HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • BMT adapts to limit spread of COVID-19

    The shift is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which will allow the training pipeline to continue and help ensure the health and safety of trainees and instructors while also providing relief to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s training infrastructure.

  • BMT extended, NCOs to learn new languages

    Civilians wanting to be Airmen are going to have to tough it out for an additional two and a half weeks at basic military training, said the Air Force's top general here Feb. 2. Airmen graduating from BMT are going to be better trained and better equipped to be war fighters, said Air Force Chief of

  • BMT graduation parade canceled

    The 37th Training Wing canceled the Air Force Basic Military Training graduation parade scheduled for March 13 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s parade grounds out of concern for the safety of the newly accessioned Airmen and their family members due to the coronavirus.

  • BMT quarters temporarily housing immigrant minors

    A former BMT facility was turned into a temporary shelter May 18 by the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families. The shelter is for unaccompanied Central American minors who have been caught illegally crossing into the U.S.

  • BMT safety efforts protect trainers, pipeline

    Specific mitigation measures that have been implemented across BMT include implementation of a 14-day restriction of movement upon arrival, as well as social distancing, symptom monitoring and increased sanitation.

  • BMT sets new fitness standards

    Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper announced July 30 the Air Force would be raising fitness standards in January. More rigorous basic military training graduation standards will take effect here Oct. 12.Basic military training daily physical fitness regimens are now tougher and more focused on

  • Board announces cause of F-15 crash

    Investigators have determined that structural failure led to the April 30 crash of an F-15 Eagle into the Gulf of Mexico about 60 miles south of Panama City, Fla.James A. Duricy, from the 46th Test Wing here, was declared dead following the crash after search and rescue efforts were

  • Board determines F-15E fire causes

    An accident investigation board recently determined an F-15E Strike Eagle engine stall and fire Feb. 12 was caused by several factors.Factors include operating the engine in secondary mode, a reduced stall margin and a high fuel-flow rate into the engine.The F-15E, assigned to the 492nd Fighter

  • Board meets at academy to discuss issues

    The U.S. Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors met here July 24 and 25 to discuss a variety of issues affecting the institution. The board is required to meet at least annually to review morale, discipline, curriculum, instruction, physical education, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other

  • Board of Visitors to meet at Academy

    The Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors is scheduled to meet at the Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., Feb. 26 and 27 to discuss a variety of issues, including updates on the cadet honor code, cadet research efforts and the Academy's remotely piloted aircraft program.The board meets at least four

  • Board Of Visitors to meet at the Air Force Academy

    The Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors is scheduled to meet at the Academy July 15 and 16. The purpose of the meeting is to review morale and discipline, social climate, curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods and other matters relating to the Academy.Members

  • Board releases F-16 accident report

    An F-16 pilot's failure to follow emergency checklist procedures for a failed hydraulic pump caused the F-16CG Fighting Falcon he was taxiing to collide with a parked F-16 at a forward-operating location June 15.The aircraft, assigned to the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, was

  • Board releases HH-60 incident report

    A less-than-optimum takeoff technique combined with an attempt to out climb a dust cloud with insufficient power caused the Aug. 12 crash of an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, according to Air Force officials who investigated the incident.At the time of the crash, the helicopter was returning to its

  • Board releases KC-135 accident findings

    Air Force accident investigation board officials have determined the cause of a KC-135 Stratotanker ground accident that occurred April 1.Officials said the accident was caused by the failure of aircraft maintainers and operators to follow their inspection checklists and technical order guidance in

  • Board seeks nominations for in-residence schools

    The annual Air Force Reserve Development Education Designation Board will convene at the Air Reserve Personnel Center here in November to select Reserve officers for in-residence developmental education schools for the 2009-2010 academic year. The board will select qualified Airmen to attend

  • 'Bob' marks mission milestone

    A C-130 Hercules assigned to the 778th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron marked a milestone Jan. 26 when it reached 30,000 flying hours while performing a combat mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.The aircraft, from Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., and now serving at a forward-deployed

  • Boeing officials bring 787 to Eglin AFB for weather tests

    Officials at the McKinley Climatic Lab here are hosting Boeing's newest passenger aircraft, the 787 Dreamliner, for two weeks of cold and hot weather testing.The new plane arrived April 18 and was moved into the lab to begin its cold-weather testing with temperatures reaching minus 45 degrees. The

  • Boeing X-45A unmanned combat vehicle on display

    The Boeing X-45A unmanned combat air vehicle was officially inducted into the National Museum of the United States Air Force collection during a ceremony Nov. 13. "The X-45A is a prime example of an air vehicle that points to the future of our Air Force," said retired Maj. Gen. Charles D. Metcalf,

  • Boeing, Travis partner for KC-46A testing

    A Boeing KC-46A Pegasus team conducted testing at Travis Air Force Base from March 7-10, 2017. This testing was a combined effort between Boeing Test and Evaluation, and the Detachment 1, 418th Flight Test Squadron, which are co-located at the Boeing Facility in Seattle.

  • Bold dreams propel war-torn child to AF flight engineer

    Growing up, Master Sgt. Kristofer Reyes and his cousins would use rubber and rocks from a nearby recycling center and create games. He was born to a poor family in Luzon, Phillipines. His parents divorced when he was 2 years old and his mom moved to the U.S. That left him and his siblings stuck in

  • Bold Quest exercise wraps up

    The last mission complete, U.S. Joint Forces Command officials now have the task of assessing all the data collected during the Coalition Combat Identification Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration, known as Bold Quest.The nine nation coalition operational exercise took place at Nellis Air Force

  • Bold Quest improves coalition combat identification

    Officials from U.S. Joint Forces Command launched its premier Coalition Combat Identification Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration, known as Bold Quest, Sept. 10 to 24 at Nellis Air Force Base and the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. The exercise has the monumental task of

  • Bold Quest Plus wraps up in Florida

    Bold Quest Plus, which included units from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, and coalition partners from Canada and the United Kingdom, wrapped up this week, highlighting innovative ways to enhance future U.S. and coalition warfighting capabilities. The two-week U.S. Joint Forces Command

  • Bolling Airmen share Valentine’s Day with veterans

    Ninety Air Force and civilian volunteers from Bolling and the Pentagon visited the Department of Veterans Affairs Maryland Health Care System Medical Center in Baltimore and the Baltimore VA Rehabilitation Center Feb. 14 as part of National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week. Before the trip,

  • Bolling Cub Scouts receive gift for selfless act

    “Two, four, six, eight. Who do we appreciate? Colonel Koslov!” exclaimed a group of excited Bolling Cub Scouts from Den 2, Pack 343. That was the Scouts’ response when Col. Dan Koslov returned twofold their gift of selflessness at their Feb. 2 meeting.The Scouts recently bought necessity items

  • Bolling dedicates theater to legendary actor, Airman

    Officials of the 11th Wing at Bolling Air Force Base officially changed the name of Building 52 to the Brig. Gen. Jimmy Stewart Theater Aug. 13 as the old building had finally come full circle, historically speaking. Among the some 200 people in attendance were Carson Greene, president of the Jimmy

  • Bolling members take 'Amazing Race' challenge

    Nearly 40 people from the National Capital Region competed in an obstacle course-style competition Dec. 4 at Bolling Air Force Base. Events ranged from paintball to low-crawling, wheelchair racing, barrel-rolling and bicycling.Competitors raced across a 5.5-mile area on Bolling AFB and Anacostia

  • Bolling officials to display 200 new Air Force paintings

    Air Force officials will display more than 200 new Air Force Art Program paintings from about 150 artists Oct. 21 through 24 at the Officers' Club at Bolling Air Force Base, D.C. The art was given by artists from around the country and donated to the Air Force, bringing the total number of paintings

  • Bolling, Reserve officials honor famous actor, Airman

    Actor James M. Stewart was a Hollywood legend who flew bomber missions with the Army Air Forces during World War II and rose to the rank of brigadier general in the Air Force Reserve. Officials from the 11th Wing from Bolling Air Force Base and Air Force Reserve Command members participated in a

  • Bolt inspection tool wins innovation award

    Tech. Sgt. Steven Iziguerra, 100th Maintenance Squadron Non-Destructive Inspections Section noncommissioned officer in charge, won the Team Mildenhall Innovation of the Quarter Award for the first quarter of 2019 for a slot guided inspection carriage he developed to increase the efficiency of the

  • Bomb kills U.S. troops near Najaf; Iraqi missile damages Kuwait City mall

    Five U.S. 3rd Infantry Division soldiers were killed in Iraq today by an apparent suicide bomber at a road checkpoint near Najaf."That kind of activity, I think, is something that is a symbol of an organization that's beginning to get a little bit desperate," Air Force Maj. Gen. Victor Renuart, a

  • Bomb squadrons rotate at Andersen AFB

    More than 200 Airmen and two B-52H Stratofortress aircraft arrived here recently to replace the 23rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron.The Airman are assigned to the 69th Bomb Squadron from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and are supporting U.S. Pacific Command's continuous bomber presence. "Our number one

  • Bomb technicians lead fight against IEDs

    Improvised explosive devices have forced a change in modern combat, and deadly weapons can come in the form of a five-gallon bucket, a package in the mail or a filled-in pothole in the middle of the road. Staff Sgt. Armondo Robles and Airman 1st Class Rileigh Woodward, members of a military "bomb

  • Bomber crews improve mission skills at Northern Edge 2009

    The 96th Bomb Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., deployed here for exercise Northern Edge 2009 to practice mission planning and war-time procedures. The 96th BS brought three B-52H Stratofortress long-range bombers to train in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and over the Gulf of

  • Bomber crews keep watch over operations in Southwest Asia

    Airmen from the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron validated their capabilities and those of the B-1B Lancer during a deployment that concluded Jan. 27, here. 37th EBS Airmen generated 556 sorties, flew more than 6,980 hours, and dropped more than 240 munitions for more than 550 missions during their

  • Bomber crews showcase take-off talents

    Ten B-52H Stratofortress bombers took part in a minimum interval takeoff exercise, or MITO, showcasing ground and aircrew's abilities, here Aug. 14.During a MITO, each aircraft is equipped with eight starter cartridges filled with gunpowder, that allows the engines to start up faster than a normal

  • Bomber force prepares for new B-52 bomb bay upgrade testing

    Since the Air Force's decision in 2013 to increase the B-52H Stratofortress fleet's effectiveness and versatility by increasing the aircraft's smart weapons capacity by over 50 percent, teams from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Boeing, and now Edwards AFB, have partnered up to begin developmental

  • Bomber group heads home

    After dropping 3.2 million pounds of explosives and 9 million leaflets during 120 combat sorties, more than 1,000 airmen are packing up and going home from this forward-operating location. The redeployment of the 457th Air Expeditionary Group began April 24 with approximately a dozen B-52

  • Bomber over ballpark

    An Air Force B-1B Lancer flies over the Texas Rangers first season home game at the Ballpark here April 4. The aircraft is assigned to the 28th Bomb Squadron at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. This is the third year a Dyess B-1 has flown over the team's first home game. (U.S. Air Force photo by

  • Bomber Squadron marks 100 years of history

    Carrying out vital missions for over 100 years, the 23rd Bomb Squadron and the associated aircraft maintenance units continue to play a critical role in delivering combat airpower.

  • Bomber surge: 103 sorties in less than three days

    Although B-52 Stratofortresses and B-1B Lancers have become a common sight in the skies here their presence has been more visible the past few days.Bombers from the 7th Air Expeditionary Wing here, successfully completed 103 sorties in less than three days as part of a surge in operations March 30

  • Bombers arrive at Andersen

    The first three B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., arrived here Feb. 22 under an overcast sky. A total of six bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing will call Andersen home for an undetermined amount of time at the request of U.S. Pacific Command officials.The bombers are the

  • Bombers away

    B-2 Spirit bombers take off from a forward-deployed location March 21 to fly to an Operation Iraqi Freedom mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Janice Cannon)

  • Bombers complete long-range exercise with Australia

    Three B-52 Stratofortresses stationed here completed 13-hour flights to an Australian training range Sept. 21 and 22 as part of Exercise Green LightningIn addition to training for long-duration flights, aircrews from the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron teamed with Australian joint terminal air

  • Bombers drop sea mines to end deployment

    B-52 Stratofortress bombers dropped 162 inert sea mines 80 miles off Guam's south coast during a recent training exercise to finish a four-month rotation to the Pacific island. Aircrews from the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron dropped the MK-62 sea mines on strategic spots to deter "enemy forces"

  • Bombers fly down under

    Members of the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron here completed 10 sorties flying more than 110 hours while participating in Talisman Saber 2009 July 15 through 24 over Australia. The bilateral command post and field training exercise was designed to increase interoperability between U.S. and

  • Bombers rotate at Andersen

    Airmen from the 2nd Bomb Wing's 20th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., arrive here May 26 to begin a four-month deployment. The Louisiana-based aircraft, aircrew, support and maintenance members will replace their fellow Barksdale Airmen from the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, who

  • Bombers rotations continue on Guam

    Demonstrating once again that bomber forces can be sustained in the Pacific, about 250 Airmen deployed Sept. 10 to 12 from Louisiana to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, as part of a 120-day air and space expeditionary force rotation.The 20th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron is the third of four existing

  • Bombers show U.S. resolve to defend South Korea, spokesman says

    It isn't just American capabilities in South Korea that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has to consider -- capabilities based outside South Korea also figure in the strategic calculus, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said today.In a meeting with reporters, Little said B-52 Stratofortresses

  • Bombers train on long-range capabilities

    The mission, which spanned nearly 8,000 miles from home station to the drop site and back to the home installation, tested the ability for planners to coordinate operations between combatant commands and amongst multiple Air Force wings. The 20-plus hour training missions also demonstrated the U.S.'

  • Bombs away

    Air Force officials tested a Massive Ordnance Air Blast weapon here March 11. The MOAB is a precision-guided munition weighing 21,500 pounds and was dropped from a C-130 Hercules aircraft for the test. It is the largest non-nuclear weapon in existence. (DOD photo)

  • Bonded through service, linked by fate

    Thousands gathered to witness an extraordinary display of resilience and strength by the nation’s wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans representing all branches of the military during the 2017 Defense Department Warrior Games in Chicago. The lives of two master sergeants became

  • 'Bone' makes evolving mark on war on terrorism

    It can strike at a moment's notice. It is a lethal injection for the war on terrorism. It is a combat commander' s weapon of choice. The B-1B Lancer, sometimes called the "Bone," has made a name for itself for nearly 20 years and continues to make its mark in the fight for freedom. Since the war

  • Bone marrow donor, recipient meet

    Tech. Sgt. Daniel MacDonald and Gregg Smith have shared the same bone marrow for a year and a half, but they did not meet face to face until recently.MacDonald, an instructor with the 366th Training Squadron's Detachment 7 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., donated his bone marrow to Smith on Oct. 16, 2001.

