American servicemembers help Afghans make strides

March 11th, 2010
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Some Provincial Reconstruction Team Zabul military members will soon prepare to travel back to their duty stations after assisting their Afghan partners with improvements in Zabul province communities.

Over the course of 10 months, the collective staff completed more than 65 projects, totaling more than $40 million throughout Zabul province.

PRTs in Afghanistan use relatively small joint civil-military units developed to achieve three objectives: improve security, extend the authority of the Afghan central government and facilitate reconstruction.
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WASPs awarded Congressional Gold Medal

March 11th, 2010
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The first female military pilots received the Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony in the Capitol March 10.

Almost 70 years ago, the Women Airforce Service Pilots were disbanded with little fanfare, but this ceremony was a way to make things right for the trailblazers, said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley.

"As a result of your conviction and your devotion to duty, from that time onward, women would forever be a part of United States military aviation," Secretary Donley said.
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Multilateral team helps more than 1,500 Thai residents

March 11th, 2010
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Military medical staff members from the United States, Singapore and Thailand assisted more than 1,500 patients during a medical civic assistance project held here March 1 through 12 as part of Cope Tiger 2010.

Cope Tiger, held this year primarily at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Force Bases in Thailand f is an annual multilateral exercise aimed at improving interoperability and strengthening relationships with partner nations in the Asia-Pacific region.

The medical civic assistance program that took place at Ban Nong Sroung School and several other locations here and complements the exercise, allowing participants to help local residents.
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Manpower agency officials name annual award winners

March 11th, 2010
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Air Force Manpower Agency officials recognized their 2009 top performers recently during an annual awards luncheon here.

The awards recognized the top military members, civilians and teams throughout the Air Force Manpower Agency.

"The winners represent the best across the Air Force at helping optimize the essential manpower needed to support the Air Force mission," said Col. Brian Norman, the AFMA commander. "Their efforts in helping achieve the right balance of manpower to meet today's commitments allow the service to effectively use its resources while improving existing capabilities."
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American, Afghan docs begin surgical process for young burn victim

March 10th, 2010
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An American facial thoracic surgeon and an Afghan medical team from Kandahar Regional Medical Hospital partnered March 1, here to help heal a young man who had severe burn injuries for six months.

Thirteen-year-old Abdul Rahman was severely burned in a cooking incident in his home.

His father managed to get him to a doctor many miles away, but the hospital staff there was only able to provide limited care and after five days, he was sent home to heal.

In doing so, he lay in bed on his back. His injuries were so significant that he couldn't move much. Over a period of months, Abdul laid in bed, unable to move and in severe pain most of the time. Over time, his chin had rested on his chest and his burns fused his neck to his chin.
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‘Legends of Aerospace’ visit Airmen in Southwest Asia

March 10th, 2010
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The first and last men to walk on the moon, the commander of Apollo 13, the last Air Force pilot "Ace" and the SR-71 chief test pilot, all "Legends of Aerospace,"  were the honored guests of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing March 8 at an air base in Southwest Asia.

Hundreds of servicemembers flocked to the base theater to hear the stories of Neil Armstrong, retired Navy Capt. Gene Cernan, retired Navy Capt. Jim Lovell, retired Brig. Gen. Steve Ritchie and Bob Gilliland as they made a special appearance while visiting military installations throughout Europe and Southwest Asia.
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Multi-aircraft mission provides key training in Thailand

March 10th, 2010
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C-17 Globemaster III aircrews integrated with multiple aircraft types to complete an airdrop training mission as part of Cope Tiger 2010 March 8, here.

The C-17s from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, flew in a three-ship formation to conduct airdrops while under escort of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from Osan Air Base, South Korea; F-15 Eagles from Elmendorf AFB, and Singapore air force F-16s.

C-130 Hercules from Yokota AB, Japan, also participated in the mission.

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Combat controllers bring order during chaotic times

March 10th, 2010
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It was 1:30 in the morning Jan. 13 when Tech. Sgt. Chris Grove answered the phone call that shaped the next two weeks of his life.

Just hours after taking that call, Sergeant Grove and his nine-person team of combat controllers from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron here were deploying to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, in response to the earthquake.

Living up to their motto, "first there," the Air Force Special Operations Command combat controllers arrived at the Toussaint L'Ouverture International Airport around 6 p.m. Jan. 13 with much work ahead of them.
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Everyone saves with generic drugs

March 10th, 2010
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Popular generic drugs like omeprazole, zolpidem and cetirizine, which treat gastrointestinal problems, insomnia and allergies, also are available under familiar brand names. While generic drugs are not advertised on television or in magazines, they provide the same benefits as their brand-name counterparts at a lower price for Tricare beneficiaries and the government alike.

Because of the safety, efficacy and cost-savings provided by generic drugs, it is Department of Defense policy that all Tricare beneficiary prescriptions are filled using generic-equivalent medication when available.
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March 9 airpower summary

March 10th, 2010
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Coalition airpower integrated with ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations March 9 according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here.

Air Operations in Afghanistan:

Close Air Support

Musa Qala
Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots provided armed overwatch for friendly forces. The pilots conducted a show of force to deter enemy forces from firing rocket-propelled grenades. The show of force was deemed successful when enemy fire ceased.
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