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  • Software update keeps B-52 at forefront of bomber fleet

    The B-52 Stratofortress will soon receive a software upgrade that will keep the aircraft at the forefront of the U.S. strategic bomber fleet.As new equipment and advanced weapons are added to the B-52 fleet, the B-52 Software Block (BSB) upgrades allow the aircraft to utilize the full potential of

  • AF launches 3rd AEHF satellite

    The U.S. Air Force successfully launched the third Advanced Extremely High Frequency communication satellite at 4:10 a.m. EDT, Sept. 18, from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The satellite was carried to orbit aboard an United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle.

  • F-35 program chief cites steady progress

    Citing changes to one of the Defense Department’s most ambitious acquisition programs, F-35 Lightning II development is making steady progress, the F-35 Joint Program Executive Officer said here Sept. 17. Air Force Lt. Gen. Christopher C. Bogdan told military and industry experts at the Air Force

  • CMSAF emphasizes power of Airmen

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody discussed why the strength of the Air Force lies in its Airmen at the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here today.

  • Roll Call returns, encourages face-to-face communication

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody is bringing Roll Call back to the Air Force. Roll Call is designed to deliver messages to the field from senior Air Force leadership for Airmen to use as a topic of discussion when they gather for daily or weekly meetings.

  • ISR official urges looking to history to face future challenges

    At the Air Force Association Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 17, Lt. Gen. Robert P. Otto discussed the current state and way ahead for Air Force intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, and the role Airmen play in its planning and impact.

  • B-2 pilot surpasses 1,000 hours mark

    A routine flying mission became a major achievement for the Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing when Maj. Luke Jayne surpassed 1,000 flying hours in the B-2 Spirit Sept. 14.

  • Donley becomes 9th inductee into AF Order of the Sword

    Michael Donley, the 22nd Secretary of the Air Force, was inducted into the Air Force Order of the Sword at Joint Base Anacostia Bolling, D.C. Sept. 13. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody led the ceremony to induct the former secretary, who was only the 9th person in Air Force history

  • Open mind, extra time can save cash when traveling

    Fantasizing about an exotic getaway but finding yourself strapped for cash? A "Space-A" seat aboard a military aircraft might be just your ticket to that vacation of your dreams. Military-owned or -contracted aircraft fly to more places than many people realize, even to areas without U.S. military

  • 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year shine at gala

    The Air Force’s 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year earned praise at a dinner hosted by the Air Force Association as part of the 2013 Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition here Sept. 16.

  • Academy instructor vacancies available

    Eligible active duty officers interested in U.S. Air Force Academy instructor opportunities have until Sept. 30 to apply, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

  • Nominations accepted for Flemming award

    Air Force officials are accepting nominations for the 65th Annual Arthur S. Flemming Award.The award is sponsored by the George Washington University, in conjunction with the Arthur S. Flemming Awards Commission. It honors outstanding federal employees who have made significant and extraordinary

  • Buckley nerve center for FEMA flood victims support

    With more than a 1,000 people unaccounted for and communities still damaged from flooding, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, staged out of Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., continues providing life-essential materials to Coloradans in need.

  • Forum focuses on family

    In remarks and an interactive session during the Air Force Association’s Spouse and Family Forum here today, spouses of Air Force senior leaders championed the service’s focus on families and support.

  • Airmen, Air Force Association leaders lay wreath at Air Force Memorial

    The Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year, Air Force senior leaders and Air Force Association members gathered for an early morning memorial service and wreath laying ceremony Sept 15, at the Air Force Memorial Arlington, Va. Laying the wreath were Air Force Assistant Vice Chief of Staff Lt.

  • Airman receives International Affairs Excellence Award

    During the Air Force Association’s 2013 Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition here today, an Air Force lieutenant colonel accepted the 2013 International Affairs Excellence Award for his leadership efforts downrange.

  • U.S., Cambodian Airmen support Pacific Angel

    Twenty engineers from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have spent the last four days working alongside 16 engineers from U.S. forces to provide engineering assistance to the citizens of Takeo.

  • Senior leaders send Airmen, families birthday best

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody issued the following message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force:

  • Team works to heal, help injured ARC Airmen

    Air Reserve Component members who are injured or develop an illness while on active duty orders now have a centrally located team of specialists working to help them get well, get their benefits, and get back to their life.

  • Deployed Airmen trailblazers of Reaper world

    At Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, the men and women of the 451st Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron are building the heritage of Reaper Airmen as they develop the institutional knowledge for one of the nation's newer air warfare assets.

  • Broncos run away with 42-20 win over Falcons

    Air Force kept pace with the powerful Boise State Broncos in the first half but ran out of gas in the second, allowing Boise State to stampede to a 42-20 win at Bronco Stadium Sept. 13.

  • Journey home: Final C-17 leaves Boeing for Charleston

    As the sun rose above Long Beach, Calif., the last U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III, P-223, rolled off the Boeing assembly onto the flight line where it was prepared for its inaugural flight to Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

  • AFA Air & Space Conference comes to AF.mil

    The AFA’s Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition brings Air Force and industry leaders. The Defense Media Activity and www.af.mil will be bringing coverage conference’s most important events right to your screen.

  • Guardsmen mobilize to assist in Colorado flooding

    Nearly 100 Colorado National Guard soldiers and airmen, along with high-mobility vehicles and helicopters, have been mobilized to assist local authorities in search-and-rescue operations in the midst of historic flooding in the state.

  • AF schedules closing for Continental Group housing

    The Air Force Civil Engineer Center has completed the transaction closing for the Continental Group Housing Privatization project with Corvias Military Living. On Sept. 1, Corvias assumed full housing operations at all six Continental Group bases: Edwards Air Force Base, Calif; Eglin AFB, Fla.,

  • Aviano couple receives first same-sex join spouse assignment

    Master Sgt. Angela Shunk and Tech. Sgt. Stacy Shunk received the news they had been longing for on Sept. 3, 2013, when the two Aviano Airmen were informed that they had received an assignment together under the join spouse program - the first of its kind in the Air Force since a Supreme Court

  • Academy again ranks among best U.S. colleges

    The U.S. Air Force Academy is one of the best educational institutions in the nation in several undergraduate academic categories, said the U.S. News & World Report 2014 Best Colleges report released Sept. 10.

  • Acting SecAF talks future of special ops

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning spoke with more than 500 Air Commandos about the future of special operations at an all-call during his two-day visit here, Sept. 9-10.

  • Airman saves teen during remote outing

    Sunday afternoon, Sept. 1, Maj. Jaesin White and his family set out on a hike to a popular swimming hole in the Sierra foothills of Northern California. They never suspected the path they followed into the woods that day would lead them into the heart of a grateful stranger.

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America.

  • At 6 years TIS, Airmen can transfer education benefits

    You may be able to transfer your Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to a family member, but if you wait until you're ready to retire or separate or until your dependent children are ready to go to college, it may be too late, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

  • DOD officials announce missile defense siting study

    Pursuant to the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, the Defense Department has initiated a study to evaluate five candidate sites in the continental United States for the potential future deployment of additional ground-based interceptors, Pentagon officials announced Sept. 12

  • 'Be Ready' to be a hero

    September is National Preparedness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness on the importance of emergency preparedness.

  • Colonel promotion rate to drop

    Air Force officials decreased the promotion opportunity to the rank of colonel to 48 percent for November’s Colonel Line of the Air Force, or LAF, Central Selection Board.

  • Dover AFB firefighters unveil 9/11 memorial

    The Eagle Firefighters' Association unveiled Delaware's first public 9/11 memorial on the 12th anniversary of the attacks at the Air Mobility Command museum at Dover Air Force Base, Del., on Sept. 11.

