NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Cody visits AMC, speaks on modernization

    The chief master sergeant of the Air Force discussed Air Mobility Command’s contributions to the Air Force mission and the need to modernize the fleet during a visit to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Jan. 18, 2017.

  • 1,000th RPA student graduates

    Lt. Col. Jason Thompson, the 558th Flying Training Squadron commander, presented 2nd Lt. Kevin a certificate commemorating the 1,000th graduate of the Undergraduate Remotely Piloted Aircraft training program at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph, Jan. 20, 2017.

  • Air-launched cruise missile passes tests

    Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircrews recently tested three unarmed AGM-86B air-launched cruise missiles, demonstrating the bomber force’s ability to configure, load, fly and deliver the nation’s only nuclear cruise missile.

  • AETC loads, releases first live bombs from F-35A

    The 33rd Fighter Wing loaded and released the Air Education and Training Command’s first live bombs from an F-35A here, Jan. 17, 2017.In total, six aircraft were loaded with armed GBU-12s, and two bombs were released over the Eglin Air Force Base range.

  • Travis environmental restoration program is certified, sustainable

    Saving money, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing green and sustainable remediation (GSR) to clean up contaminated groundwater sites recently earned Travis Air Force Base the honor of becoming the first Defense Department installation to receive greener cleanup certification by ASTM

  • Airmen deliver aid to refugees in northern Iraq

    Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing delivered humanitarian aid here Jan. 13 while also conducting a multifaceted training mission; the aid is bound for refugee camps in northern Iraq.

  • Airman becomes first resource officer to Eglin Elementary

    Students at Eglin Elementary School will have another friendly face to greet them each morning as they enter the school. Staff Sgt. Justin Hogg from the 96th Security Forces Squadron was recently hired as the elementary's school resource officer.

  • AF introduces new Energy Flight Plan

    The Air Force introduced a new Energy Flight Plan, signed by Miranda Ballentine, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and energy, on Jan. 6.

  • Edwards AFB reduces cost for fire suppression test

    Members of the F-35 Integrated Test Force developed a new funnel system that captures the foam or water deluge during required hangar fire-suppression system tests, saving $79,750 and several days of delay, which can be critically important for test programs.

  • The aircraft canaries: HAAMS technicians breathe life into missions

    Twenty thousand feet above the drop zone, a multinational group of special forces prepares for a tactical insertion behind “enemy lines.” The seasoned jumpmaster positions himself on the open ramp of the C-130 Hercules, peeking his head out to confirm that the airspace below is clear to the drop

  • James bids farewell as SecAF

    The men and women of the Air Force bid farewell to the 23rd Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James during a ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Jan. 11.

  • AFPC to host EFMP webinars Jan. 12

    The Air Force Personnel Center will hold two Exceptional Family Member Program webinars Jan. 12 discussing the program’s three components – assignments, medical and family support.

  • AF agency helps ‘bring life’ to mission innovation

    The Air Force Installation Contracting Agency’s Business Intelligence Competency Cell promotes logical research when it comes to operational acquisition. It may seem simplistic when taken at surface value, but what the BICC is doing within the Air Force is ‘bringing life’ to mission innovation. As a

  • AF selects 929 for promotion to captain

    The Air Force selected 929 first lieutenants for promotion to captain during the calendar year 2016C Captain Line of the Air Force, Chaplain, Line of the Air Force-Judge Advocate, Nurse Corps, Medical Service Corps and Biomedical Service Corps quarterly selection process.

  • James visits Malmstrom AFB for final time

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James visited Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, Jan. 5 to discuss morale, innovation and modernization of the nuclear enterprise with Airmen.

  • Upgrade advances A-10s search capability

    A-10C Thunderbolt IIs assigned to active duty fighter squadrons at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base are in the process of having new lightweight airborne recovery systems installed.The LARS V-12 is designed to allow A-10 pilots to communicate more effectively with individuals on the ground such as

  • AF program assists special needs family members

    The Air Force Exceptional Family Member Program allows Airmen to proceed to assignment locations where suitable medical, educational and other resources are available to treat special needs family members.

  • New civilian appraisal program to begin in April

    The Air Force will roll out a new Department of Defense civilian appraisal program in April 2017, designed to improve overall job performance, enhance supervisor and employee communication and more effectively develop and reward the workforce.

  • JSTARS Recap program takes next step with RFP release

    The Air Force is well on its way to replacing a critical airborne battle management command and control weapon system with the Dec. 28, 2016 release of the Development request for proposal, or RFP, for the JSTARS Recapitalization program.

  • FY 17 NDAA impact on Airmen

    The approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 provides a number of changes for Airmen, retirees, and families, to include stabilizing readiness and end strength, improving pilot retention, modernizing compensation and benefits and enhancing transparency in the

  • BLUE: Generation STEM

    Air Force TV has released the latest episode of the Air Force's flagship television program, BLUE. Maintaining a technological edge in defense requires snagging the best and brightest minds for research and development. In this episode, we introduce you to some of the innovative minds working to

  • Largest military solar energy project in Northeast breaks ground on JB MDL

    Miranda A.A. Ballentine, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and energy, and Brig. Gen. Michael Cunniff, the adjutant general of New Jersey, helped break ground on a 98-acre solar farm at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Dec. 21.The 16.5-megawatt solar energy

  • New program streamlines safety reporting procedures

    Reporting a safety issue, whether a hazard or mishap, is about to get much easier across the Air Force with the scheduled release of a new web-based application by the Air Force Safety Center early in the new year.

  • ACC hosts chaplain leadership symposium

    Senior religious support teams from around the world met at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in early December for the Air Combat Command Chaplain Corps Leadership Development Symposium.

  • Airmen, civilians gain resilience through MMA

    As an Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter gets his hands wrapped and steps into the cage for battle, a cold chill runs down his spine; he’s nervous about the challenge ahead. Comparable to UFC fighters preparing for combat, Airmen may get a similar feeling whether preparing for upcoming

  • AFCENT helps deployed Airmen reach for their dreams

    Deployed Airmen often miss opportunities afforded to those back home; but personnel specialists at Air Forces Central Command headquarters here ensured deployed enlisted Airmen did not miss one opportunity – to pursue their ambitions of becoming part of the first group of enlisted pilots since World

  • Airman provides the logistics behind Obama’s archival move

    Many former presidents have a library in their namesake, showcasing many records and artifacts from their presidency. A library in honor of President Barack Obama is scheduled to open sometime in 2021 in Chicago, where records and archives from his presidency will be on display. However, the

  • AFVSA to implement new RPA childcare

    To combat these one-of-a-kind challenges, personnel from the Air Force Services Activity headquarters in Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, recently met with military members and conducted interviews here where they discussed new and evolving childcare options.

  • Around the Air Force: Dec. 16

    On this look around the Air Force, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James held a Facebook town hall to address concerns from Airmen and their family members, and President Barack Obama spoke with Airmen at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.

  • The OSD Logistics Fellows Program: A glimpse from inside

    Nearly 3 million men and women make up the Department of Defense; how few truly have opportunity for gaining insight and understanding of the origins of legislation, budget, policy, and oversight? The Office of the Secretary of Defense’s Logistics Fellowship provides selected logisticians the

  • From gang leader to service member: Airman overcomes odds to find success

    Many Airmen gain leadership skills by progressing through the ranks and taking on more responsibilities. Many times this includes special schooling such as airman leadership school or the non-commissioned officer academy. One Airman became a leader at a much earlier age, before he even joined the

  • T-38 maintenance significant to ISR

    Although various personnel provide support to T-38 flying operations a group of mechanics play an integral role. These civilian contractors work to keep the aircraft ready to fly whenever necessary.

  • What to know before piloting a drone

    As unmanned aerial systems, also called drones, become more popular, the Federal Aviation Administration and local bases have established policy on how and when to operate drones.

  • Moody 'shields' aircraft from adversaries during CS

    Moody Air Force Base’s aircraft fleet routinely exhibits their abilities by providing mission-ready combat, rescue and transient assets. In order to attack, rescue and prevail, these guardians of the skies must be able to protect themselves, especially from electronic warfare.

  • James visits F.E. Warren, discusses force improvement efforts

    Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and Lt. Gen. Jack Weinstein, the deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, visited F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, to speak directly with Airmen about ongoing improvement efforts throughout the nuclear enterprise, Dec. 7-8.

  • SECAF’s top 10 themes discussed at spouse, family forum

    During a spouse and family forum hosted by Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James in October, participants submitted more than 170 threads on the forum’s event page. The topics included spouse employment and child care access; Air Force programs for families with special needs; and schools,

  • Palace Chase, Front offer alternatives to active duty

    Every year, thousands of individuals raise their right hand and commit to serve in the military as either enlisted members or officers. While some choose to serve for many years on active duty, others might elect to leave, but that doesn’t mean they can’t continue serving.

  • AF selects 58 for test pilot school

    Air Force officials have selected 58 primary and alternate students for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Naval Test Pilot schools, with classes beginning June 2017.

  • Air Force Agreement Allows Ionospheric Research to Continue

    Because of a recent Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), more than twenty-five years of science and atmospheric research will continue at the High Frequency Active Auroral

  • Civilian tuition assistance increases to $1M, expands eligibility

    The Air Force has received an additional $400,000, for a total of $1 million, for its 2017 civilian tuition assistance program, and all permanent, full-time appropriated fund employees, including those in wage-grade positions, are now eligible to participate.

  • Tyndall host Checkered Flag, Combat Archer

    The skies over Tyndall Air Force Base will soon be filled with a variety of aircraft as they partake in Checkered Flag 17-1 and Combat Archer 17-3, concurrent large-scale total force aerial integration exercises that will run Dec. 5-16.

  • First Japanese F-35A arrives at Luke

    The F-35 program hit another milestone Nov. 28 with the arrival of the first foreign military sales F-35 at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The arrival marked the next step for the international F-35 training program as Japan took ownership of the first FMS aircraft to arrive at Luke AFB.

  • AF partners with OSU for stress evaluation, recovery methods

    The Air Force Research Laboratory, 711th Human Performance Wing, has signed a cooperative research and development agreement with the Ohio State University. Special operations units in the Defense Department are physically and mentally elite due to the training they endure. Since special operations

  • Final phase of C-17 drag reduction testing underway

    When it comes to aviation fuel, the C-17 Globemaster III utilization rate makes it stand out as the largest consumer in the Air Force. This is why a team at the 418th Flight Test Squadron has been working for the past year on the Air Force Research Laboratory’s C-17 Drag Reduction Program.

  • New program to help ISR aircrews cope with different kind of PTSD

    Finding targets by watching and listening is, by nature, intensely personal and can have a long-lasting effect, to include post-traumatic stress disorder, on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance Airmen involved. The 361st ISR Group is developing a ‘Re-Fit’ program which will assist Airmen

  • New RQ-4 engine depot opens on Tinker AFB

    The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex recently stood up the overhaul and repair capability for a new workload in the F-137 engine. This new workload is a partnership with Rolls-Royce, and the first venture of this kind with this engine manufacturer.

  • AF supports improved method for transporting TBI patients

    Scientists with the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine are playing an important part in the testing and evaluation of a novel aeromedical evacuation stretcher designed to safely transport traumatic brain and spinal injury patients in air and ground vehicles.

  • Training ISR warriors faster, smarter through mobile apps

    There are roughly 12,000 intelligence professionals assigned to 25th Air Force, 70 percent have less than five years of military service, and most of those Airmen are millennials; multi-taskers who thrive on high-tech, mobile and innovative training methods.

  • Intel training streamlined

    When it comes to having the leading edge in air, space and cyberspace, non-commissioned officers from the 70th Operations Support Squadron have taken it to a new level, training Airmen on the importance of Air Force National Tactical Integration (AF NTI).

  • AF hosts Warrior Care Sitting Volleyball Tournament

    The volleyball courts were clear as athletes made their way into the Pentagon Athletic Center. Some arrived in wheelchairs. Some were missing limbs. Many had wounds which couldn’t be seen. As they sat down on the court for warm-ups, they all had something in common…they were all wounded warriors.

