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U.S. Air Force News

  • Academy visit brings smiles to Cadet for a Day

    For Hannah Marklin, 16, and the Academy's most recent Cadet for a Day, it was a weekend packed with tours, football, aviation, demonstrations and hanging out with some 100 new friends.Hannah, her parents and friend Evan Simon, visited the Academy Nov. 12 through 14 and were feted by Cadet Squadron

  • Physical training uniform made in America

    Air Force officials partnered with American industry to ensure the new physical fitness uniform is not only upgraded with better material and functionality, but also is 100 percent America made.The new PTU outer garment running suit is being manufactured near Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., and

  • CMSAF visits Canada to build PME partnership

    The Air Force's top enlisted leader visited multiple locations in Canada Nov. 17 through 20 to build a permanent enlisted professional military education partnership with one of America's closest allies.Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited Ottawa, Ontario, and

  • American engineers conduct quality assurance training in Afghanistan

    Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team engineers conducted quality assurance training for more than 30 Afghan contractors, foremen and engineers at the Civil-Military Operations Center in downtown Khost, Afghanistan recently.The engineers conduct monthly training to address issues found during project

  • Wounded warrior program continues assisting Airmen and their families

    Air Force leaders remain committed to the service's top investments: Airmen and their families. In support of a Defense Department initiative to return wounded warriors to productive military service or civilian life, Air Force officials here have revised several personnel policies. These policies

  • Mullen sees operational structure in Guard's future

    The National Guard's transformation from a strategic reserve to an operational force since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, should continue beyond the current conflicts, the nation's top military officer told Guard leaders Nov. 19. As operations in Iraq and Afghanistan change over the next

  • Air Force leaders speak at 2009 Global Warfare Symposium

    Air Force senior leaders discussed the service's priorities, capabilities and vision in space, cyberspace and strategic deterrence at the 2009 Air Force Association Global Warfare Symposium here Nov. 19. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, Lt. Gen. Frank G. Klotz and Maj. Gen. Richard E. Webber, respective

  • AMC officials give $225K to three bases for thinking green

    Green thinking led to cold cash Nov. 18 when Air Mobility Command officials gave $100,000 to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.; $75,000 to Scott AFB; and $50,000 to Travis AFB, Calif.; for efforts by people at each base to conserve energy and promote culture change. Eligibility for the Energy

  • Air Force experts, Iraqi aviation authority restructure airways

    On Nov. 19, the Iraq Civil Aviation Authority implemented a revamped airway structure within Iraq, the first such airspace restructuring in years.In addition to the ICAA, members of the Air Component Coordination Element, Washington Consulting Group and various other agencies played a crucial role

  • Weapons school completes large scale mobility exercise

    Airmen from two U.S. Air Force Weapons School squadrons and aircrews flying 40 heavy-body aircraft completed a Mobility Air Forces Exercise over the Nevada Test and Training Range here Nov. 18."This is essentially the capstone for our Weapons Instructor Course, helping us learn how to plan, schedule

  • Secretary of State visits servicemembers in Afghanistan

    Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton visited servicemembers Nov. 19 at the newly established International Security Assistance Force Joint Command here.Secretary Clinton was in the region attending the inauguration ceremony of Afghan President Hamid Karzai and took time to address and greet

  • Air Force Academy firefighters smash own world record

    An Air Force Academy team shattered their own world record Nov. 18 at the five-day 2009 Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge here.The top-ranked ladies tandem team, dubbed "Old Dog, New Trick," beat their record with a time of 1:52.33 in the female relay event."I'm so excited; it was a clean, seamless

  • Medics teach mental health classes in Philippines

    Members of the Camp Navarro General Hospital and the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines chaplain team taught more than 50 care providers crisis intervention management techniques at the Western Mindanao Command Nov. 16 through 18 here. The classes focused on the hidden scars of the

  • Air Force secretary visits Luke

    The secretary of the Air Force visited Luke Air Force Base for the first time Nov. 18 and spoke to base members about the latest Air Force issues."I've been looking forward to visiting Luke for months," said Secretary Michael B. Donley said. "I wanted to personally meet the people that continue to

  • Airmen receive Sijan Award in Pentagon ceremony

    The Air Force's chief of staff honored the service's four Capt. Lance P. Sijan Award recipients in a ceremony in the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes Nov. 18.The Sijan Award annually recognizes Airmen who demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities, and this year's recipients are Maj. James Hughes Jr.

