News

  • Suicide prevention alliance focuses on troops, veterans

    A suicide-prevention task force for service members and veterans has been added to a national alliance that officials hope will help bring more attention to the issues and offer solutions in the future.Officials with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention last week announced that

  • Royal Air Force aircrew members to train at Offutt

    Whether it's performing strategic bombing missions in World War II, defending Europe during the Cold War, monitoring Iraqi no-fly zones, or battling the Taliban in Afghanistan, the U.S. Air Force and the U.K. Royal Air Force have been close allies for many years.Recently, this partnership was

  • Mullen: Leaders key to nation's, military's future

    Because leaders at all levels are key to U.S. success, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a CNN interview broadcast Jan. 2, his main concern is ensuring military officials continue to develop and encourage great leaders for the country.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told Fareed Zakaria on the

  • VA officials set to verify veteran small businesses

    To further advocate for veterans, VA officials have announced that companies identifying themselves as small businesses or veteran-owned businesses to gain priority for some Department of Veterans Affairs contracts now must provide documentation verifying their status within 90 days of receiving

  • Patriot Club receives a modern make-over

    In order to keep up with a rapidly changing and modernized society, the Patriot Club is undergoing renovations. The Patriot Club's primary goal is to increase customer satisfaction and usage while maintaining a financially solvent activity. In spirit of this goal, the theme of the renovation project

  • Most housing rates dip for 2011 as pay, subsistence increase

    Most military housing allowance rates will decrease slightly for 2011, but servicemembers will receive, on average, as much or slightly more money than they did this year, Defense Department officials said Dec. 15.Cheryl Anne Woehr, a housing allowance program analyst, said overall rates are fairly

  • Air Force leaders stress safety during the holidays

    Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy issued the following holiday safety message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force:During this holiday season, we extend our sincere appreciation for your

  • Lesser-known UCMJ offenses

    Some Airmen destroy promising careers, and it's not always because they are caught stealing, using drugs or misusing their government computer. Having served as a prosecutor, defense attorney and military judge, I've seen people lose their careers for many reasons: from voyeurism to disloyal

  • STRATCOM event raises children's holiday spirits

    Christmas came a little early for the children of U.S. Strategic Command personnel as a celebration filled with crafts, music and even a visit from Santa brought some holiday cheer Dec. 11.The USSTRATCOM children's holiday party, held at the Bennie Davis Maintenance Facility, attracted more than 200

  • Communications Airmen prove vital to Regional Command-West mission

    Imagine a small group of elite Soldiers on patrol in the mountains of northern Herat province coming under heavy attack by a much-larger group of insurgents.What if these outnumbered and outgunned Soldiers called back to Camp Arena for close-air support but found no answer on the receiving end?In a

  • Enough is enough: Preventing DUI

    A mother says goodbye to her 20-year-old son, not knowing that this will be the last time she'll see him alive. Three hours later, she will receive the painful news. In January 2002, an elderly couple returning from their vacation in Arizona were killed by a nine-time repeat drunken driving

  • Secretary Gates Brings Deployed Soldiers Home for Leave

    As Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates made his way back to Washington from an overseas trip, he had some extra passengers aboard this Air Force E-4B: soldiers deployed to Afghanistan who were heading home on rest and recuperation leave to spend time with their families during the holiday

  • Letter in the wall makes its way back after 20 years

    For years, a letter from a 12-year-old girl to the future residents sat sealed inside a plastic sandwich bag in the historic walls of Quarters 21, located on Generals' Row here.On Dec. 6, 20 years to the day after the letter was written, Brooke Lewis, now aged 32, came back to Offutt."It's just a

  • President extends stop loss claims deadline

    Airmen, veterans and their beneficiaries now have until Dec. 18 to apply for retroactive stop loss special pay.The new deadline is the second extension to the original Oct. 21 cutoff and comes as a result of a continuing resolution signed by the president Dec. 4.Airmen eligible for the benefit

  • Chief of staff addresses 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' report

    Allowing time to adequately prepare servicemembers prior to implementing a repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" law is vital to continued mission effectiveness, the Air Force chief of staff told members of Congress here Dec. 3.Gen. Norton Schwartz, his fellow service chiefs and the vice chairman of

  • New policy bridges Korea tour normalization

    The top U.S. commander in South Korea has introduced a new policy prioritizing what positions qualify for highly sought-after command sponsorships for family members.Army Gen. Walter L. Sharp, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, announced the new system this week to control the flow of