  • Wounded warriors given avenues during CARE event

    Nearly 130 Air Force wounded warriors and caregivers attending the latest Air Force Wounded Warrior (AFW2) Program’s CARE event at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, from Nov. 14-18 received tools and resources to help them deal with their individual challenges.

  • 2016 Federal Benefits Open Season runs through Dec. 12

    The Office of Personnel Management has set the dates for the 2016 Federal Benefits Open Season from Nov. 14 through Dec 12, which includes the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible Spending Accounts

  • Air Force promotions eliminates time-in-grade, time-in-service points

    Time-in-grade and time-in-service points in active duty enlisted promotion consideration will be eliminated beginning with the 17E7 master sergeant promotion cycle, and all future promotion cycles, the Air Force recently announced. This is the final step in a gradual reduction of points for TIG/TIS

  • Air Force looking to boost acquisition, cyber career fields

    Job seekers with in-demand technical skills may want to give the Air Force Civilian Service a look. The Air Force hopes to fill about 1,400 cyber and 2,200 acquisition positions Air Force-wide by the end of 2017.    The Air Force employs approximately 27,000 acquisition and 9,500 cyber civilian

  • Unique rehab center gets injured Airmen back on duty

    Not long after receiving innovative care for serious combat-related injuries, 2nd Lt. Marc Esposito gave his future wife a tour of the unique rehabilitation center that helped the Air Force special operator get back to jumping out of planes. The state-of-the-art setting cast with advanced technology

  • Looking to a cloud to share data faster

    The Kill Chain Integration Branch at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, has begun an experimentation campaign to look at ways to provide warfighters data in the fastest and most efficient ways possible.

  • AFRL program turns junior workforce into rapid innovators

    Junior force personnel within the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate are making the most of their opportunity to showcase innovation and leadership skills through the Junior Force Warfighters Operations in RX, or JFWORX, program.

  • AF unveils latest ‘Veterans in Blue’ exhibit

    The seventh volume of “Veterans in Blue” is now available online. The exhibit captures 28 stories of heroism and service by Air Force veterans. Each veteran’s portrait is also displayed at the Pentagon.

  • 305 make next cut for enlisted RPA pilot selection

    Air Force officials have chosen 305 active-duty enlisted Airmen for the next phase of the Enlisted Remotely Piloted Aircraft Pilot Selection Board process as part of a deliberate approach to enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.

  • Innovative cyber program protects critical Tyndall AFB assets

    The 325th Communications Squadron became the first Air Combat Command squadron to join a new initiative to ensure Tyndall Air Force Base is able to train and project unrivaled combat airpower.The Cyber Squadron Innovation is a pathfinder program among Air Force communication squadrons, enabling

  • Silver Star shines bright on Hutchins’ heroic actions

    Maj. Gen. Thomas Deale, the director of operations of Air Combat Command, presented retired Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hutchins, a former 18th Air Support Operations Group joint terminal attack controller, with the Silver Star during a ceremony Nov. 4 at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina.

  • STRATCOM welcomes Hyten as new commander

    Gen. John E. Hyten took command of U.S. Strategic Command from Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney during a change of command ceremony at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Nov. 3.

  • Edwards AFB squadron tests missile for European ally’s F-35

    From Norway to Australia, members from a number of allied and partner nations have come to Edwards Air Force Base to team with base units to test systems, enhance international cooperation and advance their own air force’s capabilities.

  • AFIMSC reaches full operating capability

    The unit which consolidated more than 150 Air Force-wide installation and mission support capabilities a year ago has achieved full operating capability. Maj. Gen. Brad Spacy, the commander of the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, declared FOC a year after his unit reached initial

  • FY 2017 NCO retraining program application window now open

    The Air Force has released fiscal year 2017 retraining quotas for eligible NCOs via the NCO Retraining Program.The retraining program is a complimentary tool used to help balance and sustain the enlisted force as the Air Force continues to grow. While the Air Force is still undermanned across the