Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and several other senior Air Force leaders participated in the third annual National Security Scholars Conference at the University of Southern California campus here April 26.
The conference provided an opportunity for foreign policy and international security experts from 14 different West Coast universities and think tanks to discuss with senior service leaders the Air Force's strategic direction and its contribution to national defense.
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Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and several other senior Air Force leaders participated in the third annual National Security Scholars Conference at the University of Southern California campus here April 26.
The conference provided an opportunity for foreign policy and international security experts from 14 different West Coast universities and think tanks to discuss with senior service leaders the Air Force's strategic direction and its contribution to national defense.
more...
The Air Force Food Transformation Initiative was launched Oct. 1, 2010, at six installations, with a goal of better serving the dining needs of today's Airmen.
Air Force officials said they are pleased with the pilot program's initial results, which are aligned with the Department of Defense's effort to increase efficiencies. Additionally, overall feedback indicates Airmen are happy with the expanded menu, healthier options and increased hours of operation.
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Airmen assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron here provide technical expertise and perform maintenance here April 6, in support of their mission.
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As part of continuing efforts to support wounded warriors, Air Force Services Agency officials recently purchased and distributed 85 remote-controlled bowling balls and ramps for installations worldwide.
The purchase makes the Air Force both the single largest purchaser of the bowling balls and the first service within the Department of Defense to purchase and distribute them.
According to Don Freund, the bowling program manager at the agency, the balls were initially purchased with wounded warriors in mind, but eligibility was expanded to others looking for a new way to enjoy the game.
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Like so many other military members, my 2009 deployment started with a tearful goodbye to my family and a long walk down the Jetway of a local airport. I was off to the desert, or more generically, the Middle East. I was not particularly looking forward to this deployment, but I would do my duty as required.
As with all military endeavors, there seemed to be an inordinate amount of "hurry up and wait." This is the phenomenon of showing up six hours before catching the rotator, or contract aircraft, only to spend five of those hours waiting to depart. These sentiments seemed to be shared by my fellow service members as we waited for what seem to be an eternity.
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I have served in the military just shy of a decade. The military has taught me how to find my footing in a traditionally male environment. To that extent, I have rarely felt like an outsider simply because I am a woman. I never would have considered this to be a luxury -- that is, not until I began deploying.
I am not a novice traveler. I have journeyed all over Europe and parts of Central America. I felt comfortable with the knowledge that each culture allowed slight differences between the genders. While I grew up around different races and cultures, I never gave much thought to what it took to live a relatively peaceful existence among all these differences.
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An all-female delegation of women from Paktika province convened here April 25 for the first time since the Taliban's grip was lifted and the country was liberated.
Female Afghan representatives, including the director of women's affairs for Paktika, were in attendance.
Their presence symbolized a commitment to bring women into the fold of both the government and current affairs in the region, officials said.
"It is my responsibility to reach out and help the women and to let them know they have rights," said Dr. Bibi Hawa, the Paktika director of women's affairs.
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Department of Defense officials announced April 29 the names of eight Airmen who were killed April 27 at the Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
They died of wounds suffered from gunfire.
Killed were:
Maj. Philip D. Ambard, 44, of Edmonds, Wash. He was assigned to the 460th Space Communications Squadron, Buckley Air Force Base, Colo.
Maj. Jeffrey O. Ausborn, 41, of Gadsden, Ala. He was assigned to the 99th Flying Training Squadron, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.
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As U.S. military forces pack up their things and transition out of Iraq, Airmen from the 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron have their hands full.
With less than eight months remaining before the security agreement deadline, 321st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Airmen are working to not only get U.S. military forces and equipment out of the country, but also train their Iraqi counterparts how to perform the same basic functions once they're gone.
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