AFCEA - Los Angeles

When two out of four of the Transit Center at Manas' mission pillars rely on the C-17 Globemaster III, it's important those aircraft are ready to fly.

The Airmen assigned to the 728th Air Mobility Squadron Operating Location-Alpha are responsible for maintenance of the C-17, ensuring the aircraft are mission-ready.

The 728th AMS is a traditional Air Mobility Command en route squadron supporting operations in Eastern Europe, Africa and Southwest Asia. Operating Location-Alpha is one of five 728th AMS flights; as a tenant unit at the Transit Center, it provides C-17 and C-5 maintenance expertise for AMC aircraft primarily supporting airlift and onward movement in and out of the area of responsibility.
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All F-35s have been grounded as a precaution after a routine engine inspection revealed a crack on an engine blade, Defense Department officials said Feb. 22 here.

Officials call this a "cautionary suspension of flight." The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps fly F-35s.

Inspectors found the crack in an F135 engine installed in an F-35A Lightning II at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. This is the conventional take-off and landing version of the joint strike fighter.

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He didn't know where it was to or what it was for, but when Charleston, S.C., native Tech. Sgt. Adrian Jackson heard about a short-notice tasking to deploy, he volunteered immediately.

Jackson volunteered he having only been on-station two months.

"Because he was new to base, he was ineligible to deploy for six months, however he wanted to go, so he worked to make it happen," said his supervisor 1st Lt. Richelle Greer, 52nd Fighter Wing weather officer from Antipolo, Philippines.
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Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed more than 500 men and women on the final day of the Air Force Association's 29th Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Exposition Feb. 22 here.

During his address, Donley spoke about several issues that are on the Air Force's radar, including budget and planning challenges, and of particular interest, the looming sequestration.

"During over three decades now in Washington, I don't believe I've ever witnessed a budget process that is as dysfunctional as is the one we're experiencing today," Donley said.
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Air Force officials released nomination criteria for the new Distinguished Warfare Medal Feb. 15, following defense officials' announcement of the new decoration days prior.

The DWM will be awarded to honor individuals for single acts of extraordinary achievement, not involving acts of valor, that directly impact combat or other military operations approved by the secretary of defense.

Unlike other combat-related medals, service members may be awarded the DWM for actions completed from either in or outside an actual combat zone.
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The Total Force Service Center-San Antonio, A1 Service Desk and Air Force Personnel Center Web applications will be unavailable from 6 p.m. Feb. 23 to 8 a.m. Feb. 24 CDT for system maintenance.

The major personnel applications and systems affected by this maintenance event include all of AFPC's secure applications and other Web applications on the AFPC Public Web Services website at http://access.afpc.af.mil. The virtual Personnel Center-Guard Reserve, or vPC-GR, application will continue to be accessible to customers.
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This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

View the slideshow.

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Two senior Air Force leaders addressed more than 500 people at the Air Force Association's 29th Air Warfare Symposium & Technology Exposition here Feb. 21, 2013.

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark. A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody took to the stage with several points to get across, but both had a similar theme: Airmen rock!

"I've been an AFA member since I was a cadet," said 2nd Lt. Rachael Nutting, 45th Launch Support Squadron, Cape Canaveral, Fla. "They're part of the team fighting for us ... it's great being here to see the big picture."
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(This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)

At the age of 10, his father asked him to be a part of something that would forever change his life.

Blessed with a gift that had been genetically passed down to him from his father and grandfather before him, he accepted the invitation to join his father's barbershop quartet.
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Child birth, although a natural process, can sometimes pose certain emergency risks.

Advances in technology however, have been able to significantly decrease these maternal and prenatal risks associated with child birth. Most notably, the 366th Medical Group Obstetric service boasts such technology in the form of a Mobile Obstetrics Emergency Simulator, commonly referred to as "MIA."

"MIA is basically a medical manikin with the ability to recreate a variety of emergency scenarios," said Capt. Kristin Daniel, the 366th MDG women's health obstetrician.
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 In 2003, I crossed trained from security forces to become a medical technician. I had just completed technical school and clinical rotations and as soon as I returned to my reserve unit, I was informed to prepare for a one-year activation of our medical unit. The Iraq ground war was in full effect and a large number of Soldiers, Marines and Airmen were routinely being aeromedically evacuated from contingency operations in the area of responsibility to Germany and then on to Andrews Air Force Base, Md., for more definitive care in the multiservice area.
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A joke that's often heard in communications squadrons throughout the Air Force is, "You can talk about us, but you can't talk without us!" Although it's meant it jest, there is some truth to it.

Airmen in the Air Force's communications squadrons ensure we have the capability to communicate through various means and that the infrastructure is in place and maintained.

View the slideshow below to see how Airmen in Afghanistan are keeping the base "talking".

SLIDESHOW
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Airmen from the 435th Contingency Response Group here traveled to Cerklje Air Base, Slovenia, to conduct a security familiarization event Jan. 21 - 25.

The 435th CRG is a uniquely suited organization for the mission of building partnership. With 42 different career fields, the unit members can engage with partner nations in core mission areas across the Air Force spectrum.

Master. Sgt. Jay Peavey, the 435th CRG air adviser and security superintendent, led a four-person team to exchange ideas and identify possible improvements in the Cerklje airfield security process.
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If sequestration is triggered next week, unpaid furloughs for civilian Defense Department employees will start in late April, Pentagon officials said here today.

Sequestration is a provision in budget law that will trigger major across-the-board spending cuts March 1 unless Congress agrees on an alternative.

DOD Comptroller Robert F. Hale told reporters at a Pentagon news conference that if sequestration happens, the department will cut virtually every program and investment, and that almost all civilian employees will feel the pain.
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February is African-American Heritage month. This month celebrates the accomplishments of African-Americans throughout history.

Near Goodfellow AFB, Airmen are able to see these accomplishments through the history of the Fort Concho Buffalo Soldiers. These soldiers not only paved a way in the movement towards African-American rights, but also helped build the city of San Angelo, Texas.

"It's a part of history that isn't really taught in schools these days," said Paul Cook, Fort Concho Company A manager. "The Buffalo Soldiers were very important to Fort Concho. They not only helped build the fort but they also helped build the community surrounding it."
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A senior cadet's summer research, which earned her recognition from Air Force Chief Scientist Dr. Mark Maybury at an awards ceremony Feb. 1, will help catch users of spice and similar products several weeks after they've ingested the substance.

Cadet 1st Class Alexa Gingras, working with two doctors at the Air Force Drug Testing Laboratory at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, improved the sensitivity of the Air Force's drug tests four-fold and devised a method of preparing urine samples that drastically shortened the sample preparation time.
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The new Distinguished Warfare Medal will retain its place in the order of precedence among military decorations, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said here Feb. 19.

Much of the public discussion of the new medal has centered on its precedence. It ranks below the Distinguished Flying Cross and above the Bronze Star.

"We are not diminishing at all the importance of the Bronze Star -- that remains an important award for our combat troops and will remain so," Little said in a meeting with reporters.
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Airmen from units deployed in support of Cope North 13 transported an R-11 refueling truck on a C-130 Hercules aircraft from here to Rota Island Feb. 13, to recover a Navy F/A-18 Hornet that diverted there due to weather a day prior.

With the combined effort of Airmen from the 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 36th Airlift Squadron, temporarily assigned here from Yokota Air Base, Japan, and the 36th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 734th Air Mobility Squadron, the refueling truck was transported to Rota and successfully refueled the diverted F/A-18 aircraft that was also here in support of Cope North.
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Last year, I dealt with the death of two people close to me.

In September, my father passed away unexpectedly at the age of 59, due to an illness. The man I thought to be indestructible, suddenly was gone.

Almost exactly two months later, a long-time friend also passed away in the hospital when complications occurred during a routine surgery. Only a few weeks before, the young athlete had celebrated his 25th birthday.

All I wanted during that time was to retreat and deal with my grief. However, my family was left not just with the emotional pain, but also the dreadful duty of arranging funeral proceedings and disposal of my father's personal belongings. Needless to say, I didn't like the tasks at hand.
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Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has notified Congress that the Defense Department is prepared to implement furloughs for civilian personnel in response to the threat of sequestration.

In a memo to all employees, Panetta vowed to continue working with Congress to avoid sequestration, which would add $470 billion to the $487 billion in defense spending cuts the department already is making over the next 10 years. If Congress cannot agree on an alternative deficit reduction plan, the cuts go into effect March 1.
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