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U.S. Air Force News

  • California Air National Guard F-16 crashes in remote area

    A California Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed at approximately 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19 in Owens Valley, Calif. while on a routine training mission. The pilot ejected safely and was recovered by China Lake Naval Air Station search and rescue people. The aircraft was from the 144th Fighter

  • California ANG deploys Predator to support firefighters

    With wildfires continuing to rage around Yosemite National Park, the California National Guard has deployed a remotely piloted aircraft that improves the incident commander’s ability to monitor conditions on the ground.

  • California ANG participating in exercises in Ukraine

    California Air National Guardsmen and members of California's Emergency Medical Services Authority are participating in a disaster response exercise with civilians and military members from Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova in Odessa, Ukraine, Sept. 13 through 21.Activities will focus on

  • California base wins water recycling award

    Ever think the sign of the times would state, “To conserve water, this building uses reclaimed water to flush toilets and urinals?"The significance of the reclaimed water signs posted in restrooms in new base facilities was apparent March 12, at the WateReuse Association’s awards luncheon in San

  • California BRAC bases now part of recycling revolution

    J.D. Wang, the CEO of a tire recycling company, believes people can recycle anything if they put their minds to it. So it seems fitting that his company is expanding into a recycled building -- once the commissary at the former Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino, Calif.In Sacramento, a former

  • California fire support missions continue July 4

    Airmen from the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group launched their ninth day of Aerial support missions July 4 in a coordinated effort to control wildfires in California. The aircrews, flying Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems-equipped C-130 Hercules aircraft, focused their firefighting efforts on the

  • California firefighting commander: 'Great job' by Airmen

    People in California noticed the job Airmen at McClellan Airfield performed in fighting California's wildfires and could not stop telling the commander of U.S. Northern Command during his July 17 visit to Sacramento. "State leaders are stumbling over each other trying to thank you guys!" said Gen.

  • California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger visits 302nd AEG

    During a visit to the California National Guard fire fighting training facility at McClellan Airfield here, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger paid a brief visit to the 302nd Air Expeditionary Group to wish Airmen a happy 4th of July and thank them for their service in assisting with

  • California governor boosts support to combat vets

    California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a new state initiative to better help returning combat veterans land jobs and get whatever assistance they need to secure housing, health care and other veterans' services. The governor unveiled the Operation Welcome Home outreach campaign during

  • California Guard reaches 50 million meals distributed during COVID-19

    California National Guard and California State Guard service members began working food banks across the state in late March just as coronavirus restrictions were initiated and the number of regular food-bank volunteers dwindled due to personal safety precautions against the virus.

  • California Guard to get the Predator

    As part of ongoing Total Force initiatives, the Air Force, the National Guard Bureau and the Adjutant General of California announced today that the California Air National Guard’s 163rd Air Refueling Wing, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., will become the home for a new MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial

  • California guardsmen rescue lost hiker

    Airmen from the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing conducted a successful mission, rescuing a missing hiker near Pioneer, Calif., on the Fourth of July. Officials from the Air Guard unit were contacted the evening of July 3 by members of the California Emergency Management Agency

  • California National Guard battles wildfires

    Nearly a dozen aircraft and crews from the California Air and Army National Guard are battling wildfires across Northern California. Currently, nine California Army National Guard helicopters and two California Air National Guard air tankers are working in coordination with California's Department

  • Call for warrior games coaches

    If you have ever wanted to follow the footsteps of legendary coaches like John Wooden or Ed Owen, staff members in the Air Force Services Agency Fitness Branch are looking for you.The Air Force team for the first Warrior Games needs coaches for shooting, swimming, archery, volleyball, cycling, track

  • Calling cards help troops call home

    On June 17, most fathers will awake to smiles, hugs and maybe even another tie for their collection. For more than 150,000 American fathers, sons and daughters serving in operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, their Father's Day will be much different. To help bridge the gap between the

  • Call-to-service enlistee swears in

    The first person to enlist under the National Call to Service program swore in Oct. 1 during a ceremony at the Military Entrance Processing Station in San Antonio. Brig. Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., Air Force Recruiting Service commander, administered the oath of enlistment to Hector Barreto from

  • Cal's late rally beats Air Force

    Reserve quarterback Kevin Riley threw three touchdowns and ran for a fourth rallying the University of California to a 42-36 win over Air Force in the fifth annual Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, before a bowl-record 40,905 at Amon G. Carter Stadium and a nationally televised audience on Dec. 31

  • Cambodian cattle moo for Pacific Angel staff

    If asked, most people would guess that a humanitarian medical mission run by the U.S. Air Force is to give aid and assistance to people from third-world countries, or provide humanitarian relief to a place that has been hit by natural disaster or devastation. But one team on Operation Pacific Angel

  • Camera action, 3-D program promote DOD safety

    When the Secretary of Defense called for a 75 percent reduction in mishaps throughout the Department of Defense in May, two Air Force Materiel Command bases answered the call. Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., is serving as lead installation for the DOD Safety and Occupational Health Council, or DSOC,

  • Camera maintainers are two of a kind

    Endangered species are scattered around the world, sometimes in the least likely of places. The few hundred remaining mountain gorillas are found deep in the Congo. A few dozen Amur tigers exist in out-of-the-way Siberia. The surviving giant pandas are located in secluded southern China.But the

  • Camera phones pose risk to security

    Carrying the latest "have-to-have" electronic gadget may mean big trouble for the person who brings it into unauthorized locations.Officials from the National Security Agency said in an advisory that new cellular phones with integral digital cameras pose an unacceptable security risk to homeland

  • Cameras enhance forecasting of sun-generated storms

    Every 100-plus minutes, while orbiting approximately 50 miles above the Earth onboard the Coriolis satellite, the Solar Mass Ejection Imager experiment scans the darkness of space-seeking, sun-generated magnetic clouds of particles intent on striking the planet. Since becoming operational in January

  • Camp Bucca Airmen make difference with smiles

    Every day as the dawn breaks over the Iraqi desert, hundreds of Iraqis line up to visit their relatives at the Theater Internment Facility at Camp Bucca that holds more than 10,000 detainees. Every day before that sun rises, Airmen from the 887th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron prepare for

  • Camp Bucca detention center closes in Iraq

    As the last detainee boarded a plane destined for another theater detention center Sept. 17, the detainee operations mission at Camp Bucca, Iraq, officially ended. An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III carrying the last group of 180 detainees lifted off from the Basra airport headed to Camp Cropper at

  • Camp Cunningham honors Air Force hero

    A true American hero was remembered March 4 during a ceremony that officially dedicated the Air Force compound here to the memory of Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham. Airman Cunningham gave his life supporting Operation Enduring Freedom while saving the lives of 10 others March 4, 2002.The

  • Camp Eggers officials dedicate building to fallen Airman

    Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and civilians dedicated the Gillespie House to honor a fallen Airman March 2 at Camp Eggers. Master Sgt. Randy Gillespie, an embedded training team senior mentor with the Afghan national army 207th Corps, died July 9, 2007, from fatal wounds sustained from small

  • Camp Eggers staff visit Afghan girls' school

    Nearly 70 members of Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan delivered backpacks, toys and school supplies to the Zabuli Education Center for Girls and Women May 8 outside of Kabul. American servicemembers from Camp Eggers visited the school as part of the volunteer community relations

  • Camp Gulfport opens doors for ROM operations

    With preventing the spread of COVID-19 being a top priority, Headquarters Air Force had to develop a new process to ensure the safety of the service members before deployment into the U.S. Central, Africa and European Commands’ areas of responsibility.

  • Camp Simba enriches education for Kenyan students

    After three years, two separate deployment rotations and donations from more than 30 individuals, class is now back in session for students from Magogoni, Kauthara, Bora Imani and Sina Mbio villages in Kenya.

