Wynne Says Tankers Possible for Guam

Stopping at Andersen AFB, Guam, on his tour of USAF bases in the Pacific Region, Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne noted big changes to come for the Pacific island facility, mentioning the planned addition of Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles...

“On Freedom’s Doorstep”

While in South Korea on his Pacific tour, Air Force Secretary Wynne told airmen that an assignment to South Korea “really illustrates why in fact [an airman] joined the military in the first place because if you want to stand...

Alaska ANG Takes Lead in Afghanistan

Alaska Air National Guard officials tell the Anchorage Daily News that the state’s 176th Wing has taken center stage for airlift operations in Afghanistan—a role that may extend for two years. The wing volunteered for the job and plans to...

DOD Passes CSAR-X Plan:

DOD’s acquisition guru Ken Krieg has wrapped up his “investment review” of the Air Force’s CSAR-X program and reportedly has left it alone, according to Dow Jones Newswires. Krieg initiated the review in February to see how the helicopter fleet...

Big Easy Hogs Head to Show-Me State

With some of it’s A-10 Warthogs already moved to Barksdale AFB, La., the 926th Fighter Wing from Hurricane afflicted NAS JRB New Orleans is speeding up its BRAC-mandated dispersal. The second to last A-10 due for Whiteman AFB, Mo., landed...

New York ANG Preps for Big Trip

New York ANG Preps for Big Trip: The commander of the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Fighter Wing at Syracuse says the unit is preparing for its largest deployment since it sent forces to the Persian Gulf for Desert...

Who’s Got Milk?

Maj. Gen. William Lord was on the ground in southern Mississippi as the commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler Air Force Base when Hurricane Katrina roared into the Gulf Coast last year. Speaking to reporters about his experience,...

Storm Drills Helped, So Would Better Coordination

After the storm and the activity died down, officials at Keesler AFB, Miss., conducted its own lessons learned process. Maj. Gen. William Lord told reporters that the base practices proved their mettle, noting that window covers and construction materials for...

F-22 Test Pilot Opts for Astronaut:

Former F-22A Raptor test pilot Lt. Col. James Dutton has entered the ranks of space pilots, graduating from NASA’s astronaut training course last month. During his two years with the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, Calif., Dutton racked...

Looking for Diversity:

The Air Force this month hired a retired fighter pilot to lead its charge to increase the service’s diversity footprint. He is Chris G. Patterakis, a California native who enlisted in the Air Force in 1953, transferred to the Air...

Another J Model for Keesler:

Air Force Reserve Command’s 403rd Wing at Keesler AFB, Miss., has received the second new longer-fuselaged C-130J Hercules delivered to the Air Force so far in 2006. (It also took delivery of the first J for 2006, last month.) Maj....

DSB Faults Strategic Strike Initiatives:

The Defense Science Board has released a report that predicts what the nation’s strategic strike capabilities will look like years down the road. The Verdict? We’ve got homework to do. The report’s task force found “numerous areas of concern,” including...

How To Attract a Declining Breed:

The Pentagon can provide scholarships to students in science and math disciplines, courtesy of the 2006 defense authorization act, and hopes to do so under a program called Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Scholarship Program. (Web site...

Commando Sling Soars Over Singapore:

For three weeks, the 80th Fighter Squadron’s “Juvats,” from Kunsan AB, South Korea, have been engaging the Royal Singapore Air Force in fighter maneuvers and engagements, as part of this year’s Operation Commando Sling. The exercise culminated with each of...

To Counter WMD:

The Pentagon on Friday released its “National Military Strategy for Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction.” The 30-page booklet “defines a strategic endstate, military strategic objectives, and the missions and means to achieve them,” wrote Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in the...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

March 23, 2006 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 15 5 18 CAS/Armed Recon 48 18 66 Airlift 160 160 Air refueling 32 32 Total 68 23 192 278 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance