CMSAF Gerald Murray told legislators that the “extreme stress” that 15 years of combat has levied on USAF equipment has made it “exceedingly difficult, costly, and frustrating” to maintain. “We’re running to stand still, when we should be running to...

When asked what airmen consider their top concerns, CMSAF Gerald Murray told lawmakers last week that for the active force the top issues are “pay and compensation.” He said that housing would be No. 3. However, for the reserve components,...

Utah and Oklahoma lawmakers on a visit last week to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB, Ga., told the Macon Telegraph that stopping production of C-17s at 180 is wrong. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said, The C-17...

Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) has not backed off his opposition to the war in Iraq, most recently challenging Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at a Capitol Hill budget hearing. Murtha said that he agreed “terrorism is the No. 1 priority,” but...

The Air Force has issued a “prospectus” on Cannon AFB, N.M., distributing it throughout the federal government, and plans to hold informal workshops in the Washington, D.C., area on March 9 and 10 and in New Mexico in April and May, say Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.). Those actions signal solid steps forward in finding a new mission for Cannon, according to the two Senators. Both say they believe a military mission would be best, but they acknowledge that opening the process to all federal agencies was part of the BRAC 2005 plan. The Air Force also told them that USAF will refer its decision on Cannon’s future to DOD this summer. (Brochure and fact sheet.)

Pacific Air Forces airmen in the Philippines to participate in an annual exercise turned instead to aid mountain villagers caught in the horrific mudslide of Feb. 17. The 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, with aircrews and C-130s deployed from Yokota AB,...

The Pentagon’s panel reviewing all things related to pay and benefits will recommend that DOD end the “pay disparity for single members,” reports Air Force Magazine contributing editor Tom Philpott. The Defense Advisory Committee on Military Compensation would stop paying...

Two airmen in separate training programs in Texas died earlier this month. Officials still are investigating the causes of the deaths. According to the San Antonio Express-News, Maj. Bryan Adrian, 41, an Air National Guardsman from Anchorage, on Feb. 15...

France’s Foreign Minister said on French TV that the so-called civilian Iranian nuclear effort can be nothing other than a “clandestine military nuclear program.” The remarks came as part of a growing verbal exchange leading up to a March 6...

Air Force Space Command launched an unarmed Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., last week to test the Minuteman’s acceptance of a newer warhead, the Mark 21 from the now-decommissioned Peacekeeper ICBMs. The dummy re-entry vehicle traveled 4,800 miles,...

The Air Force gave no reason earlier this month when it announced elimination of the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. Late last week, officials decided to rectify that oversight by saying, basically, times and airmen have changed. “The quality of...

Nine of the men who have held the Air Force’s top enlisted position met recently in the nation’s capital. Retired CMSAF Paul Airey, who enlisted in the service 63 years ago and was the first Chief Master Sergeant of the...

The chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), has mixed emotions on the Administration’s proposed VA budget for 2007. He says he is “pleased” it is a top priority but “sobered” by the rate of spending...

Three airmen deployed to Tuzla AB, Bosnia, got to represent the Air Force as one of 12 teams from 14 nations competing in the Austrian-hosted Operation Winter games at Igriste-Vlasenica Ski Area in Bosnia. Each three-person team participated in several...

February 16, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 15 5 – 20 CAS/Armed Recon 42 24 – 66 Airlift – – 155 155 Air refueling – – 29 29 Total 57 29 184 270 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation...