HomeNews

NATO Air Policing operations

U.S. Air Force News

  • Officials welcome new Air Force chief of safety

    In a Sept. 1 change-of-command ceremony here, Maj. Gen. Gregory A. Feest assumed command of the Air Force Safety Center from Maj. Gen. Frederick F. Roggero. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz presided over the change of command. In his comments, he highlighted AFSC's performance under the

  • Officials work on balancing Guard force

    Governors will be able to call on at least 50 percent of their National Guard forces for homeland-defense missions and other state emergencies because of a plan to realign Army and Air Guard units during the next few years, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said."We will balance our forces,

  • Officials work on Pentagon's need for space capabilities

    Adapting new capabilities within the rapidly changing military space environment is increasingly important to national security, and Defense Department officials in the Operationally Responsive Space office are working to meet the Pentagon's needs for space capabilities rapidly. ORS requires current

  • Officials work to improve absentee-voting procedures, boost participation

    The Defense Department has made great strides over the past four years to ensure servicemembers, particularly those stationed and deployed overseas, have greater opportunity to vote, a senior defense official told Congress April 15. Michael L. Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary of defense

  • Officials work to lessen impact of deployments on children

    Defense Department officials here are working aggressively to reduce the impact of multiple deployments on the children of military families. "The department recognizes that these multiple, long-term deployments are really tough on families," said Barbara Thompson, director of the Pentagon's Office

  • Officials work to reduce air violations over conventions

    The Continental U.S. NORAD Region is partnering with the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Aviation Administration to help reduce airspace violations near Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul during the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Public and private airports, known as

  • Officials working for reserve health benefits

    Defense Department officials are working as quickly as possible to implement enhanced Tricare health-care benefits for reserve component sponsors and their family members, officials said.The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act and the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the new

  • Officials working to retain seasoned special operators

    A new incentive package is expected to help the military better compete against other federal agencies and the private sector for skills possessed by special operations forces, said the Defense Department’s top official on special operations and low-intensity conflict.Assistant Secretary of Defense

  • Officials working to speed military mail system

    Acknowledging that problems persist in the military mail system, Defense Department officials said they are taking steps to improve the process.A report in April by the General Accounting Office, which oversees government agencies and spending, said long-standing problems with military mail delivery

  • Officials: Beware of donation scams

    Scenes of chaos and destruction resulting from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina have left Airmen nationwide wondering how they can help those affected by the tragedy.Like many Americans across the nation, Airmen and their families seek to help in the hurricane recovery. While these Samaritans

  • Officials: BRAC 2005 to support defense transformation

    The 2005 base realignment and closure initiative will be different from previous rounds in that it will directly contribute to the Department of Defense's transformation efforts, a top official said here Oct. 25.BRACs conducted between 1988 and 1995 closed 97 military bases and realigned 57, said

  • Officials: No intention of pay cut

    Pentagon officials have no intention of lowering total compensation for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Defense Department's top personnel officer said Aug. 14.David S. C. Chu, defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness, took questions from the media in response to published reports

  • Officials: Radium poses no risk at Air Force facilities

    Official test results from six Air Force facilities indicate building occupants and visitors are not at risk from radioactive material left over from luminous paints used at the bases 60 years ago.Air Force Institute for Operational Health experts from Brooks City-Base, Texas, examined facilities at

  • Officials: Register to vote before deploying

    Airmen deploying between now and the general election Nov. 2 should register to vote with their deployed unit address before departing, said voting officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here.Registration is accomplished by completing a Federal Post Card Application Standard Form 76. Some

  • Officials: Risks low from depleted uranium

    Depleted uranium poses very low health risks to U.S. servicemembers, senior Defense Department officials said here April 29.Dr. William Winkenwerder Jr., assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said a 10-year, joint DOD-Veterans Affairs study shows "that low levels of depleted uranium

  • Officials: Tire failure caused crash

    Tire failure caused an Air Force T-38 Talon aircraft to veer off the runway and crash here March 19, according to an accident investigation board report released July 1.Catastrophic failure and disintegration of the right main tire caused the aircraft to crash into a barrier support stanchion

  • Officials: Troop withdrawals could begin next year

    A "fairly substantial" withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq could take place next spring or summer if the insurgency does not grow and the country's political process continues as scheduled, the commander of coalition forces said here July 27.U.S. Army Gen. George Casey, head of Multinational Force

  • Officials: TSP good way to increase wealth

    Defense Department officials urge servicemembers to invest in their future through the Thrift Savings Plan.Now is a good time for servicemembers to start paying themselves, officials said. The current TSP open season started April 15 and runs until June 30. This is the time servicemembers can

  • Officials: Use electronic voting from overseas as 'last resort'

    Some overseas servicemembers have another way to vote in the upcoming Nov. 2 elections, but they should use it as a last resort, a senior Defense Department official here said Sept. 1.The alternative electronic voting method would apply only to servicemembers whose local voting laws allow it, said

  • Officials: Catastrophic events caused U-2 crash

    A catastrophic, cascading sequence of events, beginning with the inflight failure of the power takeoff shaft, caused a U-2S surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft to crash June 22 in Southwest Asia, killing the pilot, according to Air Force investigators. The aircraft was returning to a

  • Off-the-shelf solutions speed new equipment to Reserve, Guard

    By using ideas from recently deployed Airmen and using off-the-shelf technology, the Reserve Component has developed new equipment that saved lives and led to highly successful combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.This streamlined process is speeding high-tech acquisitions and was briefed by

  • Offutt AFB Airman heading to Hollywood

    A vocalist in the Air Force Heartland of America Band received three yeses from the judges when she tried out for American Idol Oct. 14 at the CenturyLink Center in Omaha, earning her a ticket to Hollywood Week.

  • Offutt AFB battling flood waters

    Like large portions of Nebraska, Offutt Air Force Base personnel are battling flood waters which started to creep onto the installation March 15.

  • Offutt AFB celebrates runway reopening

    Dozens of current and former members of Team Offutt recently gathered at Offutt Air Force Base to celebrate the reopening of the runway during a special event there.

  • Offutt AFB supports tornado victims

    More than 40 individuals from Offutt Air Force Base recently assisted with clean-up and recovery efforts following a simultaneous strike of two tornadoes on June 16, in northeastern communities of Pilger and Wakefield, Nebraska.

  • Offutt agency provides supplies to school

    Five members of the Air Force Weather Agency here delivered more than 200 pounds of school supplies Aug. 23 to Indian Hill Elementary School students in Omaha, Neb. Staff Sgt. Kenyatta Williams, the assistant NCO in charge of net-centric database management and data routing for the Air Force Weather

  • Offutt Airman dies at off-base residence

    An Airman from Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., died Dec. 11 at his off-base residence as the result of an apparent gunshot wound .  Senior Airman Michael Garcia is a member of the 55th Operations Support Squadron here. Airman 1st Class Corey Hernandez, a member of the 55th Communications Squadron, has

  • Offutt Airmen hold airshow for special needs families

    Airmen here pulled out all the stops to make several hundred people smile a little more during the Aug. 15 Air Force Week in the Heartland Special Needs Airshow. Offutt Air Force Base Airmen brought community members who would have difficulties attending the official airshow schedule because of

  • Offutt Airmen join locals to help protect museum items from flood waters

    A call for help started a chain of events that culminated with members of Offutt Air Force Base, Neb.,  joining forces with three Boy Scout groups, more than 20 Omaha park personnel, retired submariners and members of the U.S. Coast Guard responding to rising flood waters at Freedom Park June

  • Offutt community honors fallen Airman with road dedication

    Offutt community officials hosted a ceremony April 6 to dedicate and name a new road on base in honor of a fallen Airman. Lt. Col. Harrison "Harry" Tull served in the Air Force for 27 years, his career encompassing his time in World War II as a member of the famous Tuskegee Airmen, the Korean War

  • Offutt community to observe National Police Week

    The community of Offutt Air Force Base will observe National Police Week May 9 through 15, culminating in a retreat ceremony.Offutt AFB Airmen will host numerous functions throughout Police Week to honor security forces Airmen, here and around the globe, as well as civilian law enforcement officers

  • Offutt gives students a chance at mechanics

    Students studying airframe and power plant disciplines at Iowa Western Community College have a unique opportunity to intern with the 55th Maintenance Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, after the squadron cut roughly 300 military slots and replaced them with approximately 150 civilian

