Airmen compete in training challenge

Airmen from nine major commands gathered here this week to compete and train in the CBRN Challenge. The challenge, which covers chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards, is being held for the first time as an Air Force-wide event. The week-long event ends Sept. 15 with a banquet and

'Bone' makes evolving mark on war on terrorism

It can strike at a moment's notice. It is a lethal injection for the war on terrorism. It is a combat commander' s weapon of choice. The B-1B Lancer, sometimes called the "Bone," has made a name for itself for nearly 20 years and continues to make its mark in the fight for freedom. Since the war

Basic training graduation ceremony focuses on POW/MIA Day

Army vet recalls horrors of POW camp

Dec. 23, 1944. "It was the saddest day of my life," said Guillermo Serrano. It was a numbingly cold night with Christmas Eve just hours away when young Army Private Serrano was captured and imprisoned by Germans during the early stages of World War II's Battle of the Bulge. The battle began Dec. 16,

CMSAF McKinley gets firsthand look at Offutt missions

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley met with Airmen here and saw firsthand the diverse missions accomplished in support of the nation's defense. While at Offutt AFB Sept. 5 to 8, the chief took the opportunity to speak at an "all hands call" at U.S. Strategic Command and an enlisted

Denver-area units hold POW/MIA Recognition Day vigil

To commemorate National POW/MIA Recognition Day, military and civilian employees gathered here Sept. 14 for a 24-hour vigil to remember people listed as prisoners of war or missing in action. The annual ceremony opened with volunteers from the Air Reserve Personnel Center, Defense Finance and

Dover AFB readies for arrival of C-17s

Distinguished visitors from around the state gathered together with members of the Dover Air Force Base community Sept. 11 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new C-17 training facility and the arrival of C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to Dover. The ceremony was a celebration of nearly a decade of

Spangdahlem F-16 crashes

A 22nd Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed at 1 p.m. local time Sept. 14 near the town of Oberkail, about 10 miles north of this busy fighter base. The pilot ejected safely and is in good condition, said Staff Sgt. Tammie Moore, a spokesperson for the 52nd Fighter Wing. The aircraft was on

Selective Early Retirement Board to convene Jan. 8

In an effort to shape the force to support core and emerging missions, Air Force officials will convene a Selective Early Retirement Board Jan. 8 to balance the excess of officers in the colonel and lieutenant colonel ranks. The SERB will evaluate line of the Air Force and chaplain colonels and

Live-fire training

Officials award $589 million Weapon System Integrator contract

Officials with the Electronic Systems Center's 350th Electronic Systems Group awarded a $589 million contract Sept. 12 to Lockheed Martin Corp. to serve as the Air and Space Operations Center Weapon System Integrator.With this contract, Air Force specialists will be able to aid the government's

California ANG participating in exercises in Ukraine

California Air National Guardsmen and members of California's Emergency Medical Services Authority are participating in a disaster response exercise with civilians and military members from Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova in Odessa, Ukraine, Sept. 13 through 21.Activities will focus on

South Carolina Air Guard trains at Kadena

Airmen provide medical assistance in Colombia

Fourteen Airmen from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and Lackland AFB, Texas, arrived at Hospital Toribo Maya, Colombia, Sept. 13 and opened the doors to the hundreds of people who had already gathered outside seeking medical assistance. The team, made up of members from the 55th Medical Group at

Airmen deploy from Mountain Home AFB

More than 160 Airmen from the 726th Air Control Squadron here deployed Sept. 10 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.Their mission is to monitor the airspace over a battlefield and provide military leaders with a clear and accurate picture of that area, allowing commanders to make informed,

Air Force dentist aids Colombian people

On Sept. 11, 2001, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Gary Geracci was in the middle of packing for a TDY when he received a call from his mother saying the World Trade Center had been attacked. "I don't think you'll be going anywhere," she said. Like so many others who witnessed the tragic events of 9/11, Colonel

Fifth CMSAF puts Air Force evolution into perspective

Evolution and progression have been Air Force standards since the service's creation almost 60 years ago. But a voice from the past reminded Airmen here that the fundamentals of Air Force success are the same now as then. Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth chief

Five years later Airmen remember 9/11, continue the fight

Sept. 11, 2001, is a day no American will ever forget, and Airmen serving around the world took time this Patriots Day to reflect on events just five years ago.Flags flew at half-staff and Airmen observed moments of silence around the world to commemorate the solemn anniversary. Coalition forces and

Rain doesn't stop San Antonio's Freedom Walk

Off and on rain, symbolic tears, fell upon the more than 1,200 walkers who took part in San Antonio's first Freedom Walk Sept. 11 in remembrance of the tragic attacks that scarred America five years ago. "Remembering the Pentagon, the World Trade Center in New York, and Shanksville, Pa., the America

Andersen members return from USNS Mercy mission

Members from the 36th Medical Group, 36th Wing and the U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 returned home Sept. 10 following a 72-day humanitarian and civic assistance deployment on the USNS Mercy.While embarked on USNS Mercy, servicemembers and civilians participated in theater security

Officials announce T-3A Firefly final disposition

Nearly a decade after the Air Force stood down the T-3A Firefly fleet following three fatal accidents, Air Force officials made a final disposition decision to salvage the aircraft in place. Base officials here announced the selection of TOTALL Metal Recycling Inc., of Granite City, Ill., to handle

USAFE sets course with AFSO 21

To best meet the challenges of the road ahead, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander assembled leaders throughout the command here to initiate USAFE-wide implementation of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. "We're going to determine where we're going in the future, and AFSO 21 will

ESC awards $627.8 million task order

The Electronic Systems Center's 554th Electronic Systems Group awarded a $627.8 million task order Sept. 7 to Computer Sciences Corporation for systems integration support.The order includes configuring, deploying and conducting training and change management activities for the Expeditionary Combat

Air Force team to provide medical care in Colombia

An Air Force medical team made up of members from the 55th Medical Group at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., and the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland AFB, Texas, arrived here Sept. 10 to participate in a two-week medical readiness exercise. As part of this medical readiness training exercise, or MEDRETE,

World-class runners to compete in Air Force Marathon

Two running legends will return for the 10th annual U.S. Air Force Marathon. Marathon champions Bill Rodgers and Alberto Salazar will once again have a full itinerary as they arrive the day before the big event. Rodgers will sign autographs and greet marathon participants from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Civic leaders, media help celebrate KC-135's 50th anniversary

A group of 40 Spokane business people helped commemorate the 50th birthday of the Air Force's primary refueling aircraft here Sept. 6.The Boeing Company debuted the KC-135 Stratotanker in August 1956, and it was delivered to the Air Force a year later. The aircraft has supported armed conflict and

'Treasure Hunters' meet Air Force leaders

A team made up of Air Force Academy grads that recently competed on a reality-television show visited the Pentagon Sept. 7 and met with senior Air Force leaders. They also toured the Air Force Memorial site here. Husband and wife, Matt and Brooke Rillos, and their best friend, Matt Zitzlsperger,

Charleston C-17 squadron completes deployment

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

Air Force trains to fill Army deployments

Located about an hour north of Biloxi, Camp Shelby has a reputation for weather that could make the devil sweat. The harsh weather ratchets up the realism of the training that some Air Force people receive before deploying to locations like Iraq and Afghanistan. The camp is one of the

Fall '06 Air and Space Power Journal available

The College for Aerospace Doctrine, Research and Education at Air University has published and distributed the Fall 2006 English edition of the Air Force's professional journal, Air and Space Power Journal. The journal serves as an open forum for the presentation and stimulation of innovative

Combined forces at leadership school benefit students

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

Air University offers online language training

Air University officials here are offering an opportunity to active-duty company grade officers to study a foreign language online at no cost. In an effort to fulfill the Air Force chief of staff's guidance to develop culturally and linguistically competent Airmen, Air University will present the

Rising fuel costs tighten Air Force belt

The growing cost of crude oil combined with increasing fuel demands of the war on terrorism are forcing Air Combat Command officials to brace for a budget crisis while looking for future fuel alternatives. The Air Force paid approximately $4.2 billion for petroleum in fiscal 2005 -- almost $1.4

First wave of Airmen deploy from Ellsworth

The first wave of about 550 Ellsworth Airmen deployed to various locations throughout Southwest Asia to support ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.The majority of the Airmen, from operational and maintenance units, left earlier this week to join the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and serve

Teams seek fresh, creative ideas to resolve problems

With violence at deployed military checkpoints a reality, U.S. and coalition forces often have to make tough decisions when drivers ignore warnings to stop. Insurgents often attack these guarded locations, sometimes with car bombs.Maj. Gen. Ted F. Bowlds, the Air Force Research Laboratory commander,

Lackland medics keep steady deployment pace

More than 100 Airmen from the 59th Medical Wing departed Wilford Hall Medical Center here earlier this week for various locations throughout Southwest Asia, including the Air Force Theater Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq.Others will follow throughout September, with a final count of more than

Officer promotion board changes take effect Jan. 1

The secretary of the Air Force has approved changes to the format of the selection brief presented to officer promotion boards to begin Jan. 1. Air Force officials will implement three changes to officer selection briefs, or OSBs; two changes deal with presentation of data related to developmental

AFMx21 defining, creating future of Air Force maintenance

Maintenance leaders from the Air Staff and major commands met in Dayton, Ohio, to discuss the current state of Air Force maintenance, trends, fiscal realities and vision through the year 2016.Known as "Air Force Maintenance for the 21st Century," or AFMx21, the program is championed by Brig. Gen.

Air Force Reserve tops recruiting goal again

For the sixth year in a row, Air Force Reserve Command officials have exceeded the command's recruiting goal.AFRC Recruiting Service surpassed its goal for the 2006 recruiting year Aug. 31 when officials accessed its 8,001st recruit as the number of people signing up continues to climb. Col. Francis

Airmen take Red Flag plunge

Parachutists from around the Air Force took a plunge Sept. 1 into local Lake Mead drop zone in support of Red Flag 06-2. U.S. Air Force C-130 and Singapore Air Force Ch-47 Chinook crews provided Red Flag airlift operations in support of the jumps. Nellis Airmen also supported the mission by

433rd Airlift Wing Airmen learn from Katrina

When Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast one year ago, members of the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, quickly joined others from across the country to help in the relief efforts.For some members, it was what they had trained for and they moved with a choreographed precision to

Air Force, Navy weather forecasters form one front

Air Force weather forecasters from the 21st Operational Weather Squadron welcomed Navy weather forecasters into their unit here Aug. 31. With a Navy drawdown and reach-back initiatives, the number of maritime weather forecasters in Europe was reduced by more than half. "Based on the cuts in theater,

Bagram C-130s drop high-tech cargo delivery system

The same global positioning technology that helps fighter and bomber pilots deliver smart bombs with pinpoint accuracy now allows cargo bundles dropped from cargo planes to steer themselves to drop zones. A C-130 Hercules from the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron here dropped supplies to a U.S.

Military helps wounded troops return to work

Officials from the Defense Department and military services got together here Aug. 30 for the first "From Deployment to Employment" conference to discuss ways to better serve America's severely injured servicemembers. The day-long conference was a forum to exchange ideas about how to improve the

AFSO 21 team learns 'Lean' lessons from Dover Airmen

An Air Force Smart Operations 21 team from the office of the secretary of the Air Force gained valuable insight into how to "Lean" a work process during a visit to Dover Air Force Base, Del., Aug. 21 to 25. The AFSO 21 team from the Pentagon is comprised of 72 master process officers going through a

After Katrina: ACC's intel team applies lessons learned

The men and women of Air Combat Command's intelligence directorate haven't been stocking up on distilled water and plywood, but they are prepared for the busy part of the 2006 hurricane season or any natural disaster that might affect the United States. "We're light-years ahead of where we were this

CAP proves worth during Katrina relief

When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast a year ago, the nation went into immediate humanitarian mission mode. Along with the efforts of countless organizations came help from a 57,000-strong force often overlooked. While the debris settled and devastation became evident under clear skies, the

Air Force lieutenant breaks Army push-up record

The installation record for the most push-ups in the gas chamber without wearing a mask was 162. And thus a challenge was made to the Airmen attending combat skills training here. Without a second thought, 1st Lt. Stephen Maddox picked up the gauntlet. He had certainly done more than 162 push-ups

Airmen experience tip of expeditionary spear

Most Airmen have experienced the expeditionary air and space force, but for about 170 Airmen serving in the military personnel exchange program, the term "expeditionary" takes on a whole new meaning. Officers and senior NCOs serving in the MPEP are assigned to nearly three dozen foreign air forces

Airmen return to big family welcome

Family, friends and squadron members welcomed home 13 Airmen with fresh grilled food, cold drinks and cheerful faces Aug. 29. After their nine-month deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving side-by-side with Army Soldiers to jointly handle security at Camp Bucca, the Airmen were met by

Homestead reservists prepare for Ernesto

Air Force reservists of the 482nd Fighter Wing are preparing for landfall of Tropical Storm Ernesto on the Florida Peninsula here.  Pilots evacuated six F-16 Fighting Falcons to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas, Aug. 28. Another eight jets remained at Hill Air Force Base,

Rescue wing gears up for Tropical Storm Ernesto

Air Force Reserve Command's rescue unit here is taking measures to prepare for Tropical Storm Ernesto as it heads toward central Florida. The 920th Rescue Wing will evacuate its aircraft to Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., Aug. 29. Wing aircrews will fly their HH-60G Pavehawk helicopters and HC-130P/N

Keesler Medical Center rebounds from Katrina

Keesler Medical Center, the second largest Air Force medical center, has made great strides in rebounding from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina one year ago. The facility is rapidly returning to its pre-Katrina status, both from the standpoint of the physical plant and services. Full

Airmen assist with volcano disaster relief

An eight-person Air Force medical readiness team is providing assistance to Ecuadorians affected by the Tungurahua volcano eruption here Aug. 16. Airmen from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.; Travis AFB, Calif., Minot AFB, N.D., and Goodfellow and Lackland AFB, Texas, specialize in dermatology;

Leadership development program assists GS-15 advancement

A new leadership development program called GS-15 LD provides a total force development vision for Air Force civilians in the GS-15 grade, preparing them for senior roles in the Department of Defense. "We're working hard to prepare these people to successfully lead at the Senior Executive Service

President Bush visits Keesler

Airmen at Keesler Air Force Base got a surprise Aug. 28 when President George W. Bush passed through on his way to visit the Gulf Coast region. Base officials first learned about the visit Aug. 25 and rushed to make preparations for him to land in the area. "This isn't the first time the president

Bases work with FEMA to provide aid

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Air Force provided support in many ways -- some of that from a distance. Numerous bases worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency by providing locations for use as staging points to accelerate the delivery of supplies to hurricane victims.

Whiteman B-2s complete successful Andersen deployment

After more than 140 sorties and 330 released weapons, B-2 Spirit aircraft, pilots, maintainers and support staff from the 509th Bomb Wing are returning home having completed another successful deployment here.Aircraft and Airmen from the 393rd and 13th Bomb Squadrons and 509th Maintenance Group at

Rumsfeld salutes servicemembers' global efforts

America's 2 million men and women in uniform are meeting demands around the globe and "are doing a terrific job," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Aug. 25. But with 138,000 troops in Iraq and an ongoing need to modernize the force, defense officials "have to continue to find ways to see

Keesler keeps an eye on Ernesto

As Tropical Storm Ernesto gets stronger and churns toward the Gulf of Mexico, Airmen at one Gulf Coast base are beginning to take notice. In a forecast report released today by the National Hurricane Center, weather forecasters expect Ernesto to become a powerful hurricane -- the first of the season

Life after Katrina, Airmen ready to help again

The fifth tropical depression of the year is gathering force in the Caribbean Sea and making a beeline for the Gulf of Mexico. It might, or might not, turn into a hurricane. Either way, there is no doubt Airmen at bases along the Gulf Coast are wondering if they will soon have to hunker down and

Unique mission: Guarding a space wing missile complex

The rolling prairie hills here are blanketed with wind-driven swaying fields of golden grain. With an average of nine people per square mile in this state, the farm lands here seem to be a postcard setting for tranquil, peaceful living. Appearances can be deceiving. One hundred and fifty Minuteman

Tenacious trainers triumph in Katrina's wake

One of Keesler's most remarkable Hurricane Katrina success stories is the resurgence of the 81st Training Group. Training, Keesler's primary mission, has not only rebounded, but has flourished in the past year, said Col. Deborah Van De Ven, who took command of the 81st TRG a month after Katrina's

Keesler Air Force Base: One year after Katrina

Bent but not broken by the worst natural disaster in the nation's history, Keesler's recovery continues to exceed expectations. "The damage to the base by Hurricane Katrina was a staggering $950 million. With that in mind, no one imagined in the days immediately after Aug. 29, 2005, we'd be where we

Joint dermatology program receives maximum accreditation

Accreditation was awarded to the Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center Dermatology Residency Program Aug. 16. The accreditation signifies that the integrated Army and Air Force dermatology program meets or exceeds the standards set by the Accreditation Council for Graduate

Ulchi Focus Lens kicks off in Korea

Exercise Ulchi Focus Lens '06 kicked off Aug. 21 across the Korean peninsula. UFL, as the exercise is commonly known, takes place each year in the late summer. The command post exercise is designed to provide simulated combined training for U.S. and Korean forces and to strengthen the alliance

Ukraine officers visit RAF Lakenheath

A group of Ukrainian military officers completed a five-day visit Aug. 18 to the 48th Fighter Wing here where they learned about U.S. Air Force training and operational processes. Part of a U.S. European Command-sponsored Joint Contact Training Program, the visit fosters bilateral cooperation

Letter to Airmen recognizes Air Force transformation

In his latest "Letter to Airmen," Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley discusses measures that will shape and transform the Air Force.  General Moseley said Airmen today are engaged in a vast array of missions from operating satellites in deep space to applying air power to the surface

Salvaged flight deck from C-5 mishap becomes tool

The crew compartment belonging to the C-5 Galaxy aircraft that fell less than a mile short of Dover Air Force Base's runway April 3 has been salvaged for use in C-5 aircraft crew training. The compartment, commonly referred to as the aircraft's flight deck, was loaded onto a C-5 and airlifted to its

Holloman's BEAR ready to deploy

As the first anniversary of one of the worst natural disasters in American history approaches, Holloman Airmen are prepared for anything. The 49th Material Maintenance Group maintains a constant state of readiness for equipment that might be tasked to support any Department of Defense or Federal

AMC commander praises airlift effort

The general in charge of providing the Air Force airlift for the war on terrorism thanked Airmen here for being ready to do their part. Gen. Duncan McNabb, the AMC commander, called Little Rock Airmen his "band of brothers" and thanked them and their families for "standing tall and defending the

Symposium focuses on needs of young veterans

Registration is open for the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans scheduled for Oct. 18 to 21 in Chicago. The event will bring together a diverse and representative group of 1,500 active-duty servicemembers, reservists and veterans to find solutions to the challenges servicemembers

Little Rock Airmen train Romanian maintainers

Members of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 4, are providing first-of-its-kind training for Romanian air force maintainers with a custom-made program at the C-130 Center of Excellence here.Det. 4 members built training classes specifically for the Romanians, and then four separate classes of

Ceremony honors combat controller killed in Afghanistan

A memorial service here Aug. 25 will honor a 23rd Special Tactics Squadron combat controller who was killed in action in Afghanistan Aug. 19.Senior Airman Adam P. Servais, who was working side-by-side with the Afghan National Army as part of a special operations forces team, died when his convoy was

Products to revolutionize space weather forecasts

Predicting the harmful effects of space weather on a U.S. military asset or mission has been advanced with the delivery of a prototype that combines environmental information with system specifications and thresholds. The prototype, which consists of five computer-generated products, provides

Air Force legal leaders meet with Afghan counterparts

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

Small-diameter bomb ready for war on terror

Four major acquisition programs -- developed in parallel -- have come together to provide Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle crews with a revolutionary capability that combines accuracy and reduced collateral damage. Military and civilian employees in seven locations worked together developing the four

Air Force, Japan train to fight fires together

Airmen from Misawa Air Base, Japan, are training to put out fires on base today with Japanese firemen from four local fire departments. These fires were part of a joint firefighter training exercise. "The most important reason is that we have a mutual-aid agreements with all of these departments,"

F-16 accident investigation complete

Air Force officials have completed their investigation of the April 11 F-16 Fighting Falcon accident near Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., which resulted in the loss of the 56th Fighter Wing aircraft. The accident investigation board determined the cause of this mishap to be an engine explosion. The

Americans, Hondurans team to fix broken bones

A medical team of eight people from Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Joint Task Force-Bravo at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, treated more than 200 Hondurans during a two-week training exercise Aug. 5 to 19.The team of eight medical professionals, led by Lt. Col.

AFPC names O'Malley Award winner

The former Keesler Air Force Base commander and his wife who led the base's recovery efforts following Hurricane Katrina recently won the 2006 Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award. Maj. Gen. William Lord and his wife, Cynthia, received the award that recognizes the wing commander-and-spouse team

Phoenix Warrior prepares security forces

More than 100 security forces Airmen participated in Phoenix Warrior 06-1, a program run by the Air Mobility Warfare Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, Aug. 5 to 17. The 13-day predeployment course prepares security forces in areas such as weapons and live fire training, convoy operations,

CV-22 testing accelerates in August

The CV-22 Osprey, an aircraft unlike any other, is now in the midst of a test unlike any other.In the developmental test and evaluation phase, CV-22 testing has primarily been conducted by Bell-Boeing. However, when the Naval Air Systems Command requested an electronic warfare integrated assessment

Senior leaders eye robust intelligence capabilities, people

Several active duty and retired senior leaders from the Air Force intelligence community gathered with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley at the Pentagon recently as part of an intelligence summit and strategy session. The leaders are reviewing how and when the Air Force uses