  • Virtual fitness kiosks set up at 66 locations

    To help improve total force fitness levels, the Air Force is installing "Fitness on Request" kiosks at 66 locations by the end of September, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.Part of the Operational Fitness Program, the kiosks are available to all Airmen, including retirees and family

  • Civilians must create eOPF account to access records

    Air Force Personnel Center officials are reminding Air Force civilian employees that they need to create their Office of Personnel Management electronic Official Personnel Folder account in order to access their personnel records.

  • AFMC to eliminate flu shots for some civilians due to budget

    As command officials make tough budget decisions with fewer dollars to spend, Air Force Materiel Command civilian employees who are not beneficiaries of the TRICARE health program will no longer receive AFMC-provided flu shots in advance of the upcoming flu season.

  • Deployed Airmen remember Dominguez, serve on 9/11 anniversary

    Sept. 11 is never too far from the hearts and minds of the 105th Security Forces Squadron deployed here from Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York. Through mementos and each other, they remember one unit member who was killed during the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.Nearly 3,000 people

  • Memory’s requiem: 12 years after 9/11

    She held the Airfone receiver close to her mouth and spoke in a clear, concise manner.“The cockpit’s not answering,” the flight attendant said as her voice wavered slightly. “Somebody’s stabbed in business class, and um, I think there is mace that we can’t breathe. I don’t know, I think we’re

  • Airman makes a splash while giving back to community

    In 2011, Lance Thornton, then a Buffalo (N.Y.) State College student-athlete, hung up his goggles and swimwear to join the Air Force and eventually sharing his aquatic skills with the Montgomery YMCA Barracudas swim team.

  • Wounded warrior adopts four-legged partner, friend

    From the moment Staff Sgt. Brian Williams arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to begin his recovery, he had only one request. Carly. Williams was deployed from the 87th Security Forces Squadron when he sustained serious injuries after an roadside bomb detonated while he was on a

  • Near death spurs trainer to change people's lives

    Looking at Paul Johnson, 56th Force Support Squadron fitness specialist supervisor, one sees a strong, muscular, fit man. But, he says he wasn't always that way. It was a near-death experience that spurred a decision in him to not only continue strength training but also change other people's lives

  • C-130s return from fighting Western blazes

    Two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System-equipped C-130s from the Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing, aircrews and maintainers returned Aug. 30 after providing support to U.S. Forest Service aerial firefighting operations in the Western U.S.

  • Responder demystifies calling military crisis line for help

    When someone is in crisis and feeling despondent, reaching out for help is a stronger step to take than doing nothing, which can lead to a worsening state, a Military Crisis Line responder told American Forces Press Service Sept. 9.

  • Serving country, African wild animals part of routine for ANG Airman

    For one Missouri National Guardsman, life as a Citizen-Airman is far from the wilds of her civilian career. Airman Casey Self, a zookeeper at the Kansas City Zoo, joined the 131st Bomb Wing to expand her resume from taking care of animals on land and water to people in the sky as well.

  • 'Aggie-ny of Defeat': Utah State thumps Air Force, 52-20

    The Utah State Aggies used a 28-0 third quarter to give the U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons their worst thumping in seven seasons under coach Troy Calhoun, 52-20, at Falcon Stadium Sept. 7. A stingy Aggie defense and clumsy Air Force offense combined to hand the Falcons, who are playing without

  • Program gives Airman opportunity to attend Academy

    For most cadets, this represents their initial basic training experience and the beginning of their path to becoming an Air Force officer, but a few cadets in each class have taken the long road to Jacks Valley.

  • Airman helps deliver daughter, deploys same day

    Airman 1st Class Timothy Pledger was scheduled to depart for his six month deployment Aug. 30 in the early hours of the morning, but an aircraft malfunction pushed back his departure.

  • USAFE-AFAFRICA medical units conduct EMEDS

    U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa medical units participated in expeditionary medical support training to challenge their medical readiness skills Aug. 25 - 30 here. The EMEDS training included realistic scenarios for the Airmen, where they had to perform emergency medical treatments

  • AFSA conference encourages, informs Airmen

    The strength and impact of the NCO corps was the theme of the night as Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning was keynote speaker during the Air Force Sergeants Association Convention and Professional Airmen's Conference banquet Aug. 28 in San Antonio, Texas.

  • Airmen awarded Distinguished Flying Cross with valor

    Five 33rd Rescue Squadron Airmen were recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with valor for their heroic actions during a deployment mission in 2012.Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III presented Capts. Michael Kingry, Gavin Johnson and Matthew Pfarr, Tech. Sgt. Scott Lagerveld

  • Past, present AF leaders gather at AFSA conference

    United States Air Force senior leaders, past and present, gathered here Aug. 24-29 to speak at the 2013 Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airman’s Conference and International Convention.

  • Flight medic stays grounded, keeps AF flying

    Although the 65th Air Base Wing has no owned aircraft, Lajes Field's strategic importance as the world's only mid-Atlantic military airfield ensures that one Lajes Field medical technician stays plenty busy. Even though only a handful of rated officers are assigned to the wing, Staff Sgt. Yvette

  • Airman improves bio waste program on forward operation base

    Every day Staff Sgt. Chad Whitehead drives out to the edge of the Forward Operating Base Ghazni to dispose of biowaste. It's a necessary task to make sure that the health and sanitation of service members stationed here is maintained.

  • Testing, tactics, training: Training squadron sets the bar

    The 505th Test Squadron provides testing, tactics development and training for the United States military and coalition forces. Their focus is on providing advanced air operations center training and AOC testing and tactics development at the operational level of war.

  • Airman's talents 'brighten' wherever he goes

    The Air Force did not teach him these skills, but his gift has been recognized, and the units he has been assigned to have benefited from it. When he talks about his craft, he smiles in a way, which can only be expressed when talking about a true passion.Because of this, Senior Airman Sean Connolly

  • Air Force Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America.

  • AF only forward surgical team makes a difference in Afghanistan

    All over Afghanistan service members are deployed to forward operating bases as they continue their mission to train and assist Afghan forces. Currently, a team of twenty four Airmen with a range of medical specialties are deployed to FOB Ghazni as the only Air Force Forward Surgical Team in

  • Official notes progress in suicide prevention effort

    Making sure people know where to turn for help during a time of crisis is the continuing goal of the Defense Department's suicide prevention program, the Pentagon official in charge of the effort said here Aug. 30.

  • Same-sex spouses eligible for join spouse, accompanied assignments

    Air Force military members with same-sex active duty spouses are now eligible for join spouse assignment consideration and those with a civilian same-sex spouse are now eligible for command sponsorship consideration, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

  • CSAF, CMSAF tour PACAF

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody toured various locations within the Pacific area of responsibility, Aug. 18 to 31.

  • Airmen paint mural, create lasting impression

    Three Airmen painted their interpretation of unity, respect, trust, strength and the will to protect on a wall leaving a visual legacy for those who follow in their footsteps here at Camp Cunningham Aug. 30, 2013.

  • CSAF meets with Airmen at JB Elmendorf-Richardson

    For the first time since assuming his current post, the Air Force's top general officer visited Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Aug. 28 and 29 to address some of the pressing issues facing the Air Force, meet Airmen stationed here and get a first-hand look at the base's mission.

  • Through Airmen's Eyes: Airman overcomes tough past

    (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)He stepped out his door and looked down the street. He saw homes with tires for walls and rust-covered steel roofs. For one Airman, this was

  • Same-sex spouses can get ID cards Sept. 3

    Same-sex spouses of Air Force military members, eligible civilian employees and military retirees may be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System by their sponsors and get their dependent identification card beginning Sept. 3, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today.

  • 129th Rescue Wing continues fighting Rim Fire

    Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing have performed more than 400 bucket drops resulting in over 188,000 gallons of water dropped since they began fighting the Rim Fire August 20.