Air Force Reserve Command officials are making organizational changes at Barksdale AFB, La., to improve Reservists’ support of B-52 bomber operations there. On Jan. 1, AFRC will inactivate Barksdale’s 917th Wing, which consists today of B-52 squadrons and an A-10...

Nuclear inspectors should be on the ground in Russia and the United States about 60 days after both countries have ratified the New START arms reduction treaty, says Rose Gottemoeller, assistant secretary of state for arms control. The Senate ratified...

The Air Force has re-opened the public comment period until Jan. 20 on the proposed plan to expand the Powder River Training Complex covering several of the Great Plains states, according to Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.). The original public comment...

Airmen with the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron Fuel Management Flight at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, are now using a new fuel delivery system that significantly reduces the number of operators required to refuel large aircraft. The $130 million Type III...

Airmen have spoken and leaders have listened. USAF officials have updated the Air Force fitness program, implemented in July, with an Air Force guidance memorandum. The memo (full text; caution, large file) articulates policy changes to Air Force Instruction 36-2905 that take effect Jan. 1, including the proper way to do push-ups, sit-ups, and abdominal circumference measurements. The updated guidance also requires all airmen to retest within 90 days after failing their fitness assessment. It gives them the option to retest in the first 42 days after a failed test, but requires commander approval to do so. Airmen who are deployed for less than a year to a location that administers the test make take the assessment only on a volunteer basis. Those airmen whose assessments expire while deployed will be considered exempt. The updated guidelines also do away with recognition patches for airmen who achieved or maintained "excellent" fitness assessment scores. (SAF/PA report by TSgt. Amaani Lyle)

The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., now has the ability to monitor the status of Wideband Global Satellite Communications spacecraft in real time thanks to a pilot program known as Blue Force Status. The 3rd Space Operations...

Six F-16 pilots from the 480th Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, completed NATO Allied Command Europe’s tactical leadership program at Albacete-Los Llanos Air Base in Spain. “This training is designed for experienced flight leads that are able to handle...

Military working dog handlers with the 99th Security Forces Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nev., hosted an explosive-detection training exercise with 25 canine teams from local, state, and federal agencies as well as private casinos in the Las Vegas area. The...

Air Sorties in Southwest Asia, Dec. 15, 2010 Sortie Type OND OEF OND/OEF Total YTD ISR 24 75 99 27,165 CAS/Armed Recon 14 63 77 34,332 Airlift 193 193 60,538 Air refueling 43 43 16,907 Rescue 23 23 7,957 Total...