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Crew chiefs and fuel distribution operators prepare aircraft for refueling here March 29, in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

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B-1B Lancers from the 28th Bomb Wing were launched early March 27 from their home station here to strike targets in Libya in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

"Nearly 700 Ellsworth Airmen are currently deployed around the world supporting existing overseas contingency operations," said Col. Jeffrey Taliaferro, the 28th Bomb Wing commander. "But this week, the nation called again, and the Airmen of Ellsworth rallied and answered."

With less than two days from first notice to takeoff, Airmen here configured several aircraft and hundreds of weapons for operations halfway across the world.
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In response to the recent conflict in Libya, approximately 50 Air National Guardsmen and Air Forces reservists joined forces with their active duty counterparts and coalition partners to run the 603rd Air and Space Operations Center here.

Members of the 603rd AOC, in partnership with the 617th AOC, control all the combat air operations in support of Joint Task Force Odyssey Dawn in an effort to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya as part of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973.

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Three F-15E Strike Eagle fighter aircraft will perform the Air Force's first flyover using "green" biofuel at Citizen's Bank Park for the Phillies Opening Day here April 1. In the event of inclement weather, the flyover will occur on Saturday's game, weather permitting.

The jets, from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., will fly using a 50 percent blend of traditional jet fuel and synthetic biofuel derived from plant oils grown in the northwestern U.S.

"The Air Force is committed to reducing our nation's dependence on foreign petroleum and is pursuing environmentally-friendly, domestically-produced alternative biofuel blends for our entire fleet of manned and unmanned aircraft," said Dr. Kevin Geiss, the deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for energy.
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When four Qatari Mirage F-1s and a C-17 Globemaster III landed March 25 here, Airmen from the petroleum, oil and lubricants flight sprung into action to help get the aircraft to their final destination.

The 39th Logistics Readiness Squadron POL flight here refueled the Qatari aircraft in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

"We were honored to support our Qatari allies and their role in Operation Odyssey Dawn," said 1st Lt. Jordan Clark, the 39th LRS fuels management flight commander.
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Air Force officials are accepting applications from Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve members who wish to serve on active duty.

Prior-service members who separated from the Air Force with an honorable discharge may be eligible to enter active duty in a number of career fields.

To qualify for an active-duty position, every member must meet minimum standards in several areas including re-enlistment code, length of separation, credit report, rank and previous AFSC. For service members currently in the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve, a conditional release from their commanding officer is also required.
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Iraq air force officials took a step closer to self-sustainment after hosting their first T-6 Texan trainer aircraft program management review at New Al Muthana Air Base just days before a historic instructor pilot flight.

The conference held March 17 brought together more than 30 representatives from various U.S. and Iraqi government agencies including the U.S. T-6 Program Office, U.S. contractors, the Air Force Security Assistance Training Program Office, the Air Force Metrology and Calibration Program Office, Iraq Security Assistance Mission, Iraq Training and Advisory Mission, and the Iraqi air force functional and squadron leadership.
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Engineers with the 772nd Test Squadron facilitated electromagnetic interference testing on a Euro Hawk unmanned aircraft at the Benefield Anechoic Facility here March 10 and 11.

They teamed with representatives of Northrop Grumman Corporation and the German government to complete the testing.

The Euro Hawk is similar to the Air Force's operational RQ-4 Global Hawk, and although EMI testing already has been conducted on the Global Hawk, the Euro Hawk has never been flown in the unique radio frequency environment of Europe.
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TRICARE will soon allow qualified young adults, up to age 26, to purchase military health plan coverage on a month-to-month basis.

TRICARE officials announced plans to roll out the new Young Adult Program, including an option to make coverage retroactive to Jan. 1, in the near future.

This will ensure military families aren't left out as the new national health care reform law extends parents' health insurance for their children up to age 26, officials said.

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From robotics engineering to gaming technology, Defense Department school officials are hoping their new, cutting-edge courses will spark a lifelong passion for science and technology in their students.

Under a new science, technology, engineering and math initiative, Department of Defense Education Activity officials will roll out four innovative classes in some DOD high schools in the fall, with plans for a wider-scale launch to follow if the program proves successful.

The courses are robotics engineering, biotechnology engineering, gaming technology and green-technology engineering.
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