USAF

5/6/2008 - CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFPN) -- Lt. Gen. Norman Seip, the 12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern) commander, congratulated Airmen at Creech Air Force Base May 6 as the 432nd Wing marked its first year as the Air Force's only MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle wing.

MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle

"The 432nd Wing has grown exponentially over the last year, in manpower, demand, flying hours, sorties, technology, reach, support for the warfighter and in battlefield capability," said General Seip. "From day one, the 432nd Wing Airmen have been 'all in' in the support of ongoing operations; particularly in operations Iraqi (Freedom) and Enduring Freedom."    » read more »

April 30, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Senior Airman Jonathan A. V. Yelner, 24, of Lafayette, California, died April 29 near Bagram, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

   » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- SANTA FE – New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson ordered flags to fly at half-staff in honor of Air Force Staff Sergeant Travis Griffin, 28, who lost his life while serving his country in Baghdad, on Thursday, April 3, 2008.

Staff Sergeant Griffin was a native of Dover, Delaware. He had served in the Air Force for 9 years. Griffin was on his 4th deployment to Iraq and was expected to return in 15 days.

Staff Sgt. Griffin was assigned to the 377th Security Forces Squadron at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque. He had been stationed at Kirtland since 2004 and is the second airmen from the base killed in Iraq since the war began.    » read more »

4/14/2008 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- Battlefield warriors, in peak physical condition, the toughest of the tough, are being brought to their knees, writhing on the floor in tears and pain.

The culprit -- tiny kidney stones.

Col. (Dr.) John Mansfield discusses kidney stone disease with Army Sgt. Robert Mosher: U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Julianne Showalter    » read more »

April 10, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Tech. Sgt Anthony L. Capra, 31, of Hanford, California, died April 9 near Golden Hills, Iraq, of wounds suffered when he encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to Detachment 63, 688 Armament Systems Squadron, Indian Head City, Md.

Source: DOD

4/11/2008 - SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The T-37 Tweet officially began its march toward full retirement March 31 when 80th Flying Training Wing officials here "took the car keys" to its replacement, the T-6A Texan II.

Retired Navy Rear Adm. James Maslowski, the vice president of government business for Hawker Beechcraft in Wichita, Kan., presented Col. David Petersen, the 80th FTW commander, with a set of keys, a ceremonial gesture signifying the wing's acceptance of the first two trainers.

Official arrival of the T-6A Texan II, the replacement for the antiquated T-37 Tweet, to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas: A total of 69 T-6s will replace 74 T-37s. U.S. Air Force photo/Harry Tonemah    » read more »

WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Airmen from McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., recently provided satellite imagery to assist state and federal agencies in relief efforts following flooding in Missouri and Arkansas.

Members of the 169th Communications Flight at McEntire Joint National Guard Base collected imagery using Eagle Vision, a mobile commercial imagery direct downlink system, to use in damage assessment and reconstruction in the two states.    » read more »

4/9/2008 - BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- An Air Force MQ-1 Predator crashed northwest of Balad, Iraq, at approximately 7:10 p.m. local time April 9.

The aircraft was launched from Ali Base, Iraq.

MQ-1 Predator armed with an AGM-114 Hellfire missile flies a training mission: Photo courtesy USAF.

The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted aircraft. The MQ-1's primary mission is conducting armed reconnaissance.

A board will be convened to investigate the accident. Mechanical failure is suspected.

MQ-1 Predator Facts:

MQ-1 PREDATOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE

Mission    » read more »

April 04, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of an airman who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Staff Sgt. Travis L. Griffin, 28, of Dover, Delaware, died April 3 near Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 377th Security Forces Squadron, Kirtland AFB, N.M.

Source: DoD

Apr 07, 2008 -- GRAF IGNATIEVO AIR BASE, Bulgaria — In an effort to increase theater security cooperation, U.S. and Bulgarian Airmen received familiarization briefings on F-15C and MiG-29 aircraft here on April 4th.

The NATO program is designed to familiarize military personnel from member nations with cross-servicing on different aircraft. Because F-15s are currently deployed to Bulgaria as part of Operation Noble Endeavor, it presented the maintainers from the two countries an opportunity to take part in the program.

USAF F-15 crew chief F-15 Eagle to group of Bulgarian air force crew chiefs.: Photo courtesy DoD    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today 34 awards to academic institutions to perform multi-disciplinary basic research. The total amount of the awards is expected to be $19.7 million in fiscal 2008 and $200 million over five years. Awards are subject to the successful completion of negotiations between the academic institutions and DoD research offices that will make the awards: the Army Research Office (ARO), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR).    » read more »

LANDSTUHL REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER, Germany, March 18, 2008 – Whenever Airman Tiamae Cruz needed a helping hand while growing up in Guam, a friendly face seemed to arrive within minutes. So when the 18-year-old decided to join the Air Force and leave the confines of her Pacific island measuring 30 miles long by 12 miles wide, she looked around for the usual reassurance.    » read more »

Federal Funding to Help Former Air Force Reserve Workers Develop New Skills for New Careers

March 18, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) will receive an additional $524,360 in federal Department of Labor Base Realignment and Closure National Emergency Grant funding to continue to provide employment related assistance to the approximately 300 workers affected by the recent closure of the General Mitchell 440th Airlift Wing in Milwaukee.    » read more »

3/14/2008 - LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) -- An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron here crashed about 12:00 p.m. today south of Alamo Lake, Ariz.

At the time of the accident, the F-16 was on an air-to-air student training mission. One pilot was on board. The status of the pilot is unknown at this time.

A board of officers will be convened to investigate the accident.

As soon as additional details become available, they will be provided.

Source: USAF

Admirals, Generals Who Served under Last Nine Commanders-in-Chief Cite Obama's Judgment to Lead

Remarks As Prepared for Delivery Below

March 12, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Citing his judgment and ability to lead, admirals and generals from the United States Army, Navy and Air Force that together have served under the last nine Commanders-in-Chief today announced their endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president.    » read more »