Recruiting Good, For Now:

So far this fiscal year, all active and most of the reserve components have achieved—or bettered—their monthly recruiting goals, according to the latest numbers released by DOD. The new data, combined with that from the previous three months, indicates that...

The Rainbow Effect:

Airmen from the Illinois and Minnesota Air National Guards are working together at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, where they have formed the C-130 element of the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. The term for this type arrangement is “rainbowing.” The practice...

Canadians Spin Up for C-130J:

Members of the Canadian Air Force arrived at Little Rock AFB, Ark., recently for a close up view of how the US trains its C-130J aircrews. The 12 Canadians—aircrew and maintainers—spent a week absorbing training lessons and information about the...

It Could Be a Decider:

The Air Force is emphasizing post-deployment support to help airmen as they reunite with their families and return to their communities, CMSAF Rodney McKinley, the service’s top enlisted man, told a House Appropriations subcommittee last week. “We strongly advocate education...

Taking Care of Wounded:

CMSAF Rodney McKinley told lawmakers last week during a House Appropriations panel hearing that one of his priorities is to ensure the Air Force and Congress provides the necessary help for airmen who have been wounded in the war on...

The Rota Rotation:

USAF mobility airmen from stateside and European air bases—and even the US Air Forces in Europe outpost at Lajes Field, Azores—rotate in and out of NAS Rota, Spain throughout the year to manage the flow of mobility aircraft transiting Rota...

Newbie Loadmasters Learn from Mentors:

Newly certified loadmasters like Daniel Stone, Brian Mulkey, and Sheldon Cary, all Airmen 1st Class serving in the 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Southwest Asia, are learning the intricacies of the job, with help from seasoned loadmasters. Air Force journalist...

Sizing Up the Pacific’s Winter Wrath:

Air Force Reserve Command aircrews with the 403rd Wing at Keesler AFB, Miss., took two WC-130J Hurricane Hunters to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, Feb. 12, to support the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s 2007 Winter Storm Reconnaissance program over the Pacific...

CV-22 Training Commences:

The 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB, N.M., now has the “required assets available” to begin training Air Force Special Operations airmen on the new CV-22 tiltrotor aircraft. The RAA signifies that the 58th has the requisite number of...

Public Favors Limits on Numbers and Time:

A USA Today/Gallup poll conducted last week indicates that Americans want Congress to set troop limits and a timetable for operations in Iraq. The poll found that the public is almost evenly split on whether lawmakers should pass a non-binding...

Down in the Hole:

Missileers spend most of their work shifts 60 feet underground, where they do more than simply wait for the balloon to go up, reports SSgt. Jeremy Larlee. Getting to that hole in the ground for missileers assigned to F.E. Warren...

Gauging Predictability:

Technicians at Arnold Engineering and Development Center in Tennessee are progressing through eight tests of Minuteman ICBM motors this year. They completed the first late last month in the center’s J-6 Large Rocket Motor Test Facility. The Air Force only...

Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism

Feb. 11, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 9 9 18 CAS/Armed Recon 45 35 80 Airlift 120 120 Air refueling 24 24 Total 54 44 144 242 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance