Trailblazer comes to end of 35-year career
To understand just how much the role of women has changed in the Air Force, talk with the service’s senior female officer. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 16:17:12 EST
2 deaths in 4 days at Mountain Home
Two airmen stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, died in a four-day span this week. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 16:17:47 EST
Levin: No hearings on gay ban until 2010
Promised December congressional hearings into President Barack Obama’s proposed repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on service by gays will be... Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 18:17:54 EST
StratCom commander: New nukes needed
LOS ANGELES — The military’s top officer in charge of nuclear weapons issued a warning Thursday about the state of the nation’s nuclear programs, saying that new nuclear weapons... Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 16:18:42 EST
Lawyer: Hasan hearing Saturday in hospital
SAN ANTONIO — An attorney for the Army psychiatrist charged in the mass shooting at Fort Hood says his client will have his first court hearing in his hospital room Saturday. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 18:08:41 EST
House bill could expand Agent Orange claims
Legislation granting Air Force and Navy veterans a better shot at receiving disability benefits for Agent Orange-related illness now has 204 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives, 14 short of... Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 17:47:20 EST
Radio devices may help injured, group says
A nonprofit medical foundation is trying to convince the Defense Department to loosen restrictions on the radio spectrum to allow wide use of micro-stimulators to treat spinal cord injuries,... Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 14:57:29 EST
Gates: U.S. to examine its role in Afghan graft
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — The United States will do its part to reduce corruption in Afghanistan by examining its own contracts and projects, even as it is demanding the same from the Afghan... Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 14:19:34 EST
VA benefits chief to step down
Patrick Dunne, undersecretary for benefits at the Veterans Affairs Department since October 2008, announced Friday that he will resign early next year. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 12:21:23 EST
Inquiry views using retired brass as mentors
A Senate oversight panel launched an investigation Thursday into the Pentagon’s use of retired admirals and generals as paid advisers, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Defense... Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 18:12:03 EST
AF, Singapore hold ceremony at Idaho base
MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — U.S. Air Force officials and representatives of the Republic of Singapore marked their cooperation in the Idaho desert, where the Asian nation's pilots train at the... Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 10:29:07 EST
Thieves steal ashes before Arlington burial
Someone stole an urn containing the ashes of a deceased Satellite Beach, Fla., war hero a day before his burial at Arlington National Cemetery, leaving his relatives aghast. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 8:56:10 EST
GAO: Many health assessment forms go missing
A congressional watchdog agency reported Thursday that the Defense Department cannot locate post-deployment health questionnaires for more than 72,000 people — about 23 percent of service... Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 14:30:52 EST
Swine flu vaccine required for Air Force kids
Children enrolled in Air Force children’s and youth programs are now required to be vaccinated for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 6:13:20 EST
Author of Robby the C-130 visits Ark. school
JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — The mother of Robby the C-130 plans to make a visit to a Jacksonville school, but the principal doesn't need to worry about making room for a four-engine airplane. Posted Thursday Nov 19, 2009 14:24:50 EST
Tinker employee charged with embezzlement
OKLAHOMA CITY — A worker at Tinker Air Force Base has been charged with embezzling more than $20,000 from the sale of scrap metal through a recycling program at the Oklahoma City base. Posted Thursday Nov 19, 2009 11:03:06 EST
McCain seeks review of work by retired brass
The Pentagon should rewrite ethics rules for retired generals who work as advisers for the military while representing defense contractors, Arizona Sen. John McCain and other lawmakers said Wednesday. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 16:18:21 EST
Karzai sworn in to second 5-year term
KABUL — President Hamid Karzai was inaugurated Thursday for a second term, pledging that Afghanistan will prosecute corrupt officials and control its own security within five years. Posted Thursday Nov 19, 2009 13:21:30 EST
New policy puts NCOs at Senior Academy earlier
Beginning Jan. 1, all master sergeants must complete the 6½ week resident Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy before they are promoted to senior master sergeant. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 6:13:53 EST
Panel votes to speed benefits appeals of vets
A House subcommittee moved Wednesday to reduce the amount of time it takes for a veteran to appeal a benefits decision, which can add two to five years to the wait for benefits. Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 16:51:12 EST
Robins unit receives OSHA safety award
The 402nd Software Maintenance Group at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., has been named a “Star Site” by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 15:09:09 EST
Reserve retirees face longer wait for Tricare
“Gray area” military retirees who were promised health care coverage under Tricare may have to wait a year or longer for benefits to begin, Tricare officials are warning. Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 13:37:16 EST
Clinton urges Karzai to institute reforms
KABUL, Afghanistan — Hillary Rodham Clinton, on her first trip to Afghanistan as secretary of state, said Wednesday that President Hamid Karzai's inauguration provides a new chance for him... Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 11:17:53 EST
Iraq vote likely to be delayed after veto
BAGHDAD — Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president vetoed part of a key election law Wednesday, a move that could delay national polls slated for January even as the top U.S. commander in Iraq... Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 11:12:55 EST
Coburn lifts hold on vet benefits bill
One senator’s hold delaying consideration of a veterans caregiver and health benefits bill has been lifted. Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 9:48:11 EST
Maersk Alabama attacked again by pirates
NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday for the second time in seven months and were thwarted by private guards on board the U.S.-flagged ship who fired off... Posted Thursday Nov 19, 2009 14:12:37 EST
Trial begins for ex-Air Force nurse in 3 deaths
SAN ANTONIO — A former Air Force nurse intentionally gave three elderly Texas patients lethal doses of medication, killing them with his self-described “aggressive” care for... Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 18:31:18 EST
Report finds plans for new Walter Reed lacking
A Congressional mandate to ensure the new Walter Reed National Medical Center will be a “world-class” medical center has turned into a war of words between the deputy secretary of defense... Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 20:28:56 EST
New Web site promotes AF family programs
The Air Force Services Agency has launched a new Web site to help airmen stay “connected, informed and engaged” as part of the Year of the Air Force Family. Posted Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 14:47:16 EST
F-22s, F-16s deploy to UAE
Air Force F-16s and F-22s have deployed to the United Arab Emirates, the service announced Sunday. Posted Friday Nov 20, 2009 6:13:41 EST
Over 2,300 NCOs to be promoted in December
More than 2,300 noncommissioned officers will sew on new ranks in December, the Air Force Personnel Center announced. Posted Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 12:17:13 EST
Mountain Home airman dead of unknown causes
MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho — Officials with the Mountain Home Air Force Base say a 34-year-old airman has died of unknown causes on the base. Posted Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 10:32:47 EST
Pentagon: Wide probe likely after Fort Hood
WASHINGTON — Worried that the Army may have missed warning flags about the mental state of the alleged shooter in the Fort Hood massacre, the Pentagon probably will open an inquiry into how all... Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 20:27:53 EST
Health care bill will not hurt vets, Dems say
A House-passed national health care reform bill will not reduce health care choices or increase costs for veterans, the military, and military retirees and their families, House Democrats said,... Posted Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 10:34:34 EST
Colo. transportation workers support troops
Employees of Academy School District 20’s transportation department in Colorado Springs, Colo., have been wearing red shirts every Friday in support of service members. Posted Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 9:46:25 EST
Female general nominated for 3rd star
Maj. Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger has been nominated for appointment to the rank of lieutenant general and assignment as vice commander of Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,... Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 9:54:34 EST
Bills would add job help to Post-9/11 GI Bill
Key elements of the Post-9/11 GI Bill could be modified by Congress to create benefits to help veterans find jobs. Posted Tuesday Nov 17, 2009 11:57:03 EST
Tests widen for streamlined disability system
The test of a streamlined system for examining and evaluating disabled veterans will be expanded to an additional six U.S. bases beginning in January, the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans... Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 20:33:10 EST
Coburn keeps fighting unfunded vet bennies
The lawmaker holding up Senate passage of a veterans health care bill orchestrated a Monday vote that forced senators to choose between funding veterans programs or funding pet projects. Posted Wednesday Nov 18, 2009 10:22:54 EST
Plans to try 9/11 suspect in NYC draw fire
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder had just announced that accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four alleged accomplices would stand trial in New York when the blistering... Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 12:06:35 EST
Official expects UAE role to continue, expand
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A senior U.S. Air Force official said Monday he expects the force's involvement in the United Arab Emirates to continue and potentially expand. Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 11:53:03 EST
FBI data on Fort Hood suspect scrutinized
WASHINGTON — The FBI's effort after 9/11 to improve terrorism investigations will face sharp scrutiny this week as Congress begins probing whether authorities missed or ignored warning... Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 21:27:11 EST
Ex-nurse’s murder trial begins
SAN ANTONIO — Attorneys for a former Air Force nurse charged with killing three elderly patients by giving them lethal doses of medication say it would be negligent to undertreat pain for the... Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 20:34:03 EST
Homeland Security to investigate Fort Hood
AUGUSTA, Maine — Sen. Susan Collins of Maine says the Senate Homeland Security Committee will open an investigation into the murders at Fort Hood with a public hearing this week. Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 8:38:40 EST
Bill seeks to repay vets for medical travel
BOISE, Idaho — Rep. Walt Minnick says he intends to introduce a bill this week in the U.S. House that would require the government to reimburse veterans for health care related travel costs. Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 8:34:07 EST
Gates blocks release of detainee abuse photos
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has blocked the public release of any more pictures of foreign detainees abused by their U.S. captors, saying their release would endanger American... Posted Sunday Nov 15, 2009 12:01:47 EST
Afghan air corps takes possession of 2 C-27s
KABUL — Two C-27 military support planes have been delivered to the Afghan National Army Air Corps — a small step on the road to helping Afghanistan’s security forces develop a... Posted Sunday Nov 15, 2009 11:59:35 EST
Air Force rushes past UNLV for 45-17 win
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Air Force and its powerful running game found little resistance from UNLV’s porous defense. Posted Sunday Nov 15, 2009 11:57:16 EST
New program could redefine AF-Navy joint ops
A small group of officers at the Pentagon is in the early stages of work on a new concept to combine the capabilities of the Air Force and Navy, offset their vulnerabilities and better use their... Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 6:43:26 EST
Clinton: Demands will accompany any Afghan aid
WASHINGTON — The United States is limiting its goals in Afghanistan and demanding better accountability from that country’s underperforming leader, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham... Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 20:35:39 EST
Gitmo detainees getting their day in court
WASHINGTON — In courtrooms barred to the public, dozens of terror suspects are pleading for their freedom from the Guantanamo Bay prison, sometimes even testifying on their own behalf by video... Posted Sunday Nov 15, 2009 17:37:43 EST
Bombs kill 2 service members in Afghanistan
KABUL — NATO says two U.S. service members and an American contractor were killed Friday in two separate explosions in Afghanistan. Posted Saturday Nov 14, 2009 11:11:03 EST
7 airmen enter spec ops weather pipeline
Flipping to The Weather Channel isn’t an option for airmen deployed to austere locales such as Kandahar, Afghanistan, or the Philippines. Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 9:58:20 EST
Airman wins cross-service singing contest
Staff Sgt. Kenny Dansby wowed the judges and audience to take top honors in “Operation Rising Star,” an “American Idol”-style singing competition held last month at Bagram Air... Posted Sunday Nov 15, 2009 18:30:18 EST
Singing cadets go from stairwell to spotlight
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Sometimes, the mind-numbing nature of life as a freshman at the Air Force Academy brings unseen advantages. Posted Saturday Nov 14, 2009 8:27:56 EST
Rep.: Pakistan wire transfers traced to Hasan
FORT HOOD, Texas — The Army psychiatrist charged with killing 13 people in a shooting spree at Fort Hood made or accepted wire transfers with Pakistan, a country wracked by Muslim extremist... Posted Saturday Nov 14, 2009 17:11:40 EST
Seized ring returned to former Vietnam POW
On Wednesday, retired Air Force Col. James Hivner wore his wedding ring for the first time since Oct. 5, 1965, when he was shot down while flying a mission over North Vietnam. Posted Sunday Nov 15, 2009 8:35:39 EST
Army secretary orders Arlington Cemetery probe
Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced Friday that he has ordered an investigation into allegations of lost accountability of some graves, poor record keeping and other issues at Arlington... Posted Monday Nov 16, 2009 7:11:03 EST
AF rugby team beats Army for championship
