An F-15E Strike Eagle pilot and 2004 graduate of the Air Force Academy was selected Jan. 25 to receive the 2011 Col. James Jabara Award for Airmanship.
Capt. Michael Polidor, a member of Air Force Global Strike Command, distinguished himself through heroic actions in an Operation Enduring Freedom sortie supporting U.S. and Afghan ground forces.
"This year's competition was extremely tough, and you can be proud of your selection," wrote Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, in his congratulatory letter to Captain Polidor, announcing the selection. "It is a true testament of your exemplary performance and professionalism."
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Technicians from the 28th Maintenance Squadron perform tungsten inert-gas welding here Jan. 26.
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Speaking to wing commanders and command chief master sergeants from across Air Mobility Command Jan. 24 for the command's first Comprehensive Airman Fitness, or CAF, conference, retired Chief Master Sgt. Rod Ellison's message came back to the same thing: "It's about a culture of caring."
Chief Ellison's message about "caring" was probably more than fitting for the conference at which he was speaking. It was organized to build on AMC's CAFculture that began in July 2010. As part of CAF, there are five "Cs" in its framework: caring, committing, communicating, connecting and celebrating.
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Intense budget pressure, made worse by the failure to pass the fiscal 2011 defense appropriations bill, requires increased joint and total force collaboration across the U.S. military, according to the Air Force chief of staff.
Gen. Norton Schwartz made the comments during remarks at the Reserve Officers Association National Security Symposium Jan. 30 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel here.
During his speech, General Schwartz said Air Force officials are working to trim bureaucracy and overhead, which ideally will result in a two-to-three percent savings to reinvest in warfighting capabilities and requirements.
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The week-long court-martial of Chief Master Sgt. William Gurney, the former command chief of Air Force Materiel Command, concluded Jan. 28 with a six-member panel of male officers sentencing the chief to 20 months confinement, reduction to rank of E-1 and a dishonorable discharge for 15 violations of the UCMJ.
Of those violations, Chief Gurney initially had pleaded guilty to seven violations of Article 92 for dereliction of duty for failing to maintain a professional relationship with seven different female Airmen, all who were junior in rank to him; one violation of Article 92 for wrongful misuse of government property for other than official purposes; one violation of Article 120 for indecent conduct with a female master sergeant; and four violations of Article 134 for committing adultery with four separate female Airmen, all who were junior in rank to him.
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When Air Forces Northern officials need an aircrew to fly a search and rescue mission, run counterdrug support or play the bad guy, they frequently call on the members of the Civil Air Patrol, who are always more than eager to lend a helping hand.
In an effort to make the job easier and more efficient for CAP responders, AFNORTH officials have given the organization five Geospatial Information Interoperability Exploitation Portable go kits. The GIIEPs feature self-contained communications equipment and other hardware that allow for real time and near-real time full-motion video, digital imagery and in-flight chat capability with federal, state and local emergency operations centers.
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Aircraft maintainers are working day and night during Red Flag 11-2, so pilots can fly the missions needed to prepare for aerial combat, but not only aircrew members benefit from the Red Flag experience.
The high-tempo mission requirements of Red Flag provide maintainers an environment that realistically emulates a combat deployment.
"The tempo here is higher because it is just like a deployed location," said Staff Sgt. Joshua Bommer, a 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron instruments and flight control systems craftsman. "At home station, you have all the time you need to get it fixed -- here you have to get it right the first time, safely."
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When Tech. Sgt. Emily Smith and Staff Sgt. Todge Smith were blessed with a baby girl nearly six months ago, they immediately recognized signs of Down syndrome and epilepsy in her. With early intervention and physical therapy, their daughter Renee is now meeting all developmental milestones.
Sergeant Smith was able to share her experience during a Specialized Training of Military Parents workshop held for the first time at an Air Force base Jan. 26 and 27.
"We've been working to get the STOMP program at Moody (Air Force Base) for more than a year now," said Windy Scott, the 23rd Force Support Squadron exceptional family member program coordinator and parent of a special-needs child. "From experience, I know it's easy to feel frustrated and isolated when dealing with special-needs children. This training is designed to expose families to the resources they need to help lessen those emotional strains."
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Drivers who stay aware of their right foot, keep their engine tuned and adjust their car's tire pressure can save a few cents a day in gas costs. When the professionals who plan the flying missions at here get frugal, it can save thousands of dollars a day. That's why the 6th Air Mobility and 927th Air Refueling wings constantly monitor and plan with an eye toward greater fuel efficiency and savings.
The efforts here fall under the Air Mobility Command directive to maximize fuel savings while maintaining the mission, said Capt. Ryan Reed, from the 6th Operations Support Squadron. Captain Reed is in charge of keeping an eye on fuel consumption.
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Approximately 40 Airmen from the 8th Medical Group participated in medical evacuation training here Jan. 19. The Airmen also trained with Army medics and pilots from the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.
The 8th MDG Airmen, who were mainly flight surgeons, doctors, nurses and technicians, worked alongside Army UH-60 Black Hawk pilots and their flight medics. Together, the total-force contingent learned medical evacuation operations around the helicopter.
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