NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Airmen cultivate leadership qualities through Ranger Assessment Course

    Twenty-three Airmen from across the Air Force recently converged on a training camp for a 3-week Ranger Assessment Course near Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii. The purpose of the 19-day course is to prepare, assess and evaluate Air Force candidates for Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia.

  • Rescue helicopter pilots showcase VR capability to ACC leadership

    The trainer allows four people to don VR headgear and simultaneously enter a server to fly a virtual HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter in simulated training missions. The controls are the same equipment the helicopter uses to add further realism to the VR environment.

  • From enlisted marine to 100th ARW commander

    The son of immigrant parents from Thailand, Col. Troy Pananon, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, didn’t have a long family military tradition to lean on, so he made his own instead.

  • Overnight radar replacements for NEXRAD

    The NEXT RADAR, or NEXTRAD replacement, completed at Cannon AFB in February in one night, is part of an ongoing effort there and 24 other Air Force installations worldwide. The Air Force’s 25-site replacement program is part of a three-agency U.S. government effort to standardize the 180 radars that

  • JB McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst hosts first-ever base-level Pitch Day event

    The two-month process, which started in April, began when the 87th Contracting Squadron published problem statements from the 87th Air Base Wing, 305th Air Mobility Wing, 621st Contingency Response Wing and Expeditionary Operations School, requesting innovative solutions from small businesses to

  • Online worksheet to replace biannual AGR review board

    One significant change to the program was the elimination of an AGR Review Board, or ARB, which was held twice a year. The board was co-chaired by the deputy to the chief of Air Force Reserve and the deputy commander of the Air Force Reserve Command, with the purpose of determining career status for

  • ‘1200 in 12’ initiative succeeds as final new hire pledges oath

    The Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex announced its initiative during a press conference Aug. 15, 2018. The task at hand was to hire 1,200 new workers within 12 months, or by the end of fiscal 2019. At the time, 7,200 personnel worked for the complex, providing maintenance and repair for several

  • U.S., Indonesian air forces wrap up Cope West ‘19

    Cope West is designed to advance interoperability and build upon already-established partnerships between U.S. military forces and Indonesian air forces, with the end goal of enhancing both sides’ combat capabilities and unit readiness.

  • IG office earns Air Force award

    This Air Force-level award recognizes an outstanding Commander’s Inspection Program that goes above and beyond the day-to-day mission requirements. NASIC’s CCIP was chosen as the best of any direct reporting unit or field operating agency.

  • Displaying "Old Glory" with honor

    This week, American flags will be displayed across the nation in celebration of the Independence Day holiday. Following a few guidelines can ensure we are displaying Old Glory properly.

  • Altus AFB Airman wins AF-level Pharmacy Tech of the Year award

    The purpose of the award is to recognize the most outstanding senior pharmacy technician throughout the Air Force each year. The award encompasses leadership, training and career development throughout the career field. Hamilton proved to excel in these categories helping her earn the title of the

  • Slife takes command of AFSOC

    At a ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, June 28, Lt. Gen. Jim Slife took command of Air Force Special Operations Command. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein, presided over the ceremony where Slife took over for Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, who will go on to serve as the commander of Air

  • CSAF presents Kolligian Trophy to T-38 pilot

    During the ceremony, Goldfein stated that Heath's superb analysis and outstanding skill in response to this life-threatening emergency resulted in the safe recovery of two Airmen and an $8.2 million aircraft.

  • Multinational Heavy Airlift Wing celebrates 10th anniversary

    The SAC program is an initial 30-year commitment and consists of NATO members Hungary, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and the U.S. and Partnership for Peace nations Finland and Sweden.

  • Team Offutt restores lighthouse in the sky

    The TACAN system was only two years old when the transponder cabinet in which it is housed was damaged by flood waters March. While the outer shell remained intact, the inside components were heavily impaired.

  • Air Force announces Junior ROTC instructors of the year

    The award program recognizes AFJROTC instructors’ “diligent work and outstanding achievement” in the development of cadets and encourages excellence through recognition of superior accomplishment. In addition to national recognition for their educational performance and award presentation from the

  • Air Force Academy teams up with Test Pilot School in new candidacy program

    Test Pilot School is a highly competitive, 48-week educational opportunity for aviators, combat systems officers, remotely piloted aircraft pilots and engineers. Graduates of the course receive a Master of Science in flight test engineering and go on to test a variety of aerospace weapon systems for

  • Misawa Block-50 F-16 hits 10K hours, an AF first

    One of Misawa Air Base’s most famous flight line assets hit a historic milestone June 10 as a 29-year-old Block-50 F-16 Fighting Falcon, tail number 808 affectionately known as “BOB,” reached 10,000 flight hours during a sortie flown across Japan.

  • Inspector General keeps ADAB ready and compliant

    The IG office is open to all Airmen and federal employees to hear complaints of wrong doings; they also provide an independent look during exercises and inspections, giving them the ability to identify undetected non-compliance and possible risks.

  • Premier College Interns immerse into Air Force mission

    The 2019 Premier College Intern Program is a 12-week paid intern program is designed to attract full-time college students who are seeking a career in Air Force Civilian Service. Many interns transition into the PALACE Acquire or Copper Cap program(s) after completing their respective degree.

  • Providing access to space through innovation

    The U.S. Air Force and Space Command are powered by innovation. Because of this, Vandenberg Air Force Base is continually making improvements to base facilities, equipment and the way Airmen and mission partners do their job in order to complete the space mission.

  • Interagency exercise paves way for progressive training

    The training simulated a hostile’s attempt to capture a nuclear asset. Security forces Airmen, who arrived by both Humvee and helicopter, began to combat the threat and worked their way toward retaking control of the launch facility. After neutralizing the threat, recapturing and securing the launch

  • Wills takes command of 19th Air Force overseeing flying training

    With his family, friends and Airmen from across the 19th Air Force in attendance, Wills received the guidon for the NAF that oversees flying training across Air Education and Training Command from Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast, commander of AETC, who officiated the ceremony.

  • Radar survey team uses innovation for faster surveys

    As the nation’s only long-range radar evaluation unit, the 84th RADES mission is to monitor, evaluate and optimize long-range radars located across the United States, ensuring perimeter security of the borders and within the country.

  • Pacific senior enlisted leaders meet for historic Red Flag-Alaska

    Approximately 2,000 personnel are flying, maintaining and supporting more than 85 aircraft from more than a dozen units during this iteration of Red Flag-Alaska. The majority of participating aircraft are based at, and flying from, JB Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base.

  • Hill AFB F-35As arrive at Spangdahlem AB

    Funded through the European Deterrence Initiative, the TSP provides a more robust U.S. military rotational presence in the European theater capable of deterring adversaries and assuring partners and allies of the U.S. commitment to regional security.

  • AMLO brings expertise to fight in Syria

    An AMLO from the 621st MSOS, aligned with the 82nd Airborne Division, recently found himself in Syria working to provide expertise in multiple areas and maintain a runway under harsh conditions.

  • Units compete in NAF-wide cyber competition

    “This competition provides our cyber community the opportunity to showcase their talents in a cyber environment, as well as teach and learn from others across the 24th Air Force,” said Tech. Sgt. Andrew Gogue, 688th Cyberspace Wing weapons and tactics noncommissioned officer in charge.

  • 372nd TRS, Det 11: small unit, big global impact

    Their main focus is to deliver major command-directed and unit-requested training throughout the Air Force aircraft maintenance field focusing on advanced skills and additional hands-on experience.

  • Air Force Recruiting sets the pace at Indy 500

    “We’re really happy to welcome the Air Force to the Andretti family for the Indy 500 with Conor and a full season across all our cars,” said Michael Andretti, Andretti Autosport chairman and chief executive officer. “Having five American drivers represent the team at America’s biggest race was very

  • IHA tool goes live in the cloud

    The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center first launched the IHA in 2017 as a first-of-its-kind, metrics-based framework to integrate information from authoritative databases across the I&MS enterprise.

  • Thunderbirds announce 2020 officer selections

    The commander of Air Combat Command, Gen. Mike Holmes, has officially selected the officers who will be joining the United States Air Force Thunderbirds for the 2020 demonstration season.

  • Agile BOLT maintainers support F-35 deployment

    These Blended Operational Lightning Technician or BOLT maintainers are currently deployed alongside the 421st Fighter Squadron during a Theater Security Package to Europe and they’ve sent the first 388th Fighter Wing maintainer to ever be qualified in six different aspects of F-35 maintenance.

  • Technology, AFWERX, helping SF Academy graduates become more lethal, ready

    Arguably the most critical skills a Defender must possess – how and when to employ the use of force – the 343rd Training Squadron schoolhouse recently acquired six Multiple Interactive Learning Objectives simulators or MILO, as well as a VR-based training system facilitated through an AFWERX

  • Reserve Airmen hunt hurricanes

    This specialized unit of Reserve Airmen is made up of a five-person crew consisting of a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, aerial reconnaissance weather officer and loadmaster who is also the dropsonde operator.

  • Exercise Northern Edge 2019 comes to a close

    The fully integrated, large-scale exercise provided realistic and comprehensive joint training opportunities in and around Alaskan land and airspace, as well as in and above the Gulf of Alaska. NE19 participants trained on defensive counter-air, close-air support and air interdiction of maritime

  • USAFRICOM hosts APORA 2019

    The AFRICOM-facilitated program promotes an exchange of best practices between 27 African nations and representatives from U.S. government agencies to increase communication, discuss ongoing challenges, identify gaps and needs and promote regional stability and security.

  • Superintendents join AFPC Squadron Commander Course

    Previous courses this year provided a first-hand opportunity to new and sitting squadron commanders to learn about AFPC programs and processes for talent management and care for Airmen and families. This iteration offered superintendents the same opportunity, with 41 commanders and civilian

  • Seeking mental health treatment: Chief shares his experience with PTSD

    Many service members struggle with the thought of seeking mental health treatment, thinking of it as a career ender, or possibly that others may think they are weak for seeking help. Corvin said he wrestled with the thought of whether or not to get help, and eventually decided he needed to make a

  • Hill AFB F-35s, Airmen deploy to Europe as part of Theater Security Package

    Funded through the European Deterrence Initiative, the TSP provides a more robust U.S. military rotational presence in the European theater capable of deterring adversaries and assuring partners and allies of U.S. commitment to regional security. The F-35s and members of the 421st and 466th Fighter

  • Okies support exercise Northern Edge

    The 507th ARW and 465th Air Refueling Squadron provided KC-135R Stratotanker aerial refueling support to joint Department of Defense aircraft during the large force exercise.

  • 8 FW SJA wins Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award for Air Force

    Maj. Christopher Stein, 8th Fighter Wing staff judge advocate, received the 2018 - 2019 Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award for the Air Force. His exemplary leadership, impact to the local community, remarkable development of subordinates and vast nature of his previous assignments contributed

  • SecAF, CSAF visit AU for 66th annual National Security Forum

    The NSF is designed to inform community influencers on Air University and the Air Force’s current and future objectives as well as plans for enhancing national security, and is hosted by Air War College on behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force.

  • Maryland Guard forces join Estonian military in exercise

    The training fostered collaboration by more than 9,000 military personnel from more than a dozen NATO partner countries. The brigade-versus-brigade scenarios were implemented to test preparedness and response for wartime situations.

  • Air University rolls out new ALS curriculum

    Academic experts at the Barnes Center took a look at the ALS curriculum and decided a new, modernized plan was overdue. Several of the more than 60 Airman Leadership Schools around the world are currently testing the course ahead of the Air Force-wide release scheduled for June 5.

  • Hanscom AFB software teams decode F-35 maintenance

    Software teams from Hanscom Air Force Base are fielding applications that help aircraft maintainers at Nellis AFB, Nevada, plan for successful operational testing of the Air Force’s newest fighter, the F-35 Lightning II.

  • Army GLOs enable joint combat power, battlefield safety

    The Department of Defense receives a significant amount of its intelligence from the Air Force distributed common ground system, which is an enterprise of globally networked analysts and cyber professionals linked together by a global communications architecture.

  • Secretary of the Air Force announces Grand Forks AFB re-designation

    The re-designation, initiated by Gen. Mike Holmes, Air Combat Command commander, aligns Grand Forks AFB’s host wing and the 69th Reconnaissance Group. The 69th RG, which flies the high-altitude, remotely-piloted RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft, has been aligned under the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale

  • CPI office augments mission effectiveness, efficiency

    Sometimes it takes an outsider’s perspective to discover a new way of thinking about a work process to make it more efficient and effective in execution.For the Air Force Materiel Command Continued Process Improvement team, the ‘outsider perspective’ is the heart and soul of their Air Force mission,

  • CSAF helps honor rescue community

    The three-day event brought past and present ‘Jolly Greens’ together to celebrate their heritage, reminisce about past missions and to present the JGA’s final Rescue Mission of the Year award to crews from the 41st Rescue Squadron and 48th RQS.

  • Operation Restore Paradise enhances readiness through adaptive basing

    Airmen deploy frequently, leaving their work centers behind. But what if Airmen stayed and their work centers deployed?The Air Force has two deployable Precision Measurement Equipment Laboratories called a Rapid Assistance Support for Calibration unit. Mountain Home Air Force Base is trusted with

  • Hill AFB F-35A units assist in F-16 fighter training

    For the last two weeks, F-16 basic course students and instructor pilots from the 311th Fighter Squadron at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, have been flying with and against the Air Force’s first operational F-35A units.

  • Hill AFB fighter wings conduct combat exercise

    The friendly and enemy forces were made up of F-35 Lightning IIs from Hill AFB, F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 311th Fighter Squadron at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, and 80th FS at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, and a team of contracted aggressor pilots from Draken International, at Nellis AFB, Nevada.

  • Exercise Rapid Weasel enhances 52nd Fighter Wing innovation, readiness

    “Rapid Weasel was a demonstration of the 52nd FW’s ability to rapidly project combat power by opening an airfield, refueling and re-arming fighter aircraft, then quickly departing to other locations,” said Lt. Col. Leonardo Tongko, 435th Contingency Response Squadron commander.

  • Wing begins annual mission to Greenland

    Airmen of the 109th Airlift Wing kicked off their annual support for National Science Foundation research in Greenland April 23, as about 80 Airmen and three LC-130 Hercules aircraft left Stratton Air National Guard Base for Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.

  • New training prepares Airmen to save lives

    Airmen are “arming up” their life-saving skills with Tactical Combat Casualty Care, also known as TCCC.TCCC is a standardized course created to equip every Airman, Soldier, Sailor and Marine with the basic skills to save lives in combat operations.

  • Vandenberg AFB aids during exercise Patriot Hook 2019

    Exercise Patriot Hook 2019, an annual joint-service exercise coordinated by the Air Force Reserve Command, took place at Vandenberg Air Force Base, April 10 through 15. The five day long exercise demonstrated the execution of civil relief operations that would typically occur following a natural

  • 2019 BTF comes to an end

    The BTF deployment enabled theater integration and training with joint partners, allied nations and other U.S. Air Force units, to further enhance bomber interoperability in the theater.

  • Hill AFB Airmen deploy F-35A to support coalition forces

    Airmen from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings at Hill Air Force Base deployed to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, to support the Air Force Central Command mission in the Middle East. The aircraft arrived in country on April 15.

  • CMSAF Wright visits Peterson AFB

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright visited with the Airmen of the 21st Space Wing and partner units during a visit to Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, April 10-11.

  • Depot liaison engineers speed up aircraft repair process

    The 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Group hosts one of only five Depot Liaison Engineer positions within the Air Force Central Command area of responsibility.“I have a pretty boring job if there are no aircraft broken – which is fine, we accept that.” said 1st Lt. M. Rebecca Kretzer, AFCENT DLE and