Tampa Bay Buccaneers hold pre-game practice at MacDill AFB

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers broke training camp Thursday and in an unprecedented move for the team, held its day-before-game walk-through at MacDill AFB, Fla. The Buccaneers, who play their second pre-season game against the Miami Dolphins Saturday, have a long-standing relationship and community

Malmstrom, Patrick, Peterson tops at Guardian Challenge

Inside Hangar 140 here, the air was thick with anticipation as teams from across Air Force Space Command maintained nervous conversation over dinner Aug. 17, awaiting the announcement of the Guardian Challenge 2006 winners. Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, AFSPC commander, reminded a highly motivated crowd

Unit fires first live air-to-air missiles in South Korea

With the call "Fox 2," pilots here employed AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on Aug. 16 for the first time in the history of 7th Air Force in Korea, serving as the driving force behind implementing a weapon system evaluation program here.The initiative by the 80th Fighter Squadron here to shoot live,

COMUSAFE concludes Russian visit

Improved relations and future operational cooperation between U.S. and Russian air forces was the goal of a four-day visit to Russia by the commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe.Gen. Tom Hobbins, who visited Moscow and Lipetsk Air Base Aug. 14 to 17, said the military-to-military relationship

Maintainers keep jets healthy, safe during Viper Lance

While most participants involved in Exercise Viper Lance 2006 here call it a day at sunset, the workday is just beginning for maintainers on the night shift.Of the more than 250 Airmen here for the air-to-air and air-to-ground training exercise, roughly 170 support the maintenance mission. Viper

'Natural Fire' provides assistance to African nations

Three East African nations and the United States are participating in Natural Fire 2006, a multilateral training exercise that is providing medical, veterinary and engineering civil assistance.The exercise includes approximately 1,000 servicemembers from the United States, Tanzania, Uganda and

Medical records nearer to going electronic

Medical troops throughout the Air Force soon will be using the Department of Defense's global electronic health record system to keep track of patient records. The Armed Forces Health Longitudinal Technology Application, known as AHLTA, is the largest system of its kind, defense officials said. The

Convoy Airmen face challenging duties

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

Viper Lance pilots trade rides

Among the sounds of jets starting their engines and Romanian air force maintainers prepping their aircraft for departure, an American fighter pilot climbing into the back seat of a MiG-21 Lancer was a rare sight on the flightline here Aug. 11. Pilots from the 22nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here

AETC preparing for reduced civilian authorizations

Air Education and Training Command officials are looking at ways to streamline organizations to smaller, more agile forces and organizational structures to reduce the effect of reductions in the civilian workforce next spring.The Air Force plans to reduce its civilian workforce strength by 2,000

Air Force recruiting meeting its goal for 7th year

The Air Force is on track to make its recruiting goal this year, marking the seventh consecutive year the service has brought in the right number and mix of new Airmen. To date, 25,645 people have enlisted in the Air Force and entered active duty in fiscal 2006. That puts the Air Force on pace to

California Air National Guard embraces new mission

The sun heats a Nevada desert landscape as a small group of warriors focus on computer terminals. These men and women know their actions directly support others facing the heat of another desert half a world away. Members of the California Air National Guard's 163rd Air Refueling Wing have spent the

Massachusetts gains new Air National Guard unit

As part of the Air Force Total Force Integration initiative, the Massachusetts Air National Guard will establish a distributed ground station unit here. A DGS unit provides real-time intelligence processing, exploitation and dissemination for commanders. Experienced members of the Massachusetts Air

COMUSAFE boosts U.S.-Russian relations with visit

The commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe is in Russia to bolster relationships and security cooperation between U.S. and Russian Air Forces during a visit Aug. 14 to 17. Gen. Tom Hobbins' visit is reciprocal for one taken by Gen. Col. Aleksandr Zelin, deputy commander in chief of the Russian

Cyber Security Boot Camp graduates Class of 2006

Thirty-five college students from across the nation were recognized Aug. 10 as graduates of the 2006 Advanced Course in Engineering, or ACE, Cyber Security Boot Camp, a 10-week program at the Air Force Research Laboratory information directorate. This year's class included 19 Air Force cadets, three

Physiological training crucial for aircrews

Approximately 35,000 students take physiological training each year to gain a better understanding of survival in the flight environment. It covers problems in both high and low altitudes and recommends procedures to prevent or minimize human factor errors that occur in flight.Airmen at the 21st