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James Bolinger

James Bolinger is a reporter at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

He previously served at Vance Air Force Base, Okla., where he spent nearly seven years as the NCOIC of public affairs covering specialized undergraduate pilot training. He began his career as editor of the Airlifter newspaper at Dover Air Force Base, Del., then headed to the Defense Information School where he served as a journalism instructor from 2009 to 2011.

Email: bolinger.james@stripes.com

Veggie burgers and other plant-based meat substitutes are being offered at food courts on many Army, Air Force and Navy bases in the United States. <br>Pixabay
Veggie burgers and other plant-based meat substitutes are being offered at food courts on many Army, Air Force and Navy bases in the United States. <br>Pixabay

Impossible Whopper, other meatless fast-food options continue to elude overseas troops

Burger King’s popular Impossible Whopper, Qdoba’s meatless burritos and Dunkin’s meat-free breakfast sausage are being sold on many Army, Air Force and Navy bases in the United States.

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Air Force officers pose with a TH-1H helicopter at Fort Rucker, Ala., Oct. 10, 2019, after graduating from a pilot training program that tested virtual reality simulators and a new, shorter curriculum. They are, from left, 2nd Lt. Trent Badger, 2nd Lt. J. Karl Bossard, 1st Lt. Matthew Gulotta, 2nd Lt. John Thrash, Capt. Josh Park and 2nd Lt. Richard Songster.<br>Brian Braden/U.S. Air Force
Air Force officers pose with a TH-1H helicopter at Fort Rucker, Ala., Oct. 10, 2019, after graduating from a pilot training program that tested virtual reality simulators and a new, shorter curriculum. They are, from left, 2nd Lt. Trent Badger, 2nd Lt. J. Karl Bossard, 1st Lt. Matthew Gulotta, 2nd Lt. John Thrash, Capt. Josh Park and 2nd Lt. Richard Songster.<br>Brian Braden/U.S. Air Force

Virtual reality-heavy course speeds up Air Force helicopter pilot training by six weeks

By reducing the course length and incorporating new technology, the Air Force saves around $60,000 per student compared to the previous course, said squadron commander Lt. Col. Jake Brittingham.

Newly minted officers from Air Force Officer Training School march during pass-and-review at their graduation ceremony in Montgomery, Ala., Sept. 27, 2019. <br>Quay Drawdy/U.S. Air Force
Newly minted officers from Air Force Officer Training School march during pass-and-review at their graduation ceremony in Montgomery, Ala., Sept. 27, 2019. <br>Quay Drawdy/U.S. Air Force

‘Godzilla class’: Air Force graduates 745 officers at training school — its largest ever

Col. Peter Bailey, the school commandant, said the class size was increased to meet Air Force demands for new officers.

Newly minted Air Force commissioned officers stand in formation at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Sept. 27, 2019.<br>Quay Drawdy/U.S. Air Force
Newly minted Air Force commissioned officers stand in formation at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Sept. 27, 2019.<br>Quay Drawdy/U.S. Air Force

‘Godzilla class’: Air Force graduates 745 officers at training school — its largest ever

The largest class in the history of the Air Force Officer Training School — 745 newly commissioned officers — recently pinned on their rank insignia at graduation ceremonies in Montgomery, Ala.

Left to right: Capt. Rebecca Gooch, a KC-135 Stratotanker instructor pilot; Master Sgt. Samantha Converse, a KC-135 instructor/evaluator boom operator; and Maj. Alexandra Trana, a KC-135 instructor pilot, pose at Alliance Airfield in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 18, 2019.<br>Breanna Klemm /U.S. Air Force
Left to right: Capt. Rebecca Gooch, a KC-135 Stratotanker instructor pilot; Master Sgt. Samantha Converse, a KC-135 instructor/evaluator boom operator; and Maj. Alexandra Trana, a KC-135 instructor pilot, pose at Alliance Airfield in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 18, 2019.<br>Breanna Klemm /U.S. Air Force

Air Force women’s fly-in event aims to provide mentorship, networking for future leaders

The Air Force’s third annual Women in Aviation Fly-In drew female aviators from the around the world Sept. 18-21 to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for networking and mentorship opportunities within the officer and enlisted ranks.

Students, teachers and parents celebrated the opening of the new $57 million Sasebo Elementary School Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, at Sasebo Naval Station, Japan. <br>U.S. Navy
Students, teachers and parents celebrated the opening of the new $57 million Sasebo Elementary School Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, at Sasebo Naval Station, Japan. <br>U.S. Navy

DODEA cuts ribbon on $57 million, ‘21st century’ elementary school at Sasebo Naval Base

Sasebo Elementary School took three years to build and serves approximately 220 children from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade at one of the Japan’s busiest naval bases.

Senior Airman Isaac Hoke uses a vape product at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 19, 2019.<br>Theron Godbold/Stars and Stripes
Senior Airman Isaac Hoke uses a vape product at Yokota Air Base, Japan, Sept. 19, 2019.<br>Theron Godbold/Stars and Stripes

Like AAFES shops, Navy Exchange concessionaires will stop selling vape products Oct. 1

The Navy made the decision Sept. 12, the same day the Army Public Health Center warned servicemembers to avoid vape products after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said vaping may be linked to hundreds of cases of severe lung disease and at least six deaths in dozens of states.