern for the current economic crisis and the base's role in nuclear deterrence as the Air Force's only dual nuclear base. During a town hall meeting, Admiral

  • Wing program helps Airmen get fit to fight

    Officials in the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing have developed a unique program called the Body Mass Reduction Program which is designed to aid Airmen in achieving a healthy lifestyle while improving their mission capability and contributions to the wing. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney

  • Air Force conference focuses on test and evaluation

    The 2009 U.S. Air Force Test and Evaluation Days Conference brought more than 400 professionals from the acquisition and warfighter communities together in Albuquerque, N.M., Feb. 10-12 with a primary focus on operationalizing the Air Force test and evaluation enterprise across the domains air,

  • Academy honored for community service

    The U.S. Air Force Academy was honored for its community service efforts when it was named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll Feb. 9 by officials from the Corporation for National and Community Service. Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest

  • Army, Air Force overhaul joint ISR training

    A key group of Army and Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance professionals met at McChord Air Force Base, Wash., recently for a working group to discuss what is needed to ensure America has the best ISR forces on the ground and in the air. The two-day conference was one of two

  • Medical Group focuses on efficiency and reorganization

    It seems common for an employee to utter the phrase, "Things would run so much more efficiently if ..." at least once in his or her career, yet it seems rare for a business to dedicate time and money into making such improvements. Officials in the 75th Medical Group here have broken that trend and

  • Charleston gateway for deployed locations

    More than 180 Airmen from 67 installations from across the Air Force deployed from Charleston AFB Feb. 7. Active-duty, National Guard and Reserve Airmen from all functional areas stationed at bases located throughout the U.S. and some Pacific Air Force bases aggregated, or gathered, here to deploy

  • JET Airmen support Soldiers at forward operating base

    Twenty joint expeditionary tasking, or JET, Airmen are building a 64-tent living area for more than 700 Soldiers in one week here. "Our challenge and main mission is to complete a 64-tent living area beddown to support 780 personnel of an entire Army battalion and then some," said Master Sgt. Jason

  • Generals re-enforce 'Citizenship Day' with core values

    Two Air Force generals visited a Greenpoint neighborhood elementary school in Brooklyn, N.Y., Feb. 11 during the school's Citizenship Day, as part of school-wide programs to instill pride in America and community service. The generals, Maj. Gen. Darren McDew, director of Air Force Public Affairs,

  • Suicide prevention hotline saves veterans' lives

    Help is only a phone call away for military veterans considering suicide. Nearly 100,000 veterans, family members or friends of veterans have reached out for help by calling the Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-TALK. The hotline was launched July 2007. The VA

  • Airmen help Iraqi aircrew perform night-vision missions

    An initiative that has been in the works since August 2008 is now a realization as members of the Iraqi air force continued their quest toward night-vision operations with the help of U.S. Air Force aircrews. Airmen from the 721st Air Expeditionary Advisor Squadron, who train Iraqi aircrew members,

  • Air Force firefighters rescue baby camel trapped in manhole

    Many people associate firefighters with rescuing cats out of trees. For the firefighters assigned to the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron at Ali Base, they weren't expecting this animal rescue call where a baby camel was trapped in a manhole Feb. 9. "This was the weirdest call I've ever

  • Air Force Good Conduct Medal reinstated

    Air Force officials announced Feb. 11 the reinstatement of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal for enlisted members, effective immediately and retroactive to Feb. 6, 2006, when the medal was discontinued. Airmen who are eligible should see an update automatically in their records on the virtual

  • 380th AEW mission expands with Navy Global Hawk program

    The joint mission of the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing expanded with the recent addition of the first operational Navy Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system, part of the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance program. "It's a good feeling to finally get the aircraft here," said Navy Lt. Cmdr. John McLellan,

  • Project Sanctuary provides retreat for military families

    Whether it's sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows in the winter or standing in the middle of a creek fishing during the summer, a Colorado troop-support group is promising a week-long retreat full of fun and relaxation for 80 deserving military families this year. Project Sanctuary will

  • Air Force chief of staff praises special operators

    Though the United States has the most technologically advanced armed forces in the world, the individual knowledge and skills U.S. special operators bring to the table are the keys to success against persistent conflicts enduring around the globe, the Air Force chief of staff said here Feb. 11. Gen.

