Airmen return from Afghanistan

About 30 Airmen from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings will return home today from a nearly three-month deployment to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.In September, F-16s, pilots, maintainers and personnel assigned to the 4th Fighter Squadron, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, and other 388th and 419th FW

'Tis the season to give at 419th

New commander proud to return to 419th

The 419th Fighter Wing welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony here Sunday.Col. Keith A. Knudson assumed command of nearly 1,200 personnel assigned to Utah's only Air Force Reserve unit. "I'm proud to be back at Hill Air Force Base, this time as part of the Total Force," Colonel

Commander bid adieu in typical, wet fashion

Col. Walter "Buck" Sams, 419th Fighter Wing commander, flew his last F-16 flight as wing commander here Dec. 4. Comrades typically mark the end of a fini flight by hosing down both the pilot and the jet with water. For more images, click the 'Photos' box on the right.

419th to hold change of command ceremony

The 419th Fighter Wing will host a change of command ceremony here Sunday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m.Col. Keith A. Knudson, will assume command of nearly 1,200 personnel assigned to Utah's only Air Force Reserve unit. Relinquishing command is Col. Walter "Buck" Sams, who has served as the commander since

AFRC commander sends holiday greetings

As we celebrate this holiday season and prepare for the challenges of 2011, I want to thank you for serving our nation as Citizen Airmen.You have stepped up to meet every tasking given to you. You airlifted much needed aid to disaster victims, deployed to Afghanistan, helped usher in a new era in

PHOTO ESSAY: 419th CES in action

About 30 Air Force Reservists from Hill Air Force Base's 419th Civil Engineer Squadron are currently deployed to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan supporting the 577th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron as they build new compounds and renovate existing facilities for the 30,000-plus deployed personnel.

Schwartz discusses Korea, other issues

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said it is "significant" that the South Korean air force, rather than the U.S., is leading its country's air defenses at a time when North Korea has become increasingly provocative.Schwartz spoke here Nov. 23 at a Defense Writers Group meeting hours

Review aims to streamline ART hiring process

Personnel officials from the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air Force Personnel Center met here Oct. 26 through 28 to begin steps in reducing the timeline of the hiring process for air reserve technicians, or ARTs.Leaders from AFRC and AFPC met with civilian force integration officials to

419th Fighter Wing completes ORI

Last week, the 419th Fighter Wing completed a joint operational readiness inspection with the active duty 388th Fighter Wing here. An Air Combat Command inspection team determined the wings are capable of carrying out their combat mission, but need to be reevaluated in several areas.During the ORI,