  • Offutt hub for new Air Force comptroller software

    The 55th Comptroller Squadron Financial Management Flight recently began testing a new scanning software, EPHESOFT. The software is used to send documentation to the Air Force Financial Services Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, responsible for the processing and payment of temporary

  • Offutt officials brace for flood with heavy preparations

    As the water level rises in the Missouri River, officials here are taking precautions to protect people, equipment and facilities.According to reports from the Army Corps of Engineers, the Missouri River will crest by June 15. Offutt's systems of levees are expected to hold, but the greatest risk is

  • Offutt services crew provides comfort to hurricane victims

    Some Airmen may wear the uniform for quite a while before they truly learn what it means to be in the Air Force.But for Airman 1st Class Keith Torgersen, it only took 10 months.Airman Torgersen is a services specialist with the 55th Services Squadron. He, and about 20 of his peers from Offutt Air

  • Offutt volunteer represents Air Force for Spirit of Hope Award

    Air Force Personnel Center officials recently announced a member of the Air Force Weather Agency here as the Air Force nominee for the 2007 U.S. Armed Forces Spirit of Hope Award. Master Sgt. Lou Pell, NCO in charge of the Weather Agency's training branch, was selected as the Air Force

  • Ogden center delivers first Falcon STAR F-16

    Maintainers here recently handed off to the Minnesota Air National Guard's 148th Fighter Wing the first F-16 Fighting Falcon to undergo a nearly $1 billion upgrade that promises to make the fleet operational beyond 2020.The revamped F-16 was part of the Structural Augmentation Roadmap program, also

  • Ogden workers deliver record number of jets on time

    Following a dramatic change in business practices, workers with the Ogden Air Logistics Center aircraft division here have made Air Force depot maintenance history. They returned an average of 97 percent of all repaired jets on or ahead of schedule this year.“These extraordinary turn-around rates

  • 'Oh say can you see...'

    Senior Airman Marcie Mascaro and Airman 1st Class LaTanza Meabon, both touring performers with Tops In Blue, invite an airman to help sing the "Star Spangled Banner" during the opening of their performance at a forward-deployed location supporting Operation Enduring Freedom recently. Tops In Blue,

  • Ohio Air Guard Airmen provide medical services to Hawaiian communities

    Airmen from the 178th Medical Group of the Ohio Air National Guard provided free medical services to the local community here June 9. It was one of several locations served during the 178th MDG's two-week training deployment during which the Airmen will provide free medical services to underserved

  • Ohio Air Guard officials expand solar energy field

    Officials from the 180th Fighter Wing Air National Guard Base at the Toledo Express Airport in Ohio celebrated the fourth phase expansion of their solar field Jan. 5 here.The expansion is expected to increase the solar power produced to a total of about 1.2 megawatts, or 37 percent of the base's

  • Ohio Air Guard unit assists Haiti relief efforts

    As many stand poised around the country ready to answer the call, officials with the Ohio Air National Guard's 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield already have two C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft providing assistance to Haiti.Airmen from the 179th AW had deployed to Puerto Rico Jan. 9 during a planned

  • Ohio Airmen help F-16 go 'green'

    In a joint effort by Airmen from the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard's 180th Fighter Wing, the F-16 Fight Falcon is currently undergoing a field service evaluation of biofuel.As the largest consumer of energy in the

  • Ohio mayor applauds Air Force heritage

    Government officials from Ohio continue to honor the Air Force as part of Air Force Heritage Week activities here.  The latest activity occurred Sept. 25 when Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman joined Lt. Gen. John L. Hudson, commander of Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force

  • Ohio reservists complete aerial spray mission in Louisiana

    Air Force Reserve aircrews and C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, sprayed more than 770,000 acres in seven Louisiana parishes from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2. Reservists from the wing's 757th Airlift Squadron dropped pesticides to control insects

  • Ohio Task Force One ready to depart for Haiti from WPAFB

    An 80-member urban search and rescue team is packed and ready to go here, in case their unit will be the next to fly into earthquake-ravaged Haiti.Ohio Task Force One is composed of volunteer members from throughout Ohio and northern Kentucky, highly trained people anxious to provide search and

  • Ohio's capital begins heritage observance Sept. 24

    The Ohio lieutenant governor is scheduled to proclaim Sept. 24 to 30 as Air Force Heritage Week in a Sept. 24 ceremony at Columbus's Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base.Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher will invite the public to join in "a time of remembrance and recognition for the 60th anniversary

  • OIF aircrews donate to museum

    Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans started the OIF page in the Air Force Museum's history book here June 4 by donating items they used on combat missions.Aircrews presented the items during a ceremony at the museum. The items will be displayed to show one of many Air Force undertakings that are being

  • OIF contracting effort proves successful

    The early insertion of contracting officers into mobility packages may prove to be one of the most cost-effective decisions the Air Force made during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the coalition air force’s top logistics officer said.“At first blush, you might ask why we’d deploy a contracting officer to

  • OIF experience benefits Airmen deployed elsewhere

    For two years now, Airmen have deployed to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving either in Iraq or locations elsewhere in Southwest Asia.Many Airmen deployed here said previous experience supporting OIF has paid dividends in understanding even more their current deployment supporting Operation

  • OIF two years later: Progress continues on all fronts

    On March 18, 2003, the clock was ticking on President Bush’s ultimatum for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and his sons to leave Iraq within 48 hours.The next day, two days after the president’s televised ultimatum, coalition forces launched operations to disarm Iraq.“On my orders, coalition forces

  • OIF veterans discuss lessons

    Even though the air campaign for Operation Iraqi Freedom was successful in bringing down the Iraqi regime in 21 days, leaders met here recently to discuss ways to improve upon that effort.Among the issues they covered was the responses to increased surface-to-air threats to coalition forces

  • 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.

  • Okinawa Airmen deploy to support relief on mainland Japan

    Airmen here are mobilizing to support disaster relief operations following the earthquake and tsunami March 11 that struck mainland Japan."We are here to stand beside our Japanese allies following this tragic event," said Brig. Gen. Ken Wilsbach, 18th Wing commander. "We are working with U.S. Forces

  • Okinawa Naval hospital unit has Air Force ties

    Members of the U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa Neonatal Intensive Care Unit located on Camp Lester are people you trust with your most valuable treasure -- your baby.The NICU is the closest neonatal intensive care unit in the Western Pacific that offers state-of-the-art neonatal care to all infants in

  • Okinawan intern hones English skills at Kadena

    For the second year, an intern from Okinawa, Japan, is working with the Airmen and locally hired staff at the fitness center here.Ryo Oshiro, a17-year-old student from Kagamigaoka Special Education School, is working for the base to gain further knowledge of American customs and the English

  • Okinawan native earns AF-level award

    An Okinawan native was recently recognized with the Air Force Information Dominance Outstanding Civilian Assistant award for his meritorious service October 2011-September 2012.The Air Force Information Dominance Outstanding Civilian Assistant award is an Air Force-level award that recognizes Air

  • Oklahoma Airmen participate in Pacific exercise

    Aircraft refuelers from the 465th Refueling Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., are keeping aircraft flying during the Rim of the Pacific exercise in the Hawaiian operating area.RIMPAC, a biennial exercise in its 22nd year, is hosted by officials from the U. S. Pacific Fleet and is the world's

  • Oklahoma ANG wing sends aid for Hurricane Harvey

    Approximately 40 Airmen from the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 137th Special Operations Wing departed Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Aug. 29, 2017, to support the Texas Military Department and Texas Emergency Management in relief efforts following Hurricane Harvey.

  • Oklahoma Guardsmen join U.S. planes in South Africa

    Even with more than 60 nations represented on the flightline and in hangars at the South African Aerospace Defense Exhibition here, many here say the most recognizable tail art goes to the 185th Airlift Squadron from the Oklahoma Air National Guard's 137th Airlift Wing.The unit, based in Oklahoma

  • Oklahoma Reservists producing Christmas miracles

    Within days of Christmas, a small group of Air Force Reservists are producing holiday miracles for those less fortunate. Members of the 507th Air Refueling Wing and 513th Air Control Group have again stepped forward to raise food, clothing and more than $10,000 during their traditional Operation

  • Oklahoma tornado relief

    A massive tornado struck Moore, Okla., three miles south of Tinker Air Force Base, May 20, killing 24 people. Nearly 250 members of the Oklahoma National Guard, as well as members of Tinker AFB are assisting with clean up efforts. The following are photos of the damage and relief efforts. View the

  • Old commissary to go 'green'

    The former commissary building here is about to be deconstructed.Project engineers said to think of it as construction in reverse, as crews methodically dismantle the 90,000 square-foot building. Deconstruction is the "green" approach to tearing down old buildings. The idea is to pull apart the

  • Old Glory, 'Star Spangled Banner' represent America's strength, perseverance

    Fort Mc Henry, Maryland, likes Flag Day so much, they’re celebrating America’s most recognizable symbol of patriotism twice this year—in June and in September. Annually, June 14th commemorates the day in 1777 when the Continental Congress replaced the symbol of the Grand Union flag with the stars

  • 'Old Ironsides' hosts Medal of Honor recipients

    More than 70 Medal of Honor recipients took part in a special Medal of Honor flag presentation during a ceremony aboard USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," here Sept. 30. The flag was created by an Act of Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush Oct. 23, 2002, and each service is

  • Old satellite teaching new lessons

    Since Jan. 13, the 2nd Space Operations Squadron here has been busy disposing of an old and trusted satellite. Squadron members could soon refer to the vehicle, known as SVN-30, as the satellite that keeps on giving because crews continues to garner invaluable information concerning how Global

  • Old windshields new protection for Kirkuk tower guards

    The 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structures department team put their heads together to come up with a better way to protect the Airmen who guard the base. By placing 3-inch thick, 260-pound safety glass with a titanium frame in the windows of the newly designed guard towers, the

  • Oldest GPS satellite being prepared for disposal

    The oldest operational satellite in the GPS constellation has broadcast its signal for more than 16 years, during which time that signal's mission applications -- and the people who make sure the signal is available -- have changed dramatically. When Satellite Vehicle Number 15 launched Oct. 1,

  • Oldest U.S. military flying unit celebrates centennial

    The 1st Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., celebrated its 100th anniversary March 7-9 as the oldest flying unit in U.S. military aviation.The squadron opened its doors to the base populace and special guests for tours, and two days of historical symposiums were held featuring

  • Oliver Ray Crawford: fierce, effective Air Force advocate dies at 94

    A lawyer who spent 13 years in the Air Force Reserves, Oliver Ray Crawford was a charter member of the Air Force Association. In 1989, he was named the organization’s Man of the Year and went on to serve as AFA president for two years in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Following his tenure as

  • Olmsted scholars named

    Six Air Force captains will spend their next tour of duty in Russia, the Ukraine, Brazil, China or India pursuing an academic mission as Olmsted Foundation Scholarship winners, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.The Olmsted Scholar Program, sponsored by the George and Carol Olmsted

  • Olympian becomes weather officer during World War II

    Archie Williams, 1936 Olympic Gold Medal winner was later Archie Williams, Air Force weather officer and pilot. With a need for thousands of weather officers in the expanding Army Air Forces in World War II, a Meteorology Aviation Cadet program trained more than 5,600 weather officers by the last

  • Olympic athlete graduates BMT

    After winning a silver medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, Airman Alvarez made her way to the 737th Training Group to complete 7.5 weeks of BMT.

  • Olympic hopeful takes 1st at top US 10K

    In the crisp air and with a stunning view of Colorado’s Front Range, Maj. Benjamin Payne was first to cross the finish line at this year’s Bolder Boulder 10K race. It was just one of many wins he hopes to achieve on his road to the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February 2016 in Los Angeles, but it

  • Olympic path marks troops' journeys to fulfilled dreams

    The ceremony began much as any typical military procession does; with troops called to formation."I need a four-man front. Give me a four-man front," yelled a platoon leader.The troops joked and shifted, jostling about and adjusting spacing."Everybody in this row right here, shift back one," the

  • Omaha Trophy winners announced

    The winners of the 2005 Omaha Trophy awards were announced by U.S. Strategic Command officials today.The results are as follows: -- Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Trophy: 90th Space Wing, F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo.-- Strategic Aircraft Operations Trophy: 5th Bomb Wing, Minot AFB, N.D.--

  • O'Malley award winners announced

    Air Force officials have selected Col. William Liquori Jr. and his wife Amy as the 2015 General and Mrs. Jerome F. O'Malley Award winners.