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  • Missile squadron poised for 72-hour alerts

    Missile combat crews in the 490th Missile Squadron here are helping the 20th Air Force transform missile operations as crewmembers started performing 72-hour alerts using three-person crews Sept. 30. Twentieth Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas F. Deppe, suggested the 72-hour alert initiative and

  • 'Old Ironsides' hosts Medal of Honor recipients

    More than 70 Medal of Honor recipients took part in a special Medal of Honor flag presentation during a ceremony aboard USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," here Sept. 30. The flag was created by an Act of Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush Oct. 23, 2002, and each service is

  • Last U.S. servicemembers to leave Iceland Sept. 30

    A 65-year segment of history ends Sept. 30, when the last American servicemembers based in Iceland will leave the country. U.S. servicemembers will continue to work with, train with and operate with their NATO ally, but troops will not be based in the island nation, said Thomas F. Hall, assistant

  • Fans share thoughts about military

    Among the sea of hundreds of tailgaters at the military appreciation day match up between the Houston Texans and the Washington Redskins at Reliant Stadium Sept. 24, a few fans shared their thoughts on the military. The game was designated as the Houston Texan's Salute to the Military by team

  • Air Force general kicks off Texans, Redskins battle

    The deputy director for the war on terrorism kicked off the battle between the NFL's Houston Texans and Washington Redskins by tossing the coin at Reliant Stadium Sept. 24. Brig. Gen. Mark O. Schissler, who works in the Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate in Washington, D.C.,

  • Three Airmen awarded Bronze Star

    Three Airmen here were awarded the Bronze Star Medal recently in a ceremony at the base theater. The 20th Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Thomas Deppe presented the awards to Senior Airman Charity Trueblood, Maj. Lawrence King and Capt. Jonathan Bennett for duties they performed while fighting the

  • AFPC offers guidance to civilians nearing retirement

    The Air Force Personnel Center's Benefits and Entitlement Service Team here encourages civilians who want to retire in the next few years to plan ahead and seek counseling early. Potential retirees should contact BEST at least one year before retirement to receive one-on-one counseling over the

  • Power pros 'wire' Wake Island

    The damage assessment crews that deployed here from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii eat a hot meal every night. They use laptop computers to compile data and generate reports, and sometimes, at the end of a particularly long day, they watch a DVD movie on a small television screen before going to bed.

  • Young Airman excels, learns at Wake Island

    Super Typhoon Ioke left Wake Island in shambles. The Category 5 storm raged through the atoll Aug. 31, demolishing buildings and tossing around anything that wasn't bolted down -- and many things that were. Assessing the damage includes some repair work, and it's a mission that calls for the most

  • Sergeant moving passengers on Air Force birthday

    The Air Force is 59 years old today. But Staff Sgt. Robert Thomas will not have much time to celebrate with the cake, ice cream and punch usually associated with birthdays. Instead, like for the past 15 years, he and other Airmen around the world will report to work to fight or support the ongoing

  • Teams fly to Wake Island to assess damage

    A 53-person team of 15th Airlift Wing Airmen, Defense Department employees and contractors arrived here Sept. 12 on a C-17 Globemaster III from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The team of civil engineers and communications experts came to assess damage caused by Super Typhoon Ioke and report the

  • Charleston C-17 squadron completes deployment

    The first full-squadron deployment of C-17 Globemaster III aircrews and leaders at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., came to a close Sept. 1.Lt. Col. Ricky Rupp assumed command of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from Lt. Col. Lenny Richoux, both from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston

  • Combined forces at leadership school benefit students

    Japanese and U.S. military forces have many training opportunities to interact and learn from each other, and that bilateral relationship is carrying over to the military education classroom. Walk into an Airman Leadership School class here and it resembles a coalition headquarters environment, with

  • Air Force Research Lab names 2006 fellows

    Air Force Research Laboratory officials are honoring seven scientists and engineers as new fellows during an annual awards banquet Sept. 19 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Designed to recognize and reward AFRL's most outstanding in-house scientists and engineers, the fellows

