The earthquake and tsunami that struck here left a streaming mass of civilians requiring medical attention, and Arizona Air National Guard members flew here to render assistance.
Or, at least, that's the scenario.
In Exercise Vigilant Guard, Airmen from the 161st Medical Group of the Arizona National Guard set up an expeditionary medical system to deal with the influx of wounded citizens struck by the scenario's combination of an earthquake and tsunami hitting the island.
more...
The Canadians are coming to Spangdahlem Air Base.
Canadian officials accepted a U.S. Air Force offer to use the base as the springboard to support to its deployed troops throughout Southwest Asia.
Under an agreement with close allies Germany and the U.S., Canada has begun to implement a plan to use Spangdahlem AB as a critical transit and marshalling center for existing and potential international Canadian Forces commitments.
"With the mission in Afghanistan, we have experienced the challenges of maintaining a 12,000 kilometer (7,400) supply chain, and it hasn't been easy," said Maj. Gen. Daniel Benjamin, the commander of the Canadian Operational Support Command. "Our first priority was Europe in the development of what will eventually become a network of hubs worldwide to meet any contingency that causes our government to deploy troops for military or humanitarian purposes. Spangdahlem was in the top ranks on a short list for the first hub, and we are grateful for the enthusiastic response that expedited the final choice."
more...
Air Mobility Command officials here are poised to support humanitarian relief operations in response to record-setting floods that have forced hundreds of North Dakota residents to evacuate their homes.
The 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center staff -- AMC's hub for global airlift, air refueling and aeromedical evacuation operations -- is currently placing C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules aircraft and aircrews on alert to support humanitarian operations should help from the Air Force be needed.
more...
The latest version of the Air Force Professional Development Guide is now available online for all Airmen.
The 500 page, 30.8 MB document is of particular interest to enlisted Airmen in the ranks of staff sergeant through senior master sergeant who want to begin studying for their next promotion examination.
Air Force Pamphlet 36-2241, interim copy, dated July 1, 2009, can be downloaded in PDF format from Air Force e-Publishing at
www.e-publishing.af.mil by searching for "AFPAM36-2241."
more...
American and Polish airmen delivered the first of five refurbished C-130E Hercules military transport planes and spare parts March 24 to the Polish air force at Powidz Air Base, Poland.
"It's a great day for them to celebrate the arrival of the Hercules. It's vital to them being able to -- own their own -- organically pick up and go," said Air Force Maj. Gen. William A. Chambers, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe director of air and space operations.
"They're one of our allies who are very willing to go," he said. "Whether it is Afghanistan or Iraq, they've been alongside the Americans in both fights. The 'Herc' is a great symbol of the American-Polish partnership, and we're grateful to be alongside them."
more...
The Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research were named the 2009 Top Supporters of Historically Black Colleges and Universities and minority-serving institutions by U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine officials announced in mid-May.
The deans of ABET-accredited HBCU and minority institutions evaluated the nominees based on their support for infrastructure modernization and enhancement, research, participation on advisory councils, faculty development opportunities, scholarships, student projects, stipends, co-ops and career opportunities.
more...
The use of show of force is intended to warn or intimidate an opponent and to demonstrate capability or the will to act if provoked. For two female Airmen here the showing of force is more than just a term, it's a way of life.
For Senior Airman Elizabeth Gonzalez and Staff Sgt. Vida Reveles, 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron heavy weapon operators, manning the .50 caliber machine guns here is a job they take very seriously.
"We are here to secure the flightline area and deny unauthorized entry into Sather Air Base," said Sergeant Reveles, who is a native of Las Cruces, N.M. and is deployed from the 204th Security Forces Squadron at Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, Texas. "It's a different beast working with the .50 cal, but a real privilege."
more...
What sets Maj. Alan Brown apart from other Airmen in the gym at Bagram Airfield's Camp Cunningham isn't his workout routine, it's his right leg.
"When people see me in shorts at the gym there's definitely a pattern," said the 42-year-old mobility pilot of Pine Bluffs, Wyo.
"They glance at my eyes, look down at my leg and then look back at my eyes," said the Wyoming Air National Guard Airmen deployed with the 774th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. "It happens every time."
more...
The phone rings in your office. It is the orderly room and they want to speak to you. Daily Air Force life lends itself to a couple possibilities. Performance report overdue? No. Late for a meeting? No. Orders? Can't be. When you ask them what they want, their response is simply, "You need to come and sign something."
That could only mean one thing: urinalysis. As you begrudgingly go to your orderly room with bottle of water in hand, you are shocked to find out you have been tasked to take your annual physical training test tomorrow.
more...
Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
In Afghanistan, coalition aircraft employed a guided bomb unit-12 and cannon strafes against anti-Afghan personnel who were observed planting an improvised explosive device near Kajaki Dam. The aircraft waited until the personnel were away from civilian structures before beginning attack. The individuals attempted to escape on a motorcycle after they became aware of the aircraft's presence, but were caught in the GBU-12 explosion that destroyed the motorcycle. The passenger was able to survive the explosion and tried to run away, but was finished off by the jet's strafing pass.
more...
