On Jan. 24, 1946, Gen. Carl Andrew "Tooey" Spaatz was selected the first Chief of Staff of the Army Air Forces. He was also the first chief of staff of the independent Air Force and a main developer of tactical air doctrine. During World War II, he commanded the largest armada of aircraft and airmen ever assembled under the control of a single commander.
In an historic first, he also commanded the Army plane "Question Mark" in its refueling endurance flight in California over the Los Angeles vicinity from Jan. 1 to 7, 1929, keeping the aircraft aloft a total of nearly 151 hours.
more...
First lady Michelle Obama was the featured speaker at the Joint Armed Forces Officers' Wives Club's 32nd annual luncheon Jan. 26 at the Bolling Officers Club here.
About 400 spouses from all branches of the military gathered to hear Mrs. Obama share her insights on military families, and announce a record budget request for military family support initiatives in her husband's forthcoming budget.
"You are all leaders in your own right," the first lady said. "You are that vital link between your husbands and the troops they command ... making sure their needs, and those of their families, are heard, and met. You're that mom away from home, the person other military wives go to for advice and support. And you do all this for other families even as your own families serve. For that alone, you deserve this nation's unending gratitude."
more...
Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln are working to increase the efficiency of the software-testing process across Air Force systems by addressing the issue of faulty software.
A recent breakthrough in the work of lead researcher Dr. Myra Cohen and her team has resulted in an algorithm 300 times faster at generating tests.
The project, funded in part by an Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award and through a National Science Foundation Early CAREER Award, is of particular interest to the military because of the potential to reduce errors in theater. This technology also will be helpful to the private sector where some agencies are reporting financial losses of up to $50 billion per year because of poor software.
more...
An aircrew from the 15th Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., delivered 40 bundles totaling 67,800 pounds of Meals, Ready to Eat and bottled water in support of Operation Unified Response to Haiti. Airmen and Soldiers from Pope AFB and Fort Bragg in North Carolina loaded the C-17 Globemaster III for delivery.
View the
slideshow.
more...
If you are new to Tricare and eager to learn about your health care benefits or an old hand who wants to know the latest changes, Tricare University is the place to go.
Tricare University offers free online courses 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year at www.tricare.mil/tricareu.
"The courses can be taken anytime and you can learn at your own pace," said Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, deputy director of the Tricare Management Activity. "It's the simplest way to learn about your Tricare benefit."
more...
The U.S. Fencing Association point standings were released Jan. 26 for epee, saber and foil. Five Academy fencers are nationally ranked in the USFA point standings.
Leading the way for the Air Force Academy fencing program is senior Peter French. French is currently ranked fifth in the nation with 2510 points in men's epee, only four spots behind No. 1 ranked Seth Kelsey, a former 2003 Academy graduate and a two-time men's epee Olympian.
Also receiving rankings in USFA are Academy junior Daniel Trapani, who is ranked 47th, and sophomore Ben Rinaldi, who is tied for 57th, in men's epee. In women's epee, sophomore Simone Barrette is tied for 21st in senior women's epee and is also ranked 17th in junior women's epee. Freshman Heather Nelson currently is ranked 24th in the nation in junior women's saber.
more...
Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Jan. 26, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.
Air Operations in Afghanistan:
Asadabad
Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces and surveillance of known enemy fighting positions. When an imminent threat to friendly forces was observed, a pre-emptive strike on the enemy position with a precision-guided munition ended the threat to the friendly patrol.
more...
Luke Air Force Base officials opened a combat physical training center Jan. 21 here, unveiling the fourth combat-oriented physical training venue the base has built or renovated in the past year.
The new venue adds 8,000 square feet of indoor physical training space to Luke Air Force Base.
"This is a typical facility you'll see in the area of responsibility when we deploy," said Lt. Col. John Thomas, the 56th Civil Engineer Squadron commander. "In the AOR, this could be used not just for PT but to house aircraft or perform maintenance.
more...
Air Force manpower and personnel officials here announced Jan. 27 a return of enlisted high year of tenure limits to their pre-2003 levels.
"We've considered returning HYT limits to their normal levels for several years. Now that our Air Force end strength is stabilizing, it is an appropriate time to return back to the pre-2003 levels," said Tom Voegtle, chief of the retirements and separations policy branch at the Pentagon.
High year of tenure is the maximum years of service a member may remain on active duty in relation to his or her enlisted grade.
more...
Airmen took off in a C-130 Hercules in support of Haiti earthquake relief operations Jan. 25, here, just two days after deploying from Colorado to Muniz Air Base.
The combined Air Force Reserve and active-duty crew will fly to Florida where they are expected to take on humanitarian supplies bound for Haiti.
Members of the mission are part of an approximate 50 Airmen deployed from the 52nd Airlift Squadron and the 302nd Airlift Wing in Colorado to Puerto Rico in support of the relief operations. The deployment is part of a previously-scheduled assignment to Muniz AB as a component of Air Expeditionary Force Coronet Oak. Air expeditionary force Coronet Oak traditionally provides rapid-response airlift to missions requested by SOUTHCOM.
more...
