Since 1943, security forces Airmen have toed the line of defense for U.S. Air Force bases in America and abroad, and sometimes in hostile environments.
Helping to build capability similar to that of the U.S. Air Force security forces, Airmen deploy on six-month rotations to Shindand Air Base in Herat Province, Afghanistan, and advise Afghan air force security forces there.
Currently a team of 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group officers and NCOs, made up of Airmen from the U.S. and Italian air forces, are guiding dozens of Afghan airmen.
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Air Force Marathon officials are seeking applicants for volunteer coordinators who will be instrumental in executing this 15th annual running event.
"These positions serve as ambassadors of the 2011 Air Force Marathon," said Jeanette Monaghan, the staff volunteer coordinator. "They are truly the backbone of the race each year.
"Every year the marathon grows," she said, "and to maintain that success we need to find those people who will provide the best customer service to our runners."
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The journey from Air Force enlistee to senior executive service member and 2011 Black Engineer of the Year Award winner had its challenges, said Dr. Jarris L. Taylor Jr., but he said there is still much work to be done for the nation and the service.
Inspired by his uncle on March 20, 1985, the deputy assistant secretary of strategic diversity integration joined the Air Force to help him continue his college studies. More than two decades, three career fields and five college degrees later, including his doctorate in 2005, the senior leader continues to raise both the bar for himself and an awareness of diversity from the top down.
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Military women from across the nation have gathered here March 15 and 16 to focus on professional development during the 24th Annual Joint Women's Leadership Symposium. This is the first time Airmen joined the ranks of the more than 1,300 women at this event.
The symposium's theme, "Connect, Empower, Succeed," reflects the opportunities for leadership development while also highlighting the achievements of women leaders on the front lines around the globe.
Symposium participants will listen to various accomplished civilian and military senior leaders speak on the role women play in the defense of the U.S.
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Recruiting and retention remained high throughout the services for the first five months of the fiscal year, according to numbers Pentagon officials released March 15.
Through February, all four active-duty services and four of the five reserve components had met or exceeded their recruiting goals for fiscal 2011, which began Oct. 1, officials said. The Air National Guard had met 99 percent of its goal, of recruiting 2,779 new members since the fiscal year began.
Here's where the active-duty services stand for fiscal 2011 recruiting through February:
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More than 70 Airmen and Soldiers headed to Romania March 14, officially marking the kickoff of Carpathian Spring 2011.
The weeklong annual exercise was designed to strengthen the partnership between the U.S. and Romanian air forces, while also enhancing their individual capabilities through training scenarios that participants said are difficult to achieve at home station.
Members of the 37th Airlift Squadron, the 435th Contingency Response Group, the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and the 5th Quarter Masters Battalion are among the key members involved in this year's event held at Airlift Base Otopeni and Campia Turzii, Romania.
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Approximately 1,200 Airmen are set to convene in Nashville, Tennessee, March 21 through 25 for 4 1/2 days of classroom training at the Air Force's 2011 Environment, Safety and Occupational Health Training Symposium.
More than 525 class sessions and 175 technical sessions in the fields of safety, engineering, environment, energy and occupational health will be offered by subject-matter experts from government and international industry.
Sponsors are the Air Combat Command, Air Force Space Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air National Guard, Air Mobility Command and Air Force Reserve Command.
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Department of Veterans Affairs officials are reaching out to veterans in crisis and their families in a new public service announcement to raise awareness about suicide prevention resources, such as the Veterans Crisis Line at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
"As more veterans return from Iraq and Afghanistan, the critical need for mental health care is rising," said Sonja V. Batten, the assistant deputy chief patient care services officer for mental health. "VA is increasing its efforts to reach out to veterans in need and their families, to inform them about available services and programs."
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In the wake of Japan's massive earthquake and tsunami, Red Cross officials are encouraging U.S. service members and families stationed there to register with an online resource intended to keep family and friends back home informed of their welfare.
Military members and their families can relay their status and pass on messages to loved ones through the American Red Cross-sponsored "Safe and Well" website at
www.redcross.org.
"It's a great online tool," said Deanna Swanier, the senior director of service delivery for the American Red Cross' Service to the Armed Forces. "Family members back here can visit the website and look up loved ones to see if they're safe."
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A joint service and interagency exercise using both "live" and "virtual" forces concluded here recently.
Emerald Warrior concentrates on integrated tactics and multi-service command and control, as well as leverages lessons from Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom to provide trained and ready forces to combatant commanders.
"Emerald Warrior provides the only joint readiness exercise designed by (special operations forces), both air and ground participants, with unique integration and interoperability requirements not available in conventional exercises alone," said Brig. Gen. Michael J. Kingsley, the 23rd Air Force commander. "This is the only exercise where readiness training is determined from the ground up by the warfighter."
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