HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Airmen advise Afghan medical mission

    Between 100 and 400 Afghans are screened here daily for entrance into the Afghan national army. The first day of screening is the medical portion - an essential process for all would-be recruits to pass before becoming an Afghan soldier. Over a six-month timeframe, 2,500 to 3,000 Afghan recruits

  • Servicemembers help reconnect Afghan, government

    Coalition forces are lending a helping hand through provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan in an attempt to rebuild the government's relationship with its people. "(The purpose is) to give hope and a means for a better future to people recovering from war and oppression under a totalitarian

  • Afghan medical technicians learn lab techniques

    Air Force mentors are developing Afghan hematology knowledge and practices every day at the Kabul national military hospital. "The (medical embed training team) mission strengthens the (Afghan national army's) healthcare system's ability to improve medical care with trained and experienced medical

  • Secretary Donley: Airmen vital to missions in Iraq, Afghanistan

    Airmen remain a vital part of the joint mission, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley observed during his recent visit to installations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The secretary used the opportunity to speak with Airmen and receive mission updates in Iraq and

  • Air Forces Africa Airmen share airdrop expertise with Ugandan forces

    Airmen of U.S. Air Forces Africa worked with Uganda peoples defense force members during a theater security cooperation event to show how humanitarian airdrop missions are conducted in late August at Entebbe Air Base, Uganda. With theater security cooperation events, American Airmen plan engagement

  • Airmen demonstrate their importance to Afghanistan, joint operations

    Joint expeditionary tasked Airmen have two commanders, the Army one responsible for their day-to-day missions and the Air Force one responsible for their administrative and operational control; but they both sing the praises of their Airmen. According to Army Lt. Col. Matt Smith the task force

  • AFMC leaders continue to focus on nuclear sustainment

    Sustaining the Air Force nuclear arsenal was emphasized by the commander of Air Force Materiel Command as he led center and wing commanders along with AFMC headquarters senior staff through two days of in-depth discussions during the command's semi-annual senior leaders conference here Sept. 1 and

  • American medical advisers guide Iraqi army back into patients' trust

    American medical advisers at Camp Ur are helping Iraqi army members run a clinic efficiently here as well as getting Iraqi soldiers to use the medical care available to them. Camp Ur boasts a fully functioning medical clinic complete with a three-bay emergency room, pharmacy, dentist, radiology

  • Security forces Airmen help secure future of Iraq

    Members of the Air Force's 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Det. 2 here strive to ready members of the Iraqi police to handle day-to-day police operations within their district in Iraq. Currently, the security forces Airmen are responsible for nine different stations and are training

  • Yokota restaurant in step with transformation

    The grand opening of a Chili's restaurant Aug. 14 at Yokota Air Base, Japan, is another step in the sustained efforts by Air Force leaders to care for their people by improving quality of life. Several hundred Airmen, their families and civic leaders from the Yokota AB community took part in a

  • 'Today's Air Force' features a new vice chief, teamwork and diversity

    This edition of Today's Air Force features a new vice chief of staff of the Air Force who comes to the job during a time of transition and change,  a lesson in teamwork that proves vital in helping Airmen accomplish their mission, and the celebration of cultural diversity around the world.General

  • Jungle Shield exercise trains Airmen, federal agencies

    Airmen at Andersen Air Force Base and Hickam AFB, Hawaii, participated in an exercise Aug. 25 through 27 to test the Air Force's ability to protect U.S. air sovereignty in the Pacific region. The exercise, known as Jungle Shield, trains flying crews and ensures command and control requirements are

  • JAG Corps officials announce law school programs

    Applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program are being accepted from Jan. 1 to March 1, 2010. The FLEP, which is a paid legal studies program for active-duty Air Force commissioned officers, is an assignment action and participants receive full pay, allowances and

  • Air Force officials reactivate 69th Bomb Squadron at Minot

    Air Force officials reactivated the 69th Bomb Squadron Sept. 3 at Minot Air Force Base. The new unit is the fourth operational B-52H Stratofortress squadron in the Air Force and joins the 23rd Bomb Squadron as the second squadron here. The new squadron was established to provide each B-52 wing with

  • Airmen teach Iraqis firefighting skills, help kids

    An Air Force firefighting squadron is making a difference in Iraq by training firefighters and helping local children. Members of the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Protection Flight, a 40-man team of firefighters who provides fire response and airfield operations to Ali Base,

  • Leaders issue joint Labor Day safety message

    The Air Force's top leaders remind the entire Air Force family to minimize safety risks this weekend and beyond in a Labor Day message. Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz issued the following message: "As we approach this holiday weekend, it

  • 615th CRW members support Ulchi Freedom Guardian in South Korea

    Members of the 15th Air Mobility Operations Squadron here traveled to South Korea to support the Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise on Aug. 17 through 28. Ulchi Freedom Guardian is a computerized command and control exercise. The 15th AMOS trains to respond to contingency operations in the Pacific

  • Servicemembers work 'out of the doghouse' at Joint Base Balad

    On a deployment, a multitude of distractions can make sleep challenging for some servicemembers including F-16 Fighting Falcons roaring on the flightline and helicopters thundering through the air. Also putting rest to the test are 70-pound Labrador retrievers taking up half the bed. For Air Force

  • Mountain Home hosts first Gunfighter Flag

    Starting Sept. 14, people in the local area may notice an increase in flying operations with a myriad of planes and visitors taking part in the first Gunfighter Flag 2009.The multinational exercise will include participants from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.; Schriever AFB, Colo.; Phoenix Air National

  • Afghan C-27A program takes flight

    Test pilots, engineers and ground crews from Alenia North America performed an initial test flight of the first of 20 programmed Afghan C-27A "Spartans" recently in Italy. The medium-sized tactical military transport remains on schedule for delivery to Naples in late September. Combined Security

  • Veterans, first timers benefit from Red Flag exercises

    During the Red Flag 09-5 exercise here, young and veteran pilots train in realistic combat scenarios through Sept. 4. The large-force employment includes various airframes from sister services and allied nations. The pilots train in a combined an joint atmosphere in a training area spanning more

  • Airmen help Iraqi army take control of base operations

    Operations continue as normal at Camp Ur. The focus remains the same: keep the base running and the mission on target. Iraqi army soldiers routinely work with their U.S. counterparts, but one important difference now is that the Iraqis have taken command of the controls."It's a historic time for

  • Photo essay: Red Flag trains combat air forces

    Units from the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines Corps participate in training missions for Red Flag 09-5 along with allied forces from Italy and the United Arab Emirates Aug. 26, 2009 here. This is the first time the United Arab Emirates has participated in Red Flag, a realistic two-week air combat

  • Kadena Airmen 'deploy' to Guam

    Nearly 100 maintenance, operations, and support personnel arrived here Aug. 31 as part of a test of the deployment capabilities of the 18th Wing from Kadena Air Base, Japan.The timing of this deployment coincides with "Obon," which means reduced jet noise coming from the Kadena flight line and over

  • U.S., Romanian air forces discuss aircraft maintenance

    A U.S. Air Forces in Europe maintenance NCO training program traveling contact team met with Romanian air force instructors and aircraft maintainers during a visit to Bucharest, Romania Aug. 25 through 28. The primary purpose of the four-day visit was to discuss the U.S. Air Force's cradle-to-grave

  • Ramstein Airmen support 15-nation medical training exercise

    Thirty-two members of the 435th Air Ground Operations Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, arrived here Aug. 25 in support of the Medical Training Exercise in Central and Eastern Europe 2009. More than 600 people representing 15 nations will participate in this year's annual exercise with a focus on

  • Photo essay: Balad firefighters rappel tower

    Base firefighters use the control tower to conduct a rappeling exercise here Aug. 20, 2009.  The training allows the firefighters to hone their skills with different knots, anchors and belay techniques. View the slideshow.

  • Academy joins social media scene

    The U.S. Air Force Academy officially entered the social media sphere Aug. 28 with the launch of Web pages on two popular social networking sites. In order to offer the public a convenient way to see what's going on at the Academy, the public affairs office here has created a page on

  • Beale AFB first to incorporate Body Pump in fitness program

    "When your body starts to scream, tell it to shut up." That's the motto of the new Body Pump fitness program which began at the fitness center here Aug. 24. Several members of the 9th Force Support Squadron trained to become certified instructors of the program."We wanted to find the most relevant

  • Safety: More than just 101 critical days

    Just because you "fly a desk" in an administrative work area, doesn't mean you don't have to worry about safety. In fact, according to 86th Airlift Wing safety officials here, one of the more extreme mishaps that happened this year took place in an administrative environment. One unlucky person

  • Whiteman Airmen test nuclear weapon mission

    Members of the 72nd Test and Evaluation Squadron here took part in Combat Sledgehammer Aug. 17 as part of Air Combat Command's nuclear weapon system evaluation program. Combat Sledgehammer is conducted on Air Force bomber and fighter aircraft that are capable of carrying thermonuclear bombs and

  • Defense secretary touts F-35 as heart of future tactical combat aviation

    Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates visited the Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter factory here Aug. 31, assessing progress on what he called "the heart of the future of our tactical combat aviation." Secretary Gates walked through the mile-long production facility, getting

  • AF general thanks Coast Guard for continuous shuttle support

    The Air Forces Northern commander and overseer of the Joint Task Force-Space Transportation System visited the Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral, Fla., to express his thanks to the team for their continued support of the JTF-STS mission. "NASA's mission is one of international importance, and your

  • Elmendorf Airmen support Army's Operation Arctic Response

    Active and Air National Guard Airmen provided assistance to Army Soldiers Aug. 24 and 26 during Operation Arctic Response here. Members of the 517th Airlift Squadron from here and the Alaska Air National Guard's 249th Airlift Squadron supported the operation, which is an emergency deployment

  • 'Today's Air Force' features chief of staff first-year reflections

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the chief of staff of the Air Force reflects on his first year on the job, the Global Positioning System gets a high tech upgrade, and Airmen turn to a new program in Iraq to get help dealing with combat stress.Major changes have taken place across the Air

  • Base of preference requests can now be initiated online through vMPF

    Air Force Personnel Center officials have revamped the Voluntary Assignments Base of Preference Program to allow eligible enlisted members to initiate BOP requests online. Air Force members from the rank of E-8 and below can now apply for permanent change of station BOP, in-place BOP, or both

  • AFCENT commander, command chief visit JBB

    Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the new U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, and AFCENT Command Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff visited Joint Balad Base Aug. 25 to survey various missions and address some of the Airmen he now commands. During his visit, General Hostage met with Army officials from the

  • Officials outline adoption process for military working dogs

    Military working dogs have come a long way since the days of ancient Persia and Assyria, where they donned armor, spiked collars and warned of impending attack or charged on the enemy's cavalry. Modern battlefield and customs conditions bring forth complex and ever-changing challenges, and as such,

  • New vice chief of staff takes office

    Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler is the new vice chief of staff of the Air Force, succeeding Gen. William M. Fraser III who held the position since October 2008. General Chandler comes to the Pentagon after two years of service as commander of Pacific Air Forces; Air Component Commander for U.S.

  • OC-ALC to refurbish Navy E-6 aircraft

    Workers from the 566th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here will begin work next month on the first of the Navy's E-6B Mercury aircraft scheduled for a service life extension program refit. The refit will involve inspecting and replacing up to 15,000 fasteners on the aircraft's wings. Fastener holes

  • Misawa Airmen rescue Japanese citizen

    Eight Airmen from Misawa AB saved the life of a Japanese citizen Aug. 15 when they pulled him away from a house and car that were engulfed in flames. The Airmen and their families were on a bus returning from a night of celebrating a child's birthday and bidding farewell to a fellow Airman.

  • Guardsman lauds employer for military support

    The past five years have been "the most exciting, dynamic and rewarding" of Brad Sams' professional career, not because of his success as an attorney, but because of the military opportunities his employer has enabled him to pursue, the Air National Guard major said. "They create a culture that

  • Green Flag provides Italian air force new insight on close air support

    Italian airmen sharpened their close-air-support skills in realistic combat conditions here during their first-ever exercise appearance at Green Flag West Aug. 9 through 20. Nearly 180 Italian airmen from four different squadrons comprised the "Reparto Autonomo Volo," or Autonomous Flying Wing, at

  • AMC wing hits high marks for nuclear surety

    Air Mobility Command Airmen showed strong support for "reinvigorating the Air Force nuclear enterprise" through a command-level no-notice inspection recently. From Aug. 17 to 24, the AMC Inspector General officials completed a no-notice Limited Nuclear Surety Inspection, or LNSI, of the 62nd Airlift

  • Osan AB's airfield damage repair team train with South Korean air force

    Airmen of the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron airfield damage repair team here participated in a combined-rapid-runway-repair-training exercise with the South Korean air force's 19th Tactical Fighter Wing and 91st Air Civil Engineer Group Aug.19 at Jungwon Air Base, South Korea. "This is the first time

  • New GI Bill to heighten professional work force

    More college-educated professionals will enter the next generation's professional work force as a result of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki said this week at the American Legion's 91st National Convention in Louisville, Ky. Secretary Shinseki lauded the

  • Air evacuation liaison team's battle buddies wear Army green

    Airmen with an Air Mobility Command air evacuation liaison team and Soldiers from Army patient administration staff trained with each other during Joint Readiness Training Center Exercise 09-09 at Folk Polk, La., through Aug. 25. Their goal: prepare for Middle East deployments. "Our main goal is to

  • Info to abound at USAF Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo

    USAF Marathon officials here say you should plan to be informed and inspired at the USAF Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo on Sept. 17 and 18.Nationally-syndicated "consumer warrior" Clark Howard and Boston Marathon Director Dave McGillivray are just two of the speakers scheduled to provide

  • Dover reservists work to form Canadian sister squadron program

    Reservists here visited members of the Royal Canadian Air Force's 8 Wing at Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario, Aug. 22 through 24 as part of an effort to initiate a sister squadron program. Airmen with Dover's 512th Airlift Wing hoped to forge a partnership with the Canadian airmen and identify

  • 'Defender's Edge': A new approach to combat stress

    A new customized mental health program is helping security forces Airmen here manage combat stress.The "Defenders Edge" is tailored to those security forces Airmen who conduct missions on or outside the wire. This program is intended to improve Airmen's mental resiliency to combat-related stressors.

  • U.S. Air Forces Africa help Nigerian C-130 fly again

    A group of active-duty Air Force and Tennessee Air National Guardsmen recently helped restore one of Nigeria's C-130 transport aircraft to flying condition as part of an ongoing military-to-military engagement between 17th Air Force (U.S. Air Forces Africa) and the West African nation. Lt. Col.

  • Air Forces Africa commander visits Kenyan air force

    Air Forces Africa officials arrived in Kenya Aug. 21 for the latest in a series of engagements between U.S. and Kenyan forces. AFAFRICA, also known as 17th Air Force, is the air component for U.S. Africa Command. AFAFRICA Commander Maj. Gen. Ronald R. Ladnier led the visit, which came in the wake of

  • Their 'American Spirit' earns Salt Lake Bees baseball team Air Force award

    Before a sold-out crowd of more than 17,000 fans, the Salt Lake Bees Triple-A baseball team was presented the Air Force Recruiting Service's most prestigious award, the American Spirit Award, here Aug. 22. Col. Mark Ward, 372nd Recruiting Group commander, presented the award to Greg Miller, chief

  • Portal to AF past found at Frankfurt Airport

    Almost 13 years ago, members of the 626th Air Mobility Support Squadron at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, left their mark when they created and buried a time capsule. Today, Rhein-Main AB is closed and the Frankfurt Airport is undergoing construction for cargo buildings where the base's flightline

  • Iraqi agency ready to take over civil aviation operations

    The Iraqi civil aviation authority staff will independently conduct day-to-day civil aviation operations beginning Aug. 25 after Airmen of the Regional Air Movement Control Center helped direct the organization stationed here. The Regional Air Movement Control Center staff worked for more than half

  • Iraqi air force brings ISR capabilities online

    Intelligence collection has become a valuable capability for the Iraqi air force in its push to provide security and stability. Unique to the Iraqi air force, the King Air Squadron 87 here boasts the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities necessary for detecting and deterring

  • United Arab Emirates air force participates in first Red Flag

    United Arab Emirates air force pilots and maintainers are participating in the Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the first time Aug. 22 through Sept. 5. The UAE airmen spent the previous two weeks at the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International

  • NATO AWACS proves interoperability during test

    A NATO E-3 AWACS took part in six-hour combat scenarios that demonstrated interoperability between its prototype interrogator and various joint platforms that interrogate in the same mode in July flying at an observation point 100 miles off the coast of Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md. During

  • Hanscom Airmen train with Massachusetts state troopers

    Hanscom Air Force Base security forces Airmen received specialized tactical training as part of an ongoing partnership with the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations team in early August. The training, which took place in base dormitories, offered instruction on handling

  • Guardsmen deliver medical care to Guatemala

    About 40 medical personnel from the Arkansas Air National Guard are here performing a humanitarian medical readiness exercise as part of their annual training requirement. The medical team -- made up of general physicians, pediatricians, dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, nurses and medical

  • Chief of staff visits Beale

    Deployment lengths, force-shaping efforts and emerging unmanned aircraft missions were some of the topics on the minds of Beale Airmen during the visit by the Air Force chief of staff here Aug. 21. In his first visit to Beale since becoming the Air Force's top officer just over a year ago, Gen.

  • Pacific Airlift Rally 2009 kicks off

    A biennial symposium involving Pacific Rim nations to enhance military airlift interoperability with a focus in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations kicked off here Aug. 17. Pacific Airlift Rally 2009, co-hosted by the American and Royal Malaysian air forces, includes

  • Civilians can now apply for new professional development program

    Air Force civilian employees can now apply for a new professional development opportunity with applications due to Air Force Personnel Center officials by Sept. 4. The Civilian Acculturation Leadership Training program provides a unique in-residence experience at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.,

  • Shaw Airmen train with South Carolina Civil Air Patrol

    Shaw Air Force Base Airmen joined volunteers of the South Carolina wing of the Civil Air Patrol in Exercise Fertile Keynote Aug. 11 here. The training exercise occurs five to six times per month and gives 20th Fighter Wing alert Airmen experience with different scenarios, said Maj. Benjamin Price,

  • 5 NATO countries take part in jump week

    Five NATO countries including Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States participated in airborne jump operations during International Jump Week Aug. 9 thru 14. Parachuting out of the back of a C-130 Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron here, more than 250 paratroopers guided

  • AMC commander receives Order of the Sword

    Arriving at the Scott Club in a horse-drawn carriage while a bagpipe melody filled the air, the commander of Air Mobility Command and his wife became a part of military history Aug. 14 here. Gen. Arthur J. Lichte and Chris Lichte received the carriage ride under security forces escort as the start

  • CMSAF talks integrity, training, development

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force praised the enlisted force and highlighted several of his key priorities during a speech at the 2009 Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airmen's Conference here. "Everywhere I've traveled it's very apparent our Air Force places great trust in our

  • AF top enlisted leader visits Holloman

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Aug. 10 here to talk to base Airmen and see the Holloman Air Force Base mission.  Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy was given a tour of the base and shared his priorities with base members. "It's easy to align my goals with the Air

  • Travis Airmen provide presidential support

    Members of the 615th Contingency Response Wing here were there to smooth the way for President Barack Obama's two-day visit to Guadalajara, Mexico, for a North American summit held with leaders from Mexico and Canada Aug. 9 and 10. When the president travels, he relies on Air Force contingency

  • Dog days of summer

    A handful of Airmen and their canine companions deployed here as part of the 455th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron defend Bagram Airfield and search up to 700 vehicles on a daily basis. Since they inherited the base defense mission, the Airmen and their K-9s have found thousands of pounds of

  • Photo essay: new dog, handler develop bond at Moody AFB

    A military working dog handler with the 822nd Security Forces Squadron works with a new dog here recently. Senior Airman Beaun Clegg and Rreyana train and develop a bond so that the team will be combat ready.  Rreyana arrived in June from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.View the slideshow.

  • 24th Air Force activated, 2 units realign in joint ceremony

    Air Force officials here activated the newest numbered Air Force and realigned two units under its command in a joint ceremony here Aug. 18. The 24th Air Force activation under Air Force Space Command is a major milestone in the combination of space and cyberspace operations within one command. Gen.

  • U.S., international mobility airmen to participate in exercise

    U.S. and international mobility airmen will come together Aug. 17 to 25 to participate in a Joint Readiness Training Center exercise with the Army Soldiers at Fort Polk, La. Members of the 621st Contingency Response Wing from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.; aeromedical evacuation crews from

  • 17th Air Force officials host military exchange from Africa

    The 17th Air Force officials here took another step forward in building meaningful relationships with African nations when it hosted a visit by a delegation of officers West African nation to an American base in Germany in August. Led by Maj. Souleymane Ouedraogo, the Ouagadougou Airport base

  • New unit, new way of doing international business

    Recently, a C-17 Globemaster III sat on the end of the runway here, as many others do, but this particular aircraft was quite different. As loadmasters and the crew paced around, completing preflight checklists, one couldn't help but notice the nation patches on their flight uniforms were

  • Obama pledges support for troops, veterans

    America's men and women in uniform have done their duty and fulfilled every responsibility that's been asked of them, President Barack Obama said Aug. 17. "And now," he said, "a grateful nation must fulfill ours." President Obama offered high praise for the troops, calling them the heart and soul of

  • Enlisted sensor operators take flight in AF's newest career field

    The U.S. Air Force boasts more than 130 enlisted career fields and on Aug. 17 one more was officially welcomed as the first class of 10 enlisted unmanned aircraft system sensor operators began their technical school. Because of their capabilities, unmanned aircraft have become in exceedingly high

  • New recruits enlist at Chicago Air and Water Show

    Following a full-throttle aerial display by Air Combat Command's F-15E Strike Eagle Demo Team, 50 young men and women were sworn in to the United States Air Force Aug. 15 during the 51st Annual Chicago Air and Water Show. "Today has been crazy... I'm beyond excited," said Michael Leonard, 20, from

  • Photo essay: Airmen prepare to deploy

    Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen participated in a month-long Combat Skills Training at Fort Dix, N.J. recently with hostile scenario and weapon familiarization training.  The course prepares Airmen for Joint Expeditionary Tasking combat roles augmenting the U.S. Army in support of

  • Logistics leaders address Air Force future

    A summer lecture series devoted to logistics brought past and present air logistics center leaders together here recently for a panel discussion and question and answer period. Hosted by the Logistics Officer Association's Crossroads Chapter, the "Logistics over Lunch" attracted approximately 70

  • Airmen help connect Iraqi army, air force

    The Iraqi air force and army, aided by American Airmen, established radio communication here Aug. 11 in an effort to improve collaboration between the two services during operations. Although the weather prevented the two services from conducting their original training mission, the day was a big

  • NASA to use Lackland as stopover

    Lackland Air Force Base officials will support the NASA space program by allowing the space shuttle to stopover here while on its ferry ride home if the shuttle does not land at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Before Kelly AFB in San Antonio closed in 2001, the airfield was the most frequent stop in

  • Air Guard should keep UAS missions

    The Air National Guard should remain in the unmanned aircraft systems business now and in the future, the chairman of the service's UAS weapons system council said Aug. 17. Col. Bob Becklund, who is also the commander of the 119th Wing in Fargo, N.D., said his attendance at the Association for

  • Lonely Eagles ceremony recognizes fallen Tuskegee Airmen

    Beside a folded flag, a single flame burned atop the table of honor before dozens who gathered to honor fallen Tuskegee Airmen in a ceremony here Aug. 7. Part of the 38th Annual Tuskegee Airmen Inc., convention, the Lonely Eagles Ceremony memorialized air, ground and operations crew from the

  • National Guard officials work toward continuous improvement

    National Guard officials have implemented a new program designed to streamline operations and in the end cut costs and improve efficiency in day-to-day activities.The Continuous Process Initiative, or CPI, combines the Army's Lean Six Sigma program and the Air Force's Smart Operations for the 21st

  • 14 force support courses move to Maxwell

    Fourteen force support courses will transition from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to the Eaker Center for Professional Development at Maxwell AFB, Ala. by Oct 1."We are always focused on educating, developing and preparing our career field leaders, and recent changes to the emerging force

  • Redesigned NCO retraining program begins with voluntary phase

    The 2010 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program has a new look and focus as Air Force officials here seek to fill approximately 1,124 shortage career field and special duty positions. The entire program has been reduced from nine months to 120 days to better serve both Airmen and the Air Force

  • Quick hire of military spouses starts in September

    Under a personnel rule that takes effect Sept. 11, some military spouses could be quickly hired for federal jobs without going through the usual competitive process. Officials from the Office of Personnel Management here issued the authority's final regulatory guidelines Aug. 12, which are posted in

  • 'Today's Air Force' features standup of new command

    In this edition of "Today's Air Force," the stand up the service's first new major command in nearly three decades is highlighted. Also featured are Airmen with special skills train for combat in Afghanistan and the best-of-the-best food service professionals in Europe compete for top honors. Air

  • Military members, families keys to year of success

    After a year in the job, the Air Force chief of staff said he is still impressed with the contributions of Airmen of every specialty, stateside and overseas."It's still stunning to see what our Airmen are doing," Gen. Norton Schwartz said.  "There is work to do. There are challenges to face. But

  • Airman instructs Kabul's first POL course

    Thirty-three days of technical instruction in petroleum, oil and lubricants doesn't seem like a daunting task. Throw in a language barrier, limited training aids and an incomplete curriculum and anyone might start to question whether or not it will get finished. However, despite the obstacles,

  • CMSAF visits expeditionary center

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy took stock of the people and the mission of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center during a visit here July 29. Joint Base personnel gathered in the expeditionary center's auditorium for an "All Call" town hall-style gathering. Chief Roy answered a

  • Deliberate path ahead for Airmen

    New co-chairs assumed their leadership positions as the Enlisted Force Development Panel met at the Pentagon Aug. 5. Daniel R. Sitterly, the force development director for the deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James A. Roy, are now

  • Osan cross servicing program fosters good relations

    The first combat cross servicing program evaluation of the year for Osan Air Base Airmen took place Aug. 10 when two South Korean F-5's landed on the flightline here. The Osan AB combat cross servicing program is a mutual agreement between the U.S. and South Korean air force that allows maintainers

  • Convention showcases unmanned capabilities

    Senior defense officials are getting a glimpse of the latest in unmanned systems technologies, which many concede is the way of the future for the U.S. military, in August here.More than 5,000 people from 30 countries took part in the exhibition of robots and unmanned systems capabilities at the

  • Air Force officials welcome new surgeon general

    The Air Force's 20th surgeon general took office during a Pentagon ceremony presided over by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz Aug. 12 here. Lt. Gen. (Dr.) Charles B. Green was the Air Force's deputy surgeon general since August 2006, and he replaced Lt. Gen. (Dr.) James G. Roudebush,

  • Reservists integrate with active duty for theater security

    Air Force Reserve Command's first F-22 Raptor total integration unit is deployed here to suppport the U.S. Pacific Command commander's theater security package mission in the Asia-Pacific region. These Airmen are from the 302nd FS and the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Elmendorf Air Force