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U.S. Air Force News

  • US, Egyptian armed forces combine for Bright Star 2017

    More than 200 U.S. service members are participating alongside the Egyptian armed forces for the bilateral U.S. Central Command Exercise Bright Star 2017, Sept. 10 – 20, 2017, at Mohamed Naguib Military Base, Egypt.

  • A base in a box: 86th MMS keeps AF ready for action

    Somewhere in the Luxembourg countryside, armed guards keep watch over a compound of non-descript warehouses and storage containers. Each warehouse in the facility holds a different surprise, but those coming in will find most of these treasures hidden under lock and key.Stacks of metal boxes tower

  • Caregivers play critical role in lives of wounded warriors

    Tech. Sgt. Eric Fisher was two months into a five-month deployment in 2011 to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, when he suffered a heart attack after an intense rocket attack, and a day of moving heavy pallets on the flight line.

  • Airmen document Hurricane Irma with Hurricane Hunters

    It’s not often that Air Force reservists arrive at Unit Training Assembly “weekend drill,” and in short order find themselves flying into the eye of a hurricane, but that’s exactly what happened to Staff Sgts. Kyle Brasier and Corban Lundborg with the 4th Combat Camera Squadron, Joint Base

  • Nellis AFB to support Hurricane Irma rescue operations

    In mid-afternoon Sept. 8, 2017, the 66th Rescue Squadron and 823rd Maintenance Squadron assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, received a call from U.S. Northern Command to ready teams to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency search and rescue efforts in the Florida Keys following the

  • Ops Airmen, key to mission success

    Before an F-22 Raptor takes off for training or a combat mission, maintainers and weapons Airmen are seen on the flight line preparing, servicing and readying the jet to contest any airspace. However, it takes more than fifth generation machinery and flight line crews to accomplish the mission. A

  • Suicide prevention month: stopping suicide is everyone’s battle

    September is Suicide Prevention Month, a time for Americans to build awareness and help understand suicide in our culture. More than 40,000 Americans lose their life due to suicide each year and research shows that rates in the military and the general population are very close. The loss of anyone

  • Airmen, family feedback sought for community resources

    The Air Force invites all Airmen and their dependents to participate in the 2017 Air Force Community Feedback Tool survey which runs through Oct. 2, 2017.The volunteer survey collects feedback directly from the total force and their spouses about their community needs. Those surveyed identify gaps

  • Civil Air Patrol links 300 stranded people to needed help

    A Civil Air Patrol aircraft taking photos along the rain-swollen Colorado River near Wharton, Texas, received a radio call for help and observed a group of people gathered at Holy Families Catholic Church. Three hundred people sought shelter from the floodwaters that cut-off access to the town of

  • Guardian Angel boat teams rescue Hurricane Harvey victims

    Pararescuemen from the 58th Rescue Squadron rescue victims of Hurricane Harvey, Aug. 30, 2017, Orange, Texas. The 347th and 563d Rescue Groups from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, Nellis AFB, Nevada, and Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, sent rescue boat teams to Orange County, and the surrounding areas in

  • Airmen attend dive school

    Airmen attending the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center go through dive training with the goal of enabling the safe, timely and effective training of qualified candidates for combined operations in support of national military strategy and national security.

  • Air Force keeps rescue operations fueled

    Airmen from 71st Rescue Squadron and 23d Logistics Readiness Squadron conducting forward area refueling point operations were the life blood to air search and rescue missions going Aug. 31, 2017 in Beaumont, Texas.

  • Dobbins ARB hosts EOD teams, tests new technology

    Dobbins Air Reserve Base hosted the Eastern National Robot Rodeo Aug. 21-25, 2017, which featured explosive ordnance disposal teams from the Air Force, Navy, Army, Cobb County Police Department and the Royal Air Force.

  • 48th RQS provides Hurricane Harvey rescue support

    Airmen from the 48th Rescue Squadron responded to recovery operations for Hurricane Harvey, arriving at Easterwood Airfield, College Station, Texas, with approximately 20 members, Aug. 29, 2017.The mission is to provide boat-based rescue support in addition to current efforts in southeast Texas.

  • Compass Call dominates OIR with electronic warfare

    Often times when we think about how air power is used in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, we think about cargo aircraft delivering critical supplies and personnel to the frontlines or bombs being dropped onto targets. What’s not often thought of is how the Air Force has the

  • 774th EAS conducts first combat airdrop in more than two years

    Months of planning and weeks of preparing culminates to an airdrop lasting a few seconds. While the time and effort that goes into planning a combat airdrop may seem long for something that lasts less than a minute, for the ground troops, the equipment they received will have a lasting impact.

  • Moody AFB assets launch for rescue operations

    HH-60G Pave Hawks from the 41st Rescue Squadron launch sorties in support of Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, Aug. 29, 2017, at Easterwood Airport, College Station, Texas. The 347th Rescue Group from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, sent aircraft and personnel in support of the Federal Emergency

  • Rescue assets arrive in Fort Worth, Texas

    The 347th Rescue Group mobilized to Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Aug. 26, 2017, in support of relief efforts due to Hurricane Harvey. HC-130J Combat King II, HH60G Pave Hawks from the 41st Rescue Squadron, and numerous personnel continue to support ongoing rescue efforts.

  • JB Charleston provides aid to hurricane victims

    Two C-17 Globemaster III aircraftr left Joint base Charleston carrying 30.6 tons of relief supplies to Alexandria International Airport, Alexandria, Louisiana, in response to Hurricane Harvey Aug. 29, 2017.

  • Rescue assets preposition for Hurricane Harvey response

    Airmen from the 23rd Wing launched HC-130J Combat King IIs, HH-60G Pavehawks and their aircrews to preposition assets to potentially respond to recovery operations in the wake of Hurricane Harvey at Moody Air Force Base, Aug. 26, 2017.The 23rd Wing received a prepare to deploy order to support

  • It takes a village to deploy a warfighter

    Air Force Airmen prepare to deploy across the globe in support of national objectives every day. To make this possible, installation deployment readiness cells and the unit deployment managers prepare and process members for deployment to unified combatant commands.

  • Two-week summit takes aim at aircrew retention

    The Aircrew Crisis Task Force hosted a two-week aircrew retention summit here as part of a holistic approach to improve readiness and capacity by increasing retention of experienced aviators Aug. 14-25, 2017.

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 25

    On this look Around the Air Force intercontinental ballistic missile contracts are awarded to Boeing and Northrop Grumman, Sailors receive Aerospace Ground Equipment training, and a look at Desert Defender Combat Readiness training.

  • From refugee to Airman

    In the country of Liberia, Africa, a good day and bad day are extreme opposites–a difference of children playing in the street and going to war. For locals like Christiana Katta, war zone experience came at an early age. She was just 2 years old when she and her family picked up all their belongings

  • A picture worth 1,000 words: 30 years of heritage

    Glancing over a 1985 family portrait, a man is awestruck at the image of his younger self. The snapshot of his mother cradling him as his siblings welcomed back their father from a deployment captured a moment that was stronger than words.

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 18

    On this look Around the Air Force Airmen at Hill Air Force Base , Utah, fly F-35A Lightning IIs in support of exercise Combat Hammer, Airmen at Misawa Air Base, Japan, train with Japanese Pararescuemen for exercise Cope Angel, and the promotion results for staff sergeant are in. Hosted by Staff.

  • New equipment gives Airmen time to breathe

    After a pilot completes their Initial Aerospace Physiology Training they occasionally go through a refresher course to maintain their flying status. In order to complete the course aircrew work with the 9th Physiological Support Squadron for a variety of reasons, including a hypoxia demonstration.

  • Stealth Guardian: FARP increases Air Force capabilities

    Airmen from the 325th Fighter Wing and the 23rd Wing were put to the test in a simulated deployed environment at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, as part of exercise Stealth Guardian, Aug. 10, 2017. Two F-22 Raptors from the 95th Fighter Squadron, at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, were rearmed and

  • Stealth Guardian demonstrates rescue, 5th generation integration

    Two wings, one mission: to execute a local squadron-planned exercise between the 23d Wing and the 325th Fighter Wing during Exercise Stealth Guardian August 7-11, 2017.During months of planning between Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida and Moody AFB, Georgia., Exercise Stealth Guardian was conceived

  • Celebrating Air Force heritage: The “Great Centennial” squadrons

    This calendar year has marked many great anniversaries, including the 75th anniversary of Air Training Command and the 70th anniversary of the Air Force. August marks the 110th anniversary of the Aeronautical Division of the Sign Corps—an unbroken line of Airmen began with its creation on Aug. 1,

  • Mobility Guardian draws to an end

    Crews flew approximately 1,200 hours in eight days, executing almost 650 sorties during Exercise Mobility Guardian, July 31 to Aug. 12, 2017.

  • F-35As fly in weapons evaluation

    Airmen from the 388th and 419th Fighter Wings supported and flew their F-35A Lightning II aircraft during Combat Hammer, the first operational air-to-ground weapons evaluation for the Air Force’s newest fighter jets.

  • Air Force Military Treatment Facilities pilot medical readiness

    Air Force Medicine has a non-stop global readiness mission. Medical Airmen must be prepared to deploy on short notice to provide life-saving and performance-enhancing healthcare in diverse, austere and isolated locations, and all Airmen must be medically ready to deploy. To achieve this readiness

  • Air Force welcomes new undersecretary

    In 1977, Matthew Donovan left for Air Force Basic Military Training. Four decades later on Aug. 11, 2017, at the Pentagon, he ceremoniously recited the oath of office to be the undersecretary of the Air Force.

  • 62nd FS mate finally laid to rest

    Nearly 50 Airmen assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, attended the funeral of former 62nd FS pilot 2nd Lt. Charles E. Carlson at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery in Annville, Pennsylvania, Aug. 4, 2017.

  • Ellsworth AFB Airmen train with foreign allies

    Two U.S. Air Force B-1B Bombers, under the command of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, joined their counterparts from South Korean and Japanese air forces in sequenced bilateral missions, Aug. 7, 2017.

  • 8th Fighter Squadron reactivated after six years

    A pilot strides forward, his green flight suit a stark contrast to the pale blue of a desert morning sky. An insignia, circled in gold and donning a sheep with a wool coat black as night, is stitched atop his right breast. He hikes up a ladder, hands gripping steel and hops into the cockpit of an

  • Luke graduates first F-35A initial qualification course

    The 61st Fighter Squadron made history graduating the first F-35A Lightning II initial qualification course Aug. 5, 2017. After eight months of tremendous teamwork from across the 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base produced six F-35A fighter pilots ready for the combat Air Force.

  • Stride-for-stride

    Second Lt. William Yau, 742nd Missile Squadron deputy missile combat crew commander, has been admiringly chasing his older brother James since they were young boys growing up in Troy, Michigan.

  • Mobility Guardian Phase 2 begins

    The second half of Exercise Mobility Guardian began Aug. 6, 2017, and will focus on training aircrew on advanced tactical air operations.

  • Portraits in Courage Airmen honored during concert

    The National Anthem, followed by an A-10 and F-16 flyover and the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team, kicked off the Air Force’s final Heritage to Horizons summer concert at the Air Force Memorial Aug. 4, 2017. The theme for the special event was “Portraits in Courage.”

  • SecAF visits JB Langley Eustis, discusses readiness, retention

    Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson visited Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Aug. 3, 2017, where she met with Gen. Mike Holmes, the commander of Air Combat Command, and visited the 1st Fighter Wing and 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing.

  • Enlisted Students Earn Advanced Degrees at AFIT

    In 2002, then Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. James Roche, championed an initiative to open Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management to senior enlisted personnel.  Secretary Roche truly believed in the importance of the enlisted force to military achievements

  • SECAF talks Light Attack Experiment, innovation at AFA dinner

    While speaking at an Air Force Association event in Arlington, Va., Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson highlighted the four aircraft that Air Force pilots will fly through a range of combat mission scenarios in the Light Attack Experimentation Campaign at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico

  • Mobility Guardian, AMC’s premier exercise

    Train like we fight is the focus of the inaugural iteration of the largest scale exercise in Air Mobility Command history.Mobility Guardian will feature more than 3,000 personnel, including 25 international countries, from July 31 to Aug. 11, 2017, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

  • In harm’s way: Providing spiritual support

    Thousands of feet above Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, two Airmen, riding in a helicopter, wearing more than 75 pounds of gear, hover around the city before landing. These Airmen are not pararescuemen or tactical air control party—they’re a chaplain and chaplain assistant. After landing, they

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • Holloman AFB flies toward future

    The Air Force provides day and night support to troops all around the world, and Holloman Air Force Base’s remotely piloted aircraft training mission is at the forefront.

  • CSAF describes future of conflict

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein addressed the future of the Total Force, operations in space and the importance of a multi-domain, networked approach to warfare during an Air Force Association breakfast at the Mitchel Institute in Washington, D.C., July 26, 2017.The CSAF outlined

  • 17th ATKS celebrates 75 years of aviation excellence

    For the past 75 years, the 17th Attack Squadron have played an integral part in the defense of the nation by providing combatant commanders with reconnaissance capabilities, and more recently, with precision attack capabilities.

  • U.S. Air Force bombers integrate with Royal Australian Air Force JTACS

    U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam conducted two separate integration training missions with Royal Australian Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controllers as part of Exercise Talisman Saber 17 at Shoalwater Field Training Area, Australia, July 17 and 19, 2017.

  • SecAF gets firsthand look at MQ-1, MQ-9 mission

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited Creech Air Force Base July 19, 2017 to get a closer look at the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper mission.During her visit Wilson toured the base and gained insight into the dominant persistent attack and reconnaissance mission the Airmen of the 432nd

  • Podcast puts new spin on resilience

    How do you talk to Airmen about resilience – especially when a unit is geographically dispersed? When two colleagues and friends at the 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, set out to answer that question, their priorities were to make the information approachable, accessible

  • AF Week in Photos

    This week's photos feature Airmen from around the globe involved in activities supporting expeditionary operations and defending America. This weekly feature showcases the men and women of the Air Force.

  • KC-10s display global reach in the Pacific

    Three KC-10 Extenders flew from Hawaii and Wake Island Airfield to refuel five C-17 Globemaster IIIs carrying over 300 coalition paratroopers across the Pacific Ocean, July 13, 2017.

  • Colonel promotes wife, then retires

    When military members hold their promotion ceremonies, many times their families enjoy the occasion alongside them. Spouses, children, parents, siblings and other relatives witness the time-honored ceremony and take part in the tradition of pinning or tacking on the next rank.

  • A-10 pilot spits fire in fight against ISIS

    Originally tasked to deploy as an A-10 pilot in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Lt. Col. Ben Rudolphi saw his mission change before even leaving the U.S.Instead of manning his aircraft, he was given the opportunity to lead others as the commander of the 407th Expeditionary Operation Support

  • US, coalition partners demonstrate global defense capabilities

    Four U.S. Air Force and one Royal Australian Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs loaded with more than 300 American and Canadian paratroopers took off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, to Shoalwater Bay, Australia, for biennial training exercise, Talisman Saber July 13, 2017.

  • Top AF analysis leader recognized

    Gen. Mike Holmes, the commander of Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis received the Lt. Gen. Glenn A. Kent Leadership Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon July 11, 2017.

  • SEAC visits with Nevada Airmen

    Army Command Sgt. Maj. John Troxell, the senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spent a day immersing himself in the diverse missions carried out by Airmen at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, July 11, 2017.

  • Commanders to have more say in developmental education opportunities

    Air Force officials recently announced changes to the nomination process for officer developmental education beginning with the results of the March 2017 Line of Air Force Major Board. The March 2017 LAF Major’s Board results will be released publicly July 18, 2017, and will not include

  • Defenders deescalate situation downrange, prevent potential catastrophe

    Airmen 1st Class Drew and Giovanni, who are flightline security element members with the 451st Expeditionary Support Squadron at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, recently had to deescalate a potentially volatile situation where they had mere seconds to make a possibly life-altering decision.

  • Rescue Airmen save two German citizens stranded at sea

    In a concerted effort from July 7, and into the early hours of July 8, 2017, approximately 80 Airmen and four aircraft assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing successfully rescued two German citizens whose vessel caught fire approximately 500 nautical miles off the east coast of southern Florida.

  • Adaptive sports shift outlook on life

    “I was sitting at home alone one night and had taken out my pistol; I remember how cool it felt in my hands and knowing I was moments away from taking my life. In that split second, my phone went off with a text from one of my Airmen who said he needed my help getting to work the next morning, and I

  • Robins AFB finishes Global Hawk work

    A special ribbon-cutting ceremony, signaling the early completion of work on the first RQ-4 Global Hawk at Robins Air Force Base, was held on the base flight line here June 29, 2017.

  • Silver Star mission a lesson in teamwork

    Retired Lt. Col. Gregory Thornton was presented the Silver Star Medal - the third highest medal for valor in the military - in a private ceremony held at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force June 30, 2017.

  • Combat metals team innovates repair, saves AF thousands

    You don’t always have everything you want on a deployment. No sixty inch plasma with video game console in your room, so you bring a laptop to play your games. Your cell phone doesn’t have coverage unless you pay exorbitant roaming fees, so you video chat with your family over Wi-Fi when you can

  • Thunderbirds announce 2018 officer selections

    Gen. Mike Holmes, the commander of Air Combat Command, has officially selected the officers who will be joining the United States Air Force Thunderbirds for the 2018 demonstration season.