The newest edition of "Today's Air Force" covers everything from a new program that's helping Airmen eat right and stay fit to a couple who overcame adversity together.
Other stories include a piece by Airman 1st Class Roman Weber, who highlights the transition from M-16 to M-4 rifle qualification. Later in the program, Staff Sgt. Caitlin Jones covers Operation Shocker, which prepares Special Tactics Airmen for the types of missions they'll face downrange. Finally, Senior Airman Zack Lopez shares the story of Senior Airman Michael Malarsie, whose loss of eyesight changed his direction, but not his attitude.
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(This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)
Fitness is important to Senior Airman Steven Evans; not just because he is his unit's fitness program manager, but because he's seen firsthand how being fit affects your life.
Growing up, Evans and his twin brother were actively involved in sports.
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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife Suzie spent Jan. 18 visiting the Airmen of Moody Air Force Base.
Schwartz, along with 23rd Wing Commander Col. Billy Thompson and 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing Commander Col. Scott Kindsvater, spent the day touring the base and meeting with Airmen to discuss the Air Force and its future.
"This is a great base with great people and, importantly, a great mission," Schwartz said in an interview during his visit. He called the close air support, force protection and personnel recovery missions at Moody "a great combination" and said he was impressed by the motivated people he met all across the base.
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Air Force officials launched an United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket carrying the fourth Wideband Global SATCOM satellite Jan. 19 from Space Launch Complex 37 here.
WGS-04 is the first craft in the program's upgraded Block 2 series, which adds a radio frequency bypass capability designed to support airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms requiring ultra-high bandwidth and data rates.
"The 45th Space Wing is proud to work this important Air Force launch of WGS-04 with Space and Missile Systems Center, United Launch Alliance and Boeing," said Col. Rory Welch, the 45th Space Wing vice commander, who served as launch decision authority.
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The Air Force and Coast Guard teamed up Jan. 6 to rescue 29 green sea turtle hatchlings and give them a little help in their migration to the open ocean.
The turtles, hatchlings from the last of 110 active green sea turtle nests here, may not have made it out of the nest without intervention by the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station biologists who administer the installation's sea turtle conservation project.
"We knew we would have to release the turtles further out at sea rather than from the shore," said Don George, a biologist with the 45th Civil Engineer Squadron Asset Management Flight here. "We called the Coast Guard Station for assistance since they helped in rescuing sea turtles previously. They're always willing to help."
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The 451st Air Expeditionary Wing's newly acquired Canada 9 compound will soon be renamed to honor a joint terminal attack controller who was posthumously awarded a Silver Star for his actions in January 2010.
Recently approved by Kandahar Airfield officials, the compound was renamed Camp Bradley Smith in honor of Senior Airman Bradley Smith, who was awarded the Silver Star Nov. 9, 2011, for his actions while supporting operations near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy.
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A hard push by the Defense Department and the military services to reduce dependence on fossil fuels will shrink risks on the battlefield along with the Pentagon's carbon footprint, a DOD official said yesterday.
Oliver Fritz, the deputy director for policy in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and assistant secretary of defense for operational energy plans and programs, joined energy experts from each service here in a panel discussion during the 12th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment about how DOD can drive clean energy innovation.
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Airmen will play an important role in the joint team's effort to achieve the priorities laid out in the new defense strategic guidance, according to the Air Force's top uniformed officer.
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz spoke to members of the World Affairs Council of Wilmington here Jan. 19, where he discussed the capabilities the Air Force contributes to the new Department of Defense strategy.
The strategy, which was announced by defense officials Jan. 5, lays out a way forward for the military to defend the United States and its national interests while reducing military spending in a responsible, balanced manner.
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This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.
View the
slideshow.
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Two members of Beale Air Force Base were recognized as the first RQ-4 Global Hawk pilots in the new 18X career field during a winging ceremony Jan. 13 here.
Second Lts. Jacob and Scott began training Oct. 3, 2011, after a decision by Air Staff officials in June 2011 established undergraduate training for remotely piloted aircraft pilots across the service.
"It's history repeating itself to have our pilots ushering in this new time in our career field," said Lt. Col. Steve, the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron commander. "The 1st RS, previously the 1st Aero Squadron, was the first (flying squadron in history)."
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