Roy: Even One Suicide is Too Many

RoyEven One Suicide is Too Many: CMSAF James Roy is calling on all Air Force personnel to make a difference in the lives of their fellow airmen and reverse the "devastating trend" of rising suicide rates in the service. "We've had a drastic increase this year in the number of suicides among our total force airmen," writes Roy in the newest iteration of The Enlisted Perspective. "Even one suicide is too many!" he asserts. Roy urges airmen and Air Force civilians at all levels to get involved. "We need to look out for each other. . . . That's what good wingmen do, and that's what our Air Force needs," he writes. And he encourages those in distress to reach out for help. "So many people care about you," he states, adding, "Just give them a chance. Don't ever think you are alone or that no one will understand." (San Antonio release)

Reservist Wins Right to Sue for Punitive Damages

A Pennsylvania state court has granted Arnold Hamovitz, an Air Force Reservist from the Pittsburgh area, the right to sue former employers for punitive damages under a state tort claim for wrongful discharge. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Hamovitz came...

Webb Not Happy with Pentagon’s Transparency

Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) said he’s had it with Pentagon leaders rendering major decisions about the size and shape of US armed forces without, apparently, the benefit of adequate data to back up their choices. Moreover, when members of Congress...

Typhoon Terminates Kadena Exercise

Typhoon Chaba has brought an abrupt end to a base-wide exercise at Kadena Air Base on the Japanese island of Okinawa. Airmen were several days into the week-long Exercise Beverly High 11-1 earlier this week when Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach,...

Cutting Back

The Army and Marine Corps can get smaller, Sen. James Webb (D-Va.) said Wednesday. Webb told defense reporters in Washington, D.C., that he’s concluded that in ground forces end strength, “I think you can cut back,” although he didn’t name...

Airborne Sensor Suite Gets Upgrade

Raytheon announced Wednesday that it is upgrading the target location accuracy and high-definition imaging of its Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems. “This is an important upgrade for our Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems family of sensors as we continue to provide high-performance, state-of-the-art technology...

World War II Airmen’s Remains Laid to Rest

Two airmen who had been missing in action in the western Pacific since late 1943 were buried with full military honors on Wednesday. SSgt. Claude A. Ray, 24, of Coffeyville, Kan., was laid to rest in Fallbrook, Calif., while SSgt....

Scott Retains Communications Hall of Fame

Air Force Space Command officials have announced that the Communications and Information Hall of Fame will remain at Scott AFB, Ill., in the Air Force Network Integration Center’s headquarters building. Furthermore, the hall of fame’s nomination and selection process remains...

Bringing the Shine Back to Barksdale’s BUFF

Contractors at Barksdale AFB, La., are hard at work restoring a retired B-52D at the 8th Air Force Museum. This Stratofortress, with serial number 56-629, flew 400 combat missions during the Vietnam War, surviving a hit by a surface-to-air missile...

Air Sorties from SWA 102010

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Oct. 20, 2010 Sortie Type OND OEF OND/OEF Total YTD ISR 26 75 101 22,038 CAS/Armed Recon 14 89 103 28,565 Airlift 180 180 50,881 Air refueling 53 53 14,209 Rescue 25 25 6,540 Total...