• RED FLAG Sharpens war-fighting skills

    Four B-2s and 135 people deployed from the 13th Bomb Squadron Jan. 12 to join personnel from 23 United States and United Kingdom bases for a RED FLAG exercise at here. "RED FLAG is a large force integration exercise designed to give pilots and maintainers a taste of combat," said Lt. Col. Bill

  • Eight key leadership lessons for all Airmen

    Bob Vasquez has spent more than 35 years watching Air Force officers -- first from his vantage point as a noncommissioned officer and now as an instructor at the Air Force Academy. He's seen junior officers do some good things, and he's seen them do some stupid things that stand in the way of their

  • Are we making a difference?

    I returned home in May 2005, after 379 days deployed in the Horn of Africa. It was a long year, and there were many times I wondered whether what we were doing was making a difference. The poverty was unimaginable, the living conditions unbearable, and the threat of Islamic terrorists reestablishing

  • MOPP levels, gas mask facilitate protection

    From the inception of the first gas-mask, military members have been wearing protective equipment in high-threat areas. Initial gas-masks were nothing more than a hood with wet-cloth to filter out chlorine, and can't even compare to the technology used today to protect the modern military

  • Pertussis: Why it is important to be immunized

    Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious disease marked by severe coughing. It is named after the "whoop" sound children and adults make when they try to breathe in during or after a severe coughing spell. Pertussis is caused by bacteria that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an

  • 8th AF Command Chief visits

    Command Chief Master Sgt. Todd Kabalan, the 8th Air Force command chief master sergeant, visited Whiteman this week to see the 509th Bomb Wing perform its mission first hand. Chief Kabalan is stationed at 8th Air Force Headquarters, Barksdale Air Force Base, La., and is the senior enlisted adviser

  • A day to reflect

    All over the United States, people are preparing to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. While the methods of celebration differ, the meaning and significance remain the same. Some will hold services while others may have ceremonies. There may be marches, speeches or songs. Yet in

  • 325th WPS gets new commander

    Lt. Col. Andrew Gebara, 325th Weapons Squadron commander, assumed command from Lt. Col. Glen VanHerck during a change-of-command ceremony Jan. 5. Below is a quick questionnaire to get know the new 325th WPS commander. Previous assignment: 325th WPS Director of Operations Time in service: 15 years

  • Niner's Notes

    Conventional readiness We've kicked off our convention war training cycle with mass training which began prior to the holiday break and with B-2s deploying to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., yesterday for RED FLAG. As those of us at home prepare for global expeditionary combat support, our team at RED