The Air Force rugby team won its sixth consecutive Armed Forces Rugby Championship title Friday, beating Army 34-0. Posted Friday Nov 13, 2009 18:09:48 EST
Petraeus: Afghan deliberations worthwhile
President Barack Obama has been criticized for taking too long to decide on the way forward in Afghanistan, much criticized in some circles, but the chief of the U.S. Central Command said the... Posted Saturday Nov 14, 2009 9:00:21 EST
Record-setting C-5 flight now official
The U.S. National Aeronautic Association has given its approval to 41 world records set by a C-5M Super Galaxy cargo plane in a Sept. 13 flight from Dover Air Force Base, Del. Posted Friday Nov 13, 2009 13:45:23 EST
Maine objects to Air Guard plan for low flights
PORTLAND, Maine — Over the governor’s objections, the Massachusetts Air National Guard is moving forward with a proposal that would double the amount airspace in which screeching F-15 and... Posted Friday Nov 13, 2009 13:02:36 EST
Defense lawyer: Hasan may be paralyzed
FORT HOOD, Texas — The Army psychiatrist accused in the fatal shootings at Fort Hood may be paralyzed from the waist down after being shot multiple times during the attack, his attorney told... Posted Friday Nov 13, 2009 15:52:35 EST
Obama to decide soon on troops in Afghanistan
TOKYO — President Barack Obama, facing withering criticism for a prolonged decision-making process on Afghanistan, asserted Friday he doesn’t want the next move to be seen as an... Posted Saturday Nov 14, 2009 10:09:32 EST
Gitmo 9/11 suspects to go to NY for trial
WASHINGTON — Self-proclaimed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees will be brought to trial in a civilian federal courthouse in New York, near the... Posted Friday Nov 13, 2009 14:27:05 EST
Assistant secretary to visit Grand Forks
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — An Air Force assistant secretary is visiting Grand Forks Air Force Base. Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 18:44:10 EST
Obama promises to rally public behind troops
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska — Nearing a decision on sending more troops off to war, President Barack Obama told a military audience Thursday that he will not dispatch them into conflict... Posted Friday Nov 13, 2009 18:09:11 EST
‘Shut up,’ Gates tells DoD leakers
ABOARD THE DEFENSE SECRETARY’S PLANE — In very blunt language, a visibly irritated Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that he is “appalled by the amount of”... Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 19:48:43 EST
Obama seeks more options for Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama rejected the Afghanistan war options before him and asked for revisions, his defense secretary said Thursday, after the U.S. ambassador in Kabul argued that... Posted Friday Nov 13, 2009 9:01:08 EST
13 premeditated murder charges for Hasan
FORT HOOD, Texas — The Army psychiatrist accused of killing fellow soldiers at Fort Hood was charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder Thursday as he lay in a hospital bed. Posted Friday Nov 13, 2009 12:38:33 EST
Gates sets up new counter-IED task force
ABOARD DEFENSE SECRETARY’S PLANE — Defense Secretary Robert Gates has established a senior-level task force to streamline the efforts of military services and agencies to find and destroy... Posted Saturday Nov 14, 2009 10:09:23 EST
Flooding causes partial shutdown at Langley
The King Street and Armistead gates at Langley Air Force Base, Va., were closed Thursday due to coastal flooding. Only “key and essential personnel,” as determined by squadron members,... Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 10:44:49 EST
First lady says skills of vets help at home
WASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama said on Wednesday that many veterans want to serve their communities and nation in ways that "make their entire life a tour of duty." Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 10:34:32 EST
N.C. gallery has auction to help hurt troops
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A North Carolina gallery is holding its annual auction to benefit wounded troops, and among this year's offerings is a photo of President Barack Obama. Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 9:51:47 EST
WWII-era plane makes emergency landing
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A fighter plane from the World War II-era flying over Whatcom County for Veterans Day safely made an emergency landing at Bellingham International Airport after smoke filled... Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 8:21:53 EST
MIA dog found in Afghanistan after 14 months
SYDNEY — A bomb-sniffing dog that disappeared during a fierce battle in Afghanistan between Australian troops and militant fighters has been found and returned to its unit after more than a... Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 7:58:37 EST
U.S. envoy objects to troop increase
WASHINGTON — The U.S. envoy in Afghanistan, a former Army general who once commanded troops in the country, has objected strongly to emerging plans to send tens of thousands of additional... Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 13:45:03 EST
200 members of Wisconsin Air Guard return
MADISON, Wis. — About 200 members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard are scheduled to return to their base in Madison on Thursday afternoon after a two-month deployment in Iraq. Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 6:47:18 EST
Superiors questioned behavior of Hood suspect
WASHINGTON — Nidal Malik Hasan's overly zealous religious views and strange behavior worried the doctors overseeing his medical training, but they saw no evidence that he was violent or a... Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 13:00:46 EST
Reservist’s ID stops muggers in tracks
MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee Army reservist’s military identification earned him some street cred Tuesday, when he says four men who mugged him at gunpoint returned his belongings and thanked... Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 19:51:20 EST
Obama makes Veterans Day visit to Arlington
ARLINGTON, Va. — On a cold, rain-soaked Veterans Day, President Barack Obama walked slowly through the white, stone markers at the section of Arlington National Cemetery reserved for troops... Posted Thursday Nov 12, 2009 13:03:53 EST
16-month high for Afghanistan airstrikes
The number of bombs dropped in Afghanistan in October was the highest since mid-2008, according to Air Forces Central Command. Posted Saturday Nov 14, 2009 8:25:40 EST
Lawmakers are divided on Fort Hood hearings
Congress is divided about how — and even whether — to move forward with independent investigations of the recent shootings at Fort Hood, Texas. Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 19:01:55 EST
New undersecretary of the Air Force nominated
The Air Force finally has a nominee in place to take over as the service’s undersecretary, a position that has been empty for more than two years. Posted Saturday Nov 14, 2009 8:25:31 EST
American Legion, VFW attract few young vets
GALESBURG, Ill. — The future of VFW Post 2257 might hinge on the lifespan of its worn-out, 50-year-old boiler and attendance at weekly bingo games this winter. Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 21:12:59 EST
Military sees more wounded in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — Far from winding down, the numbers of wounded U.S. soldiers coming home have continued to swell. The problem is especially acute among those who fought in Afghanistan, where nearly... Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 17:43:10 EST
Aldrin named honorary consul general to moon
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles County has given moonwalker Buzz Aldrin a new title: Honorary consul general to the moon. Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 9:55:37 EST
Military funeral buglers are in short supply
Gerald Pallesen recalls driving 150 miles through near-blinding snow from his home in Marcus, Iowa, four years ago to reach South Dakota the night before a blizzard closed the highways. Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 18:02:20 EST
Shinseki promises timely response to PTSD
WASHINGTON — Veterans Secretary Eric Shinseki says he's working to improve the agency's ability to cope with increasing numbers of troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with... Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 8:39:02 EST
Airman acquitted in slaying of comrade
TUCSON, Ariz. — An airman at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base has been acquitted in the slaying of another airman two years ago. Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 7:41:27 EST
Blame game erupts over probe of Hood suspect
WASHINGTON — Finger-pointing erupted between federal agencies Tuesday over Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan. Government officials said a Defense Department terrorism investigator looked... Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 14:18:18 EST
Wright-Patterson facility to aid fuel research
DAYTON, Ohio — A new $2.5 million facility at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will allow the Air Force to conduct research designed to help produce alternative fuels for military aircraft. Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 14:24:18 EST
Contractors sued over Iraq burn pits
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — An Air Force veteran and a one-time contractor who served in Iraq are suing military contractors Halliburton Co. and KBR Inc., accusing the companies of exposing them to... Posted Tuesday Nov 10, 2009 17:29:17 EST
Two VA workers among dead at Fort Hood
Two of the 13 people slain at Fort Hood on Thursday were military reservists who worked for the Veterans Affairs Department as civilians, VA officials said. A third VA employee, a social worker, was... Posted Tuesday Nov 10, 2009 15:20:57 EST
Obama honors Hood dead, condemns slayings
FORT HOOD, Texas — One by one, President Barack Obama spoke the names and told the stories Tuesday of the 13 people slain in the Fort Hood shooting rampage, honoring their memories as he... Posted Wednesday Nov 11, 2009 21:08:38 EST
White House: Obama eyes host of Afghan choices
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is considering four options for realigning U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, his spokesman said Tuesday, while military officials said the choices involve... Posted Tuesday Nov 10, 2009 14:07:04 EST
About-face on the war
The 2006 Military Times poll finds that support among U.S. troops for President Bush and the Iraq war has declined. Read the full report.
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