  • Bone-marrow donation saves life

    A 388th Maintenance Group airman here got a special phone call recently -- from a woman whose life he helped save with a bone marrow donation.“When I was in school four years ago, they were having a bone marrow drive,” said Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Dorman. “I just thought, ‘what the heck,’ and gave them

  • Book offers lessons on fighting terrorism with airpower

    Airpower is a valuable weapon in the fight against terrorism but only if it is applied with discrimination and care, according to a new study of the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah War published by Air University officials. Widespread criticism of Israel for relying on its air force to attack Hezbollah

  • Booklet offers help for identity theft

    A Federal Trade Commission booklet offers guidance for people who have fallen victim to a fast-growing crime: identity theft.Defense Department officials believe that it is possible that some Tricare beneficiaries could be subject to identity thievery because of the Dec. 14 theft of office

  • Boom containment critical to Eglin AFB waterways

    Eglin Air Force Base officials are using reverse psychology to protect their waterways from possible contamination.Bruce Stippich, the 96th Civil Engineer Group's environmental compliance expert, has been busier than usual since an oil well ruptured in the Gulf of Mexico April 20. The Deepwater

  • Boom operator reaches 5,000 flying hours

    Just east of Denver, Nov. 29, 2017, McCrillis anticipated the moment he would complete his goal of reaching 5,000 flying hours. It came just after he completed refueling his favorite receiver, the B-52 Stratofortress.

  • Boom operator soars, rises to challenge

    With nerves pushed aside and the pilots' support, Cash was able to successfully refuel the B-1, allowing the crew to continue their mission with a full tank. At the age of 19, she never thought she would be trusted with so much responsibility.

  • Boom operator’s biggest stage is in air

    When he graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a bachelor's degree in acting, Eric Ryan's plans were not immediately focused on the Air Force.It was not until the events of Sept. 11 that Senior Airman Ryan, a boom operator with the 906th Air Refueling Squadron here, said he first looked

  • Boom operators help develop new KC-46 system

    Earlier this year in Everett, Washington, workers from Detachment 1, 418th Flight Test Squadron, and Boeing teamed up to achieve major test milestones for the KC-46A Pegasus, which resulted in the Defense Department authorizing initial production in August.

  • Boom operators provide fuel for warfighters

    Some Airmen spend their work days in office cubicles, but a select group of enlisted fliers work in an “office” 25,000 feet in the air while traveling 500 mph.Boom operators from the 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, do not push papers; instead, they push fuel to combat aircraft engaged in

  • Boom uses steady hand to keep aircraft fighting

    "It's more like trying to knock a melon off a post by pushing a 20-foot pole through a chain-link fence on a windy day." Senior Airman Jered Danielson compared operating the boom at nearly 5 miles above Iraq to a video game, but there's more to it than just playing a game.Airman Danielson, a 340th

  • Boomers help keep the fighters flying

    The KC-135 Stratotanker helps the Air Force accomplish its mission by providing gas to aircraft during flight. To accomplish its mission, this fuel station in the sky uses an operator with a very unique job who goes by the name of "Boom." He or she is the tanker's boom operator. Staff Sgt. Larry

  • Booster launches from Vandenberg

    A ground-based interceptor prototype booster successfully launched from here Aug. 16, supporting the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program of the Missile Defense Agency.The booster, designed by Orbital Sciences Corp., is a three-stage system based on hardware that has flown 45 times on missions

  • 'Boot Camp' class helps Airmen get fit to fight

    Airmen here who are unable to meet fitness standards, or those who just want to participate in a high-caliber fitness routine attend "boot camp," a fitness class offered through the Health and Wellness Center.In the past few months, more and more Airmen have begun to take advantage of the strenuous

  • Boot Hill finds new home at Al Udeid

    The Boot Hill “cemetery” at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, has gotten the boot.For the second time in 11 years, the military’s tongue-in-cheek version of Tombstone, Arizona’s famous cemetery, has been exhumed, this time from the closed PSAB to its new resting place here.Cemetery builders

  • Bootcamp gives veterans an entrepreneurial edge

    Starting your own business can be a daunting venture even under the best of circumstances. But add to that the challenges of being a service-disabled veteran, and the experience can be overwhelming. That scenario troubled Mike Haynie, a former Air Force major. A few months after beginning his new

  • Boots Blesse flies west

     An Air Force legend was laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery March 22, officially "flying west."Retired Maj. Gen. Frederick "Boots" Blesse, a double ace pilot, passed away Oct. 31, 2012. He retired from the Air Force April 1, 1975, and into his final days, the Air Force was a consistent part

  • Boots on the ground: Moody Airmen march to ground zero

    Most people can recall exactly where they were when they heard the tragic news of the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. From the service members who acted as first responders to the middle and high school students who are now defenders of freedom, that day symbolizes a painful time in history.Now 10 years

  • Born in the military: One family's legacy of service

    Military deployments are difficult for both the service member and the family members they leave behind. Being in a dual-military parent family doesn't make it easier, but after nearly 50 years of combined service, the current Wakefields are continuing their family's tradition."My great uncles

  • Born of controversy: The GI Bill of Rights

    It has been heralded as one of the most significant pieces of legislation ever produced by the federal government, one that impacted the United States socially, economically and politically. But it almost never came to pass. The Servicemembers' Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill

  • Born to wave the flag

    Blaine Yelton was born Aug. 12, 1915, when World War I was in its second bloody year.

  • Boston cardinal selects Air Force chaplain for No. 2 post

    The early 20th century American author Thomas Wolfe wrote a book titled “You Can’t Go Home Again.” That saying doesn't hold true for a priest in the Air Force chief of chaplains office.Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Richard Erikson will be coming home again, courtesy of Cardinal Seán O’Malley of the Boston

  • Boston Marathon comes to Iraq

    Not everyone can run in the Boston Marathon -- especially if he or she is deployed. But, for U.S. and coalition forces here, the marathon came to them.For the second year, the Boston Athletic Association has brought this sanctioned event to Iraq. More than 250 men and women ran either individually

  • Boston proclamation party gets Air Force Week rolling

    More than 300 people crowded outside of historic Faneuil Hall here Aug. 17 to celebrate the start of Air Force Week New England. The crowd was entertained by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill team, Air National Guard's Band of the Northeast and a flyover. Guest speakers included Massachusetts Lt.

  • Botox treatment provides relief for bladder problems

    If your lifestyle is hampered too often by embarrassing moments when nature calls, the Wilford Hall Medical Center's Incontinence Clinic offers hope. Urinary incontinence is a common problem for many; but, for some people, it can disrupt their lives. Medical reports indicate those who suffer from

  • Botswana Defense Force learns about warehouse management

    Five members of the Botswana Defense Force, or BDF, visited Ramstein last week to learn about the Air Force’s warehouse management procedures and operations. The 435th Logistics Readiness Squadron hosted the visit, touring the group through the base’s inbound cargo sections, receiving section,

  • Bound for glory

    A Malmstrom missile maintenance team removes the upper section of an ICBM at a Montana missile site. The missile section was picked at random for a "glory trip," a test launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., in August. The launch allows Malmstrom and Vandenberg officials to gather data on

  • Bowl game pays tribute to servicemembers

    The game may have been all about football, but the overall event was a tribute to 1.2 million very special people -- the men and women of the United States armed forces. The Universities of Utah and Tulsa took to the field Dec. 23 at Amon G. Carter Stadium for the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

  • Bowsers make draining KC-135s more efficient

    A new piece of equipment is making things cleaner and easier for 92nd Maintenance Squadron Airmen here.While the two fuel bowsers are still new, Airmen have found the machines greatly improve the process of draining fuel from KC-135 Stratotankers, said Staff Sgt. David Shurley, a fuels systems

  • Boxers fight toward armed forces competition

    The last time the Air Force boxing team won the armed forces title only two of this year’s 31 training camp attendees had even been born. That 1975 championship squad was the last first-place finish Air Force enjoyed before the Army’s dynasty captured 26 of the next 28 inter-service crowns.For the