NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Indo-Pacom Wraps Up Valiant Shield 2018

    U.S. military forces from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command wrapped up exercise Valiant Shield 2018, Sept. 23rd, around the Marianas Island Range Complex and on Guam.

  • Not Forgotten

    When you walk into many dining facilities in the Air Force, you see it in the corner or off to the side: the lone chair and place setting. In the hurries of our day, we become numb to the sight of it: the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action table with a setting for someone who has never returned.

  • Air Force realigns Holloman AFB under AETC

    The 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and all co-located units, will realign from Air Combat Command to Air Education and Training Command effective Oct. 1.

  • The Flying First

    That young pilot, Capt. Benjamin Foulois, was in one of eight Curtis JN-3 “Jenny” biplanes participating in the search. The planes were powered with 90-horsepower engines that had a rough time just staying airborne, but they led a reconnaissance mission to kick off Gen. John J. Pershing’s punitive

  • Panel discusses total force integration during AFA

    Former Secretary of the Air Force F. Whitten Peters moderated a panel of senior leaders examining the total force during the Air Force Association Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in National Harbor Sept. 18, 2018. The panel focused on Air Force integration of Guard and Reserve personnel into

  • T-6A Texan II Crash

    A 12th Flying Training Wing T-6A Texan II crashed near Rolling Oaks Mall at approximately 4 p.m. Sept. 18. The crew ejected and is safe with minor injuries reported at the site. Both were transported to the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Medical Clinic for evaluation and both pilots were released

  • AFCENT command and control operations weather the storm

    The force smashed into their northern and western flank, but still, the Airmen stayed focused on the U.S. Central Command mission, a fight thousands of miles away. The opposing force was no enemy, however. These Airmen of the 609th Air Operations Center, Detachment 1, Shaw Air Force Base, South

  • Goldfein delivers 2018 AF update during AFA

    Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein delivered his speech at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Sept. 18, 2018, emphasizing how the service must prepare the Air Force We Need and present it to combatant commanders to compete, deter and win.

  • The Force We Present: Future of AF operations

    As the Air Force highlights revitalizing squadrons and the need to improve readiness to contend with near peer adversaries, the Air Force deputy chief of staff of operations spoke to an audience about “The Force We Present” and the necessity for coming changes in military operations during the Air

  • 22nd annual USAF Marathon hosts international field

    This year marks the 22nd annual running of the U.S. Air Force Marathon. The warm and humid weather didn’t stop over 15,000 runners, walkers and spectators from all 50 states and more than ten foreign countries, from taking part at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air

  • A Day That Resonates

    JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- By looking at him you wouldn’t know it, but Tech Sgt. Trevor Brewer, 72nd Security Forces Squadron flight chief at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, has deep scars from a day that took the lives of two fellow Airmen and severely wounded two others. His wounds

  • Squadrons 'beating heart' of Air Force

    In the Air Force, squadrons are the basic level of operations, its “beating heart” as Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfein calls them.To better understand how significant the squadron is to the Air Force, it’s also important to know what a squadron is.

  • Solo mission

    Standing proudly in front of a B-25 Mitchell on display for a recent airshow in the central Texas town of Burnet, retired Lt. Col. Richard Cole slowly walked up to the antique bomber and clutched one of its propeller blades.

  • PACAF wins Air Force Defender Challenge

    The U.S. Pacific Air Forces Command came out on top among 14 international security forces teams to win the Air Force Defender Challenge Championship Sept. 10-13 at Joint Base San Antonio-Camp Bullis, Texas.

  • JB Charleston evacuates aircraft, maintains airlift capabilities

    Joint Base Charleston personnel assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing and 628th Air Base Wing began evacuation flights for 24 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Sept. 11, 2018, in anticipation of Hurricane Florence making landfall. The aircraft and supporting personnel planned and executed flights from

  • 188th Wing activates UPAD for Hurricane Florence Response

    The Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Wing activated its Unclassified Processing, Assessment and Dissemination capability in response to Hurricane Florence September 13, providing imagery, geospatial, and assessment support to incident commanders in affected areas.

  • Guard Soldiers, Airmen gearing up for Hurricane Florence

    WASHINGTON (AFNS) — The governors of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Maryland declared states of emergency Monday as Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast. Additionally, the mayor of Washington, D.C., declared a state of emergency due to anticipated torrential rainfall. The storm

  • Passing the torch: Ex-commando inspires youth for special operations

    While most people spend their off time catching up on their favorite shows, playing video games, or catching up on social media, one Reserve Airman and clinical nurse with the 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, spends his evenings training the future men and women of special operations.