  • Special ops 'fight' persistent conflicts around the world

    A panel of experts provided insights on persistent conflicts throughout the world to more than 300 participants in the 20th Annual Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict symposium here Feb. 10. Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Lawrence P. Farrell Jr., president and chief executive officer of the

  • Heithold assumes command of Air Force ISR Agency

    Maj. Gen. Bradley A. Heithold assumed command of the Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency from Maj. Gen. John C. Koziol in a ceremony here Feb. 11. Lt. Gen. David A. Deptula, deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance at the Pentagon, presided

  • AFTAC continues excellence as part of Air Force nuclear enterprise

    When Gen. Norton Schwartz was appointed the 19th chief of staff of the Air Force Aug. 12, he emphasized a renewed focus on the nuclear enterprise as one of the Air Force's top priorities. Air Force Technical Applications Center Commander Col. Lisa Ann Onaga, having assumed command only five days

  • Leaders meet for series of high-level 'warfighter talks'

    Chief of Staff of the Army General George W. Casey Jr. and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz, along with 35 other general officers from both services, met Feb. 10 in the Pentagon for a day-long exchange to discuss areas of mutual interest regarding interdependency and

  • Airman earns Army combat spurs

    A time honored Army tradition took place here Feb. 10, as many Soldiers earned their combat spurs. But what made the ceremony even more unique was among the recipients was an Airman. Senior Airman Keith Booze, Multi-National Corps-Iraq Assistance Group personnel technician, was presented his combat

  • Exercise demonstrates special ops capabilities

    Air Force Special Operations Command officials are hosting a field exercise at Hurlburt Field Feb. 2 through 13 designed to train forces in combat scenarios. Called Emerald Warrior, the exercise is taking place at training grounds on Hurlburt Field and nearby Eglin Air Force Base, and focuses on

  • Deadline approaching for Air University's online master's program

    If you've been toying with the idea of getting your master's degree, time is running out on one of the best deals around and it is virtually free. The Air Command and Staff College is offering a distance learning master's program in Military Operational Art and Science for a select number of

  • Spirit of Global Reach lands at Dover

    The Spirit of Global Reach arrived at Dover Air Force Base Feb. 9, putting itself in the history books as Team Dover's first C-5M Super Galaxy. The Spirit of Global Reach is the first of three C-5Ms Dover will receive for operational testing and evaluation. "Today we see the fruits of a long-term

  • Air Forces Africa officials engage on Nigerian air safety, security

    Statistically, traveling by air is often cited at the safest way to travel. While taking to the sky has some inherent risk, advances in technology, coupled with stringent maintenance requirements and rigorous training procedures for aircrews have contributed to a safe aerial environment in most

  • JASDF redeployment group bids final farewell

    The last of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force redeployment group members lowered their colors for the last time before departing for Japan Feb. 10, bringing an end to the final chapter of the JASDF's Iraq Reconstruction Support Airlift Wing mission after almost five years. More than a hundred

  • Joint self-nomination system achieves success

    A Web-based self-nomination system officers can use to have their war zone or other experiences evaluated for joint-service qualification has proven to be highly successful, a senior U.S. military officer said here Feb. 10. "We are truly a joint warfighting force now, and this [self-nomination

  • 31 Airmen selected for Tops in Blue team

    Thirty-one Airmen were recently chosen for the Tops in Blue team for 2009. For 10 days, 80 Air Force singers, dancers, musicians and comedians competed for the Tops in Blue slots during January's Air Force Worldwide Talent Contest at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. After completing a training

  • Air Force Space Command puts AFSO 21 to work

    Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century is an Air Force initiative that challenges Airmen to look at all ways to accomplish the Air Force mission more effectively and efficiently without sacrificing quality.In order to alleviate challenges from new and evolving mission requirements,

  • Airmen demonstrate JTAC training, equipment for Congress

    Airmen from the Warrior Preparation Center were on Capitol Hill last week to demonstrate to Congress how Airmen work with joint partners to provide close-air support for troops on the ground. Specifically, the Airmen displayed their simulation training gear used to train joint terminal attack

  • AFMC commander visits Southwest Asia

    Gen. Donald Hoffman, Air Force Materiel Command commander, visited the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Feb. 9 as part of a multi-base tour of bases in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The trip is the general's first to the AOR since taking command of AFMC in November. "I'm here to

  • Airmen train firefighter managers, Iraqis graduate

    The Iraqi air force took another step toward becoming more independent Feb. 4, this time in the form of firefighting capability, thanks to the joint training effort from the U.S. Air Force, the Iraqi air force and the Army National Guard. Seventeen civilian defense and Iraqi air force members

  • Gen. Schwartz addresses top ROTC cadets

    The top Air Force ROTC cadets from around the country gathered in the nation's capitol and met the top uniformed Air Force officer as guests of the George C. Marshall Foundation while attending a leadership and networking seminar Jan. 30 through Feb. 1. The cadets each were the recipient of the

  • Constructing an air corps from the ground up

    Airmen from the U.S. Air Force and the Afghan National Army Air Corps are working side-by-side to provide an airpower capability to the nation of Afghanistan. The Afghan Army was created six years ago with the air corps element subsequently created four years later. The training mission to grow

  • KC-135 crew airlifts wounded from Afghanistan

    A few Airmen from the 931st Air Refueling Group spent their Super Bowl weekend resting from a 12-day aeromedical evacuation mission in Afghanistan. Eight reservists from the 931st manned a specially equipped KC-135 Stratotanker that made four back-to-back trips to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, to

  • Captain explains SARC program to House subcommittee

    Capt. Daniel Katka was on Capitol Hill Jan. 28 to discuss how the Air Force helps victims of sexual assault. Captain Katka, a sexual assault response coordinator at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, joined a panel of sister service representatives to answer questions from the Military Personnel

  • AFSO 21 project yields award payload

    An AFSO 21 project prompted by Col. Jeffrey Glass, 507th Air Refueling Wing commander, has resulted in a payload of Air Force awards for wing members. "I have known for a long time how some Airman may go 15 to 20 years without receiving an Air Force award," Colonel Glass said. "It's appalling how

  • Weather-center forecasts now just a click away

    The latest, up-to-date weather forecasts from around the globe are now just a few mouse clicks away thanks to the staff at the American Forces Network Weather Center here. AFNWC personnel recently updated their Web site to include daily weather forecasts for Europe, Southwest Asia and the Tropics.

  • Air Force officials offer recall program for rated officers

    The rapid expansion of unmanned aircraft systems and other emerging missions as well as rated officer requirements has created an Air Force demand for experienced rated officers. To meet these critical shortages, the secretary of the Air Force has initiated a Voluntary Retired Rated Recall Program.

  • 'Military Saves' campaign battles debt

    Servicemembers have been lulled into a false sense of financial security by marketing campaigns that encourage them to overspend. It's a real David vs. Goliath battle that Chaplain (Maj.) Sarah Shirley is all too familiar with. "We're this little guy with a slingshot up against this big giant and

  • Idaho Guard supports Special Olympics

    About 200 Airmen and Soldiers from the Idaho National Guard are on duty Feb. 4  to prepare for the 2009 Special Olympics Winter World Games being held here from Feb. 7-13. More than 2,500 athletes and delegates from more than 100 countries will converge on the state to participate in athletic events

  • Blue Coach improves security forces Airmen tactics, training

    Airmen from the 5th Security Forces Squadron are participating in a series of training classes, which began Jan. 5, in an Air Force-wide initiative to improve the tactics, awareness, vigilance and survivability of security forces here. "This training better prepares us for any situation we may come

  • Elmendorf officials prepare for possible volcano eruption

    With the threat of an eruption at Mount Redoubt located 106 miles southwest of Anchorage, people throughout Elmendorf Air Force Base are preparing for the possibility of volcanic ash fall. Preparations began after officials from the Alaska Volcano Observatory and the U.S. Geologic Survey issued a