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  • FY 17 NDAA impact on Airmen

    The approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 provides a number of changes for Airmen, retirees, and families, to include stabilizing readiness and end strength, improving pilot retention, modernizing compensation and benefits and enhancing transparency in the

  • Air Force needs to grow to 350,000

    In ongoing efforts to size and shape the force to current and future requirements, Air Force officials explained why the service needs to grow to 350,000 active-duty Airmen over the next seven years.

  • Program helps trainees become citizens

    The wind was picking up and the temperature was colder than expected for a San Antonio morning as the basic military training retreat ceremony began Dec. 8, 2016, at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland, Texas. Amid the brush of jackets and the murmurs of the crowd, a lone trainee stood at attention,

  • Maxwell honors McBride

    Maxwell held a special auditorium-naming ceremony at the 42nd Air Base Wing headquarters building, Dec. 21, 2016. The auditorium was renamed honoring Special Agent (Staff Sgt.) Chester J. McBride. Additionally, the ceremony will commemorate the 1-year anniversary of McBride's passing. Before he

  • MTLs, instructors don't 'leave an Airman behind' during holiday season

    Master Sgt. Kelli Jackson and Staff Sgt. Derius Jackson know their job as military training leaders, or MTLs, is critical to the development of the Air Force’s newest Airmen. Sporting a blue aiguillette, or rope, as an identifier, MTLs across the Air Force are charged with helping new Airmen

  • Training at a glance: Orthotics program

    The Air Force's only orthotics training program is conducted at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Established in the 1970s, the program is dedicated to providing the highest level of training and graduating world-class orthotics technicians. The

  • F-35 maintenance battle tested

    Checkered Flag facilitates integration between fifth and fourth-generation aircraft communities. These exercises are critical to hone the tactics techniques and procedures (TTP’s) for the aircraft’s inevitable deployment fighting alongside other combat assets. While the exercise is prime opportunity

  • Language program officials announce 2017 application dates

    The Air Force Culture and Language Center has released dates for the 2017 Air Force ROTC and U.S. Air Force Academy cadet and active duty application windows and selection boards for the Language Enabled Airman Program.The AFCLC will conduct two LEAP selection boards, one for cadets and one for

  • Air Force leaders discuss evolution of professional development

    Total Force leaders gathered here Dec. 7-8, to discuss the future of professionalism in the Air Force. Nearly 60 Airmen from all the major commands joined stakeholders from Headquarters Air Force, Air University, the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air National Guard and Reserve for two days to pool

  • Life after loss: One Air Force family’s journey to recovery

    Nine months ago, Air Force Lt. Col. Melchizedek “Kato” Martinez, a career tactical communications officer, was welcomed home from another combat deployment, a constant in the Martinez family. His wife, Gail, along with their four children, had planned a family retreat to their second home, the one