  • Camp Zama Airmen provide vital communications link

    A small group of Airmen at this Army installation provides vital worldwide communications links for the Department of Defense and its allies in the Pacific region. The technicians assigned to Operating Location C of the 374th Communications Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, handle area, regional,

  • Campaign behind the hat

    During a push to gain military training instructors, then Staff Sgt. Chi Yi found himself donning the under-the-brim stare that welcomed him to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, years before.The former vehicle operations specialist accepted the challenge of molding future Airmen, an ambition

  • Campaign brings hope to Airmen

    A new initiative by the Air Force chaplain’s office aims to bring to Airmen something that cannot be issued -- hope.Air Force chaplain service officials kicked off a year-long and service-wide "Campaign of Hope" Jan. 3, said Chaplain (Col.) Bob Page, of the chaplain’s office. The campaign started

  • Campaign wants 'veteran' put back in Veterans Day

    A new campaign is working to put the "veteran" back into Veterans Day and to rally public awareness of the sacrifices made by injured veterans and their caregivers.The Wounded Warrior Project kicked off "Believe in Heroes," which focuses primarily on wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan and

  • 'Campus Dining' to transform AF food services

    Air Combat Command is leading the Air Force in a study that will change the way food service is delivered at Air Force installations. Services officials in ACC are traveling to various installations within the command to assess current food operations; the research may result in Air Force bases

  • Can’t spell test without TES

    More than 60 Air Mobility Command Test and Evaluation Squadron Airmen and civilians -- many of whom are former pilots and maintainers -- use their aircrew backgrounds to update and advance aircraft components in safe and innovative ways.

  • Canadian airmen support airborne warning, control in Southwest Asia

    To any other member of the 965th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, the five Canadian airmen who work with them are a part of the team. And that's just the way they like it.Each day the five Canadians work together as part of a crew on an E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system

  • Canadian controller works alongside American air battle managers

    The cool breeze gently lifts a bright red maple leaf off the ground whipping it into the air during an autumn soccer scrimmage in Ontario, Canada ... wait a second, rewind. The hot desert wind whips and whirls the sand in every direction as Canadians battle their way from work to home during their

  • Canadian delegation visits Barnes Center to further PME initiative

    A delegation from Canada visited the Thomas E. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education Jan. 26 through 29 here to further an enlisted professional military education initiative between the Air Force and Canadian defense forces.The team, headed by Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Fred Singer, the

  • Canadian forces assist in hurricane evacuation

    Canadian Forces officials deployed three aircraft in support of Air Forces Northern humanitarian efforts during Hurricane Gustav.A CC-177 Globemaster from Trenton, Ontario, deployed to New Orleans to assist in the evacuation of people from hospitals and rest homes in the path of the major storm.Two

  • Canadian forces contribute to space mission

    When servicemembers here perform a mission, whether it is space surveillance or launching a payload into space, it is not solely an American effort, but rather a joint effort. One such example is the partnership here between Americans and Canadians. Stemming out of the North American Aerospace

  • Canadian pilot killed as jet crashes during air show practice

    A Canadian Forces Snowbirds pilot crashed and was killed during an air show practice May 18 at about 3:45 p.m. at Malmstrom Air Force Base near Great Falls, Mont. Canadian Capt. Shawn McCaughey, 31, the pilot of Snowbird 2 from Candiac, Quebec, died when his CT-114 Tutor jet impacted the ground

  • Canadians test capabilities at Tyndall’s Combat Archer, Combat Hammer

    Royal Canadian Air Force personnel took part in exercises Combat Archer and Combat Hammer here, from Jan. 10 to Feb. 10. This was the first time the 401st Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed a detachment of personnel since fall 2015. The 401st TFS is from Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada, and brought about

  • Canadians train with Air Force reservists

    Canadian Airmen are participating with Reserve Airmen in a joint international exercise known as ChumEx. As a yearly event, 93rd Fighter Squadron officials here invite air force fighter units with dissimilar aircraft from allied nations to play “war games” and practice dogfighting skills.This year,

  • Cancer doesn’t stop Air Force cyclists from crossing Iowa

    Tears don’t fall lightly from a colonel, especially in front of more than 120 other Airmen. But when Col. John Clarke presented Pamela Vineyard a plaque, representing a weeklong bike ride across the state of Iowa, the tears were evidence of the inspiring and amazing example of her strength and

  • Cancer survivor becomes pilot for a day

    John Austin survived infant leukemia, seven surgeries, chemotherapy, respiratory failure and dozens of blood transfusions. Thanks to the 58th Airlift Squadron, he can now add Air Force pilot to that list.