  • Mail-order pharmacy service saves customer, DOD dollars

    More military health system beneficiaries are opting to have prescriptions mailed to their homes, rather than picking up medications at installation or commercial-sector pharmacies, a military health care official said here Aug. 31. Defense Department officials welcomed this development as part of

  • Whiteman Airmen return from Guam

    More than 170 Airmen are home after a four-month deployment to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. A contracted DC-10 aircraft carrying the returning Airmen touched down here Aug. 29 around 6:40 p.m. to an awaiting crowd of more than 250 family members, friends and co-workers. Senior Airman Thomas

  • Air Force legal leaders meet with Afghan counterparts

    Two Air Force legal leaders visited Southwest Asia in August, stopping in Kabul, Afghanistan, for a two-day seminar with Afghan military legal leaders on the rule of law.Maj. Gen. Jack Rives, Air Force judge advocate general, and Col. Lindsey Graham, appellate military judge, met leaders from the

  • Convoy Airmen face challenging duties

    For more than two years Airmen have been driving convoys for the Army on some of the most dangerous roads in the world. From their Army camp to the border of southern Iraq and to the most northern reaches of a country roughly the size of California, members of the 586th Expeditionary Logistics

  • Thrift Savings Plan augments retirement

    The Thrift Savings Plan's automatic and matching contributions form a key part of the Federal Employees' Retirement System, or FERS, offering federal civilian employees opportunities to increase their retirement income. FERS civilian Thrift Savings Plan account holders automatically receive a

  • 'Spirit of Solano' arrives at Travis

    The much anticipated C-17 Globemaster III, the "Spirit of Solano," arrived home at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., on Aug. 8. Festivities began with a flyover of all three major airframes now based at Travis: the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender and C-17. The crowd of approximately 2,000 applauded as Maj.

  • Handbook helps weapon systems get to warfighter quicker

    The Department of Defense is constantly looking for ways to reduce the time it takes to get new weapon systems in the hands of the warfighter. The acquisition community at Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command here is helping the DOD do just that. The acquisition logistics division recently rolled

  • Retirements application process centralized for reservists

    Beginning July 31, all eligible members of the Air Force Reserve will submit retirement applications electronically via the virtual Personnel Center Guard and Reserve, a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week customer service Web portal operated by the Air Reserve Personnel Center here. "The ultimate goal is to

  • 56th Rescue Squadron launches first flight from Lakenheath

    The 56th Rescue Squadron launched its first flight out of RAF Lakenheath today at noon."We are very excited to get our local flying started," said Lt. Col. Thomas Greetan, 56th RQS commander. "It's a tribute to all the various groups and squadrons within the wing who have played a significant part

  • No matter the nationality, pilots speak same language

    United States and European pilots may have language barriers but at the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program, they all speak the same language -- aviation. In the 55-week ENJJPT program, approximately 250 American and European students earn their wings yearly. Of those graduating, about 65

  • USAFE football reunion to be held at Andrews

    Servicemembers who played for the U.S. Air Forces in Europe football team will gather together with their teammates at a reunion here Sept. 1 and 2. The reunion will be a celebration for the men who competed against each other on the football field while serving their country, said Tech. Sgt. Scott

  • C-130 Hercules crew delivers critical supplies

    A C-130 Hercules crew assigned to the 738th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron provided critical support to an Army operating location in Afghanistan on July 6 by airdropping essential supplies before a potential enemy attack. Aircraft commander Capt. Travis Sjostedt and his crew just completed their

  • Insurance alternative available for federal employees

    The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program offers federal employees an option when purchasing long-term-care insurance. The insurance policy helps defray the cost of in-home, nursing home or assisted living facility care for people who cannot care for themselves due to chronic health conditions.

