The Air Force on Thursday announced criteria it will use to select which bases get the new F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. The service plans to consider airspace, flight training ranges, weather, support facilities, runways, taxi ramps, environmental concerns, and cost factors for more than 200 sites. Then it will look at combatant commander requirements, the service's fighter retirement plan, maintenance and logistics support, and integration with the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve to further refine its lists, producing two candidate lists—one for operational sites and one for training sites. Then it will commence environmental impact analyses, at which point communities around the candidate bases will be able to provide their inputs. In late spring 2010, USAF expects to release its preferred locations. It wants to complete all environmental requirements and announce its record of decision with final basing in early 2011.

Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz told reporters Sept. 15 at AFA’s Air & Space Conference that he supports in principle the Air National Guard leadership’s calls for concurrent and proportionate fielding of the new equipment that the active duty...

Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt says he’s fortunate to have attained his current position as director of the Air National Guard. But, to quote a line from the film “Madagascar 2,” he said Sept. 14 at AFA’s Air & Space Conference...

The Air Force has awarded SSgt. Chris Harlan, with the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker AFB, Okla., the Airman’s Medal for his part in helping save four exchange college students from drowning at Turner Falls in Oklahoma in...

The Air Force is mulling whether to offer monetary and non-monetary inducements to airmen working in the nuclear career field, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Air Force Global Strike Command boss, said Wednesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference. “I know...

Maj. Gen. Richard Webber, commander of 24th Air Force Air Force at Lackland AFB, Tex., USAF’s new organization for cyber operations, says he wants to fill his ranks with cyber warriors who have “feet planted firmly” in the communications world...

The Air Force has ushered in five former enlisted Tactical Air Control Party airmen—fresh from Officer Training School—to the new Air Liaison Officer career field, designated 13L. “It’s an honor to be the first ones to go through this program,”...

The Air Force has awarded Bronze Star medals to three airmen with the 566th Intelligence Squadron at Buckley AFB, Colo., for their actions while deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom. During a year-long deployment, MSgt. Joseph Houlihan served as superintendent of the intelligence detachments with Multi-national Forces West and Multi-national Division Baghdad, leading joint service personnel in more than 2,500 combat missions from 16 forward operating locations. MSgt. Matthew Strube was the senior ranking member of Weapons Intelligence Team (WIT) 6 of Combined Joint Task Force Troy and completed more than 250 weapons intelligence missions that led to the capture of three high-value targets. TSgt. David Romanowsky served as the senior intel analyst for WIT 2 and received his medal for exemplary meritorious service during ground combat operations. (Buckley release)

Sept. 14-15, 2009 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total YTD ISR 57 60 117 11,463 CAS/Armed Recon 44 162 206 24,987 Airlift 241 241 34,090 Air refueling 111 111 12,272 Total 675 82,812 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance...