Australian air force mechanics get C-17 training at Charleston

Members of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 5, are providing first-of-its-kind training for 24 Royal Australian Air Force mechanics with a custom-made program at their C-17 training facilities here. In March, Brendan Nelson, the Australian Minister for Defence, announced his country's

Maintaining the Hercules

Wild Blue Yonder to Ground Pounding

Airmen learn combat skill for in-lieu-of taskings Some Airmen cross service lines to carry out joint mission objectives while working cooperatively with the Navy, Marines and Army. These Airmen typically are classed as "special ops" and until recently, have been considered "outside the norm." When

Father passes flag to daughter in Iraq

Traditions run deep in the military, and for this father and daughter, traditions are what brought them together in Iraq. Col. Steven Dreyer, 4th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group commander, at Camp Victory, Iraq, reunited with his youngest daughter, 1st Lt. Kathrine Dreyer, 777th

Outstanding enlisted aircrew members announced for 2005

The recipients of the 2005 Henry E. "Red" Erwin Award for the outstanding enlisted aircrew members of the year have been announced. The awards recognize career enlisted aviators for outstanding job accomplishments, demonstration of leadership and sustained self-improvements in support of the

U.S. prepares for operation to aid Pakistan

A joint team of Airmen and Soldiers are in Pakistan preparing for Operation Promise Keeping, a follow-up mission to aid the people in remote northern parts of the country, which was devastated by an earthquake last year. On Oct. 8, 2005, the disaster, which measured a 7.6 on the Richter Scale and

'Spirit of McChord' gives Canadians a lift

Normally they move people, humanitarian supplies, troop rations and equipment, but Airmen with the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron's Detachment 1 here were tasked Oct. 7 to move different equipment -- several 30-foot, 100,000 pound Canadian tanks. The C-17 Globemaster III "Spirit of McChord"

AFSO 21 tools reveal inefficiencies, streamline procedures

Members of Fairchild Air Force Base's operations and maintenance communities spent this week in the education center working out a better process for scheduling flying missions.They were participating in an Air Force Smart Operations 21 event, under the guidance of the base's AFSO 21 consultant,

Seeds of 56-year marriage planted during Berlin Airlift

Retired Lt. Col. James and Ellie Spatafora possess a unique answer to a common question couples are quizzed about. When asked where they met, they answer that the seeds of their 56-year marriage were planted during the historic Berlin Airlift. The couple was able to catch up on old times with

Airlift/Tanker Association dedicates Hall of Fame bust

A new face graces the Airlift/Tanker Association Hall of Fame in front of the 375th Airlift Wing headquarters building. Retired Maj. Gen. James "Bagger" Baginski revealed his own bronze bust Oct. 2 as part of the A/TA Hall of Fame Memorial. In addition, Gen. Duncan McNabb commander of Air Mobility