U.S. AIR FORCE NEWS

  • Photo essay: Balad firefighters rappel tower

    Base firefighters use the control tower to conduct a rappeling exercise here Aug. 20, 2009.  The training allows the firefighters to hone their skills with different knots, anchors and belay techniques. View the slideshow.

  • Defense Department to start H1N1 flu vaccinations

    All military personnel will be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus, and the vaccine will be available to all military family members who want it, a Defense Department health affairs official said Sept. 2 here. The H1N1 vaccination program will begin in early October, said Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Wayne

  • Air Force officials release Predator accident report

    Air Force officials here Sept. 2 said a disconnected vacuum line caused the April 28 crash of an MQ-1 Predator west of Creech Air Force Base, Nev.According to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report, the aircraft executed a hard landing in the rough terrain surrounding the airfield

  • Fiscal closeout may delay orders in hand

    Some Airmen may experience slight delays in receiving permanent-change-of-station orders in September as officials here begin implementing new procedures for closing out the fiscal year PCS budget. Active-duty Airmen with assignment report dates or a date eligible for return from overseas of January

  • Academy joins social media scene

    The U.S. Air Force Academy officially entered the social media sphere Aug. 28 with the launch of Web pages on two popular social networking sites. In order to offer the public a convenient way to see what's going on at the Academy, the public affairs office here has created a page on

  • Afterburner retiree newsletter back after 3-year hiatus

    After a three-year hiatus, the hard-copy Afterburner retiree newsletter is back. Special funding was granted to provide news and information to retirees and surviving spouses. However, those with computer access are urged to forego a hard-copy version to save money. There are approximately 770,000

  • Gates cites importance of acquisition reform

    It is imperative for the nation to get defense acquisition reform right, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said Aug. 31 during a visit to Texas to tour the plants of two major defense contractors. Americans are getting value for their tax dollars spent in the defense realm, Secretary Gates said

  • Beale AFB first to incorporate Body Pump in fitness program

    "When your body starts to scream, tell it to shut up." That's the motto of the new Body Pump fitness program which began at the fitness center here Aug. 24. Several members of the 9th Force Support Squadron trained to become certified instructors of the program."We wanted to find the most relevant