  • Cancer survivor takes on challenge of open road

    A C-130 Hercules flight engineer with more than 700 deployed flying hours who is also a cancer survivor is riding his bike 4,000 miles across the U.S.Senior Airman Brian Petras from the 50th Airlift Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., is participating in the Sea to Shining Sea ride hosted

  • Cancer survivor to compete in Warrior Games

    It's been two years and three months since Senior Master Sgt. Michael Sanders overcame an aggressive form of cancer. Despite undergoing extensive treatment and recovery efforts, Sergeant Sanders has made sure to keep fitness a part of his lifestyle, achieving perfect scores on physical training

  • Candidates sought for civilian leadership program

    Air Force officials are now accepting applications for the Civilian Strategic Leader Program, formerly the GS-15 Leadership Development Program, through April 20. Although the name of the program has changed, the goal remains the same: to develop eligible GS-15, Pay Band 3 or equivalent-level

  • 'Candy Bomber' delivered chocolate, hope to Berlin

    Seventy years ago, with Adolf Hitler’s crumbled Third Reich still fresh in their memories and Joseph Stalin’s Soviet Union having a choke hold on their future, Berlin’s children were starving.

  • Candy Bomber drops in 65 years after Berlin Airlift

    It was 1948, World War II was over and the Cold War had begun. For many German families, living conditions were tough and food was scarce. But for the children of Berlin, there was a glimmer of hope, and it came from the sky. Army Air Corps 1st Lt. Gail Halvorsen, a C-47 pilot stationed in Germany

  • Candy Bomber shares Berlin Airlift stories

    Like many great events in history, it started simply -- two sticks of gum given to some children who were living in a bombed and besieged city. That act of kindness eventually led to a prominent place in the history books for retired Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, who at the time of the gift was a first

  • Canine defenders keep warfighters safe

    A 12-inch-long mortar round lay partly hidden in the overgrowth near a checkpoint at Baghdad International Airport. It was found and safely destroyed thanks to the keen senses of a four-legged member of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.Rudy, one of several military working dogs

  • Cannon Airman returns from earthquake-torn Haiti

    Although earthquakes are nothing unusual for one Airman here who hails from Azusa, Calif., they were the last thing on his mind when he took leave shortly after New Year's Day. Airman 1st Class Mike Cooksey, 27th Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron, returned to Cannon Jan. 17, a week

  • Cannon Airmen help police catch murder suspect

    Like a scene out of the TV series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” two multimedia flight Airmen here helped local law enforcement officials solve a grisly murder recently.Senior Airman Michael Garza and Airman 1st Class Tiffany Curbeam, both of the 27th Communications Squadron, answered their

  • Cannon Airmen prepare for gunship arrival

    The 27th Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions Flight completed new training on the combat aircraft parking area here Feb. 6 to ensure they are ready when additional aircraft arrive. Twenty-six Airmen make up the flight that is responsible for supplying live and training

  • Cannon Airmen train for special operations forces resupply

    What seems like routine training for 27th Special Operations Wing C-130W Hercules aircrews, loadmasters and logistics Airmen here in reality prepares them to execute missions downrange. "Special operations forces that are deployed rely on this type of air drop very much," said Staff Sgt. Jerimy

  • Cannon debuts latest in moving target technology

    Explosions shook the air as the white truck, almost invisible through the dust and smoke, weaved its way across a training range towing a target being shot at by 40mm rounds from aircraft patrolling the sky. Special operations Airmen from here tested the remote-controlled truck, the latest in

  • Cannon hosts 2015 EMT Rodeo

    Twenty-one teams of emergency medical technicians from 22 installations across the Air Force convened at Cannon Air Force Base Sept. 17-18 for the 2015 EMT Rodeo.

  • Cannon members march to honor Bataan POWs

    "Sand, hills and pain," an elderly marcher said, describing the 26.2 mile Bataan Memorial Death March, held March 30 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The annual march, in its 19th year, honored the men and women forced to march 60 miles by Japanese soldiers, and in thousands of instances died, in

  • Cannon officials use AFSO 21 to improve inprocessing

    Cannon Air Force Base officials recently revamped its inprocessing program using Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century to take a three week process into a four hour program. Beginning in July, base officials worked to improve and consolidate inprocessing for new base members and their

  • Cannon unit to become 27th Special Operations Wing

    Air Force officials here announced Aug. 30 the designation of a new Air Force Special Operations Command wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., as the 27th Special Operations Wing. The 27th designation, currently used as the 27th Fighter Wing at Cannon AFB, will change from fighter to special

  • Cannon visitor explores BRAC options

    As directed by the final 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommendations, the Air Force is exploring new mission options here. Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Logistics William C. Anderson visited here Jan. 4-5 to gather information in an attempt

  • Cannon volunteers lend helping hands in wake of disaster

    With residents of Clovis, N.M., reeling from the destruction and devastation of a March 23 tornado, base members here stepped up to offer help to their host city in a time of need. The tornado was one of 13 confirmed tornadoes to thunder across the eastern New Mexico plains that night, said James

  • CAOC historians preserve past for the future

    Philosopher George Santayana once wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” With the volume of events from operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, someone has to decide what details from these operations are filed away for future leaders to draw upon years down

  • CAOC memorializes Airman’s sacrifice

    A New York Airman, who was killed when responding to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks at the World Trade Center, was honored Dec. 22 when the Combined Air Operations Center entry control point was rededicated in his honor. After the closing of the old CAOC entry point Dec. 9, the rededication of the new

  • Cap back in new, free comic

    On the heels of its 116th anniversary, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service is once again joining forces with Marvel Comics to distribute free, military-exclusive comic books at its stores around the world.The 11th issue in the Exchange/Marvel series, titled "The First Avenger," revolves around

  • CAP cadets catch glimpse of pilot training

    Forty Civil Air Patrol Cadets came here to Columbus Air Force Base July 6 to 14 to catch a glimpse of just what Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training is really like.The weeklong camp, known as the Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training Program Familiarization Course, is an annual event that

  • CAP cadets get taste of pararescue career field

    The 306th Rescue Squadron hosted more than 20 Civil Air Patrol cadets during the advanced pararescue orientation course here June 13-23.The course is a 10-day challenge that tests CAP cadets both mentally and physically as they are constantly evaluated on the stringent requirements of the

  • CAP helps Air Force face Isabel

    As Hurricane Isabel makes landfall on the Eastern seaboard, Civil Air Patrol officials are helping the Air Force manage storm-related operations.The CAP is the all-volunteer U.S. Air Force auxiliary. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, located at Langley Air Force Base, Va., has moved its

  • CAP Helps Train Air Force Officers Aspiring to Fly

    Civil Air Patrol is one of the four partners in the U.S. Air Force Total Force. Consisting of CAP as the Air Force auxiliary as well as the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and active-duty Air Force, each partner has specific missions that often foster collaboration.

  • CAP marks 70th anniversary, honors World War II members

    Civil Air Patrol members observed the 70th anniversary of its founding with a ceremony Dec. 1 at its national headquarters here. During the ceremony, which celebrated the past, present and future of the official civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, CAP leaders presented Exceptional Service Awards to

  • CAP members place wreath at Air Force Memorial

    Members of the Civil Air Patrol paid their respects to fallen Airmen at a wreath laying ceremony at the Air Force Memorial here Dec. 15. CAP Brig. Gen. Amy Courter, national commander, joined the Hagerstown, Md., unit at the memorial to "offer support in the spirit the Civil Air Patrol always has."

  • CAP national commander, vice receive stars

    Civil Air Patrol National Commander Major General Richard L. Bowling addresses the audience following his promotion here Dec. 3. The position was upgraded to major general by the Air Force chief of staff in November because of the organization's planned role in homeland security. The CAP is the

  • CAP proves worth during Katrina relief

    When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast a year ago, the nation went into immediate humanitarian mission mode. Along with the efforts of countless organizations came help from a 57,000-strong force often overlooked. While the debris settled and devastation became evident under clear skies, the