  • 'Lightning II' moniker given to Joint Strike Fighter

    The Air Force chief of staff announced Lightning II as the F-35 name during a Joint Strike Fighter Inauguration Ceremony today at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. at Fort Worth, Texas. Gen. T. Michael Moseley made the final decision after an extensive nomination and review process, coordinated

  • Air Force provides Army's weather support

    Many people do not realize the U.S. Army receives its weather support from the Air Force as part of an inter-service agreement when the two became separate services.Airmen from the 7th Weather Squadron, with headquarters at Heidelberg, Germany, have been providing that support since 1942.Supporting

  • Academy grad named 2006 MWC male student-athlete

    U.S. Air Force Academy 2006 graduate Matt Karmondy was honored as the Mountain West Conference Male Student-Athlete of the Year. Established by the Mountain West Conference Joint Council in 1999, the award is the highest honor presented to a student-athlete by the league. The award is bestowed

  • Lackland honors nine enlisted heroes

    Nine enlisted heroes earned honors for their service and sacrifice to the Air Force and the nation during the Basic Military Training Memorialization Ceremony at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. At the June 14 ceremony, the base renamed and dedicated basic military training facilities to nine Airmen

  • Commando Warrior prepares Airmen for war on terrorism

    Weapons tactics. Night operations. Improvised explosive devices and convoy training. Knowledge of all four areas is important.  That knowledge aids in the survival and victory of a combat unit. But that knowledge isn't inherently known by everyone in the military; it has to be learned. That's where

  • New squadron first step in C-130 training pipeline

    The first stop C-130 Hercules aircrew members will make in the training pipeline before operating the "Herc" is at the newly created 714th Training Squadron here. Lt. Col. Thomas Anderson assumed command of the squadron in a ceremony June 5 in the base's newest C-130 hangar. Col. Andy Hamilton,

  • Cadets experience summer school for warriors

    Summertime for university students is normally the chance to relax and unwind after surviving grueling semesters of cramming for exams and researching term papers. Some students spend this time at home with their family; some travel to tropical vacations spots. Some students go to a war zone.

  • Airmen expand horizons through education

    The commandant and the superintendent of the Community College of the Air Force recently visited here and shared their views on the importance of pursuing higher education.Col. Thomas Klincar, the commandant, spoke of the bond he felt with the base.“I am especially excited to be here for the (CCAF)

  • Air Force women first, men second in armed forces volleyball

    The Air Force women’s team took top honors and the men's team came in second at the 2006 Armed Forces Volleyball Championship here May 11 to 18.The Air Force women faced the host Army team in their first match, beating them three straight games -- 25-13, 25-16 and 25-13.Kristin Huitt (a 2nd

  • Global Hawk operations reach new high

    Battlefield awareness has reached new levels with Global Hawk production-model aircraft flying in the U.S. Central Command Air Forces theater. Reaching a breakthrough point in April, the Global Hawk team has maximized the aircraft’s sorties, collecting more than 96 percent of the target area --

  • Mechanics keep fleet rolling through dust, mud

    Working on vehicles in the desert presents challenges. Mechanics sometimes have to scrape off layers of dirt and mud just to get to the broken part. Then there’s the parts themselves -- it is not like they can simply call an automotive supply store in Baghdad to deliver a part. “Back home, you could

  • Andrews and Bolling medical assets to combine in new wing

    The 89th Medical Group from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., and the 11th Medical Group at Bolling AFB are scheduled to combine into the 79th Medical Wing May 12. Maj. Gen. Robert L. Smolen, the Air Force District of Washington commander, will preside over the wing activation ceremony at Andrews. Brig.

  • Airmen make history in Iraq

    Five Airmen have joined aviation pioneers Gen. Henry H. “Hap” Arnold, Gen. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle and Brig. Gen. Charles “Chuck” Yeager in a select group -- all are recipients of the Clarence Mackay Trophy. To the five-person crew, the flight over northern Iraq that put them in the record books

  • Air Force engineers take a jump

    Joint operations are not a new concept here. It’s a way of life for many units on base. But for a new breed of Air Force joint operators, this week’s Joint Forced Entry Exercise was a chance to get off the ground -- literally. The Airmen are part of Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair

  • C-130 Hercules support coalition operations

    The 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here has been supporting Operation Mountain Lion since it began April 12. The squadron’s C-130 Hercules aircraft have delivered supplies such as food, water and ammunition for coalition combat operations. “Our crews helped position personnel and equipment to

  • Source of mumps outbreak unknown

    Between January and April, there were more than 600 possible mumps cases reported in the Midwestern United States.The source of the outbreak and why it has spread in such large numbers is unknown. “The Air Force has not seen an increase in cases of mumps within our active duty or beneficiary

  • Airmen missing in action from WWII identified

    The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office has announced that the remains of 11 U.S. Airmen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors. They are Capt. Thomas Paschal, El Monte, Calif.; 1st Lt.

  • Air Force garners 15 Presidential Rank Awards

    The White House has released the names of the 2005 Presidential Rank Award recipients. Winners of the awards are strong leaders, professionals and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate strength, industry and a relentless commitment to excellence in public service. The

  • Pods help warfighters improve air combat maneuvers

    Knowledge is power and power is influence. In the case of fighter pilots, this knowledge enables them to control adversaries in the air and on the ground. At the Ogden Air Logistics Center, the collection of information leading to air superiority begins with maintaining Air Combat Training System

  • Exercise prepares academy students for cyber warfare

    In an obscure office park midway between Baltimore and Washington, about 50 men and women use laptop computers to break into networks at the nation's military service academies. When one of them is successful at penetrating a networked computer, they get up and ring a bell."We hit a remote desktop

  • BEST newsletter keeps civilians current

    The Benefits and Entitlements Service Team newsletter is the best source of information about benefits affecting Air Force appropriated fund civilians, and Air Force Personnel Center officials are encouraging more people to subscribe. By subscribing to the BEST newsletter, civilians have immediate

  • Boston cardinal selects Air Force chaplain for No. 2 post

    The early 20th century American author Thomas Wolfe wrote a book titled “You Can’t Go Home Again.” That saying doesn't hold true for a priest in the Air Force chief of chaplains office.Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Richard Erikson will be coming home again, courtesy of Cardinal Seán O’Malley of the Boston

  • U.S., Australian forces team up in realistic training

    Three Air Force B-1 Lancers recently flew more than 7,000 miles and 16 hours to participate in the Royal Australian Air Force’s Aces South exercise, providing realistic training for the coalition partners. “It was a tremendous success for all parties,” said Lt. Col. Thomas Curran, commander of the

  • Top Air Force print and broadcast journalists announced

    A panel of civilian journalists, teachers and public relations professionals have selected the best in Air Force print and broadcast journalism for the 50th annual Air Force Media Contest. Senior Airman Joe Lacdan, from the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., is the Air Force Print

  • Defense leader thanks lawmakers for support of special ops

    Ultimate victory in the "long war" requires the U.S. military to adopt more unconventional and indirect approaches in the way it fights, and the Defense Department is doing just that, the Pentagon's top special operations official told a Senate panel here April 5. In testimony prepared for delivery

  • Exchanging with pilots from 'down under'

    The mission of U.S. Air Force’s refueling aircraft is to carry out global air refueling, airlift and humanitarian assignments. That mission is not only accomplished by U.S. pilots. Foreign exchange pilots from Australia assigned to Fairchild help their U.S. counterparts achieve that mission. The

  • Japanese Airmen intern with Kadena NCOs

    Could something as simple as tying engine wires by hand instead of by tool bring two allies closer together? For Staff Sgt. Aiko Koba and Senior Airman Airica Velazquez, it means gaining a greater appreciation for what they do for their respective air force. Sergeant Koba is one of seven Japan Air

  • Teamwork keeps Bosnia air base safe

    Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia, has an airfield that has been maintained by the Air Force since the mid 90s. But because it was a pre-existing location, many issues of safety, that would be disallowed at a stateside or NATO base, must be covered in a waiver package under United States Air Forces in Europe

  • 'Federal 100' winners named for 2006

    Federal Computer Week magazine has named its 2006 Federal 100 list. The awards recognize government, industry and academia executives who have played pivotal roles in the federal information technology community. Five of the 100 have an Air Force connection. Those award winners are: -- Capt. Jeffrey

  • Air Force doctor finishes Iditarod with flourish

    After finishing last year’s Iditarod Sled Dog Race, Maj. (Dr) Thomas Knolmayer said it would be his one and only running of the 1,150 mile race across Alaska’s wilderness. But, anyone who knows the 38-year-old surgeon stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, knew better. After getting the

  • Reserve doctor makes house call to developing nations

    An Air Force doctor is helping thousands of people in developing countries as a results of a chance encounter with Texas reservists at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, eight years ago. Lt. Col. (Dr.) Josef Schmid was in the regular Air Force working in the Rhein-Main clinic when a team of reservists

  • Officials announce Air Force safety awards

    Air Force safety officials announced the winners of the 2005 safety awards. They are: -- Secretary of the Air Force Safety Award: Category 1, U.S. Air Forces in Europe at Ramstein Air Base, Germany; Category II, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. --

  • Girl fulfills dream to experience Iditarod

    Mush. To an average kid, the concept of the word is probably “icky” porridge. But to one 10-year-old named Katie Powell, it takes on a whole different definition when she uses “Mush!” to command a team of sled dogs to go faster. Katie has Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. The daughter of Senior

  • Remote weather system online again at Minot

    Maintenance was recently completed on five Remote Automated Weather Stations, or RAWS, located at missile alert facilities throughout North Dakota. The maintenance, which began in fall 2005, was completed Feb. 17 and made the RAWS fully operational after a four-year hiatus. The RAWS have sensors

  • Internet chat leads to confinement, discharge

    An Airman here was sentenced to three years confinement, reduction to airman basic and a dishonorable discharge in court-martial proceedings here Feb. 23. Staff Sgt. Brian Malone, a 3rd Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster, pleaded guilty to 21 specifications of violating two articles of

  • Langley unit receive its first Raptors

    After two-and-a-half months of waiting, an aircraft with a 94th Fighter Squadron emblem has once again landed at Langley Air Force Base. But this time, the emblems were painted on the sides of two F-22A Raptors. Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, 94th Fighter Squadron commander, and Maj. Kevin Dolata, 94th FS,

  • Joint STARS keeping eye on the ground

    High over Iraq, an E-8C Joint STARS aircraft surveys hundreds of miles of the country at a time, looking for insurgent activity, controlling those situations and taking action if needed. The aircraft's crew ultimately keeps ground troops safer by communicating with convoys and directing air power to

  • Operation Winter Games -- Let the games begin

    Not long after the Olympic torch was lit honoring the beginning of the Winter Olympics games in Torino, Italy, a local team of Airmen were preparing for winter games of their own -- Operation Winter Games. The games, held Feb. 11 at Igriste-Vlasenica Ski Area, Bosnia, may have lacked the pomp and

  • Prototype Global Hawk flies home after 4,000 combat hours

    A high-flying prototype “Airman” is heading home after being deployed more than four years and flying 4,245 hours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and the Combined Task Force-Horn of Africa. Global Hawk Air Vehicle No. 3 began its journey back home at Edwards Air Force

  • Falcon eyes roam Iraqi skies

    For years the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been the premier multi-role fighter in the Air Force inventory, but recently F-16s here have been expanding their list of capabilities by performing non-traditional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, or NTISR. “NTISR is when a platform such

  • Keystone is key to future of joint operations

    Joint warfare is a way of life for servicemembers fighting the global war on terrorism. That wasn't the case 20 years ago when Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Thomas Hall enlisted. His training with armored infantry rarely brought him together with other services. While attending a course here for E-9s from

  • Pilots reflect on being Tuskegee legacy heirs

    Something special began July 19, 1941. For the first time in the history of military aviation, blacks were given an opportunity to prove themselves in the sky. The first black aviators began their flight training at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Ala., and went to the famed 99th Fighter Squadron. The

  • Phase maintenance key to mission success

    Eleven hours flying time or about 4,400 nautical miles away is a key to success for the 40th Air Expeditionary Group’s mission: supporting Operation Enduring Freedom from the sky and ensuring peace throughout Afghanistan. The key: Detachment 1 with the group’s expeditionary maintenance squadron at

  • F-22A Raptor flies first operational missions

    The F-22A Raptor showed another of its capabilities when it flew its first two operational sorties over the United States in support of Operation Noble Eagle Jan. 21 and 22. The Raptor mission came one week after the 27th Fighter Squadron -- the first unit to fly the jet -- converted to the Air

  • Alaska Airmen operate out of Guam

    The 168th Air Refueling Wing was the first Air National Guard tanker unit deployed to Guam after Sept. 11, 2001. Five years later, the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Airmen are back on the island with their KC-135 Stratotankers as part of a theatre support package for U.S. Pacific Command flying

  • AMC completes KC-135 accident investigation board

    Air Mobility Command has released the results of its investigation into the May 15, 2005, mishap involving a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, Wis. An accident investigation board, convened by AMC, concluded the cause of the accident was unforeseen,

  • Rex the Dog finds new home

    A 21st Security Forces Squadron Airman is the first military working dog handler allowed to adopt her K-9 partner from active duty. Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana, a military working dog handler, has been waiting since August for the official word after she requested to adopt her K-9, Rex. The two were

  • AF selects four Airmen to vie for GEICO awards

    The Air Force selected four Airmen to compete for the 2005 Government Employee Insurance Company Military Service awards. The Airmen are now authorized to wear the Air Force Recognition Ribbon and will compete against the nominees selected by the other military services. -- Staff Sgt. Lindsay J.

  • Airmen help with Baby Noor evacuation

    The C-130 Hercules aircraft here have routinely hauled more than one million troops and 76,000 tons of cargo in and out of Iraq. But today the mission was not routine. At about 4 p.m., a C-130 from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing touched down here carrying Baby Noor, her father and grandmother on

  • Firefighters ready for anything

    When many deployed Airmen receive a tasking, they normally have a day or even a week to complete it. For one group of Airmen, their deadline is only minutes, and it could be the difference between life and death. The responsibility of the men and women of the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer

  • 'Hat-in-the-Ring Gang' says goodbye to its Eagles

    The 94th Fighter Squadron flew its last F-15 Eagle sortie today, marking the squadron’s official evolution to F-22A Raptor operations. The “Hat-in-the-Ring Gang” is the second squadron at Langley to convert from the F-15C/D -- a strictly air-to-air fighter -- to the Raptor, which has air-to-ground

  • Pakistan gets two upgraded F-16s

    In the early 1980s, the Pakistan air force received its first F-16 Fighting Falcons from the United States. Since then, the maintenance support for the jets has been as unpredictable as world politics. It wasn't until late 2003 that the U.S. government agreed to assess Pakistan's F-16 fleet and

  • Comm squadron develops Air Force Standard Desktop

    The 50th Space Communications Squadron here is spearheading development of the Air Force Standard Desktop Configuration. This move will strengthen network defenses on all Air Force active-duty, Reserve and Guard installations in 2006 and may become a part of an approved configuration for all federal

  • TSP begins catch-up contribution enrollment for 2006

    The Air Force Personnel Center's civilian benefits and entitlements service team automated systems will be available for 2006 Thrift Savings Plan catch-up contribution enrollment beginning Dec. 11. Military members may submit their 2006 catch-up contribution enrollments in early January. TSP

  • TSP announces enrollment changes for 2006

    Effective in 2006, civilian and military employees are no longer subject to a percentage limit on the amount they may contribute to a regular Thrift Savings Plan account. They may contribute the full amount allowed by the Internal Revenue Service annual elective deferral limit, which is $15,000 for

  • Moody rescue crews receive Mackay Trophy

    Two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aircrews received the Mackay Trophy from Gen. John D. W. Corley, the Air Force vice chief of staff, at a ceremony here Dec. 5. The 13 Airmen earned the award for rescuing five Soldiers whose helicopter crashed in a sandstorm near Kharbut, Iraq, in April 2004. The

  • AF names environmental winners

    The Air Force civil engineer announced the winners of the Gen. Thomas D. White Environmental Awards for 2005. Nine of the winners are eligible for the Secretary of Defense environmental awards and will go forward as the Air Force's nominees. The 2005 winners are: -- Environmental Quality Award

