U.S. AIR FORCE NEWS

  • Centers helps combat vets to cope

    Combat veterans dealing with readjustment issues as they return home have a place to turn, thanks to a Department of Veterans Affairs initiative. The Vet Center program provides returning veterans with someone to talk to who can relate to their experiences. To date, readjustment counseling service

  • Maintainers keeping F-16s soaring over India

    Cleaned, inspected and fully maintained, 12 neatly aligned F-16 Fighting Falcons stand poised for their daily battle. Beside them, their adversary -- an assortment of Indian Air Force MiGs, Mirages and Su-30s -- are also ready for the day’s dissimilar air combat training. The jets are all taking

  • Pilots, air battle managers can get cash to stay in

    The fiscal 2006 Aviator Continuation Pay program will offer about 750 pilots and air battle managers a monetary incentive to continue their service. A five-year, fixed-length agreement is available to eligible pilots and air battle managers who apply. The agreement values in annual pretax amounts

  • DOD to begin BRAC closures, realignments

    The Base Realignment and Closure Commission's recommendations for reshaping the Defense Department's infrastructure and force structure took effect at 12:01 a.m. today.Congress allowed the commission recommendations to pass into law at the mandated Nov. 8 deadline. The nine-member BRAC panel

  • Soto brothers endure Balad together

    Deployments often mean working long hours thousands of miles away from family and friends. But for two Airmen here, that is not the case. The Soto brothers are both deployed to the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. Tech. Sgt. Orlando Soto and Senior Airman Saul Soto deployed from the

  • McConnell testing new Air Force personnel initiative

    The Air Force is testing a new organizational structure at McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., designed to improve convenience and timeliness for customers worldwide.The Personnel Services Delivery, or PSD, Transformation initiative allows Airmen to complete transactions online or through contact

  • Civilian personnel system allows employees control over advancement

    The National Security Personnel System, which will go on line soon, will provide a more performance- and market-based system of hiring, pay and evaluation. With NSPS, Department of Defense civilians can influence the amount of money they will receive by their performance, their value to the

  • Bagram Airmen spread cheer, share smiles

    Airmen fighting the global war on terrorism from nearby Bagram Air Base took time to spread cheer and share smiles with the people of a village here. As part of an adopt-a-village visit Nov. 3, Airmen distributed more than 1,200 pounds of winter clothes, blankets, school supplies and toys, said

  • Rescue squad puts training to test

    The blades of the Army UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopter beat the air as four firefighters rushed to it with 200 pounds of specialized extrication gear. The 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen knew this time it wasn’t a drill. Two trucks were in a near head-on collision 10 minutes

  • National Veterans Awareness Week continues

    A Senate resolution designates Nov. 6 to 12 as National Veterans Awareness Week. The week focuses on programs to make students in elementary and secondary schools aware of the contributions of veterans and their importance in preserving American peace and prosperity, said Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden,