FEBRUARY 2, 2015, JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii (AFNS) - Starting Feb. 1, the Japanese encephalitis vaccine will be mandatory for active-duty Airmen who are either permanently stationed or who will be temporarily assigned for more than 30 days to Japan or South Korea. The implementation was signed into effect Jan. 9, by Air Force Surgeon General Lt. Gen. Thomas … [Read more...]

JANUARY 29, 2015, WASHINGTON (AFNS) - During testimony on Capitol Hill Jan. 28, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III stressed the negative impact sequestration will have on future Air Force capabilities, emphasizing further budget cuts will lead to low morale and declined readiness in the Air Force. “Pilots sitting in a squadron looking out at their … [Read more...]

JANUARY 28, 2015, JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) - Some temporary, seasonal and intermittent employees are now eligible for coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program (FEHB), said Office of Personnel Management officials. Temporary, seasonal or intermittent employees who anticipate working 130 or more hours per month for 90 consecutive days … [Read more...]

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFNS) - A new program known as the Pocket J system was recently completed and implemented to connect the nation's continental air defense sectors to aircraft flying the homeland defense mission. The program, managed under the C3I and Networks Directorate at Hanscom Air Force Base provides the primary tactical data link messaging capability … [Read more...]

JANUARY 22, 2015, WASHINGTON (AFNS) - The Air Force’s priorities for modernization and continuous improvement in the nuclear enterprise were the top of discussion during the Air Force Association’s monthly breakfast Jan. 20 in Arlington, Virginia. “This nuclear deterrent is as relevant and is as needed today as it was in January of 1965,” said Maj. … [Read more...]