  • DoD announces implementation of traumatic injury protection

    The Department of Defense announced today the implementation of traumatic injury protection insurance under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program as enacted by section 1032 of Public Law 109-13. The program, which will be known as TSGLI, is designed to provide financial assistance to

  • Mishap investigation training changes course

    Figuring out what causes an airplane to crash is no easy task. But many flight surgeons, aerospace physiologists and some psychologists will be part of an aircraft mishap investigation at some point in their careers. So the more they know about what to do, the better. To better prepare students for

  • Test helping put the LIDS on decontamination

    Airmen from four major commands were here this week to test the effectiveness of a new decontamination system during an exercise that ends Nov. 18. The team is testing the lightweight inflatable decontamination system to see if it can effectively accomplish aircrew and ground crew contamination

  • U.S., Indian controllers on scope

    Looking at the radar, the four F-16 Fighting Falcons were clearly outnumbered as 12 opposition aircraft closed in to fire their weapons. An E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control systems aircrew started relaying coordinates, preparing the pilots for their impending battle.However, this time

  • 23rd EFS protects Baltic skies

    Providing security over the Baltic countries of Eastern Europe is no easy task.But the 23rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron is constantly training, even while deployed, to effectively address any airborne threats to the area. The 23rd EFS is provides 24-hour air policing coverage over Lithuania,

  • Joint Fires Center of Excellence begins training

    The Joint Fires Center of Excellence opened its doors Oct. 17 as the U.S. military’s only Europe-based joint firepower education center. The U.S. Air Forces in Europe-inspired initiative is designed to enhance close air support operations by providing a convenient training environment for

  • New technology 'dazzles' aggressors

    A laser technology weapon will be the first man-portable, non-lethal deterrent weapon intended for protecting troops and controlling hostile crowds. The weapon, developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Directed Energy Directorate, employs a two-wavelength laser system and is a hand-held,

  • Airmen learn Army skills

    A new battle cry has been heard around the ranges and barracks here. Instead of the all too familiar ‘HOOAH,’ a strange and new guttural chant is catching on -- ‘AIRRP!’ The men and women who use the new phrase, which means ‘air power,’ are taking part in a joint effort which teaches Army skills to

  • Chaplain provides insight to Islam

    A chaplain here has received a national award recognizing his efforts to help warfighters better understand Islam. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Thomas Azar, 347th Rescue Wing head chaplain, was named the 2004-2005 best military chaplain by the National Ministries, American Baptist Churches. “I was totally

  • Predator’s success ups procurement and development

    With the MQ-1 Predator logging significant hours in counterinsurgency operations and earning troop support, the Air Force wants to buy more of the aircraft and develop the next-generation variant. Predators worldwide are logging 4,000 hours a month in support of the war on terrorism and other

  • Pod gives Strike Eagles an edge

    In today’s war on terrorism, troops have many tools at their disposal. One of best tools -- and friend -- is the F-15E Strike Eagle, with its advanced targeting pod. The pod gives pilots real-time information for targeting. “The pod’s capability is simply staggering and it’s changing the battlefield

  • Real estate agency announces award winner

    The Air Force Real Property Agency has announced its 2005 Air Force Real Estate Award winners. Air Force-level winners are: -- Real estate specialist: Cheryl Cordray, 28th Civil Engineer Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. -- Senior real estate specialist: Lynn Holcomb, Air Force Space Command,

  • Air Force garners 13 Presidential Rank Awards

    White House officials recently named its 2005 Presidential Rank Award recipients. The awards program recognizes career senior executive service and senior professional individuals. Award recipients are leaders, professionals and scientists who achieve results and consistently demonstrate strength,

  • Vandenberg launches final Titan IV

    After five decades of service, the Air Force and the Lockheed Martin Corp. launched the last Titan IV B rocket from here Oct. 19. The heavy-lift workhorse thundered off the pad at 11:05 PST to deliver its final payload to space. It carried a critical national security payload for the National

  • Air Force services awards scholarships

    For the ninth consecutive year, six people received a combined total of $25,000 in scholarship money from the Air Force Club Membership Scholarship Program. Club members and their families were given the opportunity to submit an essay on “My Hero, and Why.” Two to four essays were chosen by each