The Air Force chief of staff announced the pending retirement of the 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force Feb. 26 here.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley will retire this summer after serving for 30 years.
Chief McKinley has served as the chief master sergeant of the Air Force since June 30, 2006.
"Chief McKinley is an incomparable leader and an exemplary Airman," Gen. Norton Schwartz said. "He has devoted his entire adult life to our Air Force and to taking care of Airmen and their families. Chief McKinley has accomplished so much throughout his career, but as chief master sergeant of the Air Force he has made monumental contributions."
more...
U.S. missile defense is prepared to defend against North Korean threats, but the system needs more testing before Pentagon officials can endorse its capabilities with "high confidence," the top Defense Department tester said.
In three test scenarios, the missile defense system successfully destroyed threats emanating from North Korea, Dr. Charles E. McQueary, the director of operational test and evaluation, told a congressional panel Feb. 25.
"What we showed as a consequence of the test was that, indeed, we did intercept and 'kill' a target to demonstrate that the (ground missile defense) did work in that particular (test)," he said. "To me, that was a demonstration that this system has the capability to work."
more...
The 2009 ESPN Bassmaster Classic allowed several Barksdale Air Force Base Airmen to reel-in a piece of the action Feb. 20 through 22 here.
Several bass enthusiasts and the Barksdale Hawgherders Bass Club participated in the classic, which brought 137,700 people to the Shreveport, La., area for what is referred to as the Super Bowl of fishing.
Twenty Airmen arrived to the Bossier City, La., CenturyTel Center Feb. 20 to represent the armed forces during the opening of the weigh-in. To their surprise, they were included in the televised ceremony and asked to march onstage as the Barksdale AFB honor guard presented the colors.
more...
Manas Service Organization volunteers from here delivered a brand-new generator, refrigerator and stove Feb. 20 to the Vasilievka Kindergarten School in Kyrgyzstan.
Members of the 376th Expeditionary Operations Group and the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing staff make up the Manas Service Organization, which is a private organization that has a partnership with six local villages to help the towns improve their quality of life.
Organization members work closely with the mayors and principals to assess and prioritize the needs of each community, namely the village schools.
more...
An early morning lesson in basketball from the chief master sergeant of the Air Force has become a tradition for instructors at the Senior NCO Academy here, and the Feb. 25 game was no different.
The morning after each one of the school's graduations -- five times every year -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley and other command chiefs from throughout the Air Force present for the week's events challenge the Senior NCO Academy instructors.
"The game is always a highlight of his visit," said Chief Master Sgt. Shelia Knox, the vice commandant of the Senior NCO Academy. "This is just a small example of how Chief McKinley likes to be among the Airmen."
more...
Almost 56,000 Soldiers, Marines, Sailors since October 2001 have been aeromedically evacuated supporting expeditionary operations by the total force team of active-duty, Reserve and Guard Airmen.
In the Air Mobility Command aeromedical evacuation community, every day entails a combination of total force assets and communication challenges in order to save lives.
"Almost all aeromedical evacuation missions out of Ramstein (Air Base, Germany,) involve the Guard, Reserve and active-duty members working together," said Maj. Trevon Miller, a 183rd Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III aircraft commander from the Mississippi Air National Guard.
more...
Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Feb. 25, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force G-9 Harrier struck buildings in a compound near Kajaki Dam where enemy gunmen had established fighting positions. Armed with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons, the gunmen were exchanging fire with coalition ground forces. The Harrier conducted a show of force that successfully suppressed enemy fire; however, when the enemy personnel resumed shooting, the Harrier knocked out their positions using a Paveway guided bomb strike and a rocket attack.
more...
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has called for forthright, collegial discussions among Defense Department leaders to make tough choices about programs, projects and procurement as the defense portion of the fiscal 2010 federal budget takes shape.
Secretary Gates asked those participating in the discussions to sign a nondisclosure agreement because leaks may discourage the free exchange of ideas, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said Feb. 25.
"This is highly sensitive stuff, involving programs costing tens of billions of dollars, employing hundreds of thousands of people and go to the heart of our national security," Mr. Morrell said. "He wants this process to be as disciplined and as forthright as possible."
more...
We got word that today’s
Oprah Show (Feb 26) will feature military women in war, and Stacy Pearsall—former combat photographer with the
1st Combat Camera Squadron from Charleston AFB, SC—will be a part of the show.
UPDATE:
Check out more of her work
here...."She may look like the girl next door, but Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall's camera has captured the horrors of war", says the Oprah Website.
We saw a promo on oprah.com that included a small glimpse of Stacy’s photos and a sentence from her about how war changes you. We’re looking forward to seeing the show in its entirety.
About Stacy, in her own words:
"I got my start as an Air Force photographer over ten years ago at the age of 17. In the fall of 2004, I attended Syracuse University where I was presented with the Associated Collegiate Press Award. Since that time, my work has been publicized in various media to include Time Magazine, New York Times, CNN, Oscar nominated PBS: Operation Home Coming and GQ Magazine: This is Our War. Early on in my life, I had trouble expressing my emotions in words. I found that I could use a camera as a vessel of expression. From then on, I harnessed my emotions and strove to make each image an evocation of what I saw and felt. I believe it is that ability, which allows me to be a successful storyteller. For the last 12 years, I have witnessed the depredation of war and immeasurable kindness of humanity. I cannot express in words what I have seen and lived to those who have not been privy to it. I have survived weeklong sieges, 12-hour gun battles, three improvised explosive devices and two helicopter crashes. I have experienced my own suffering and loss. However, I know that my images of these acts have and will bring about change. It is the confidence I have in myself, in photojournalism and in humanity, which compels me to continue my work. I have faith that people will make the right decisions when they are presented with the facts. So, I will continue to use my vessel of expression in the hopes that I can do my part in bringing about change for the future."Wow, what an Airman.
You can log into Oprah's Website and leave comments about this show too
here.
Command and Control, one of the keystones to modern warfare, is getting a boost thanks to an Air Combat Command-led tiger team.
The team, comprising more than 20 senior leaders from across the Air Force, is responsible for stewardship of the Air Force theater air control system and brings different points of view to improve processes.
"TACS is fundamentally a C2 system of airborne and ground systems consisting of facilities, equipment and personnel," said Col. Francis Xavier, C2 Tiger Team lead and chief of the ACC intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance division. "Individual TACS weapon systems contain sensors, both active and passive; computers and workstations; voice and data communications; operators and maintainers to conduct air operations.
more...
