Dec. 13, 2024 Around the Air Force: B-1B Lancer Beddown, New AETC Centers, and Pet Relocation Reimbursement In this week’s Around the Air Force, 17 B-1B Lancers and 800 Airmen from Ellsworth AFB will temporarily beddown at Grand Forks AFB, newly established AETC centers achieved Initial Operational Capability, and additional reimbursements are authorized for pet transportation.
Dec. 2, 2024 AETC centers reach initial operational capability Three newly established centers under AETC achieved Initial Operational Capability, marking a significant milestone in the command’s efforts to reoptimize the DAF for GPC.
Aug. 26, 2024 Tinker and the Primes returns to forge readiness, accelerate innovation This year's theme was "Forging Readiness and Accelerating Innovation for Great Power Competition,” referring to the shift from post 9/11 conflicts and demands to deterring, and if necessary, winning, conflicts against peer competitors.
May 23, 2024 Air Force releases FY24 Selective Retention Bonus list, updates to reenlistment policy The SRB program serves as a retention tool, targeting experienced enlisted personnel in critical career fields, particularly those with lower manning or retention rates.
Nov. 15, 2023 DAF expanding childcare subletting app to all child development centers Kinderspot was the top idea at the 2020 AFIMSC Innovation Rodeo. AFIMSC initially awarded the project $333,000 and secured additional funding for development through a price-matching Small Business Innovation Research contract.
Aug. 23, 2023 AFIMSC tackles dorm, child care center needs with $1.6 billion improvement plan The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is upgrading quality-of-life infrastructure through its multi-layered construction.
Aug. 14, 2023 NCO retraining program revamped for FY24 The Air Force is continuing to improve its talent management programs to further develop and retain Airmen.
May 25, 2023 Air Force’s Enlisted Swap Assignment Program starts June 1 The Air Force Enlisted Swap Assignment Program goes live June 1 for senior master sergeants and below with a current assignment. This new policy provides Airmen with more control and new flexibilities in their assignment process.
April 28, 2023 Effective June 1, First Term Airmen can retrain into AFSCs under 90% manning in lieu of separation The Air Force is changing the process of how First Term Airmen can retrain to provide additional opportunities for Airmen to stay in uniform instead of separating.
Aug. 27, 2022 AFSC bases continue advances to support pregnant, nursing Airmen Efforts to expand support of working mothers across Air Force Sustainment Center bases continue, including access to lactation rooms and pods, reclassification of wireless breast pumps to allow entrance into secure areas and easy access to maternity uniforms.
July 13, 2022 Air Force adds more jobs to initial enlistment bonus list For some Air Force career fields, new opportunities for Airmen to receive bonuses upon entering active duty have begun in fiscal year 2022.
July 8, 2022 Career Assistance Advisor renamed, recoded to synchronize responsibilities with resources The change is designed to align the broad spectrum of CAA responsibilities with deliberate development of the enlisted force, as recently outlined in the Enlisted Force Development Action Plan.
May 28, 2022 Don't let summer bring out risky behavior Remember to use sound risk management in all summer activities to help mitigate mishaps.
Jan. 22, 2021 Around the Air Force: SECAF Farewell, New USSPACECOM HQ, Foreign Area Officer Careers This week’s look around the Air Force highlights the 25th Secretary of the Air Force Barbara M. Barrett’s farewell, the preferred location for U.S. Space Command's headquarters, and a new core career field for Foreign Area Officers. (Produced by Staff Sgt. Eric Mann)
Jan. 15, 2021 Air Force establishes significant evolution in Foreign Area Officer career field Since 2005, the Foreign Area Officer program has organized and trained select Air Force officers to be language-enabled, culturally astute, and operationally relevant regional experts.
Jan. 1, 2021 Around the Air Force: ABMS scale-up, C-130J base selections, and E-Sports This week’s look around the Air Force highlights the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office as they work to speed development of the Advanced Battle Management System, the Air Force selects four new C-130J locations, and the Air Force Services Center launches an E-Sports program aimed at inclusiveness,
Dec. 10, 2020 Department of the Air Force releases fiscal year 2021 Selective Retention Bonus program The program is designed to improve the retention of experienced Airmen and Space Professionals in stressed career fields or those with high training costs.
Nov. 26, 2020 AF Services Center debuts Air Force Gaming Air Force Gaming made its official debut Nov. 11 under the Air Force Services Center with a new intramural e-sports program.
Oct. 5, 2020 Department of the Air Force completes first officer promotion board using new categories, selects 1,214 for promotion to O-5 The 2020 Line of the Air Force (LAF) lieutenant colonel board, which convened May 4-20, is also the first board to transition away from below-the-promotion-zone promotion opportunity while assigning line numbers based on order of merit versus time in grade.
Sept. 26, 2020 B-1B Integrated Battle Station modification completed The IBS was developed as three separate modifications: Fully Integrated Data Link, Vertical Situational Display Unit and Central Integrated Test System.
Aug. 3, 2020 Tinker AFB units produce first 3D printed engine component The OC-ALC used additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, to create a component for the TF33-P103 engine, an innovation meant to save time and improve efficiency. A collaboration between the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group, the Reverse Engineering and Critical Tooling Lab, and the Air
May 25, 2020 Massachusetts Guard members use civilian medical training in COVID-19 Soldiers and Airmen from the Massachusetts National Guard with civilian medical backgrounds have been augmenting healthcare facilities to provide care to patients with COVID-19.
May 15, 2020 Air Force creates new AFSC for operations research analyst officers The change, which went into effect April 30, reflects the broader shift across the Air Force on the importance of information and data.
Feb. 12, 2020 Air Force announces specific specialties for 20OT03 OTS selection board Packages for the first civilian/military combined non-rated line officer board will be due May 1.
Nov. 20, 2019 AF releases FY20 Selective Retention Bonus program The SRB is a tool used to retain Airmen in undermanned specialties. The program is designed to improve readiness and capacity by targeting retention of experienced Airmen in stressed career fields or those with high training costs.
Sept. 24, 2019 Robins AFB sparks innovation: Spark Cell hosts inaugural Pitch Day The event is an initial prototype effort to assess the capabilities of current commercially available virtual reality training systems when used in a military environment, particularly within the 461st and 116th Air Control Wings at Robins AFB.
March 5, 2019 2018 Air Force Safety Awards announced Maj. Gen. John T. Rauch Jr., Air Force chief of safety, recently announced the recipients of the five Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff Safety Awards, as well as the Chief of Safety Awards for 2018.
Dec. 19, 2018 One-day event streamlines hiring process for maintainers Nathan Dixon, the 412th Maintenance Squadron director, needs maintainers.“I have the largest squadron on Edwards (Air Force Base) and I have 103 open positions,” said Dixon.
June 20, 2018 Improved AF-WIN tool helps eligible Airmen meet retraining goals Officials at the Air Force’s Personnel Center recently updated and improved the Air Force Work Interest Navigator, or AF-WIN, tool which helps Airmen who are interested in re-training to identify which Air Force Specialty Codes best fit their strengths and interests.
May 31, 2018 Command meets its cost-savings objective for second fiscal year in a row Air Force Materiel Command captured more than $2.5 billion in cost savings for fiscal year 2017, the second fiscal year in a row the command has achieved its strategic savings objective.
May 21, 2018 New tool enhances AF safety inspections, assessments and evaluations A new module has been launched through the Air Force Safety Automated System on May 17,2018, arming safety professionals Air Force-wide with a single method to document and track both spot and annual inspections, as well as safety assessments and evaluations at a local and enterprise level.
May 9, 2018 F-16 Service Life Extension Program a ‘great deal’ for DoD, taxpayers An Air Force Thunderbird jet is the first of what will be roughly 300 refurbished C and D model F-16’s that will roll off the shop floor of the 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron here after receiving multiple structure-strengthening modifications.
March 16, 2018 AFPC conducts test of revised Base of Preference program on seven career fields Beginning April 2018, the Air Force’s Personnel Center will launch a test on how it delivers information to Airmen for the Base of Preference program. The test will provide increased visibility of available locations to Airmen in seven Air Force Specialty Codes, to start. If the program proves
March 5, 2018 AF officials announce creation of Info Ops tech school Air Force officials have announced the creation of a new Information Operations technical training school, which is expected to open in fiscal year 2019.
March 5, 2018 Two-cycle officer assignment system means more time for Airmen, families to make career decisions In a move toward a more efficient and transparent process, the Air Force’s Personnel Center is transitioning the Air Force Officer Assignment System from three to two cycles. This modification will allow more time for interaction and communication between officers, billet owners, commanders and
Feb. 14, 2018 2017 Air Force Chief of Safety and Safety Staff Awards announced Maj. Gen. John T. Rauch Jr., Air Force chief of safety, recently announced the recipients of the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff, Chief of Safety and Safety Staff Awards for 2017.
Nov. 13, 2017 Keep safety in mind in seasonal, holiday plans Temperature changes, shorter daylight hours, increased travel and emotional overload are hallmarks of the fall, winter and holiday seasons that safety officials say result in preventable mishaps.“It’s as simple as taking the same safety practices and procedures we use on duty and applying them to
Oct. 25, 2017 Airfield systems Airmen prepare for AFSC merge Airmen assigned to the 20th Operations Support Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base are getting ahead of the curve by preparing for an Air Force specialty code merger scheduled for November 2017.
Aug. 16, 2017 Hill, Robins AFB to provide F-35 software sustainment The Air Force Sustainment Center is making plans to establish organic software sustainment capability for the F-35A Lightning II.
July 7, 2017 Officials announce 12 OAY Award winners for 2017 Air Force officials have named the service's top enlisted members, announcing the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2017.
June 27, 2017 ICBM Country: Hill AFB workers play key role in future of strategic defense The Air Force is responsible for two legs of the U.S. strategic nuclear triad, intercontinental ballistic missiles and bombers. Airmen, civilian employees and contractors at Hill AFB are working hard to provide that strategic ICBM need by overseeing the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program, the
June 27, 2017 ICBM Country: Ogden Air Logistics Complex restoring Air Force’s nuclear launch facilities For more than 50 years, rural American pastures in the Great Plains have housed a key leg in the air, land and sea based strategic deterrent triad – mission-ready Airmen controlling highly-survivable, nuclear-armed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles.
June 12, 2017 Airmen invited to comment on safety publication To gain insight and perspective from all Air Force stakeholders, the Air Force Safety Center requests informal comments on the draft revision of Air Force Instruction 91-203, Air Force Consolidated Occupational Safety Instruction.
June 2, 2017 AF adds international affairs to VLPAD program The Air Force has added two international affairs specialties to the Voluntary Limited Period of Active Duty program, which allows Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen from select Air Force officer and enlisted specialties to serve on active duty in vacant active-duty positions for three
March 27, 2017 Space for the win: AF officer recognized for excellence in Space Operations Lt. Col. Kyle Pumroy, the chief of Space Force Structure Plans for the Space and Cyberspace Superiority Division, Directorate of Strategic Plans, Headquarters Air Force, was recently awarded the General Bernard Schriever Award by the National Space Club on March 10, 2017.
March 6, 2017 Developer begins construction on innovation center at Hill AFB Developers at Hill Air Force Base are breaking ground on another new construction project this week, creating more space for new jobs near the base. Air Force and Utah officials participated in a ceremony March 3, 2017, to mark the progress at Falcon Hill National Aerospace Research Park. The new
Feb. 23, 2017 AF Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program updates released Air Force officials released details on the fiscal year 2017 Selective Re-enlistment Bonus program Feb. 23, 2017. This year’s program consists of 80 Air Force specialties and continues the practice of offering larger sums of money initially up front.
Feb. 16, 2017 AF begins migrating email to cloud-based system in 2017 The dreaded “your mailbox is full” message is soon to be a thing of the past under a recent directive by the Air Force Space Command to realign resources to more critical priorities and outsourcing services like email.
Dec. 20, 2016 New program streamlines safety reporting procedures Reporting a safety issue, whether a hazard or mishap, is about to get much easier across the Air Force with the scheduled release of a new web-based application by the Air Force Safety Center early in the new year.
Oct. 17, 2016 ‘Q4Z’ aims to eliminate on-duty fatalities and injuries The new fiscal year brings a renewed emphasis from Air Force occupational safety professionals to the Quest for Zero initiative which sets a goal of zero on-duty injuries and fatalities.
Oct. 3, 2016 AF releases 2016 promotion statistics by AFSC Air Force officials have released the 2016 staff sergeant, technical sergeant and master sergeant promotion statistics, broken down by Air Force specialty code and promotion recommendation.
