The conference report for the 2008 defense policy bill includes eight additional C-17 airlifters. If passed and signed into law, the measure would bring the total number of C-17s to 198, short by seven aircraft of the number cited last...

The 2008 defense authorization bill conference report would require the Defense Department to conduct a roles and missions review every four years. Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), chairman of the Armed Service Committee and a key proponent of the review, said...

Lawmakers would authorize $506.9 billion in 2008 budget authority for national defense, which include DOD and the national security programs of the Energy Department. Additions and reductions beyond the Administration request include: • +$2.28 billion for eight C-17s • -$35...

The 2008 defense policy bill (see above) also would elevate the National Guard Bureau chief to four-star rank and makes the NGB a joint activity of DOD. And, it would require at least one Air or Army National Guard officer...

The conference report for the 2008 defense authorization bill includes the Acquisition Improvement and Accountability Act of 2008, which Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), chairman of the Armed Service Committee, calls the “most far-reaching acquisition reform measure approved by Congress in...

With USAF’s F-15 fleet of A-D models grounded indefinitely, Air National Guard units that fly F-16 Vipers have been subbing around the country for Air Guard units that fly F-15s on Operation Noble Eagle air sovereignty missions. The Illinois ANG’s...

The Alaska Air National Guard has been leading search and rescue efforts to locate a civilian medical helicopter that disappeared Dec. 3. The search team focused on an area about 75 miles southeast of Anchorage and, according to the Anchorage...

Maj. Bradley Downs and Maj. Daniel Roesch received the Cheney Award for their actions providing close air support to coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. Both serve as aircrew on Air Force Special Operations Command MC-130H Combat Talon II aircraft. Pilot...

USAF airmen continue to help build and train airmen for Afghanistan and Iraq. Recently, US Air Force airmen helped unload parts of the first three of 12 refurbished former Soviet helicopters that arrived Dec. 5 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The US...

The 460th Space Wing, headquartered at Buckley AFB, Colo., last week activated the 11th Space Warning Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo. The new unit, which replaces Det. 1 of the 460th Space Operations Group, will operate the new Space-Based Infrared...

Air Force Special Operations Command airmen at Hurlburt Field, Fla., have put MH-53 Pave Low IV #68-10928 on display in the field airpark. The helicopter saw service in Europe, Laos, Thailand, and the deserts of Iraq. Joining current special ops...

Dec. 5-6, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 40 18 58 CAS/Armed Recon 85 81 166 Airlift 280 280 Air refueling 84 84 Total 125 99 364 588 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance Airlift includes Horn...