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The Falcons women's gymnast team competed against Southeast Missouri State and Seattle-Pacific in the Cadet Gym here Feb. 20. The Air Force team placed second in a score of 188.00. Southeast Missouri came in first with 194.05 and Seattle Pacific finished with 187.075.

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An Afghan National Army Air Corps pilot became the first Afghan pilot qualified to fly the C-27 here Feb. 23.

American Airmen helped train Afghan Lt. Faiz Ramaki as the Afghan National Army Air Corps' newest pilot on the Air Corps' newest aircraft.

"He's very sharp," said Lt. Col. Paul Bedesem, a 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron Combined Air Power Transition Force instructor pilot. "He's very intelligent, a quick learner and he has good hands. Being able to coordinate the power controls and flight controls together on single engine patterns is very challenging and he did very well."
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A week after announcing the temporary halt of the Defense Department's Military Spouse Career Advancement Account operations, the head of the program assured participants with approved financial assistance that their enrollment will be unaffected.

"For those of you who have currently approved financial account documents, your documents will be honored," said Tommy T. Thomas, the deputy undersecretary of defense for the Pentagon's office of military community and family policy.

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A group of Japan Air Self Defense Force enlisted members recently experienced the on- and off-duty life of an American Airman during a bilateral exchange program held at Kadena Air Base Feb. 12 to 18.

The exchange program, a 5th Air Force initiative established to bolster cultural and professional awareness between Air Force and JASDF members, paired seven Japanese military members with a Kadena AB Airman for one week, allowing them to spend time together both at work and at home.
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The Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors is scheduled to meet at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 26 and 27 to discuss a variety of issues, including updates on the cadet honor code, cadet research efforts and the Academy's remotely piloted aircraft program.

The board meets at least four times a year, with at least two meetings at the Academy to inquire into morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters relating to the Academy that the board members decide to consider.
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The members of Sheppard Air Force base learned about the legacy of Buffalo Soldiers during a banquet Feb. 19 here.

Buffalo Soldiers were the first African Americans to serve in the "regular" U.S. Army immediately after the Civil War.

"The Buffalo soldiers were mostly former slaves from all over the nation, but a lot of them were from the South," said Trooper Fred Gray, the former president of the Lawton-Fort Sill, Okla. Chapter of the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association of the Buffalo Soldiers. "They made up about 20 percent of the servicemen at that time. They worked hard and did a lot for the country, especially our region."
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Officials in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Health Protection and Readiness announced Feb. 24 the kick-off of inTransition. This is a new program designed to offer servicemembers currently receiving mental health treatment a bridge of support between health care providers when they transfer to a new location or separate from active service.

Once contact is made, the service member is assigned a transition support coach. These coaches are licensed, master's-level behavioral health clinicians specially trained and skilled in understanding today's military culture. They understand and respect the importance of servicemember privacy, and provide one-on-one coaching with the servicemember via telephone until the transition to the new mental health provider is complete.
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Barksdale Air Force Base members have seen 42 renovation and construction projects completed here with more than 130 on the way as Air Force Global Strike Command integrates with the 2nd Bomb Wing here.

More than 50 percent of Barksdale AFB facilities are on the National Historic Register and while these facilities have a great deal of character, they also require significant effort and resources to maintain and modernize.

"Due to the fact that we are such an antique base, a lot of the buildings will be renovated instead of torn down," said Eric Tillstrom, the 2nd Civil Engineering squadron chief of programs flight. "But, there will be some buildings that will actually be demolished."
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The Web-based project, "30 Days Through Afghanistan," kicked off Feb. 8 and aims to bring the people, the mission and the experiences of the men and women assigned to the International Security Assistance Force to a worldwide audience through the eyes of Tech. Sgts. Nathan Gallahan and Kenneth Raimondi.

Sergeant Raimondi, a broadcaster, and Sergeant Gallahan, a print journalist, are traveling throughout Afghanistan for 30 continuous days visiting each of the five regional commands and giving a first-hand perspective of the counter-insurgency mission. The two reporters will produce video and print news stories as well as document daily adventures through blogs and video blogs to showcase the troops in an interactive manner.
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The final request for proposals to solicit bids for a new aerial tanker was designed to promote fair, open competition that provides the best warfighting capability for the best value, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said Feb. 24 here.

Meanwhile, the process will serve as a model for the Defense Department's acquisition reform effort, Mr. Lynn said, eliminating requirements added after the contract award that drive up costs and delay delivery.

Mr. Lynn joined Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and Ashton Carter, undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, technology and logistics, in unveiling details of the solicitation for a new KC-X aerial tanker. The new tanker will replace the Air Force's aging KC-135 Stratotanker fleet that refuels other aircraft in flight to extend their reach and warfighting capability.
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