Airman articles from February 2004

Airman archives from February 2004

Eras end, eras begin: it's goodbye Rhein-Main, hello new and improved Ramstein and Spangdahlem.
February 1, 2004... An F-16 Fighting Falcon makes a smooth landing beside an eruption of construction paving the way for heavy aircraft to land at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, as part of the Rhein-Main Transition Program. Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, long known...

Live from Iraq, it's AFN.(Airman's World)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... SAN ANTONIO -- U.S. military broadcasters hit the airwaves in Baghdad, Iraq, in December with the first manned American Forces Radio and Television Service broadcast from the country. American Forces Network-Iraq features live shows, news,...

Tax relief aids military, families.(Airman's World)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- Legislation signed by President George W. Bush on Nov. 11, 2003, increases the death gratuity payment to $12,000 and provides that the full payment is tax-free. That portion of the Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003 is...

Air force edition of monopoly hits base exchange shelves.(Airman's World)
February 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- A new game hit the shelves of base exchanges in December when the Army and Air Force Exchange Service introduced Air Force Edition Monopoly. In the game, "You've been appointed a joint air component commander and must...

Airmen say "I do" in Black Hawk.(Airman's World)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BALAD SOUTHEAST AIRFIELD, Iraq -- Two airmen said "I do" above Iraqi soil in an Army HH-60A Black Hawk helicopter in November. Airmen 1st Class Vernon Millican and Toni Chapman, both of the deployed security forces contingent here, pledged...

UK now requires entry clearance.(Airman's World)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- New immigration regulations enacted by the United Kingdom require people visiting for more than six months to obtain entry clearance before travel. These new rules apply to military family members, as well...

Karl Malone guarantees POW/MIA recognition.(Airman's World)
February 1, 2004... HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- It's said that passionate people wear their hearts on their sleeves. For Los Angeles Lakers' forward Karl Malone, he chooses to wear his on his shoe. There are more than 88,000 Americans still unaccounted...

An American guy.(Airman's World)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Toby Keith visits with fans in November while filming his new video, "American Soldier" here. A crowd of about 400 people filled a hangar to meet the country music star, The video debuted in December and is...

Chaplain recalls journey from communism.(Airman's World)
February 1, 2004... LAJES FIELD, Azores -- Seven years after receiving his collar, the Communist Party came to haul him away. They would've arrested and interrogated him if he hadn't been so sick. The Communist Party in Poland had heard enough about Father...

Blood donations halted from personnel deployed to Iraq.(Airman's World)
February 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- A parasitic disease being spread by sand flies in Iraq has prompted officials who oversee the military's blood supply to begin a one-year donor deferral for military personnel serving in that country. The reason for the...

A message home.(Airman's World)
February 1, 2004... BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Senior Airman Patrick Blevins sends a message to his wife, Kristy, and his unborn son during a national television news broadcast in November. The baby's birth was expected in January. The soon-to-be dad deployed...

Prior-service airmen receive SKT exemptions.(Airman's World)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Prior-service airmen who don't hold the minimum required primary Air Force specialty skill level commensurate with their grade will automatically receive a two-year exemption from taking the specialty knowledge...

Thunderbirds release 2004 show schedule.(Airman's World)(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, goes back on the road next month. The team will perform more than 64 public shows in 23 states, Canada and Asia. A member of Air Combar Command, the...

Coping with military life: how to make transitions easier for children.(Airman Consumer)
February 1, 2004... Like a lot of Air Force parents, Maj. Gregg Bottemiller is in a quandary. His daughter is a high school sophomore, and they plan to move this summer. His main concern: "How do you guarantee your children's successful transition from high school...

Cannon blast.(Air Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... Our last assignment before retiring was at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., and it was the best of all. The Committee of 50 is real and an important part of the community. It saddened me to see the only picture of a family was one that homeschools...

Behind the scenes.(Air Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... I just read "Sight Savers" [November 2003] and wanted to thank you for exposing some of the extremely positive things Air Force medics are doing in South America. I'd also like to point out that the air component of U.S. Southern Command...

Uniform opinions.(Air Mail)(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2004... In "Air Mail" [November 2003], we asked our readers to give us their opinions on the proposed utility uniform, which begins testing this month. Of the 32 responses we received, 50 percent wanted to keep the current utility uniform, 27 percent...

Chuck Roberts.(Meet the Staff)
February 1, 2004... Master Sgt. Chuck Roberts is a 17-year veteran from Gadsden, Ala., whose previous assignments include the Air Force Academy, Korea, Guam, England and two tours with European Stars & Stripes in Germany. As an assistant editor and staff writer...

Air Force Link.(In search of news and information)
February 1, 2004... Air Force Link: www.af.mil--Airman magazine, Air Force Print News Air Force Radio News, Air Force TV News, fact sheets, biographies, artwork, and links to other Air Force and Department of Defense news.

Electronic mail subscriptions.(In search of news and information)
February 1, 2004... Electronic mail subscriptions: www.af.mil, then follow the "Subscribe" link at the top of the page--Free e-mail subscriptions to news and information products.

Air Force Radio News.(In search of news and information)
February 1, 2004... Air Force Radio News:1-877-AFRADIO (237-2346), DSN 945-5918--Five-minute, weekday program providing latest Air Force news. Available to more than 1300 commercial radio stations via satellite. Also available on Air Force Link at www.af.mil, then...

Air Force Television News.(In search of news and information)
February 1, 2004... Air Force Television News: 30-minute biweekly television program covering news and policy issues available with closed captioning. Shown at commander's calls, on public access cable channels and on the American Forces Radio and Television...

Air Force Print News.(In search of news and informationi)
February 1, 2004... Air Force Print News: www.af.mil/news--The Air Force news service providing Air Force and Department of Defense news and information, with daily updates from around the world.

Airman.(In search of news and information)
February 1, 2004... Airman: www, af.mil/news/airman--Feature and information magazine. Unit subscriptions: afnspub@afnews.af.mil.

Humor from W.C. Pope.
February 1, 2004... ... AND HERE IS A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM CRASHING INTO A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM... AND RIGHT HERE IS A MASSING OF CIRRUS CLOUDS AT ABOUT 22 THOUSAND FEES... ... AND OVER HERE IS A STORM FORMING OVER THIS TROPICAL DEPRESSION... Why...

Hope for couch potatoes?(Airman Fitness)
February 1, 2004... Face it, it's almost ah epidemic. The guy in the next cubicle straps on his running shoes every day at lunch and runs a preposterously long distance for no good reason. No one's chasing him, right? The master sergeant in supply started rock...

Tick tock at Tallil.(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... As the first forward-deployed air base established in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom, day-to-day life changes at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, like the shifting sands. Located 180 miles south of Baghdad, there's adrenaline-pumping excitement...

Hard-line defense: second-time Secretary of Defense brings business approach into the ranks.
February 1, 2004... His demeanor and integrity have earned him both popularity and respect. His assertive personality goes head-to-head with both press and politicians as he tells it like it is. And an eyebrow or two goes up when press like CNN and Fox make...

A gunner's tale: the sole survivor of his crew, Robert Sweatt's courage and determination were testaments to his crew and all others who flew in the face of danger.
February 1, 2004... When the shooting started, he was only expected to survive about 17 seconds. At least that's what airmen believed was the average life expectancy of an aerial gunner in combat. More than 12,000 B-24 Liberators and B-17 Flying Fortresses...

Punching her way to the top: Air Force boxer sets high goals.(female amateur boxer Staff Sgt. Charmaine Carrington)(Interview)
February 1, 2004... Air Force boxer sets high goals Fruto the first day she seriously considered boxing almost three years ago, Staff Sgt. Charmaine Carrington felt she had what it takes to be one of the best female amateur boxers in the country. Flash forward...

Lakefront view, cloudy future.(@goodfellow.af.mil)
February 1, 2004... Tech. Sgt. Ronnie Lang and his two sons have a good house. Three bedrooms, 1,100 square feet of living space and enough closet space to squirrel away a mountain of toys, racks of clothes and souvenirs from Lang's career--all within walking...

Trail of independence.(Airman's Notebook; Robert Sweatt)
February 1, 2004... Spending more than eight hours with Robert Sweatt. I walked away with the formidable task of portraying his story in text [See "A Gunner's Tale," Page 34]. Driving my way south from his hometown of Burton, Texas, I despised the thought that...

Final frame.
February 1, 2004... F-15 Strike Eagles from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, soar over Iraq in December supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The F-15E is a dual-role fighter designed to perform air-to-ground and air-to-air missions. An array of avionics and...

Then & now.(Col. Debra Grey part of Air Force Academy's first co-ed class)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Twenty-seven years ago. Airman captured then-Cadet Fourth Class Debra Dubbe on its front cover, wondering what the future had in store for her as she embarked on a four-year journey at the Air Force Academy as part of the class of 1980--the...