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  • UAVs aid force protection efforts

    RQ-11 Raven unmanned aerial vehicles may be easily mistaken for an unorthodox version of a model airplane, but Airmen here use the UAV to secure the base and surrounding neighborhoods. Weighing in at less than 5 pounds, the Raven is operated from the ground via a remote control unit that can send

  • Airpower Summary for March 16

    Coalition airpower integrated with Coalition ground forces in Iraq and the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan in the following operations Mar. 16, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II and a B-1B

  • Airman wins outstanding AMC Weather Airman of the Year

    A weather Airman here was chosen as the Air Mobility Command Outstanding Weather Airman of the year for 2007. Staff Sgt. Brandon Healy, 407th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron weather forecaster here, was surprised he won March 4. "I don't really think about stuff like this so it always

  • C-130 aircrews, Army riggers reach airdrop record

    February marked an airdrop record for the C-130s of the 774th Air Expeditionary Squadron, but not without the support of the Army's 11th Quartermaster Rigger Detachment and Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force riggers here. The joint team delivered approximately 1 million pounds of

  • Instinctive action prevents catastrophe

    The Airmen of the 335th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit here maintain, launch and recover aircraft in order to provide 24-hour aerial-combat support for coalition forces in Afghanistan. Often times, these men and women are faced with challenges outside their routine, requiring them to recall

  • 455th AEW welcomes new commander

    Col. Mike Holmes took command of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing from Brig. Gen. James Hyatt during a change-of-command ceremony here March 10. Colonel Holmes pinned on brigadier general March 12. Lt. Gen. Gary North, 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central Commander, presided over the ceremony

  • Airmen teach contractors life-saving skills

    When it comes to rescuing someone trapped in a vehicle, using the 'Jaws of Life' can mean the difference between life and death -- but only if the tool is used properly. The Air Force Fire Department at Balad recently led refresher training sessions for U.S. government contracted personnel who

  • Team effort keeps Balad water supply safe

    The first thing deployed troops hear when they arrive in theater is how important it is to stay hydrated. In order to do this, they need to have confidence that the water available to them is safe. For Airmen stationed at Balad Air Base and Soldiers at the co-located Logistics Support Area Anaconda,

  • 9th Air Force commander visits Sather Airmen

    The commander and command chief of 9th Air Force and U.S. Air Forces Central arrived at Sather Air Base, adjacent to Baghdad International Airport, March 13 for a visit with the Airmen who keep the "gateway to Iraq" operational. Lt. Gen. Gary North and Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff were greeted