HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Alaska Air Guard members save 167 lives in 2008

    Alaska National Guard members saved 167 lives here in Alaska and around the world in 2008. Officials of the 11th Rescue Coordination Center, the sole Alaska representative responsible for all aeronautical search and rescue cases in Alaska, released their end of year statistics Dec. 31. The Alaska

  • Alaska Air Guard rescuers pick-up missing pilot

    A civilian pilot is now home and safe after surviving six days in the Alaskan wilderness. Michael Holman had been missing since Nov. 22 and was picked up Nov. 28 by an Air National Guard rescue crew. He had been spotted the day before by a passing U.S. Coast Guard C-130 Hercules crew.Mr. Holman,

  • Alaska Air Guard rescues state trooper whose plane crashed

    Members of the Alaska Air National Guard saved a state trooper March 22 after his personal Piper Cub aircraft crashed 90 miles north of Dillingham. The pilot, Justin Rodgers, is a trooper with the Dillingham post of the Alaska Bureau of Wildlife Enforcement. Officer Rodgers and his father, Charles,

  • Alaska Air Guard Supports CJTF-HOA Rescue Missions

    The 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron is one of the three Expeditionary Rescue Squadrons assigned to the 449th Air Expeditionary Group in support of the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The squadron is the epitome of the Total Force Integration, providing

  • Alaska air guardsmen rescue snowmachiner

    Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued a 65-year-old man who was injured while snowmachining near the Tanana River, approximately 24 miles southwest of Fairbanks, March 8.

  • Alaska Air National Guard rescues injured hiker near Chena Hot Springs

    Alaska Air National Guard officials responded to an 11th Rescue Coordination Center request to perform a search and rescue mission of a severely injured hiker June 29 near Chena Hot Springs.The call for National Guard support came in after Alaska State Troopers were unable to safely reach the

  • Alaska Airmen aid injured British Sailor

    Airmen in Alaska came through for a wounded British Sailor March 21 when he was injured during a deadly explosion aboard the Royal Navy submarine HMS Tireless operating in Arctic waters north of Prudhoe Bay. The submarine experienced an explosion of a self contained oxygen generation candle that

  • Alaska Airmen keep Santa in sight

    NORAD conducts a special mission on Dec. 24 - tracking Santa across the globe to ensure Santa experiences safe travels during his yuletide journey and Alaskan NORAD Region plays a vital part in that mission.

  • Alaska Airmen operate out of Guam

    The 168th Air Refueling Wing was the first Air National Guard tanker unit deployed to Guam after Sept. 11, 2001. Five years later, the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Airmen are back on the island with their KC-135 Stratotankers as part of a theatre support package for U.S. Pacific Command flying

  • Alaska ANG Airmen aid Philippine relief efforts

    Nine Alaska Air National Guard members with the 176th Wing’s 249th Airlift Squadron are working in the Philippines in support of Operation Damayan, the relief effort to assist citizens affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

  • Alaska ANG KC-135s provide 'edge' anytime, anywhere

    Between eight and 12 KC-135 Stratotankers from Eielson Air Force Base depart each day, providing fuel to as many as 18 aircraft in one mission for Northern Edge 2008.The missions, flown by the Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Air Refueling Wing, deliver the fuel aircraft need to remain engaged in

  • Alaska ANG mobilizes in advance of Hurricane Florence

    Thirty-six Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing, and approximately three short tons of Alaska Air Guard equipment, departed Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Sept. 12 to assist with emergency response efforts for Hurricane Florence.

  • Alaska F-22 AIB on recess

    Accident investigation board officials for the Alaska-based F-22 Raptor crash recessed, Jan. 14, per the direction of Gen. Gary North, the Pacific Air Forces commander. The board is set to resume when weather conditions allow further recovery operations of the crash site located near Cantwell,

  • Alaska Guard completes two missions, awarded 12 saves

    Members of the Alaska Air National Guard fought the ever-changing weather conditions in their state to complete two complicated rescue missions this week. Officials from the Alaska ANG and U.S. Coast Guard rescued four people from a crash of a single-engine float plane that occurred 17-miles north

  • Alaska Guard conducts Operation Santa Claus

    Alaska National Guard members are bringing Christmas early to children in remote Alaskan villages, some whom might otherwise not get to see Santa Claus or receive a holiday gift. The Guardsmen from the 144th Airlift Squadron are slated to fly a C-130 Hercules from Kulis Air National Guard Base to

  • Alaska Guard continues Operation Santa Claus tradition

    Children from rural Alaskan communities were treated to an early Christmas this year as members of the Alaska National Guard completed Operation Santa Claus for young people in communities across the state. The 50-year community relations and support program provides toys, books and school supplies

  • Alaska Guard flies relief supplies to Western Alaska

    Members of the Alaska National Guard, Alaska State Defense Force and Alaska Naval Militia, were recently activated after remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline.

  • Alaska Guard rescues 10 people across state

    Rescue crews from the Alaska Air and Army National Guard navigated across 1,850 miles, saving 10 people in four civil search and rescue missions and one medical evacuation mission June 30-July 4.

  • Alaska joint force officials continue search for F-22 Raptor pilot

    Operations continue in the effort to find a missing F-22 Raptor pilot Nov. 18, approximately 100 miles north of Anchorage. The Alaska Air National Guard Rescue Coordination Center, the 3rd Wing and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson search and rescue teams continue to search the area for the F-22

  • Alaska National Guard brings Operation Santa Claus to Wales

    Santa, Mrs. Claus and 35 helpers brought Operation Santa Claus and holiday cheer on an Alaska National Guard C-130 Hercules to the small, remote Alaska village of Wales Dec. 9. The C-130 landed on the village's airstrip and was warmly greeted by community members on snow mobiles. Operation Santa

  • Alaska National Guard conducts three search-and-rescues in three days

    The 11th Air Force Rescue Coordination Center is working around the clock to lead search-and-rescue efforts, calling in multiple agencies, including the Alaska Air National Guard, to assist in three separate missions since Oct. 14. The first mission the RCC opened was in response to an overdue Super

  • Alaska National Guard participates in statewide disaster exercise

    Approximately 1,150 Air and Army National Guardsmen from Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Arizona, California, Nevada, Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota and Utah are set to participate in exercise Alaska Shield 2014 across the state, March 27 through April 2.

  • Alaska range, airspace critical to combat training

    Ejecting out of a fighter jet at more than 400 miles per hour, aircrew members have one objective--to make it to the ground alive. For an F-15 Eagle fighter pilot and his navigator, the combat search and rescue training scenario during Red Flag-Alaska 07-1 stranded them with severe injuries on the

  • Alaska Reserve F-22 unit becomes fully operational

    The 477th Fighter Group here reached a readiness milestone Sept. 9 when Col. Bryan Radliff, 477th FG commander, announced that the group had achieved fully operational capable status."Fully operation capable means that we are ready and able to execute our wartime tasking," said Radliff. "With our

  • Alaska Reserve unit rebuilds tornado-ravaged school

    An Alaska Reserve unit has just returned from Tennessee where the task at hand was rebuilding a school that was destroyed by a tornado in 2011. Members of the 477th Civil Engineer Squadron installed lighting units, rewired the facility to meet code, hung sheet rock, and painted the interior of the

  • Alaska trooper gains, gives at Air Force NCO academy

     Tech. Sgt. Brian Zeisel with the Alaska Air National Guard is modest about the recognition he gets from leading his Alaska State Trooper K9, "Argo," through some dangerous law enforcement dispatches.As a full time State Trooper with more than 10 years' service, thousands see Zeisel's patrols in

  • Alaska unit deals with challenges of tropical weather

    The mission of U.S. jet fighter maintainers is direct: fix what is wrong in a timely fashion to get the jets back on the flightline and ready for take-off. That is the goal of 18th Aircraft Maintenance Unit Airmen from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, as they take part in exercise Commando Sling at

  • Alaska-based aircraft fly south as precaution to volcano

    Airmen at McChord Air Force Base are receiving a precautionary redeployment of Air Force aircraft from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The aircraft and approximately 200 Airmen who operate and maintain them are being temporarily relocated due to increased activity associated with Mount Redoubt, a volcano

  • Alaska-Fairbanks blanks Air Force 3-0

    Alaska goalie Chad Johnson stopped all 19 shots he faced as the Nanooks beat Air Force 3-0 in non-conference college hockey action Oct. 13 at the Carlson Center here. The Air Force fell to 1-2 on the season while Alaska improved to 1-0. The teams skated to a scoreless first period, but the Nanooks

  • Alaskan civil engineers build super structure

    A team from the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron here deployed recently to the Indian Mountain Long Range Radar Station to construct a 2,500 square foot Super K-Span storage facility.Indian Mountain is one of 18 remote Alaskan radar sites and is located several hundred miles west and slightly north of

  • Alaskan Command joins U.S. Northern Command

    Alaska is poised to play an increasingly important role in the development of military capabilities in the Arctic following a reassignment of command responsibilities.

  • Alaskan long range radar station goes green

    In an effort to reduce high operating costs at the Tin City Long Range Radar Station, engineers with the 611th Civil Engineer Squadron here have completed the construction of a wind turbine generator there.  It is the first such generator to be installed on an Alaskan Air Force installation and

  • Alaskan NORAD Region keeps Santa safe, on schedule

    Children around the world know the role the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, plays in tracking Santa's Christmas Eve flight around the world. What many don't know is the role an organization in Alaska plays in ensuring Santa makes his deliveries.U.S. and Canadian servicemembers of

  • Alaskan Raptors arrive in Australia for training initiative

    The last wave of F-22 Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, arrived here Feb. 14 to launch bilateral exercise and training missions with the Royal Australian Air Force and further strengthen the military relationship the two nations share.

  • Alaskan Region best unit in NORAD

    While 2007 was a very challenging year for the Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region, known as ANR, and its partners, it ended up being a very rewarding year when ANR was named NORAD's outstanding unit for 2007. Col. Kevin Booth, ANR director of operations, accepted the

  • Alaskan squadron delivers Christmas

    The 517th Airlift Squadron here made its annual pilgrimage to a remote Alaskan village Dec. 3 with Christmas gifts and cheer.The 517th AS "Firebirds" have been making the trip to Arctic Village for more than 30 years.The tradition began in 1967 when the porcupine caribou herd - the villagers'

  • Alaskan team thaws in Honduras

    Imagine you’re a penguin, living happily in minus 40-degree temperatures. Suddenly you’re thrust into the tropical climate of a parrot, where anything below 80 degrees is considered cool. That shock to the system is essentially what happened to 17 Airmen from the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron at

  • Alaskan villages benefit from joint military medical outreach

    Mixed teams of Army, Navy and Air Force health-care providers are spent a week treating hundreds of medically-underserved people as part of Operation Arctic Care 2008 in six remote villages in March in Alaska. Residents of Karluk, Old Harbor, Ouzinkie, Port Lions, Akhiok and Larsen Bay invited the

  • Alaskan wing deploys to Singapore

    A 3rd Wing contingent here deployed to the Republic of Singapore Oct. 23 to take on that nation's air force in an annual air-to-air combat exercise.About 100 people, mostly from the 12th Fighter Squadron, and six F-15 Eagles are participating in exercise Commando Sling 2003.The exercise allows

  • Alaska's military continues Operation Colony Glacier support

    In November 1952, an Air Force C-124 Globemaster II with 52 passengers and crewmembers aboard crashed near Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Almost 60 years later, June 9, 2012, an Alaska National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk crew on a training mission noticed some debris on Colony Glacier. The National

  • Albanian and Slovakian officers visit Warrior Preparation Center

    Nine Albanian and Slovakian officers visited the Warrior Preparation Center here Sept. 20 to 23.The officers viewed hands-on tactics through high-tech training demonstrations at the facility, which is jointly owned by U.S. Army, Europe and U.S. Air Forces in Europe. Although they were there to gain

  • Albuquerque high school student wins ‘Perfect Prom’

    An Albuquerque, N.M., student from Del Norte High School is the grand prizewinner of the U.S. Air Force-sponsored “2005 Win the Perfect Prom Sweepstakes.”Erin Whitaker, a junior, was selected at random from more than 70,000 entries. She won $1,500 for her prom expenses and use of an SUV limousine

  • Alcohol consumption slow road to nowhere

    The long warm days of summer invite celebration, recreation and relaxation as residents hurry to cram in all their outdoor activities before the cold, dark winter arrives and drives everyone back inside.One familiar attendee to outdoor social gatherings is alcohol. While many choose not to partake

  • Alert mission protects U.S. airspace, interests

    Shaw Air Force Base Airmen supporting the Operation Noble Eagle alert mission provide quick-reaction support to protect U.S. airspace and significant events like presidential movements and space shuttle launches."We have to be ready if the alarm goes off at 2:30 in the morning," said Master Sgt.

  • Alert Reaper Airmen find IED

    Most Airmen can mentally rewind to the Combat Airman Skills Training course and recall the frustration and apprehension of not being able to locate all the improvised-explosive devices set out in the training lanes. Because the training is so realistic, at first, most Airmen trigger the training

  • Aleutian Islands: World War II secret bases

    When Stuart Faber enlisted in the Army Air Corps shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he wasn't quite sure what he'd be doing. Once assigned to the 404th Bomb Squadron at Elmendorf Field, Alaska, he not only maintained bombers, but was also sent on temporary duty to perform a

  • Algerian triplets join Air Force for better future

    Their journey has carried them over thousands of miles, from a barren region in Africa to California’s Simi Valley where eventually the Harchaoui triplets — Myriam, Rabah and Warda — would join the U.S. Air Force. Scott Air Force Base is now home to Myriam, who recently reflected on her unique

  • Ali Airmen and Iraqi soldiers team up to keep electricity flowing

    Three Airmen from the 407th Air Expeditionary Group Civil Engineer Squadron Power Production shop traveled to Camp Ur, Iraq, April 19 through 21, to train Iraqi army mechanics on proper procedures for preventative maintenance of four diesel generators providing electrical power to the base.At Camp

  • Ali Airmen mourn loss of K-9 team member

    Airmen with the 407th Provost Marshal Office here Aug. 1 held a memorial service for a K-9 member after his unexpected death from natural causes July 28. Goro, an 8-year-old German shepherd, was one month into his sixth deployment. Staff Sgt. Sean Neisen, deployed from the 435th Security Forces

  • Ali Base Airmen help U.S. forces transit Iraq

    Aerial porters and Airmen from the 407th Air Expeditionary Group's passenger terminal at Ali Base are preparing for an increase in passengers and cargo during the final months of Operation New Dawn.As the main aerial hub in southern Iraq, the terminal has processed approximately 5,000 passengers and

  • Ali Base assumes 'advise and assist' as additional duty

    As the responsible drawdown of forces continues in Iraq, Airmen here have embraced the additional role of advising and assisting the local Iraqi army and citizens during the transition. The 407th Air Expeditionary Group, which operates, maintains and secures the largest airfield in Southern Iraq, is

  • Ali Base drawdown in full swing

    Ali Base is in full drawdown mode following the presidential directive to reduce the American military presence in Iraq, and to withdraw combat forces by December 2011.The Air Force presence here will be less than one-third what it is today by the end of August, according to Col. Dennis Hunsicker,

  • Ali firefighters prepare Iraqis for future

    Firefighters from the 407th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron are bringing the goal of independent Iraqi operations to reality at Camp Ur, Iraq.In December, Ali Base firefighters assisted their Iraqi counterparts toward self-sufficiency through numerous training sessions and skills tests.With

  • All aboard!

    Air Force tactical air control party airmen with Detachment 1 of the 4th Air Support Operations Group and soldiers with the 173rd Airborne Brigade, both from Vicenza, Italy, wait on the ramp here to load onto C-130 Hercules aircraft from the base's 86th Airlift Wing on Oct. 9. The airmen and

  • All active services meet December recruiting goals

    All four services met or surpassed their monthly active-duty recruiting goals for December, and five of the six reserve components showed similar success, Defense Department officials announced Jan. 10. The Air Force met its December goal of recruiting 1,772 active-duty Airmen and 561 Air Force

  • All active-duty, most Reserve components meet recruiting goals

    All active-duty military components met or exceeded their recruiting goals in June, with the Marine Corps adding the highest percentage of its target to its ranks, Defense Department officials here announced July 10. Military Reserve components, with the exception of the Army National Guard, also

  • All Air Force Reserve officer candidates to train at Maxwell

    Starting in October, Air Force Reserve Command will send all candidates for reserve line officer training to the Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. Previously, only rated officer candidates - pilots, navigators and air battle mangers - attend OTS at Maxwell AFB.  The first

  • All Americans encouraged to visit a national park this year

    Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced Jan. 5 that National Park Service officials will waive admission fees on 17 selected dates throughout 2011 and encouraged all Americans to make a New Year's resolution to visit a national park this year."Many people have made resolutions to spend more

  • All Americans owe thanks to veterans, Biden says

    Vice President Joe Biden honored servicemembers and veterans at a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery Nov. 11, saying 100 percent of Americans owe their gratitude to the 1 percent who serve in the all-volunteer force."Collectively, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines who served and

  • All byte, no bark for 'robotic K-9'

    Heading the test was Air Combat Command’s Agile Battle Lab. The lab identifies, validates and inserts new concepts and technology to enable Agile Combat Employment and its contributions to all-domain warfare.

  • All colors fade to mud

    Marines and Airmen crawled and carried one another through the pouring rain, and as their tan and green uniforms got covered with mud, the service members looked like the joint fighting force that they are.

  • All commissaries would remain open during government shutdown

    All military commissaries would be operational in the event of a government shutdown, the Defense Commissary Agency announced late today. DeCA's announcement that its stores would continue to serve military members and their families if a government shutdown were to occur, affects 249 commissaries

  • All eyes on total force Pacific Angel team

    A total force team of U.S. military eye specialists is worked together here to improve the eyesight of local East Timorese people as part of Operation Pacific Angel 2009 in July. Pacific Angel is a Pacific Air Forces humanitarian assistance operation in the Asia-Pacific region led by 13th Air Force

  • All fired up

    Using a burning training container during an exercise June 2 at Ali Base, Iraq, Staff Sgt. Scott Herbert (rear) instructs an Iraqi firefighter on how to use a pike pole to open the door of a burning structure. Air Force firefighters provide continuous training to local Iraqi firefighters, which

  • All for one - NATO aircraft monitor America's skies

    Nine years ago, Mike left his hometown of Lincoln, Neb., and joined the Air Force to see the world. And see the world he did. As an airborne warning and control system pilot in NATO, he's been to places that friends and family can only read about in travel magazines. In fact, he was participating in

  • All hands on deck; Soldier rescued from Pacific Ocean

    Rain is pouring down on and around the island of Guam after a monsoon hits early Sunday morning, July 26. For those in nearby waters, waves are crashing all around them. In the midst of all the commotion, a Soldier on a U.S. Army Watercraft System off the coast of Angaur, Palau, requires urgent

  • All hooked up

    Airman 1st Class Robert Walstead hooks up a Hobart power unit to the underside of a B-1B Lancer on March 7. Walstead is a maintainer assigned to the 7th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit here. (Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Strang)

  • All in a night’s work: MQ-9s maximize airpower downrange

    As many Americans sleep soundly in their beds, Airmen in attack squadrons across the 432nd Wing flying the MQ-1B Predator and MQ-9 Reaper from cockpits in the continental U.S. are having decisive effects in the fight against violent extremism. In combat operations last week, one MQ-9 squadron stood

  • All in the family: California ANG brothers serve together

    "I really feel blessed to have both of them here with me during my first deployment overseas. I love the fact that we hang out, enjoy meals together, workout, and even joined the base Honor Guard together," said Senior Airman Walter Morales Talento.

  • All military medical training roads now start at METC

    The future of military medical training arrived here June 30 with the opening of the Medical Education and Training Campus.The METC is an integrated campus under a single university-style administration, with more than 100 courses available to students. "Today marks a significant milestone in the

  • All secure, and then some

    Security in Southwest Asia is no joke, but you may still get a smile from security forces Airmen when they check your ID. Ensuring the security of coalition forces and resources is a job the 379th Expeditionary Security Forces team takes very seriously. “We have a dedicated and enthusiastic team

  • All services meet or exceed October recruiting goals

    All active-duty and reserve-component military branches met or exceeded their recruiting goals for October, Defense Department officials said. October's results, the first for fiscal 2010, continue a successful military recruiting mission that experienced a banner year in fiscal 2009. Active and

  • All together now: Civil engineers team up for project

    Almost nothing changed on the outside of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing headquarters here until the final week of the renovation. There was always something indicating work -- trenches, heavy machinery, dusty workers taking a quick break at the gazebo. But the metal exterior itself didn’t give any

  • All-AF critical care, air evac team makes historic first flight

    The first all-Air Force Critical Care Air Transport and Aero-medical Evacuation Team to fly with the only fixed wing aircraft dedicated to the medical evacuation mission in Afghanistan completed its first successful mission Jan. 13 and continues saving lives. The CCAT/AE team flies with the 76th

  • Allegations surface, faith in promotion tests remains high

    A number of Airmen at several bases have been implicated recently in the possible compromise of Weighted Airmen Promotion System testing material. Despite this finding, Air Force officials expressed confidence in the integrity of the system and testing continues across the Air Force."For more than

  • Alleged assault results in curfew for U.S. forces in Japan

    An alleged assault of a female Japanese citizen in Okinawa by two U.S. service members Oct. 16 has drawn an apology from the commander of U.S. forces in Japan and imposition of a curfew throughout the country."I want to personally apologize for the grief and trauma the victim has endured and the

  • Allen Army Airfield to save Air Force money, provide tactical training

    Air Force officials here opened Allen Army Airfield Sept. 29 to give Elmendorf Air Force Base C-17 Globemaster III aircrews a closer airstrip to practice assault landings and saving the military thousands of dollars.Before the opening of Allen Army Airfield, located about three miles north of Fort

  • Allen takes reins as ISAF commander

    Marine Gen. John R. Allen assumed command of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and U.S. forces in Afghanistan here July 18.Allen succeeds Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, who will retire from the Army this summer and then serve as CIA director.Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the

  • Allergist educates military community about asthma

    Asthma is no disease to sneeze at. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 24 million Americans are affected by asthma, a chronic disease that causes airways to become inflamed and makes it hard to breathe. It’s estimated that 10 people die from it per day.