Eye of the Beholder
If a Humvee gets destroyed in the war on terror, it should be replaced in a war supplemental budget. If an airplane gets lost or worn down to a non-flyable condition in the same war, it should come out of...
The New York View
New York lawmakers have begun to pressure the Air Force to reopen the combat search and rescue helicopter replacement program. Letters have gone to Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne from Sen. Hillary Clinton, Rep. Michael Arcuri, and Rep. Maurice Hinchey,...
Beware, Taliban
A nine-member crew of a US Air Force C-130 Hercules, deployed to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, dropped 30,000 warning leaflets over the mountains of southeastern Afghanistan on March 6, in support of Operation Achilles. The leaflets, aimed at warning...
Fallon Wants More C-17s
In testimony before the House Armed Services Committee March 7, Adm. William Fallon, head of US Pacific Command, stated that the Pacific region has “a shortage of responsive strategic air and ship lift to support force sustainment and deployment to...
On China
Last week China revealed that it planned to increase its 2007 military budget by 17.8 percent, which Rep. Ike Skelton (R-Mo.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee called “the biggest increase in defense spending in five year.” In remarks...
Training for AMP
As Boeing prepares to field Avionics Modernization Program-upgraded C-130 airlifters in 2010, the company is also training USAF flight crews and maintenance personnel. The flight crews get 50 hours in classroom instruction and 12 in a simulator-like engineering test device....
Better Intel, More Munitions
The Air Force dropped more than 1,700 munitions in 2006 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, a dramatic increase from 176 munitions in 2005. Lt. Gen. Gary North, head of US Central Command Air Forces, credits better intelligence for the...
Trying to “Make Policy, Not Just Points”
House Democrats are working toward a consensus for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Peter Cohn and Christian Bourge of Congress Daily report that Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-Wis.) has a plan that would establish a timetable for withdrawal and...
Portraits in Courage:
The Air Force has created a new Web site feature that highlights the work—and sacrifices—airmen are making in the war on terror. The site, which is called “Portraits in Courage,” initially features photos and vignettes on the contributions of 15...
Maintaining the Law:
The Alpha and Bravo 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron flights at Balad AB, Iraq, continuously rotate shifts to guard the base. Journalist TSgt. Jennifer Gregoire reports that they are mindful of the constant attacks going on around them as they...
Fix the NSPS:
House Armed Services readiness subcommittee members are questioning whether the Pentagon’s new National Security Personnel System, authorized by Congress in 2004, was the right approach—and collectively seem to think the NSPS needs to be fixed through additional legislation. A big...
Critical SBIRS Training:
Airmen in training at Schriever AFB, Colo., on the new Space Based Infrared Systems missile warning satellite are getting a lot of time with their instructors—the ratio is one instructor for every two students, reports journalist SSgt. Jeremy Larlee. Air...
A High Reserve Count:
Nine airmen from Air Force Reserve Command’s 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Patrick AFB, Fla. are deployed to Balad Air Base, Iraq, to support the mission of the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group. The Patrick Reservists joined with about 77 other...
A $9 Million Bill:
The US Federal Claims Court has decided that the Air Force must pay companies that built homes on the former Lowry Air Force Base in Denver around $9 million—the amount it cost them to clean up asbestos left behind when...
Air Sorties in the Global War on Terrorism
March 5, 2007 Sortie Type OIF OEF OIF/OEF Total ISR 11 8 19 CAS/Armed Recon 45 52 97 Airlift 160 160 Air refueling 37 37 Total 56 60 197 313 OIF=Operation Iraqi Freedom OEF=Operation Enduring Freedom ISR=Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance