Archives for January 2013

1/31/2013 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) -- The 31st Fighter Wing launched several of its F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft Jan. 29 to join the ongoing search effort for a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot who was declared missing during a nighttime training mission Jan. 28. The fighter jets will provide further assistance to the robust rescue operation already underway, joining U.S. … [Read more...]

1/29/2013 - JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) -- One of the most combat-decorated Air Force units since the end of the Vietnam War named more heroes Jan. 23-24 during medal presentation ceremonies here and at Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore. The 24th Special Operations Wing gained one Silver Star and six Bronze Star medals with Valor when Airmen from the … [Read more...]

SAN ANTONIO (Jan. 29, 2013) -- Several Soldiers in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program are training and competing for spots on the U.S. Team for the 2014 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Sochi, Russia. The strongest group will compete at the 2013 Bobsled World Championships Jan. 26-27, and Feb. 1-3, in picturesque St. Moritz, Switzerland, home of the only naturally … [Read more...]

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) January 28, 2013 -- Following a nine-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole (DDG 67) returned to Naval Station Norfolk today marking the successful conclusion of her maiden Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) deployment. The ship departed last April for the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Jan. 24, 2013) -- Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey signed a memo this afternoon, paving the way for more women to serve in direct combat roles and in more military occupational specialties that are now open only to males. The memo rescinds the 1994 DOD "Direct Ground Combat Definition … [Read more...]