Protecting the force

Ali Base drawdown in full swing

Ali Base, the first Air Force base in Iraq, is in full drawdown mode following directives followings the Presidents directive to lessen the American military presence in Iraq, and to withdraw combat forces by December, 2011.The Air Force presence here will be less than one-third what it is today by

USF-I gives base to Iraq

United States Forces- Iraq gave control of Hawk Base back to the Government of Iraq and Iraqi Air Force as part of the United States drawdown and transfer of responsibility from U.S. forces to the GoI Security Forces Jan. 1, 2010. The transfer of Hawk Base, to include 31 facilities, four generators

New 321st AEW commander sees promising future for Iraqi Air Forces

Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of the U.S. Air Forces Central Command, presided over a change of command ceremony Jan. 7, where Maj. Gen. Robert Kane relinquished command of the 321st Air Expeditionary Wing to Brig. Gen. Scott Hanson. The mission of the 321st AEW is to train and advise the Iraqi

Primed: 22 EARS tankers refuel combat aircraft

Every day, the Air Force reports dozens of successful flights supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Fighters, bombers and other combat aircraft provide overwatch for troops on the ground, protecting the war fighters and deterring the enemy.Most of those flights are possible because of one thing and

Airmen help Afghan National Army Air Corps soldiers take aim

"That's it, that's it, exactly what I want to see," said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Conley, 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group security forces advisor. "Very good, that is how you are supposed to shoot."Sergeant Conley, who is deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., shouted these words of encouragement

Manas basketball game inspires Kyrgyz: 'We should play more'

Team Manas defeated the Kyrgyz Russian Slavic University 93-51 in a friendship and sports cooperation basketball game here Jan. 5. This was the Transit Center's third game and second victory against a local team. The Kyrgyz team started strong and was up one point after the first three minutes, but

Airmen help Afghan National Army Air Corps soldiers take aim

"That's it, that's it, exactly what I want to see," said Tech. Sgt. Kevin Conley, 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group security forces advisor. "Very good, that is how you are supposed to shoot."Sergeant Conley, who is deployed from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., shouted these words of encouragement

Photo essay: Dragonlady comes home

A U-2 Dragonlady aircraft assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing taxis down the runway at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on Dec. 30, 2009, after completing a mission. The U-2 provides high-altitude, all-weather surveillance and reconnaissance, day or night, in direct support of U.S.

10K flight hours amid landmark OEF tour for 354th EFS

More than 10,000 flight hours and 2,500 sorties marked the closing stages of a landmark six-month tour for the 354th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here New Year's Day.The A-10C Thunderbolt II squadron was the first U.S. Air Force fighter unit based in southern Afghanistan, a move that saved the