Frank Woodruff Buckles, who lied about his age to enlist in the Army in 1917 and became the last known U.S. veteran of World War I, died Feb. 27 at the age of 110. Burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.
"We have lost a living link to an important era in our nation's history," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. "But we have also lost a man of quiet dignity, who dedicated his final years to ensuring the sacrifices of his fellow 'Doughboys' are appropriately commemorated."
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Officers considering intermediate or senior developmental education in 2011 have until March 31 to submit their applications for consideration by the selection board, officials announced. Civilians have until May 1 to submit applications.
Officers apply using a Web-based application, while civilians submit a hard copy application to the Air Force Personnel Center Civilian Development Education and Training Branch.
Line officers, as well as chaplain and health professions officers, may apply for up to five IDE/SDE programs using the Air Force's Web-based 3849 form, available to eligible officers and senior raters March 1 through March 31 though the AFPC secure applications website.
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Every 500 flight hours, each A-10 Thunderbolt II goes through a phase inspection to search for hairline cracks, missing bolts or chafed hydraulic lines.
In the five months the current inspection team of the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing has been here, they've completed twenty phase inspections and repaired more than 6,000 total discrepancies.
The inspection is especially necessary for an aircraft that may be older than the pilot flying it.
"We take off the panels, look at every item from engines, to flight controls, to each rivet holding on a nutplate for a panel," said Tech Sgt. Thomas Breining. "The aircraft drives the rest of it."
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Officials are extending the opportunity to participate in the 2011 Air Force Community Assessment through April 3.
More than 350,000 active-duty members, reservists and spouses as well as all appropriated fund civilian employees were randomly selected to participate in the anonymous survey. Those selected began receiving an e-mail invitation Jan. 30 to participate in the survey. Spouses were mailed a postcard.
Officials said the secure notice is being sent from the consulting firm ICF International and addressed from AFCASurvey@icfi.com.
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The deadline for submitting nominations for the 2011 First Sergeant of the Year award to the Air Force Personnel Center is April 22.
The award recognizes the important contributions and leadership qualities exhibited by Airmen in the first sergeant special duty career field.
Nominations must include examples of leadership and job performance in the nominee's primary duty significant self-improvement, and base or community involvement from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2010.
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Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Philip Breedlove emphasized the need to standardize live, virtual and constructive modeling and simulation across the Air Force and the joint team during a recent visit to the Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation here.
"We must build to a modeling and simulation standard that allows us to take an enterprise approach without continually having to reach back for more funding," General Breedlove said during his first visit to AFAMS as vice chief of staff. "We should be writing our requirements to achieve this level of standardization."
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February marks major milestones for one of the Unites States' allies, the nation of Kuwait. Throughout the entire month, the people of Kuwait have been celebrating the 50th anniversary of their independence from Great Britain as well as 20 years of liberation from Iraq. The 50/20 celebration, which Kuwait has designated as their "Golden Jubilee," culminated this week with a number of large celebrations in which the members of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing proudly participated.
To see more photos, check out the
slideshow.
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The recently implemented two-year pay freeze for federal employees applies to Department of Defense nonappropriated fund, or NAF, employees in crafts and trades and pay-banded pay schedules.
Under legislation signed in December 2010, the pay freeze impacts basic pay, special pay rates and cost-of-living allowances for nearly two million federal employees through Dec. 31, 2012. The pay freeze doesn't apply to performance awards, bonuses, performance pay adjustments, promotions, within grade increases or premium payments such as overtime pay.
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Nine Little Rock Air Force Base C-130 Hercules and twice as many aircrews, along with maintainers and planners from the base, participated in Joint Operation Access Exercise Feb. 9 through 12 here and at Fort Bragg, N.C.
JOAX is a two-week exercise to prepare Airmen and Soliers to respond to worldwide crises and contingencies.
"It takes a team to execute this mission set -- operators, maintainers, mission support, joint users, military, civilian," said Col. David A. Kasberg, 19th Operations Group commander at Little Rock AFB. "When the team comes together, no matter what uniform they are wearing, it is awesome to behold."
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Nonappropriated fund federal employees who participate in the NAF Department of Defense Health Benefits Program are now eligible to earn a health incentive credit.
Beginning Jan. 1, health plan participants may earn a $100 health incentive credit when they complete the Simple Steps to a Healthier Life online health assessment or complete a routine physical exam. Participating family members may also earn the credit.
For a family of two the maximum credit is $200, and for a family of three or more, the maximum credit is $300. The credit will be automatically applied to the next deductible or co-insurance expense. Co-insurance is the percentage of the covered expenses paid after the calendar year deductibles are met.
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