Combat controller receives Air Force Cross, Purple Heart

Tears stood in Sue Rhyner's eyes as she talked about her son, who, in a ceremony March 10 here received the Air Force Cross, the highest military decoration awarded by the service, and a Purple Heart. Staff Sgt. Zachary Rhyner of the 21st Special Tactics Squadron from Pope Air Force Base, N.C.,

Iraqi Vice Chief of Staff: Air component top priority

The Iraqi joint forces vice chief of staff discussed his country's top military priorities during a visit to Air Education and Training Command March 4. Chief among those priorities are the establishment of credible, effective air and naval components, General Nasier Arkan Al-Abadi said. "The Iraqi

Engineers save nearly $300 million in engine repairs

Engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory Materials and Manufacturing Directorate here saved nearly $300 million by reducing the costs associated with aircraft jet engine maintenance.The Engine Rotor Life Extension program, called ERLE, demonstrated a life-cycle cost avoidance for engine rotor

Multinational exercise Cope Tiger 2009 kicks off

The first flights of Cope Tiger 2009 launched March 9, filling the sky above Thailand with fighter aircraft and signaling the 15th year of partnership between the United States, Thailand and Singapore militaries. Cope Tiger is an annual, multilateral aerial exercise which divides Thai, Singaporean

Academy band named top U.S. military concert band

The U.S. Air Force Academy Band was named the top military concert band in the Department of Defense March 9. The John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the Col. George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence for Military Concert Bands to the Academy Band and its commander, Lt. Col. Larry Lang. This

Grand Forks refueling squadron to deactivate

Grand Forks Air Force Base officials are scheduled to deactivate the 912th Air Refueling Squadron March 20 here as part of the Base Realignment and Closure law of 2005.  The squadron's final KC-135 Stratotanker flight out of Grand Forks AFB is scheduled for March 16. "It has been an honor and

Rescue unit to support space shuttle launch

Members of the 943rd Rescue Group here deployed March 7 to Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., to support the upcoming Space Shuttle Discovery launch mission. The Air Force Reserve rescue group deployed two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, nine maintainers and four pararescuemen to augment its parent unit,

March 8 airpower summary: F-15Es provide aerial overwatch

Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations March 8, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles flying aerial overwatch near

F-15E pilots protect ground forces in massive firefight

Ten Soldiers who earned Silver Stars and an Airman who will receive an Air Force Cross March 10 might not be alive today if it were not for Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Airmen providing crucial close-air support during an assault on an insurgent stronghold in Afghanistan's Shok Valley last year. A

Blood work