• Elmendorf to retire F-15s next year

    The Air Force has announced plans to retire legacy fighters to fund a smaller and more capable force and redistribute people for higher priority missions. This proposal includes the 28-year presence of F-15s at Elmendorf drawing to a close in 2010 when the last of its 24 F-15s depart. "We will

  • SECAF, CSAF release suicide prevention letter

    Dear Airmen: We continue to be deeply concerned about each Airman ... Active Duty, Guard, Reserve and Civilian ... who chooses to take his or her own life. One suicide is too many, and we cannot let our guard down as we work t prevent the next. As leader, supervisors and wingmen, we must be vigilant

  • 525th deploys for first time since reactivation

    A contingent of 12 F-22 Raptors landed here May 13 completing the arrival of more than 200 Airmen from the 525th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The 525th EFS deployed here in support of Pacific Command's Theater Security Package maintaining a presence in the Western

  • Logistical challenges at the Last Frontier

    Alaska, our 49th state, derives from the Aleut word meaning "great land." It has been called the "Last Frontier" by its early pioneers because of the abundance of opportunities it offers to gold seekers, oil companies and other entrepreneurs and tourists with an appetite for adventure. Its

  • AF selects 83 Arctic Warriors for promotion to master sergeant

    Air Force officials selected 5,604 of 22,748 eligible technical sergeants for promotion to master sergeant for a selection rate of 24.64 percent May 14. The average score for those selected was 340.41, with an average time in grade and time in service of 4.45 and 16.40 years respectively. The

  • CSAF reflects on importance of PACAF

    The chief of staff of the Air Force wrapped up a week-long, four-base tour of Pacific Air Forces here May 13 on his first visit to the region since becoming the nation's top-ranking uniformed Airman last August. Gen. Norton Schwartz said the United States has a vested interest in the Asia-Pacific

  • Air Force officials standardize informal uniform

     As a result of the 96th Air Force Uniform Board, a standardized informal uniform is now authorized for wear. The informal uniform will be mandatory for wear by all applicable Air Force personnel starting Jan. 1, 2011. The Air Force Chief of Staff directed review of the informal uniform to help

  • President issues Armed Forces Day proclamation

     President Barack Obama signed and issued a proclamation May 14 designating May 16 as Armed Forces Day. Here is the presidential proclamation: On Armed Forces Day, 1961, President Kennedy connected civic engagement and our nation's security. He stated, "The strength of our armed forces rests not

  • Biden announces housing assistance program expansion

    Vice President Joe Biden May 14 announced the Defense Department's plan to expand its housing assistance program with $555 million devoted to servicemembers forced to sell their homes at a loss due to the country's struggling housing market. The financial support comes from President Barack Obama's