  • Applicants sought for air attaché duty

    Air Force officials here are accepting applications until Dec. 11 from senior captains, majors and lieutenant colonels to fill eight air attaché positions and assistant air attaché positions with in-country reporting dates ranging from August 2010 to September 2012. Officers selected for attaché

  • Air Force Warfare Center officials improve warfighter support

    At the Air Force Warfare Center here, lessons learned supporting ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq are being shared with the aviation community and incorporated into the training as quickly as they're developed. Meanwhile, officials at the center's operational arm, the 57th Wing, are helping to

  • Air Force officials host Sexual Assault Prevention, Response Leader Summit

    To reinforce the service's commitment to protect Airmen and maintain a safe environment, senior leaders gathered for the 2009 Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Leader Summit here Nov. 16.Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. William L. Shelton,

  • Air Force leaders reinforce senior adviser hiring guidance

    Air Force senior leaders here recently completed a year-long comprehensive review of the requirements, contracting processes and tasks performed by senior advisers.While the review did not find any ethical or legal concerns, Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen.

  • Air Force secretary presents small business achievement awards

    The secretary of the Air Force presented the 2008 and 2009 Small Business Programs Special Achievement Awards at the Air Force Office of Small Business Programs Conference Nov. 17 here."Because of their size, these smaller companies have great advantages over their much larger competitors, namely

  • Airmen compete in firefighter combat challenge

    Six teams of Air Force firefighters, from various bases, are testing their skills and stamina Nov. 16 to 20 against more than 600 fire departments from around the world during the five-day 2009 Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge here. The 3,000 military and civilian firefighters, hailing from

  • Air Force officials make first major move toward a central network

    Air Force officials recently took the first major steps recently in moving e-mail and network services into what will become the central Air Force Network. Within today's environment, major commands and some subordinate units operate their own networks, but the Active Directory and Exchange project

  • Exercise prepares Airmen for Afghan marketplace attack

    A deadly insurgent rocket attack on a civilian marketplace in Afghanistan's Kapisa Province resulted in wounded Afghans being medically evacuated Nov. 16 to nearby hospitals, including the Craig Joint Theater Hospital here that took in 13 civilians.According to Capt. James McDaniel, the hospital

  • Dolphins fly to New Caledonia with Hickam C-17 crew

    Airmen aboard C-17 Globemaster IIIs from Hickam AFB transported dolphins from the Navy Marine Mammals Program in San Diego, Calif., to Noumea, New Caledonia, Nov. 8 to locate and dispose of more than 200 contact mines that were leftover from World War II.The active-duty and Reserve C-17 aircrew from

  • Officials announce fiscal 2010 force management measures

    Air Force officials here announced Nov. 16 measures to meet the fiscal 2010 end strength of 331,700, requiring personnel management actions to reduce the force by approximately 3,700 officers and enlisted members through voluntary and involuntary early separation and retirement programs. Eligible

  • Initiative helps disabled vets stay active

    A recent initiative launched by officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Olympic Committee is giving disabled veterans a chance to rediscover their potential through athletics and competition.A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two organizations Oct. 21 to

  • Nellis officials plan for F-35's opportunities, challenges

    With the new F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft's arrival just four years away, officials at the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center here are looking forward to joint training opportunities while recognizing the challenges of providing realistic training on such a technologically advanced

  • Supreme Allied Commander Europe visits USAFE forces

    The commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe met the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe here to discuss USAFE's vital role in accomplishing the EUCOM mission Nov. 10 at Ramstein Air Base."The Airmen of USAFE are essential to providing deterrence from aggression

  • All services meet or exceed October recruiting goals

    All active-duty and reserve-component military branches met or exceeded their recruiting goals for October, Defense Department officials said. October's results, the first for fiscal 2010, continue a successful military recruiting mission that experienced a banner year in fiscal 2009. Active and

  • USAFE command chief builds partnership in Bulgaria

    The top enlisted advisor to U.S. Air Forces in Europe visited Bulgaria Nov. 2-6 to explore cooperation opportunities for enlisted professional military education. Chief Master Sgt. Pamela Derrow, USAFE command chief, spent the week meeting with Bulgarian air force leaders and talking about how

  • Unmanned aircraft crews strive to support warfighters

    As Pentagon officials look for ways to increase intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support for warfighters in Afghanistan, the Air Force's first unmanned aircraft systems wing already is on the case in its never-ending quest to provide more and better intelligence through the systems they

  • Officials expand 2010 ACP to growing mission needs

    Details on the fiscal 2010 Aviator Continuation Pay Program released by officials Nov. 13 continue to emphasize the Air Force's retention efforts in critical, rated career fields while recognizing the growing significance of remotely piloted aircraft.The ACP Program allows some active-duty rated

  • Air Education and Training Command wins the USAF Marathon MAJCOM Challenge

    The Air Education and Training Command won this year's U.S. Air Force Marathon Major Command Challenge Commander's Trophy, with the Air Force Materiel Command coming in second.The announcement was made last week at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.The MAJCOM Challenge is an Air

  • Air Force officials emphasize individual fitness responsibility

    While Air Force commanders have the responsibility to maintain a unit fitness program, the new fitness Air Force instruction will better emphasize each Airman's responsibility to meet and maintain fitness standards, officials here said Nov. 13.Commanders and supervisors will continue to emphasize

  • Ramstein Airmen improve training, effectiveness with new M-50 mask

    Airmen at Ramstein Air Base will see a new change in chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear training with the use of the new M-50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask and Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology, effective immediately."The new masks are joint service; they'll be

  • Federal officials pledge support for hiring veterans

    Senior federal officials here Nov. 12 pledged their support of President Barack Obama's directive to increase the hiring of military veterans. President Obama signed the executive order Nov. 9 that calls on each federal agency to establish a veterans' employment program office designed to help

  • Rise of the cyber wingman

    Every day, malicious code, worms, botnets and hooks attack Air Force computers hardware, software and the Internet. They infiltrate classified information and compromise national security. In response, Air Force officials are stepping up their mission to defend cyberspace.Mission success is the goal

  • Iraqi airmen score bull's eye with Hellfire missile

    For the first time since the re-formation of the Iraqi air force, an Iraqi pilot fired a missile from an aircraft Nov. 4, at a target on a bombing range near Al Asad Air Base, Iraq. A three-man Iraqi aircrew from Squadron 3 fired an AGM-114 Hellfire missile from an AC-208 Caravan, officials at

  • Homeland Security unveils new job site for veterans

    The Department of Homeland Security has unveiled a new Web site designed to provide a one-stop location for veterans looking for jobs. The site, http://www.dhs.gov/veterans, also serves as a resource for veterans organizations to learn about the department's veteran outreach initiatives. "This new

  • Ring returned to Vietnam POW 44 years after imprisonment

    With the traditional "I do's" and exchange of wedding bands some 54 years ago on Oct. 1, 1955, James and Phyllis Hivner began their life's journey together which, like many young couples, began with not knowing what the future held.That journey was rocked 10 years later, almost to the day, when

  • Officials announce JAG family service award winner

    Tom Hagmaier, an active volunteer within the Air Force and Judge Advocate General Corps community for more than ten years, received the 2008 Joy Dunlap Family Service Award Oct. 29 during the annual award banquet, part of the JAG Corps' Keystone Leadership Summit in Dallas.  Lt. Gen. Jack L. Rives,

  • Recruiter plays hero, stops robbery in progress

    An Air Force recruiter stopped a robbery in progress while attending his unit's annual training conference Oct. 29 here.Staff Sgt. Cesar Munoz, a recruiter with the 344th Recruiting Squadron stationed in Killeen, Texas, subdued two assailants attempting to mug an elderly man at the Sam's Town Hotel

  • Photo essay: Practice makes perfect

    Air Force Honor Guard members visited here to train and evaluate base honor guard members Oct. 21. The training develops the skill sets used in various formations and ceremonies. View slideshow.

  • Executive order seeks more veterans in government

    President Barack Obama signed an executive order Nov. 9 aimed at hiring more veterans to work in the federal government. A governmentwide Council on Veterans' Employment will be chaired by Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. The order calls on each federal

  • C-130 arrival in Poland marks end, new beginning

    Ramstein Air Base Airmen delivered the base's last E-model C-130 Hercules Nov. 2 to Powidz Air Base, Poland, marking the end of 38 years of service to the U.S. Air Force but the newest addition to the Polish air force's blossoming fleet of strategic airlifters.C-130 tail No. 1299 touched down and as

  • Official cites benefits of deploying civilians

    A recent Facebook post by a U.S. Soldier heading home from Iraq highlights some of the nonmilitary roles American troops often assume in today's counterinsurgency wars. "My time in Iraq approaches its end," the junior enlisted Soldier wrote, listing military duties he performed on tour, followed by

  • Airmen build up reconstruction yard for drawdown

    Airmen of the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron's Det. 6 here are not only in the business of pushing dirt, but also in pushing the U.S. military closer to drawdown in Iraq. The Airmen are tasked to level off a Saddam Hussein-era munitions storage area to create a workspace for the

  • Reserve, Guard members contribute to Ramstein mission

    In February 2009, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley said, "I am proud to report that the total force team of regular, Reserve, Guard and civilians, along with our joint partners, continues to provide world-class air, space and cyber capabilities for our combatant commanders." At Ramstein AB,

  • 'Today's Air Force' features signing of Military Family Month proclamation

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," medical evacuation specialists in Germany hit a major milestone, Airmen in Iraq take charge of security for Joint Base Balad, and a sick woman takes part in an art program designed to help cancer patients deal with their disease.Airmen staffing the Contingency

  • Airmen train future journalists

    More than 85 students from Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio received a firsthand look at the story telling mission of the Defense Media Activity-San Antonio Nov. 6 here.The tour was geared to spark interest in the Air Force and various media career paths to provide the sixth, seventh and eighth

  • Academy physicians discuss H1N1 lessons learned

    Senior medical officials who successfully slowed the spread of H1N1 flu virus at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., published what they learned in an October article featured in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Air Force Lt. Col. (Dr.) Catherine Witkop, a preventive

  • Air Force finishes safest flying year

    Fiscal 2009 was the safest flying year in the 62-year history of the Air Force.  There were only 17 Class A mishaps. The next best year was fiscal 2006 with 19 Class A mishaps. A Class A mishap is one where there is loss of life, an injury resulting in permanent total disability, the destruction of

  • Air Force officials accepting physician assistant applications

    Air Force officials here are taking applications from active-duty enlisted Airmen for Physician Assistant Phase I Training classes beginning December 2010, and April and August 2011. To be eligible for this program, applicants must: -- be on active duty in the grade of E-3 through E-8 with a minimum

  • Air Force officials unveil new strategic basing process

    Senior Air Force officials have applied a new basing process to more than 200 sites for training and operational basing of the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft. In fall 2008, Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Norton Schwartz sought to redefine

  • Simulator helps attack controllers train

    Coalition and joint terminal attack controllers used a simulator to hone their skills in calling in close-air support during U.S. Joint Forces Command's advanced-concept technology demonstration Bold Quest 2009, which concluded here and at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C., Nov. 5. The

  • Airman culture key to Exercise Salitre success

    Exercise Salitre ended Oct. 30 with a total force effort of nearly 200 active-duty and Air National Guard Airmen representing five U.S. bases, and supporting coalition efforts to strengthen regional military ties and interoperability. The exercise, hosted by the Chilean air force integrated Airmen

  • Airmen train Iraqi police

    Iraqi policemen from the city of Nasiriyah earned explosive ordnance disposal patches Nov. 4 after completing training with Air Force EOD technicians assigned to Task Force Troy at Forward Operating Base Cedar. The training, conducted by three Airmen, is part of a six-week course offered to the

  • New cyberspace support career field stood up Nov. 1

    Air Force officials here converted more than 43,000 total force enlisted Airmen from former communications career fields to cyberspace support Nov. 1. The new Air Force specialty is made up of three former career fields: communications-electronics, 2EXXX; knowledge operations management, 3AXXX; and

  • South Carolina Air Guard unit wins international F-16 competition

    The South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing was named the overall winner of Falcon Air Meet 2009, a three-nation F-16 Fighting Falcon competition, held here through Nov. 3. The South Carolina team, which represented the U. S. Air Force's Central Command and the U.S., won three of the

  • Airmen escort Afghan governor during visit

    Airmen from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team escorted and provided security for the Afghan provincial governor during a visit with local government and religious leaders at a compound here Oct. 25. The visit was part of an on-going effort by the governor to meet key leaders throughout the

  • Photo essay: Night exercise at Osan Air Base

    Airmen from the 51st Security Forces Squadron participated in a night training exercise here to evacuate Airmen from a "car bombed" building and to oppose the "enemy" forces that were planning to ambush the evacuees Nov. 3, 2009. The simulation was part of a base operational readiness

  • Malian forces improve proficiency at English language lab

    Members of U.S. Air Forces Africa toured the Malian Air Force English Language Lab in Bamako that prepares officers for training in other nations as well as participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions.Before an international student can apply to attend a U.S. Air Force training program, he

  • Iraqi air force acquires advanced radar system

    Iraqi air force officials advanced their air defense monitoring capabilities after a ceremony marked the transfer of a digital air surveillance radar from American control to Iraqi control Oct. 26 here. "Today, another historical day added to our brothers and the Iraqi air force," said Iraqi air

  • Like body armor, flu vaccine aims to protect troops

    Like protective equipment issued to troops downrange, the H1N1 flu vaccine is a measure the Defense Department is taking to safeguard U.S. military forces, a defense official said here Nov. 3. "We use other treatment modalities to protect people in the same way we use body armor to protect against

  • Airmen provide Iraqis building skills

    Airmen of the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron here work with local Iraqis daily teaching them various trade skills as they team together to improve the infrastructure at Kirkuk Air Base. "I was given the opportunity to teach the local nationals what we could with the jobs that we're

  • Servicemembers earn national security awards

    The Air Force chief of staff and two Airmen were among the honorees at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs awards dinner here Nov. 2. The event honored the 2009 JINSA Henry M. "Scoop" Jackson Distinguished Service Award and Grateful Nation Award winners. Created to recognize leaders

  • Defense officials receive first H1N1 vaccine shipments

    Defense Department officials have started receiving H1N1 vaccines and will begin distributing doses in the coming weeks. The Health and Human Services Department is distributing the vaccines, manufactured by four producers, to the department. Because rates of production vary among the manufacturers,

  • Air Guard members are flexible, adaptable to change, says Wyatt

    The Air National Guard still provides the best bang for the buck because of the ability and flexibility of its Airmen, the reserve component's director told hundreds of Air Guard enlisted members in Dallas Nov. 3. "We will leverage those to provide the country with the most affordable, the best

  • Joint Base Andrews Firefighters provide blaze-battling training

    If it wasn't for the base fire training facility at Joint Base Andrews, Md., the Washington D.C. Fire Department would have fewer 'recruits turned firefighters' to fight its blazes in the city. "Our facility is currently under construction and the Andrews Fire Department and base commander have

  • Little Rock officials lead joint force training effort at exercise

    Members of the 19th Airlift Wing from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., took the lead at the Joint Forcible Entry Exercise 10-01 held here Oct. 25 through 29. The purpose of the JFEX is to re-establish forcible entry capability through airpower by combining Army and Air Force training needs, said

  • Air Force mission requires diverse talent

    The Airman in charge of leading the Air Force's diversity efforts said the work is a "strategic imperative" for the service and our nation. "The Air Force's global engagement strategy requires a different approach -- a different mindset," said Col. Shawna O'Brien, chief of the Air Force's new

  • Air Force officials seek UAS volunteers, announces policy change

    Air Force officials here are seeking combat systems officers for unmanned aircraft systems pilot duty, and interested commissioned Airmen have until Nov. 20 to volunteer for the training. CSOs within the grade of lieutenant through major are eligible, and applicants must also have between two to 13

  • Air Guard readies for C-27J fleet

    For the first time, Air National Guard aircrews will be the sole operators of a new aircraft straight off the assembly line. The C-27J Spartan, the latest propeller-driven airlifter, is an "extremely rugged" aircraft, designed for austere environments, said Air Force officials. It is about half the

  • Security forces Airmen, Soldiers mentor Afghan prison guards

    Air Force security forces members along with Army Soldiers from the Zabul Provincial Reconstruction Team met with prison officials as part of an on-going mentoring project at a nearby prison here Oct. 28. The prison, located close to the PRT compound, has become an important project for the team due

  • BEAST gets rave reviews a year after opening

    Air Force officials here had high expectations for the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training course that opened in December 2008, which coincided with the expansion of Basic Military Training to 8.5 weeks. "I think the BEAST is running exceptionally well," said Col. Shane Courville, the 737th

  • Nurse commissioning program seeks enlisted applicants

    Officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here will conduct the annual Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program board May 11-13 to select candidates for fall 2010 start dates. The program offers active-duty enlisted personnel the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in a high-need academic major.

  • 'BRATS' tell their story

    It's often said that when someone joins the military, they aren't the only ones serving. Husbands and wives offer support, but recently another group gained recognition when an organization produced a film telling the story of military children. Operation Military BRAT presented the movie "BRATS:

  • Colorado, Jordan lead the way as Guard builds worldwide partners

    The roar of jets and flash of live fire in the desert east of this thriving capital city are the loudest and brightest signs of a flourishing National Guard State Partnership Program. "I have been very favorably impressed with how the military-to-military relationships between Colorado and Jordan

  • Transit Center, Kyrgyz medical teams work together, share ideas

    A Kyrgyz medical team visited here Oct. 27 to learn the Air Force mission and share ideas with Airmen assigned to the 376th Expeditionary Medical Group. The team consisted of local doctors, dentists and pharmacists and was led by Col. Iskender Abykeeev, head of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense's

  • 'Total Fitness' seeks unit, troop effectiveness

    Being fit to fight in today's military means more than simply being physically fit, and through the concept of "total fitness," Defense Department officials hope to build on what many say already is the most resilient force in U.S. military history. Total fitness strikes a balance between strong

  • 4 remotely piloted vehicle squadrons stand up at Holloman

    Air Force officials here stood up three remotely piloted vehicle squadrons and a maintenance squadron under the 49th Fighter Wing during an assumption-of-command ceremony Oct. 23 at Holloman Air Force Base. Members of the four squadrons -- the 29th Attack Squadron, 6th Reconnaissance Squadron, 16th

  • New perspective improves VA programs

    A new perspective has enabled leaders at the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve the level and accessibility of care provided to servicemembers, the department's assistant secretary for public and intergovernmental affairs said here Oct. 27. "I bring with me to VA a really different, new

  • Airmen sought for unique, joint program

    Air Force officials are seeking Airmen for a three- to five-year period for a Defense Department program aimed at creating greater continuity, focus and persistent engagement across the battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Afghanistan Pakistan Hands program was established by Adm. Mike

  • Air Force officials announce candidate bases for joint strike fighter

    Air Force officials here announced the list of candidate locations Oct. 29 for basing the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. The list of candidate bases was approved by the secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force and identifies the first group of bases to be considered for joint strike

  • One Airman's trash is another Airman's training aid

    Several American and Iraqi airmen are working together to move parts from a wrecked C-130 Hercules on Sather Air Base to New Al Muthana AB where they will be used as training aids for Iraqi aircraft maintainers. The 447th Air Expeditionary Group's fire department and safety office as well as Iraqi

  • Cope India dubbed a success

    U.S. and Indian air force officials are pleased with the positive results of all of the joint-training operations executed here during Cope India, Oct. 19 to 23. Cope India is a United States and India airlift exercise that provides training for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief

  • Contingency response Airmen build partnership capability in Egypt

    Airmen from the 621st Contingency Response Wing bolstered Egypt's ability to mobilize its troops by training 20 Egyptian airborne soldiers on airlift and cargo loading procedures during Exercise Bright Star in Cairo, Egypt, Oct. 9 to 21. During the eight-day training course, the Airmen taught

  • Act ends controversial personnel system

     With President Barack Obama's signature today on the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act, a controversial pay-for-performance personnel system is abolished. About 220,000 Defense Department employees who had come under the National Security Personnel System will transition back to the

  • Air Force updates guidance for wear of PTU

    Air Force officials have updated guidance for wear of the physical training uniform, replacing previous guidance published in Air Force Instruction 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of Air Force Personnel. According to a message released from Air Force A1 and signed by Lt. Gen. Richard Y.

  • Kirkuk ceremony marks transfer of navigational aids to Iraqi air force

    A ceremony held at Kirkuk Air Base in Iraq Oct. 26 demonstrated the emerging independence of the Iraqi Air Force. The ceremony marked the official turnover of a suite of navigational aids provided by the Electronic Systems Center, headquartered here, through a first-of-its-kind foreign military

  • Spangdahlem Airmen reach out to Romanian community

    Members of the 52nd Fighter Wing from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, deployed to Campia Turzii in late October and donated their time and money to help renovate a children's community center dedicated to helping local children with their academic studies. The deployed Airmen provided aesthetic

  • Tanker aircrews support exercise in Chile

    Airmen aboard two Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotankers are flying daily refueling sorties above Chile to support a multinational force of fighters during Exercise Salitre II. The Airmen from the 161st Air Refueling Wing in Phoenix are participating in the Chilean-led exercise that runs

  • Airmen patrol outside to protect inside

    For some Airmen, its keep your friends close and your enemies as far away from your base as possible. Every day, the 532nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron's force protection patrols travel outside of Joint Base Balad to provide a security presence that aims to deter anyone who would do harm

  • MacDill tankers keep mission airborne at Red Flag

    Members of the 91st Air Refueling Squadron from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., are doing their part to ensure participants in Exercise Red Flag 10-1 stay in the air Oct. 19 through 30 here. Aircrews in KC-135 Stratotankers will fly multiple sorties per day and push more than 1.4 million pounds of