Defenders of Freedom Open House & Air Show Cancelled

The 2013 Defenders of Freedom Open House and Air Show, scheduled for Aug. 24-25, has been cancelled.Driven by operating budget uncertainties and sequestration, U.S. Air Force leadership at all levels are proactively implementing actions to minimize impact to military readiness while protecting

Don't want to get 'off it' -- Summer swap helps two lieutenant colonels remain on base

When the Air Force Weather Agency's Lead Command Management Division chief and the 343rd Recruiting Squadron commander move on to new assignments this summer, their commutes won't change much.As AFWA's Lt. Col. Stephen Phillips moves just down the street to take command of the 343rd RCS in June,

AF to implement force structure changes

The Air Force released its plan Mar. 28 to implement force structure changes mandated by the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. The bill authorized the service to complete actions approved in previous years, such as aircraft retirements, and directed execution of

Annual 55th Wing Birthday Ball just around the corner

The 55th Wing Birthday Ball takes place at 6 p.m. on May 4 at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in La Vista, Neb.The 35th annual event is hosted by Col. John Rauch, 55th Wing commander, and his wife Diane, and is the wing's largest formal social function. It is open to all active duty and

Red Flag 13-3 puts 55th ECG to the test

Airmen from the 55th Electronic Combat Group from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., participated in Red Flag 13-3 at Nellis AFB, Nev., Feb. 25 - March 15.Red Flag 13-3 was a three-week joint and coalition exercise in which aircrews from all branches of the U.S. military, as well as several

Survey helps develop stronger military communities

The 2013 Community Assessment Survey begins in late March and runs for 10 weeks through May.The survey gathers opinions and needs of military members, including active duty, Guard and Reserve, defense department civilians, as well as spouses of all military members.Individuals from Air Force bases

Heartland Of America Band entertain local youth

Pentagon Delays Sending Furlough Notices to Civilian Workforce

Pentagon officials have put off sending furlough notices to civilian employees until they've had a chance to analyze how pending legislation that would fund the federal government for the rest of the fiscal year will affect the Defense Department.Officials now estimate that furlough notices will go

Fitness annex opens to dorm residents

55th Wing leadership, Elite 4 Airman's Council members and dorm residents gathered at Turner Hall here March 6 to open the new dormitory fitness annex.The fitness annex is the result of a collaborative effort by the fitness center, civil engineering, dorm managers and the dorm residents

55th ISS celebrates its beginnings with a new coat of arms

The 55th Intelligence Support Squadron recently celebrated its beginnings with the introduction of a new coat of arms at the headquarters of the 55th Operations Group.Activated on July 22, 2010, the 55th ISS is the newest squadron within the 55th Wing and with more than 230 Airmen across 30 Air

Air Force suspends military tuition assistance

In the wake of sequestration, the Air Force officially suspended military tuition assistance March 11.Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley announced the Air Force has officially suspended military TA for the remainder of fiscal 2013. The program will continue to be evaluated to determine the

Snowmen keep Offutt in motion

Offutt and the Omaha area receive about 26 inches of snow annually. When a snow storm hits Offutt, it prompts around the clock snow removal operations for the largest wing in Air Combat Command."It's a much more complex operation than simply getting snow off the roads we drive on because our primary

55th Maintenance Group superintendent earns Bronze Star

Offutt holds its first Combatives certification course

Twenty-eight active duty military, reservists and civilians took to the mats at the Offutt Field House for a two day Air Force Combatives Program Level I certification course Feb. 28-March 1.The course consisted of 10 hours of hands-on learning of basic movements for different submission poses and

Air Force Assistance Fund kicks off

In the spirit of 'taking care of our own' this year's Air Force Assistance Fund campaign kicked off March 4 and is scheduled to run through April 12.The AFAF's mission is to raise money for charities that directly support members of the Air Force family in need, including active duty, retirees,

Team Offutt begins transition to UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans

The men and women of the 55th Medical Group would like Team Offutt to be aware of a major change occurring in the management of TRICARE. Beginning April 1, UnitedHealthcare Military & Veterans will take over as the managed care support contractor for the TRICARE West Region. Until then, TriWest, the

Offutt helps salute local wounded warriors

More than 50 wounded warriors and their families were honored for their service during the inaugural Salute to America's Heroes event that took place throughout Omaha Feb. 15-17.Attendees were given two nights at a hotel, tickets to the Durham Museum, Joslyn Art Museum and Omaha Children's Museum,

ACC chiefs depart Offutt with broad perspective

Air Combat Command's 120 newest chief master sergeants and chief master sergeant selects are settling back into their squadrons and wings throughout the globe with lessons they learned at the 2013 ACC Chief's Executive Course, held at the Dougherty Conference Center here Jan. 27-31. The course was

Tuskegee Airmen program hopes to send youth interest in education sky-high

JROTC cadets from Omaha Benson High School had the rare opportunity to fly one of Offutt's RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft here Feb. 14.No, it wasn't an actual aircraft, but the next best thing - a multi-million dollar aircraft simulator. The opportunity was made possible through a program started by

Panetta notifies Congress DOD preparing for furloughs

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has notified Congress that the Defense Department is prepared to implement furloughs for civilian personnel in response to the threat of sequestration.In a memo to all employees, Panetta vowed to continue working with Congress to avoid sequestration, which would add