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A Malmstrom Air Force Base captain was sentenced after being found guilty of wrongful sexual contact and conduct unbecoming an officer in a court-martial held Jan. 29 here.

Capt. Adam Pitman, assigned to the 12th Missile Squadron, was sentenced to six months confinement and a dismissal from the Air Force.

Captain Pitman was charged in September 2008 with two violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 120, aggravated sexual contact and committing an indecent act, and one violation of UCMJ Article 133, conduct unbecoming an officer.
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AF General

My day began at 5 a.m. by attending the "guard mount" along with the other Airmen who would be conducting a patrol outside the wire. This morning, a salty old master sergeant was in charge and methodically discussed the concerns of the day. His manner bespeaks of a veteran who has clearly performed the mission more than once and is able to convey a sense of confidence expected of one with his experience. 

Assembled for this "o-dark-early" briefing are the troops whose ages range from 20 years up to 50. No surprises that the 50-year-old guy is yours truly. A quick scan of the audience reveals not only men, but also women as well. From my vantage point, I see the faces of your sons and daughters poised and ready to accomplish their mission. I am proud to serve with them and realize these are America's finest.
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AF General

On Jan. 31, 1958, Explorer I was the first U.S. satellite to go into orbit. It was launched by a Jupiter-C rocket from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in response to the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik 1. It was the first spacecraft to detect the Van Allen radiation belt. 

The primary science instrument on Explorer 1 was a cosmic ray detector designed to measure the radiation environment in Earth orbit. Once in space this experiment, provided by Dr. James Van Allen of the University of Iowa, revealed a much lower cosmic ray count than expected. Van Allen theorized that the instrument may have been saturated by very strong radiation from a belt of charged particles trapped in space by Earth's magnetic field. The existence of these radiation belts was confirmed by another U.S. satellite launched two months later, and they became known as the Van Allen Belts in honor of their discoverer. 
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AF General

Kadena Air Base Airmen visited an orphanage in Angeles City, Pampanga in the Philippines Jan. 19 before returning home from an overnight mission supporting U.S. Army forces deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines.

Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group, 17th Special Operations Squadron, and 25th Intelligence Squadron Det. 3 stopped by the Duyan ni Maria, which translates to Mary's Cradle, orphanage and single mothers home with boxes of clothing, shoes, toys, books and school supplies all donated by Airmen and their families from the 353rd SOG.
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AF General

Student pilot Class 09-04 here had a special visitor at their graduation ceremony Jan. 23.  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz attended the ceremony and presented the keynote address.

"The American people place a very special trust in those of us who wear the uniform," the general told the 17 Airmen, one naval officer and one allied officer receiving their wings at the ceremony. "You must deliver the kind of performance that earns and keeps that special trust, as warriors and guardians of the national defense
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AF General

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 29, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

In Afghanistan, a coalition aircraft struck several anti-Afghan fighting positions in the vicinity of Shurakian using guided bomb unit-38 and -12s. Enemy gunmen were firing on a coalition patrol with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons.

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AF General

AOR Week in Photos
By Master Sgt Mikal Canfield

I am deployed here [Combined Air Operations Center] from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, doing Media Outreach for the Public Affairs office in Southwest Asia. My job is to market print and broadcast stories and photos to media outlets around the world, highlighting the men and women of the U.S. Air Force.

One of the best things about my job is knowing that our products might have an impact on the fight. People around the world see our Airmen in action and are able to see the variety of things we do to preserve freedom.

This week we premiered the “AOR Week in Photos”, pictures from around the area of responsibility – Afghanistan, Iraq and other air bases in this region – focusing on the different things our Airmen are doing here. Some of the photos show mission accomplishment – flying, fighting and winning the war on terrorism, some highlight Airmen facing unique challenges, while others feature our work in the communities we share. I think it’s important to show both aspects because it’s not all about flying sorties and driving convoys, it’s also about connecting with the people of this region and showing that we care about helping them achieve the peace and prosperity previously denied.

The “AOR Week in Photos” is just one of the ways our office does its part to fight terrorism. Putting together a photo slide show or sending out a news release might not be the stuff of legend, but it’s our role here and it’s a job we take seriously. Every single deployed Airman has a job to do and without his or her hard work, skill and dedication, the mission wouldn’t get done. Hopefully the “AOR Week in Photos” gives people a glimpse at some of the men and women representing America with honor.

Afghanistan, Airmen, CAOC, Iraq, PACF, Public Affairs, USAF, elmendorf AFB, media outreach

Tricare Management Activity officials have extended the "timely filing waiver" for dates of service before Dec. 31, 2007, to allow providers, beneficiaries and others living overseas additional time to submit overdue claims for reimbursement. The original deadline was Dec. 31, 2008, for services received before Dec. 31, 2007.

Since the December deadline was announced, nearly 4,500 claims have been received and approved for processing and payment.

The late filings from overseas occurred because some countries give host-nation health care professionals as long as three years to file claims for reimbursement. Tricare requires beneficiaries to file claims within one year from the date of service or inpatient discharge.
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AF General

Tricare Management Activity officials have extended the "timely filing waiver" for dates of service before Dec. 31, 2007, to allow providers, beneficiaries and others living overseas additional time to submit overdue claims for reimbursement. The original deadline was Dec. 31, 2008, for services received before Dec. 31, 2007.

Since the December deadline was announced, nearly 4,500 claims have been received and approved for processing and payment.

The late filings from overseas occurred because some countries give host-nation health care professionals as long as three years to file claims for reimbursement. Tricare requires beneficiaries to file claims within one year from the date of service or inpatient discharge.
more...

AF General

Tricare Management Activity officials have extended the "timely filing waiver" for dates of service before Dec. 31, 2007, to allow providers, beneficiaries and others living overseas additional time to submit overdue claims for reimbursement. The original deadline was Dec. 31, 2008, for services received before Dec. 31, 2007.

Since the December deadline was announced, nearly 4,500 claims have been received and approved for processing and payment.

The late filings from overseas occurred because some countries give host-nation health care professionals as long as three years to file claims for reimbursement. Tricare requires beneficiaries to file claims within one year from the date of service or inpatient discharge.
more...

AF General