  • Augmenting the AOR: Cable Dawgs connect service members to the fight

    Communications, in some shape or form, touch every single part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve mission. From advanced air-strike capabilities to a simple phone call home; a simple fiber cable, often less than .05 millimeters in diameter, can change a missed opportunity

  • Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force meet to discuss future, force

    Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, joined by six of the previous Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force, participated in the 2018 Senior Enlisted Statesman Forum Sept. 6 on Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.The forum, the first of its kind since Wright’s tenure began, was an

  • History office plays key role in OCP emblem-to-patch conversion

    Since early recorded history, warring tribes often carried banners or flags marked with emblems to represent factions and motivate their warriors to fight for the cause. It is to this historical tradition that we can trace the evolution of military emblems and patches, said AFMC historian Jack Waid,

  • ANG general to lead UPE Integration Team

    What do unexplained physiological events and a recent promotion have in common? The answer is Edward Vaughan who recently promoted to brigadier general and named by the active-duty component to lead a UPE integration team.

  • AFCENT changes command in historic ceremony

    Lt. Gen. Joseph T. Guastella Jr. assumed command of U.S. Air Forces Central Command from Lt. Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian Aug. 30, 2018. Army Gen. Joseph L. Votel, U.S. Central Command commander, presided over the ceremony, which was held at AFCENT’s forward headquarters at Al Udeid Air Base for the

  • Why I serve: The Kalkbrenner family

    As of 2017, approximately two million people currently serve in the U.S. military with millions of veterans serving before them in the several hundred year history of the country’s armed forces. All of these service members chose to don their respective service’s uniform for varying reasons. Many

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 29

    On this look around the Air Force, Medal of Honor recipient Tech. Sgt. John Chapman's name is unveiled at the Air Force Memorial, Gen. Timothy Ray takes command of Air Force Global Strike Command and Air Forces Cyber joins Air Combat Command. Hosted by Airman 1st Class Miguel Rosario.

  • EOD tech draws inspiration from family members

    While many would consider the lifestyle of an EOD Airman a stressful and arduous task to undertake, to Tech. Sgt. Jaqueline Risley, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron EOD equipment non-commissioned officer in charge, this is everything she has ever dreamed of.

  • AFTAC helps break the 'STEM mold'

    In 1976, esteemed historian and author Laurel Thatcher Ulrich wrote a book entitled, “Well-Behaved Women Seldom Make History.” The premise of her work was to shine a light on famous women throughout history who challenged the way things were done. While the title may seem to be a modern-day rallying

  • Major LAF promotion board scheduled for December

    The calendar year 2018D major Line of the Air Force promotion board is scheduled to begin Dec. 3, 2018, at the Air Force’s Personnel Center and will review records for all captains meeting the board to determine whether or not the captain is fully qualified for promotion and meets the exemplary

  • Tech. Sgt. John Chapman inducted into Hall of Heroes at Pentagon

    Nearly two decades after the gallant actions that cost him his life and earned him the nation's highest military award, Chapman’s name was unveiled by his widow, Valerie Nessel, Secretary of the Air Force Heather A. Wilson, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein and Chief Master Sgt. of the

  • Passing the guidon: Ray takes command of AFGSC

    Gen. Timothy Ray took command of Air Force Global Strike Command from Gen. Robin Rand, outgoing AFGSC commander, during a ceremony, Aug. 21. He is the newest leader of the Air Force’s portion of the nuclear enterprise, which maintains the nation's only force of Minuteman III intercontinental

  • Big Brother finds enrichment in giving back

    He was only 3 years old when he unexpectedly lost his father to a heart attack in 1986. Although too young to understand how to grieve for his dad, Richard Cooper’s life changed in an instant.

  • Around the Air Force: Aug. 17

    FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) – On this look Around the Air Force, a second contract is awarded to construct a prototype hypersonic weapon and Colombian Airmen refuel USAF aircraft for the first time. Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Samantha Ducker.

  • Exercise Pitch Black 2018 strengthens alliances

    Exercise Pitch Black 2018 is a Royal Australian Air Force-hosted biennial multinational large force employment exercise held from July 27 through Aug. 17. This year’s event, the largest since its inception, involves 16 nations, 140 aircraft and more than 4,000 personnel – approximately 150 of which

  • Load crews train for deployment operations

    Imagine mission success laying on the shoulders of the individuals to your right and left. For one team of Airmen, the shortcomings of one can be catastrophic to the task at hand. These groups of professionals assigned to the 20th Maintenance Group, spanning three fighter squadrons, work in unison

  • The ART of training the total force

    In July, the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing’s ART held a Total Force Integration Conference at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, allowing ART members from throughout the geographically separated Wing to connect for three days with over 160 peers from other services and nations,

  • SecAF visits F.E. Warren

    Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson visited with Airmen at the 90th Missile Wing and 20th Air Force, Aug. 7 through 8 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.

  • Air Force announces photo contest winners

    Congratulations to this year’s Air Force photo contest winners in the adult and youth categories. This year’s theme “Freedom,” managed by the Air Force Services Activity, received more than 1,200 photo submissions.

  • Revitalizing squadrons, Air Force outlines progress

    The task force conducted an Air Force-wide review, driven by Airmen in the field, to promote best practices and identify improvements. Consisting of Total Force Airmen from diverse backgrounds, they reviewed survey data and gathered inputs from across the Air Force through on-line crowd sourcing and

  • Goodfellow AFB welcomes Royal Thai Air Force

    A delegation from the Royal Thai Air Force, led by Air Vice Marshall Pongsawat Jantasarn and Pacific Air Forces senior leaders, visited Goodfellow Air Force Base to learn more about the base’s growing international intelligence training program Aug. 2.

  • Air Force seeks nominations for SecAF Prestigious STEM PhD Program

    As part of a continuous effort to develop exceptional leaders in a highly technical environment, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson is introducing the Secretary of the Air Force Prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Ph.D. Program for the service’s most highly qualified active

  • Pawlikowski tenure marked by effectiveness, Air Force readiness

    Gen. Ellen M. Pawlikowski will retire from the Air Force in September following 40 years of service. As only the third femalefour-star general in the history of the Air Force, Pawlikowski’s career was marked by extraordinary achievements across the science and engineering domains.

  • Flying training reimagined as first PTN class graduates

    The Air Force’s pilot training landscape took a significant step forward in reimagining how Airmen learn to fly as 13 students from the first iteration of Pilot Training Next pinned on their silver wings in a ceremony Aug. 3, at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Austin, Texas.

  • Air Force charts course for next generation ISR dominance

    Today the Air Force released the Next Generation Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Dominance Flight Plan, an encompassing strategy about how the service maintains and enhances decisive advantage amidst the reemergence of great power competition and rapid technological change in the

  • AF officials choose eight officers for DoD fellows program

    Air Force officials have selected eight active-duty officers for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Service Chiefs’ Fellows Program. DARPA serves as the Department of Defense’s central research and development agency and makes pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies to support

  • Airman posthumously receives Medal of Honor

    The White House announced July 27, 2018, that Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Chapman will be posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor Aug. 22, for his extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Takur Ghar, Afghanistan, in March 2002.

  • Airman to be awarded Medal of Honor

    President Donald Trump will posthumously award the Medal of Honor to the family of a fallen U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controller at a ceremony Aug. 22 for his extraordinary heroism in March 2002 while deployed to Afghanistan.

  • PACAF welcomes new commander

    Joining a proud legacy of leaders, Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. assumed command of Pacific Air Forces during a ceremony here, July 26, 2018.

  • Vice President, Second Lady visit Grand Forks AFB

    Vice President of the United States Michael Pence spoke with Airmen at Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., July 25, 2018, while Karen Pence, the Second Lady of the United States, hosted a seminar for military spouses.

  • Airmen, medical researchers team up for inflight TIS training

    Airmen from the 628th and 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons from Joint Base Charleston and Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, along with medical researchers from universities in Indiana and Nebraska, conducted Transportation Isolation System training July 18, on a flight from JB Charleston to

  • F-22 pilots fire live missiles at Combat Archer

    More than 200 pilots, maintainers and operations support staff from the 1st Fighter Wing are gaining firsthand experience in loading and firing live missiles at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, from July 6-20, 2018.

  • International rescue effort saves trapped soccer team

    Twelve boys ranging from age 11 to 16, along with their soccer coach, found themselves stranded in a cave in Thailand’s Chiang Rai province, June 23, 2018. After 17 days entrapment, an international rescue team successfully ended a nearly 3-week operation.