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U.S. Air Force News

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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 officials name Sijan award winners

    Air Force officials here recently recognized four Airmen with the service's 2008 Lance P. Sijan Air Force Leadership Award. The Sijan award annually recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities. The senior officer category winner is Maj. James Hughes Jr., who is assigned to

  • Airmen calibrate for mission success

    Airmen who work in the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratory here play a vital role for warfighters as the calibrate and test equipment critical to mission accomplishmentThey service equipment from approximately 320 units in the area of responsibility

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • AMC supports humanitarian mission to Argentina

    Members of the 375th Logistics Readiness Squadron here June 12 loaded the 26,000-pound heart of a Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine onto a C-17 Globemaster III bound for Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. -- and ultimately Argentina. The MRI equipment was donated to a hospital in Salta, Argentina, by

  • Thunderbirds announce 2010 officer selections

    The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, commonly known as the 'Thunderbirds,' announced incoming officer selections for the 2010 demonstration season. They are:- Lt. Col. Case Cunningham, serving at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., will join the team as the 33rd commander/leader of the

  • Ceremony honors 293 medical graduates

    Dr. Kenneth Torrington, dean of the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, honored 293 physicians and allied health care providers during the annual SAUSHEC awards and graduation ceremony June 5 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. SAUSHEC is the

  • Report points to irregularities in Farah air strike incident

    The investigation into a May 4 close-air-support incident in Afghanistan's Farah province that caused civilian casualties has pointed to some deviations from established tactics, techniques and procedures, but those involved showed extraordinary care in the incident, the Pentagon's press secretary

  • Lab officials confirm Airman has H1N1 flu

    An active-duty officer from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was diagnosed June 3 as the first case of H1N1 Flu in Wayne County, N.C.Officials from the Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Epidemiology Lab at Brooks City Base, Texas, confirmed the officer assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing was treated

  • Quick recognition, action saves C-130 aircrew, Soldiers

    A C-130 Hercules crew rapidly and correctly analyzed a developing situation, applied emergency procedures and recovered an aircraft, its passengers and crew without incident after encountering unforeseen wind shear May 20 in Southwest Asia. The 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130 and its

  • Visitation searchers balance efficiency, safety, humane treatment in Iraq

    Airman 1st Class Alberto Lopez knew the guy was hiding something. He could feel it. The detainee was giving off "the vibe" that three months of working the visitation center at the theater internment facility here had taught him to detect. The Altus, Okla., native continued to search in the

  • Airmen in joint motor pool keep vehicles rolling

    Airmen from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron here work with their Army compatriots in the base motor pool to keep the squadron's tactical vehicles running like clockwork. Four members of the Air Force security forces unit are part of a joint motor pool and learning more than they

  • AFSO 21 initiative at Dover will save $1.8 million

    A new process here will save the Air Force $1.8 million in man hours in the course of a year and most Airmen will not notice the change. Inprocessing at Dover took an average of 20 days, but through an Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiative, that time has been cut to two days. "A

  • Local high school students get inside look at Southwest Asian air base

    Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing hosted 75 high school students from the local America-Mideast Educational and Training Services language training center during their visit to the base May 16. Members of the 386th AEW along with Soldiers, Navy Seabees and Australian personnel from the

  • Airmen, veterans can now apply for new GI Bill

    The Department of Veterans Affairs opened its doors for accepting Post-9/11 GI Bill applications May 1. All Airmen and former Airmen with at least 90 days of active duty service since Sept. 11, 2001, can choose to apply for education benefits, which begin Aug. 1 under the new GI Bill law. To apply

  • Global Hawk flying mapping missions south of border

    The RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft is currently using its sensors for non-military environmental mapping missions over South, Central America and the Caribbean at the request of partner nations in the region. The flights, dubbed "eco-missions" by the Air Forces Southern team, provide vital

  • Facts, testimony bust IDEA myths

    In less time than it takes to fill out a credit card application, Darlene Daspit-Pohl was on her way to earning $10,000 just for having an idea. Ms. Daspit-Pohl used the Air Force Innovative Development through Employee Awareness Program, or IDEA program, to submit an idea that reduces how much the

  • Take anti-flu drugs only after diagnosis, military doc says

    Senior military health officials are warning against taking antiviral medicines to fight the H1N1 flu virus until a doctor has confirmed the diagnosis. Most patients treated at military medical treatment facilities for flu-like symptoms don't actually have the H1N1 or any other kind of flu virus,

  • Weather agency facility wins White House award

    Officials with the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive announced April 30 that the Air Force Weather Agency's headquarters building here was selected as the winning entry in the "Sustainable Design/Green Buildings - Military" category for the 2009 White House Closing the Circle Award. "The

  • Airmen build Iraqi air operations center capability

    Ten Iraqi airmen at the Iraqi air operations center recently completed a seven-day air operations planning course taught by American Airmen air advisers in April here. This training enables the Iraqi air force to build their operational planning capability, which is a critical component to

  • Senator Glenn receives White national defense award

    Marine, test pilot, astronaut and four-term U.S. Senator John H. Glenn, Jr. was honored April 22 as the recipient of the 2008 Thomas D. White National Defense Award. Named in honor of Gen. Thomas Dresser White, former Air Force chief of staff, it is presented annually to a U.S. citizen who has

  • Barrel nut team gets C-130s back in the air

    A team of 30 Airmen across five units helped keep the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing's mission effectiveness rates above 98 percent during a nine-day period when the wing had only three flyable C-130 Hercules aircraft. After an immediate action time compliance technical order, or TCTO, was issued by

  • Officials select 37 Airmen for physician assistant training

    Air Force officials recently selected 37 Airmen to attend the Tri-Service (Phase I) Physician Assistant training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The March 2009 Physician Assistant Board met at the Air Force Personnel Center here to consider 83 applicants. In addition to those selected to attend

  • Balad squadron serves as Iraq's 'guardian angels'

    Coalition military members in Iraq have plenty of equipment, tactics and techniques at their disposal in the event of a worst-case scenario in the field. However, if those safeguards fail, a team of operators from the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is standing by, ready to help. "Our primary

  • Security team provides safety net for Airmen

    Airmen riding the bus outside the wire for the first time may not realize it, but they're not alone out there. The 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's security escort team, armed and ready, are out there making sure each of those Airmen get to where they need to be safely. Selected by

  • Thousands honor Doolittle Raiders at the 67th Reunion

    Thousands of people, young and old, gathered to honor five of the nine surviving Doolittle Raiders at the 67th Reunion in Columbia, S.C., April 16 to 18. On April 18, 1942, the Doolittle Raiders, led by then-Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, became the first to bombard Japan following the attack on Pearl

  • TacSat-3 to demonstrate rapid delivery of imagery

    Providing up-to-the-minute data to the in-theater commander can act as the tipping point to achieve success on the battlefield, and demonstrating that capability has been planned for the Tactical Satellite-3's upcoming, year-long mission. Serving as the spacecraft's primary payload, the Advanced

  • Medal of Honor recipients visit Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Two Medal of Honor recipients visited with Airmen from the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing April 10 here. Retired Army Col. Robert Howard and retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Littrell, visited as part of a Medal of Honor Society tour of the area of responsibility. The Vietnam veterans who earned the

  • Reserve commander meets with deployed reservists

    Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., Air Force Reserve Command commander, visited with Reserve members April 8 and 9 during a multi-base tour of the Air Forces Central area of responsibility. General Stenner, who is also chief of Air Force Reserve, took the opportunity to dine with Reservists and

  • CSAF addresses 386th Airmen during AOR visit

    The Air Force's top officer spoke to 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen as part of a visit to the Air Forces Central area of responsibility April 6 and 7. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz also took time to visit the Airmen of the 387th Air Expeditionary Group and speak with the combat

  • Top spouse discusses deployment family issues

    The Air Force's top spouse discussed the challenges Air Force members and their spouses face during deployments while she visited the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing April 6 and 7. Suzie Schwartz, wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz, has long been considered a champion of military spouses

  • Environmental award winners announced

    Air Force officials announced April 7 the winners of the 2008 Gen. Thomas D. White Environmental Award. The winners are: Environmental Quality Award for Industrial Installations: Hill Air Force Base, Utah (AFMC) Environmental Quality Award for Reserve Component including Air National Guard: 179th

  • Teamwork ensures Thunderbirds performance

    Airmen from three commands came together to prepare the Thunderbirds F-16 Fighting Falcons in time for the Keesler Air Force Base airshow April 4 after inclement weather damaged five of the aircraft's noses.The damage from the weather occurred as the Thunderbirds arrived for the airshow and was

  • ALO commands new combat unit at Bagram

    A former air liaison officer to the Army's 101st Airborne Division in Iraq took command of the newly activated 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group during an assumption of command ceremony here March 30. Col. James Thomas took hold of the 504th EASOG guidon from Lt. Gen. Gary North,

  • Exercise tests disaster relief mobility support

    If an earthquake triggered a tsunami that wiped out the southern coast of Puerto Rico, who gets the call for help? To help answer that question, more than 80 Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing here deployed to eight locations throughout Puerto Rico and the outlying island of St. Thomas

  • Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program reaches milestone

    The advisory board of a new program mandated by the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act held its inaugural meeting here March 30. The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program fulfills the requirement of establishing a national combat veteran reintegration program. The program's goal is to prepare

  • National Guard Airmen augment Misawa maintenance

    Thirty-one Air National Guard Airmen volunteered to leave the United States in late February to help members of the 35th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here recover and maintain F-16 Fighting Falcons returning from Joint Base Balad, Iraq. Members of the 14th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, who returned

  • AF Raven B operators maintain 'eyes-on' for ground forces

    "There it is," said Staff Sgt. Jeff Tomkiewicz, 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, as he pointed at a little, buzzing white dot in the sky. As the Raven B operator approached the small strip of sand of Camp Bucca's Burge Field, the tiny Raven B unmanned aircraft system hovered above the

  • Gen. Petraeus praises medics, corpsmen

    The commander of U.S. Central Command praised the Army medics and Navy corpsmen whose courage on the battlefield protects the lives of fellow servicemembers March 11 here. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus told the 400-person audience at the 3rd Annual Armed Services YMCA Gala here that he was an

  • AFMC focuses on nuclear sustainment, command priorities

    The commander of Air Force Materiel Command called for maximum focus on the command priorities during AFMC's semi-annual senior leaders conference March 5 and 6 at Robins Air Force Base.From a top priority of robust nuclear sustainment to increased warfighter support and resource conservation, Gen.

  • Prescription crosscheck program helps Tricare beneficiaries

    The Tricare military health plan is ensuring patient safety for its 9.2 million beneficiaries through a revolutionary drug utilization program, a senior Tricare official said last week. "We cover about 2.2 million prescription medication claims per week -- that's about 120 million prescriptions per

  • Overweight youth pose recruitment challenges

    Fat is bad for one's health. And as defense officials attest, it's also bad for recruiting, and for national defense. Curtis Gilroy, the Pentagon's accessions chief, lamented during a congressional hearing that many recruitment-age youth are too overweight to qualify for military service. And as a

  • 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,

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Cannon Airmen prepare for gunship arrival

    The 27th Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions Flight completed new training on the combat aircraft parking area here Feb. 6 to ensure they are ready when additional aircraft arrive. Twenty-six Airmen make up the flight that is responsible for supplying live and training

  • 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

  • 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 keep B-1B ready for bombs on target

    Keeping B-1B Lancers constantly ready to help coalition forces defeat terrorists are Airmen assigned to the 7th Aircraft Maintenance Unit here. With its ability to carry the largest payload of any aircraft in the U.S. inventory and flying in excess of 900 mph while fully loaded, maintainers work 24

  • A venerable C-130 makes its final run

    After 47 years of service without a single hit, a C-130 with the 386th Expeditionary Operations Group here has flown its last combat mission and will be retired to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Airmen in the 386th EOG and 386th

  • Charleston members aid injured Airman

    A Charleston Air Force Base senior NCO will be welcomed home soon after spending more than nine months in the hospital after a serious motorcycle accident with a gift from the hearts and hands of base members.Master Sgt. Don Eagle of the 17th Airlift Squadron was struck by another motorist while

  • Airmen witness history from Southwest Asia

    Thousands of miles from home, members of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing at this air base in Southwest Asia were still able to witness history being made as they watched the inauguration of President Barack Obama live Jan. 20 here. The inauguration was not scheduled to start until 7 p.m., but by

  • Airmen, Soldiers team up to keep working dog in the fight

    Dental Airmen teamed up with Army veterinarians to give an Air Force working dog a root canal and get her back into the fight Jan. 15 at an air base in Southwest Asia. Airmen of the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group and Soldiers from the 218th Medical Detachment to work on 5-year-old Belgian

  • Airmen dedicate memorial to 1988 C-130 crew

    A lone C-130 Hercules propeller blade stands erect, chipped, worn and scratched, telling a silent story of an end to six lives on June 8, 1988. The blade -- obtained from the C-130 Hercules that crashed -- is a poignant symbol of the tragic loss of life that occurred that summer day. The memory of

  • Vice president-elect meets Airmen in Southwest Asia

    Vice President-elect Joe Biden met Airmen from the 387th Air Expeditionary Group here as part of his tour of American bases in the Southwest Asia region.  Vice President-elect Biden is scheduled to visit Iraq after meeting with officials in Pakistan and Afghanistan. He takes office Jan. 20 along

  • New badge part of historic change in force support

    A new career badge made its debut when 57 officers graduated from the inaugural force support officer training course last month at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. After nine weeks of initial skills training, the officers are the first to showcase the badge of the new 38F Force Support Air Force

  • CMSAF McKinley, graduating Airmen honor enlisted heroes

    Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley and more than 700 Airmen preparing to graduate from basic military training honored the Air Force's enlisted heroes during today's dedication of the new Enlisted Heroes Walk here. Several dignitaries, including Gen. Stephen R. Lorenz, commander

  • Thunderbirds release 2009 air show schedule

    The U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, "Thunderbirds," has announced its 2009 air show schedule. In their 56th season, the Thunderbirds are scheduled to perform more than 73 shows in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Far East. Entering his second season, Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, the team's

  • Air Force engineers answer the call from Soldiers in Iraq

    "Answering the call" is a motto 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen believe in, and it's something Soldiers can attest to. This team of combat-trained engineers, assigned to the 732nd ECES Det. 6, will build anything, anywhere to help Soldiers in Iraq accomplish their mission or to

  • Program raises awareness about global AIDS epidemic

    The Defense Department's HIV/AIDS Prevention Program, or DHAPP, is making progress with partner nations by supporting implementation of HIV prevention, care and treatment programs, educating their militaries and creating awareness of the global epidemic, a senior official working in the program

  • Admiral Mullen sends best wishes for the holiday

    Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sends the following holiday message: Throughout our history, when faced with war at this special time of the year, American servicemen and women have risen with crisis and fought with valor while providing their fellow citizens precious

  • Alaska Guard continues Operation Santa Claus tradition

    Children from rural Alaskan communities were treated to an early Christmas this year as members of the Alaska National Guard completed Operation Santa Claus for young people in communities across the state. The 50-year community relations and support program provides toys, books and school supplies

  • Medics, maintainers test skills at alternative careers

    How many steps does it take to prepare an F-16 Fighting Falcon to launch for a combat sortie? How stomach-turning is it to sit in on a surgery?  Staff Sgt. Ubong Okokon and Master Sgt. Mark Crew are dedicated to answering these questions and more for Airmen serving in the Air Force Theater Hospital

  • PACAF officials look to blogging to tell Air Force story

    Pacific Air Command officials here created a blog called PACAF Pixels in September to allow Airmen across the command to share, in a personal and authentic way, their service experiences.PACAF officials said this is a significant departure from traditional communication in the command, citing the

  • Airmen provide FAST coverage

    Upon landing one morning at a remote location in Iraq, two specially trained Airmen with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron took charge of security for a $30.1 million C-130 Hercules and its crew. Senior Airmen Rosie Munoz and Michelle Kendall assume this responsibility on a regular

  • Air Force officials release F-15 accident report

    A combination of human factors and aircraft anomalies caused a spin during a July 30 crash of a two-seat F-15D Eagle during a Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report released Nov. 24 here. The pilot in command, Lt. Col.

  • Stars visible at, from LA observatory

    Senior Air Force leaders rubbed elbows with entertainment industry figures Nov. 18 during an Air Force Week reception at the Griffith Observatory here. Hosted by the Friends of the Observatory, a nonprofit organization which supports the world's most visited public observatory, the event honored

  • Reserve Affairs chief explains new DOD directive

    Recent changes on how the Guard and Reserves are recognized are larger than any in recent history, a senior Defense Department official said here Nov. 19. Thomas F. Hall, the assistant secretary of defense for Reserve Affairs, told the Air National Guard's top officers and command chief master

  • Program addresses wounded, ill servicemembers' needs

    More than 1,900 wounded servicemembers have benefited from their enrollment in a specialized health program to meet their unique needs during their rehabilitative process. "As we began seeing more wounded servicemembers returning to our region, we identified some unique needs that they faced as they

  • Aerospace exhibition entertains, informs during Air Force Week Los Angeles

    Dominik Goldschmidt was in heaven. He loved anything to do with airplanes and today was all about them. The 9-year-old boy scout was attending the aerospace exhibition at the Long Beach airport, where he was able to see, touch and explore larger-than-life Air Force aircraft. The two-day expo, called

  • Airmen clear away the 'debris of war,' improve airport safety

    Today, airlift operations are an integral part of Iraq's military and economic future, and the men and women of the 447th Air Expeditionary Group, working along-side the Iraqi military and civilian contractors, are developing Baghdad International Airport into a modern aerial hub that will be a

  • Air Force officials complete General Tinsley investigation

    A thorough investigation conducted by the Air Force Office of Special Investigation recently, found that forensic evidence was consistent with the initial assessment that Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Autopsy results coupled with toxicology

  • McChord Airmen help controllers train for new runway

    McChord Air Force Base Airmen shared their training simulator here with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport tower controllers to ensure they are certified and ready for operations when the civilian airport's third runway officially opens Nov. 20. Since September, members of the 62nd Operations

  • Information center to ease transition to AF management

    Base residents seeking support services can receive assistance from an information center at the 332nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group here once a joint-service initiative, called Base Operating Support-Integration, takes effect Nov. 6.BOS-I is a changeover of base support functions that

  • Football: Opportunistic Falcons topple New Mexico

    Air Force survived a first quarter marred by turnovers and a strong New Mexico running game to pull out a 23-10 victory at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Oct. 23. The Falcons turned the ball over on three of their first four possessions, spotting the Lobos 10 points while allowing 149 total yards, 101

  • Air Force officials invest $12 million in research program

    Air Force Office of Scientific Research officials here announced Oct. 17 they will award approximately $12.1 million in grants to 39 scientists and engineers who submitted winning research proposals through the Air Force's Young Investigator Research Program. The program is open to scientists and

  • Football: Falcons win thriller in desert 29-28

    The U.S. Air Force Academy football team won a nailbiter against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in a 29-28 back and forth game Oct. 18 in Las Vegas. The Falcons put the ball in the air only seven times while rushing 68 times; however, freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson connected on six of those

  • National Guard responds to Hurricane Omar

    More than 90 National Guardmembers in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico are on duty Oct. 16 after Hurricane Omar passed through their area as a major Category 3 storm."Take this very seriously," said Gov. John deJongh of the U.S. Virgin Islands Oct. 15 after he activated his National Guard,

  • Secretary tours Joint Base Balad, shares Air Force vision

    The secretary of the Air Force visited Joint Base Balad Oct. 13 to learn about the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's contributions to the war on terrorism and to share his vision for the future of the Air Force. Secretary Michael B. Donley toured the Air Force Theater Hospital, the 46th Expeditionary

  • Pararescuemen recall recent rescue mission

    If jumping out of a perfectly good airplane into the middle of the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the night to help out complete strangers isn't your idea of a rush, then maybe a career as a pararescueman isn't for you. That's exactly what a team of PJs from the 31st Rescue Squadron and the 320th

  • Air Force medics support trauma mission for warriors

    A recent influx of trauma cases at Wilford Hall Medical Center here sheds light on the importance of the hospital's civilian trauma mission with the city of San Antonio, and the high caliber of training it provides for military doctors and medics here. During the month of September, Air Force

  • New Weather Agency facility sets gold standard

    The Air Force Weather Agency headquarters facility here recently became the first facility in the Air Force to earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold rating by the U.S. Green Building Council. The Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Moorman facility earned its gold rating in the Version 2.1 LEED

  • Special Operations Command earns multiple AFA awards

    Air Force Special Operations Command officials here took home four awards during the Air Force Association's annual Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition held from Sept. 15 to 17 in Washington, D.C. Each year, AFA officials honor the outstanding achievements of men and women throughout

  • Willow Grove unit completes last A-10 deployment

    The Pennsylvania Air National Guard unit stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, Pa., will be transitioning to a joint interagency installation as a result of the Department of Defense's 2005 Base Realignment and Closure recommendations. With the new mission coming onboard,

  • General Schwartz kicks off AFA convention

    The Air Force Association's 24th Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition got underway here Sept. 15. In remarks to open the conference, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said service leaders will work to regain America's trust by improving its performance, citing work

  • JTF-129 Airmen rescue civilians stranded in Galveston

    California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here deployed to Kelly Field in San Antonio for Hurricane Ike search and rescue support operations rescued eight people Sept. 12 in Galveston, Texas. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter on search and rescue patrol spotted unevacuated civilians

  • Future Airmen show commitment in record-making ceremony

    Members of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the 364th Recruiting Squadron partnered recently at the Travis Air Expo 2008 to conduct the largest Delayed Entry Program swearing-in ceremony to date. Lt. Col. Greg Thomas, the commander of the Air Force Thunderbirds, administered the oath of

  • Retired professor convicted

    A federal jury convicted retired University of Tennessee professor Dr. J. Reece Roth Sept. 3 of illegally exporting military technical information related to plasma technology designed to be deployed on the wings of drones operating as weapons or surveillance systems. Contribution to the verdict

  • Football: Falcons defense stifles Wyoming, 23-3

    A 74-yard end-around by U.S. Air Force Academy wide receiver Kyle Halderman broke a defensive slugfest and gave the Falcons the game-deciding play against Wyoming Sept. 6 in Laramie. The teams relied solely on the run and traded field goals while the defenses ruled the first two and a half quarters

  • Wet celebration recognizes 100 years of military flight

    Aircraft history buffs descended on Fort Myer, Va., Saturday. So did Tropical Storm Hannah. Heavy rain throughout the day hurt attendance at the Centennial of Military Aviation celebration, which recognized the 100-year anniversary of a series of flights made by Orville Wright in September 1908 at

  • Iraqis sign container contract with Joint Base Balad

    An Iraqi businessman, a local tribal leader and the commander of Joint Contracting Command-Iraq/Afghanistan gathered here Aug. 21 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony of the latest contract for the Iraqi First program between Joint Base Balad and the Miran Co. Hashim Abd Al-Amir Mahdi of the Miran Co. won

  • Wright-Patterson unit wins Defense secretary logistics award

    Defense Department officials here announced Aug. 6 the 478th Aeronautical Systems Wing was named the winner of the Secretary of Defense System Level Performance-Based Logistics Award. The wing staff directs all acquisition and sustainment activities for the F-22 Raptor and is part of the

  • Predator passes 400,000 flight hours

    The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system surpassed 400,000 flight hours during a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Aug. 18. Members of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., flew the milestone mission in

  • Officials dedicate enlisted education center

    Air University officials dedicated the Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education to the fourth chief master sergeant of the Air Force at a ceremony here July 24. The Barnes Center acts as an umbrella covering the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, all NCO academies within the