Prepping for high flying

Stars visible at, from LA observatory

Senior Air Force leaders rubbed elbows with entertainment industry figures Nov. 18 during an Air Force Week reception at the Griffith Observatory here. Hosted by the Friends of the Observatory, a nonprofit organization which supports the world's most visited public observatory, the event honored

Vandenberg receives California Space Authority award

Vandenberg Air Force Base received the National Security Space Award from the California Space Authority Nov. 19 at the SpotBeam Awards ceremony here. The award was presented in commemoration of the base's 50th anniversary of operation as an Air Force base. Both Vandenberg AFB and the Air Force have

Reserve Affairs chief explains new DOD directive

Recent changes on how the Guard and Reserves are recognized are larger than any in recent history, a senior Defense Department official said here Nov. 19. Thomas F. Hall, the assistant secretary of defense for Reserve Affairs, told the Air National Guard's top officers and command chief master

Chairman notes Military Family Appreciation Week

Military Family Appreciation Week begins Nov. 21, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued a message Nov. 20 noting the observance. Here is the text of Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen's message: "This month, as we celebrate our blessings, and give thanks for our freedom to enjoy them, we

Manas officials host Vendor's Day in Kyrgyzstan

Representatives from more than 70 Kyrgyz businesses attended a Vendor Day to learn more about how to do business at Manas Air Base held Nov. 13 at the Bishkek Hyatt Regency in Kyrgyzstan.Airmen from the 376th Expeditionary Contracting Squadron coordinated and hosted the event as a way to help local

Program addresses wounded, ill servicemembers' needs

More than 1,900 wounded servicemembers have benefited from their enrollment in a specialized health program to meet their unique needs during their rehabilitative process. "As we began seeing more wounded servicemembers returning to our region, we identified some unique needs that they faced as they

DOD launches 'Wounded Warrior Diaries'

Defense Department officials have created the "Wounded Warrior Diaries," a multimedia Web tribute in which American servicemembers wounded in combat share stories of their service, including their hard-won battles on the road to recovery and the ups and downs of life in the wake of injury. The

Battlelab initiative aims to speed KC-10 cargo loading

Though the Air Mobility Battlelab deactivated here Sept. 24, one of its final initiatives shows great potential to help KC-10 Extender crewmembers do their jobs faster and decrease aircraft weight. With the KC-10 Lightweight Cargo Net and Hoist Initiative, the Air Mobility Battlelab, or AMB, sought

Research into flies' hearing could aid UAS program

A professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland is researching miniature acoustic sensors and sound localization techniques using the hearing mechanisms of flies as a model. Such research could benefit the Air Force by leading to the development of an artificial fly unmanned