Aug. 30, 2016 Around the Air Force: Aug. 30 On this look around the Air Force, the enlisted remotely piloted aircraft program opens to all career fields, the Air Force is making the upgrade to Windows 10, and the Air Force officially welcomes its new vice chief of staff.
Aug. 29, 2016 AF opens enlisted RPA pilot program to all AFSCs Using a phased-application approach, Air Force senior leaders are casting a wider net to ensure more active-duty enlisted Airmen are eligible to apply for the service’s RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft program, a Pentagon official said Aug. 29.
April 4, 2016 Vice chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff views Tinker capabilities The vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visited Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, April 1 to learn more about the missions of the Air Force Sustainment Center and the contributions of associate units toward the nation's strategic nuclear deterrence.
March 18, 2016 Fall prevention video challenge Air Force Occupational Safety invites Airmen to challenge their creativity and participate in a safety video challenge to help promote the prevention of mishaps due to falls.
Oct. 19, 2015 Planning a larger role for 3-D printing The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex is finalizing a strategic plan to integrate 3-D printing technology into nearly every aspect of its airpower sustainment mission.
Aug. 11, 2015 New Horizons medical team supports exercise personnel, Hondurans New Horizons Honduras 2015 training exercise medical personnel provided medical support to exercise personnel and Hondurans from June to early August.
July 14, 2015 Harrigian cites sustainment center’s F-35 support The head of the Air Force's F-35 Lightning II integration team cited the Air Force Sustainment Center's overall joint strike fighter support during a visit to the center’s headquarters at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, July 10.
July 1, 2015 Upgraded AWACS platform tested at Northern Edge Calmly soaring at 30,000 feet in the midst of nearly 100 fighters, bombers and refueling tankers executing a battle scenario, an E-3G Sentry (AWACS) surveys every aircraft in a 300-mile radius, calling out commands, verifying target hits and sending aircraft back home safely.
June 30, 2015 AFSC merger ensures airborne situational awareness With the fiscal constraints recently seen in the Air Force, many changes have taken place to safeguard the survivability of missions and career fields. Some of those changes came in the form of career-field mergers, especially within the career enlisted aviator specialties.
June 8, 2015 New panel repair process expected to save millions The 424th Supply Chain Management Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, found a new repair process for KC-135 Stratotankers that could save the Air Force millions.
May 21, 2015 Summer safety begins with risk management Increased travel and leisure activities go hand in hand with the summer months, and require increased emphasis on risk management, said Bill Parsons, the Air Force chief of ground safety
May 18, 2015 Increased mission requirements open doors for continued service The Air Force is introducing several personnel and manpower initiatives to meet increased mission requirements outlined in the fiscal year 2016 President’s Budget. The Air Force is undergoing a concerted effort to stabilize and grow the force by fiscal 2017, to include addressing key gaps in the
May 1, 2015 AF Safety Center sponsors Fall Protection Focus weeks Air Force Ground Safety is sponsoring Fall Protection Focus weeks from May 4-15. This initiative is a partnership with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's campaign, "National Safety Stand-Down."
April 17, 2015 AF chief of staff praises Tinker Airmen, community support After nearly four days of engaging with Airmen and community leaders at Tinker Air Force Base, the Air Force chief of staff (CSAF) cited Tinker as a "crown jewel" doing remarkable work for the nation.
Sept. 15, 2014 Achieving art of the possible through partnerships In an operating environment focused on discovering new ways to save time, Airmen and civilian partners gathered at the 2014 Air Force Association’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition to listen to a presentation titled “Achieving the Art of the Possible” Sept. 15.
Sept. 5, 2014 Four officer AFSCs by year group will not meet October RIF board Line of the Air Force officers in four Air Force specialty codes by year group are no longer scheduled to meet the fiscal year 2015 Force Management Reduction in Force board slated for Oct. 1, 2014.
June 13, 2014 Some AFSCs removed from eligibility for retention boards Fewer Airmen than originally expected will meet involuntary retention boards this summer and fall, Air Force officials said June 13.
Nov. 26, 2013 Air Force specialties affected by retraining reduction As many as 1,000 Airmen may be affected by a recently identified decrease in fiscal 2014 retraining objectives, with 35 or more Air Force specialty codes removed from the retraining-in list, Air Force officials said Nov. 26.